10th June 2023

10th June 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 22v34-46)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


The Old Testament and the Law in particular can seem like a different planet for the Christian. We much prefer to be knee deep in the New Testament than to even dip a toe into the Old. May God forgive us. All of Scripture is God breathed and all of it is to be heeded by His church. So let me offer you a little primer on the Law of God as revealed in the Old Testament.


The Law can be divided into three - the moral, civic and ceremonial. The civic law related to how national Israel was to be governed, the ceremonial law related to how national Israel was to worship and the moral law related to how national Israel was to live in a manner that pleased the Lord. Today the civic and ceremonial law are not binding upon the church. In the Old Testament we see the church confined to the borders of national Israel, a king was on the throne and worship was conducted at the Jerusalem temple. Christ’s work changed everything - the church is the Israel of God, Jesus sits on the throne of David and Christ is the temple which was torn down and raised in three days. 


However the moral law continues to be relevant to God’s people. We are to love Him and keep His name holy. We observe the Lord’s day, we honour our parents and we shun deceit and covetousness. The moral law also called the Ten Commandments still plays a role in the life of the Christian. What does the moral law do? It doesn’t save us but it shows us our sin and the holiness of God, it restrains sin in us and society and it teaches us what is pleasing to the Lord. This is the threefold use of the law and it is useful indeed.


One day the Pharisees gathered together in order to test Jesus with the question “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” (v36). This was another attempt to draw Jesus into controversy and no doubt the Pharisees were waiting to pounce on any answer that could give them leverage over Christ. Nevertheless the Lord would not be undone by the constant opposition of the Pharisees. He replied “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (v37-40)


Jesus did not fall into any trap and His response gave the Pharisees no room to complain. Instead He offered a summary of the Law and the Prophets (v40). How are we to keep the law of God? By loving Him wholeheartedly and by loving our neighbour as we love ourselves. This is the clear vision for the Christian life - love God and love your neighbour. This is an impossible task for us but we thank God for the Gospel of Christ. Jesus is the supreme law keeper who kept every inch of the law both passively and actively. His active obedience saw Him actively meeting the law’s standards and His passive obedience saw Him willingly receive the law’s punishment. By faith in Christ we have been set free from our inability to keep God’s law and instead we have been placed on the road called obedience where by the power of the Spirit we strive to love God and neighbour.


As the Lord’s answer rang in the ears of the Pharisees, Jesus asked a question of His own “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” (v42). They replied “The son of David” prompting Jesus to ask another question “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’? (v43-44) Do you see Christ’s point? David was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write Psalm 110 where he prophetically spoke of Jesus calling Him Lord. The Pharisees on the other hand held David in high regard but treated Christ with contempt.


Jesus is greater than David, He is indeed Lord and as He stood against the Pharisees they realised that it would be wise to ask Jesus no further questions (v46). Jesus is the obedient suffering servant and the triumphant King of kings. He is both the power and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1v24). Blessed are all who find refuge in Him.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q69 What is forbidden in the sixth commandment? The sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbor unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto.
​