While we're all cooped up on our computers and phones, awaiting the big fork and wondering what's next, this is a great opportunity for a bible study!
This is a break down of three concepts in the New Testament: The Law, The Burden and Another Law.
"He [Jesus] condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous standard of the Law might be fulfilled in us" (Romans 8:4)
Many people who read and study the theology of Paul the Apostle come to the conclusion that the Law is contrary to the Salvation offered by God through His Son Jesus. But there are a few passages by Paul that speak of the Law of God in a complimentary light. In fact he references several Old Testament passages in regards to the Law of God:
"For in my inner being I delight in the Law of God." (Romans 7:22)
His delight is in the Law of the LORD and on His law he meditates day and night. (Psalms 1:2)
"I agree with the law, that it is good" (Romans 7:16)
"Behold, I have set before you this day life and good" Deuteronomy 30:15
"The Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good." (Romans 7:12)
My tongue shall speak of Your word: for all Your commandments [are] righteousness. Psalm 119:172
"Is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the Law who will be declared righteous." (Romans 2:13)
And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us. (Deuteronomy 6:25)
The Law of God mediated through Moses is NOT BURDENSOME for the children of God:
"We know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments and His commandments are NOT BURDENSOME." (1 John 5:2-3)
So if it's not the Law of God that is burdensome, what was Jesus talking about to the scribes and Pharisees? What is it that He called a BURDEN?
“The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat, therefore practice and observe everything he* [Moses] tells you. But do not do what they [the scribes and Pharisees] do, for they do not practice what they preach. They [the scribes and the Pharisees] tie up heavy BURDENS and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them" Matthew 23:1-4
*see Shem-Tov Hebrew Matthew for grammar from “they” to “he”
Disciples of Jesus are taught to NOT do what the scribes and the Pharisees do. What is it that disciples of Jesus are told not to do? They did not walk according to the tradition of the elders.
And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders?" (Mark 7:5)
The heavy yoke of the "tradition of the elders" caused perceived iniquities as the people fail to fully uphold the oppressive practices.
"My iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are a BURDEN too heavy to bear." Psalm 38:4
These traditions of the elders may be the BURDEN James speaks about when writing to the Gentiles who were turning towards God and living according to the proclamations of Moses. When the tradition of adult circumcision was suggested as a requirement to following the Law of God, James responded:
"We should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God.... for Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath. (Acts 15:19-21)
Moses never said to "circumcise all adults as a form of conversion". By adopting this Pharisaical tradition, the entire yoke of the "traditions of the elders" would be placed on the Gentiles - the very yoke that Jesus taught "do not do what they do."
"Why do you test God by placing [a BURDEN] on the necks of the disciples, a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?" (Acts 15:10)
If we are to reject the yoke of the tradition of the elders, what yoke are we to put on? The yoke of Jesus, the Law of God which is not burdensome!
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My BURDEN is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30)
Therefore, James makes his ruling according to the Spirit of God:
"It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to BURDEN you with anything beyond [the Law of God except] these essential requirements.... you will do well to avoid these things. (Acts 12:28-29)
Paul writes to the Gentile believers in Rome who are “turning towards God” (Acts 15:9) and hearing “Moses proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath” (Acts 15:21) and “practicing and observing everything he says” (Matthew 23:1).
In Paul's Letter to the Romans, he addresses those Gentiles who are having trouble giving up old sinful practices in order to begin walking according to the teachings of Messiah, that is the Law of God.
Paul does something unusual in his letter to the believers in Rome - he becomes to those in Rome as if he were "lawless" himself. He explains this teaching method to the Corinthians:
"To those not having the Law [of God], I became like one not having the Law [of God] (though I am not free from the Law of God and am under the Law of Christ), so as to win those not having the Law [of God]." (1 Corinthians 9:21)
Speaking as a "lawless" one, Paul writes to the Romans that the Law of God does NOT live in his flesh:
"I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." (Romans 7:18)
Then he repeats this again, praising the Law of God, but then describing another law.
"In my inner being I delight in the Law of God,
but I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law [of God] in my mind and holding me captive,the law of sinthat dwells within me." (Romans 7:23)
Another law battling the Law of God in Paul's mind:
flesh --> law of sin and death ---> "Another law"
Spirit --> law of Righteousness and life ---> The Law of God
"In Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2)
This is why Paul also writes to the Corinthians also as a sinner, as if he were under the law of sin and death:
"To those under the law [of sin and death] I became like one under the law [of sin and death], (though I myself am not under the law [of sin and death]), to win those under the law [of sin and death]. (1 Corinthians 9:21)
Paul is not very careful to define what "laws" he's talking about and even references the "works of the law [of sin and death] and then proceeds to quote the Torah which referenced "the Book of the Law". He does this numerous times in his epistles, not clarifying which law he's talking about. He leaves it up to us to interpret which law he's talking about. It's no wonder people who have a bias against the Law of God could claim the gospel of Paul was lawless, it's easy to do this.
"For as many as are of the works of the law [of sin and death] are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE TORAH, TO PERFORM THEM." (Galatians 3:10, Deuteronomy 27:26)
This law (of sin and death) that dwells in our flesh causes us to not abide by all the things written in the Book of the Law and place us in bondage and under a curse, according to that very book.
This is similar to when Paul wrote as if "lawless" to the Romans and says to them:
"I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." (Romans 7:18)
Then Paul offers the solution to the believers in Galatia:
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law [of sin and death], having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:13-14)
Paul concludes his Letter to the Galatians this way:
"Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another." (Galatians 5:16)
These are in opposition to one another:
flesh --> law of sin and death ---> "Another law"
Spirit --> law of Righteousness and life ---> Torah of God
Paul writes about a similar problem to both the Romans and the Galatians (and others). But it is not left hopeless. His conclusion is this:
"In Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2)
and
"He [Jesus] condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous standard of the Law might be fulfilled in us" (Romans 8:4)
May we be freed from the law so that we may be doers of the Law (according to the Spirit) and be declared righteous before the Most High, bless His Holy Name!
Amen!
