Jesus ...and the law of Moses

blog# 11
Jesus and the law of Moses

What was Jesus’ attitude about the law or teaching of Moses? The answer to that question is easily found when reading the four gospels. The gospel narratives contain many comments, which show his position, as he interacted with various detractors and supporters.

Personal comments show that he believed in, upheld, and practiced the law of Moses, and encouraged others to do the same. Notice Matthew 5:17-19: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." He desired to correct any misconception that people might have about his relationship to the teachings of God, as given by Moses and the prophets.

Although the English version translation uses the terms, "I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill," in Jewish thought a better choice of words in translation would be, "I am not come to destroy, but to observe." Jews practice and observe the law and prophets, and that’s the joy and zeal of every "observant" Jew.

He was not concerned with a futuristic prophetic notion about fulfilling the law on behalf of others, he was talking about breaking, doing, and teaching the law. Notice his words: "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Great people do and teach God’s commandments.

One who builds on a foundation already laid, is careful to continue and lay things upon that which has been solidly established. It holds true in religious instruction, just as it does in construction skills. Jesus knew that Moses’ teachings were uttered by God unto Moses and b’nei Yisrael (the children of Israel). This "peculiar" people" (K.J. Version wording), were a "treasured" people (am segulah).

At times, it seems quite clear that Jesus resented some interpretive teachings of the law made by certain scribes and Pharisees. Deuteronomy 4:2 forbids anyone from adding to or detracting from what Moses had plainly spoken. Jesus wasn’t impressed by interpretations which tended to burden the people of God, beyond what the Torah had already written. In one scenario, he accused some teachers of promoting interpretive details more than the word of God (see Mark 7:13). He claimed that by so doing, their traditions make the word of God of none effect.

Jesus believed the law of Moses was adequate in substance and detail, and punctuated that belief with a famous Hebrew saying: lo yod veh lo kotzo shel yod, which rendered from Greek to English, comes out in the King James Version as "one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass" [from the law].

The yud (yod) is the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet, and in Jesus’ day, the yud had a tiny left angled down stroke known as the "thorn." The tiny stroke of the yud, was known in Hebrew as the kotz (thorn). The thorn of a yud is the tiniest stroke of a letter.

In translation from Hebrew to Greek it was rendered iota, the Greek alpha beta’s smallest letter.
Not even the tiniest stroke of a Hebrew letter would pass from the law, until all be fulfilled. Thus, observance of the law is fulfillment of God’s law for the Jew. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away (Matthew 24:35).

Observing and practicing God’s teaching makes an individual shine like a light to the world, a city set on a hill (Matthew 5:14). Jesus emphasized in Matthew 5:16, that such a person’s good works would be like a lamp on a lampstand, shining out, and would glorify the Heavenly Father.

Doing "good works" is the Jewish way, but it’s not considered as the way of salvation, although some Christians have not understood that knowledgeable Jews also believe in salvation by grace. Jews know that they have an "everlasting covenant" with God, and are not stressed about "being saved" (as we call it). Their relationship with God is based on grace and covenant.
Even Noah found grace long before the gospel of grace was ever proclaimed, and he was not Jewish. Both Christians and Jews should understand that there are three types of grace found in the bible. The first is deserved favor, the second is favor shown by mankind to his fellow, and the third is unmerited or undeserved favor.

Apostle Paul’s strong arguments in his letters to the churches, against erring theology, have produced a backlash among modern Christians about the law as conflicted with grace. Readers of those epistles have interpreted the law of God as something bad. They may have forgotten the words of Jesus to the Churches in Revelation 22:12: "Behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

Also in Revelation 22:14, he said: " Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in to the gates of the city."


Those verses accurately reflect what Jesus believed and taught about the law of Moses, within the Jewish community. Evidence supports the view that Jews who came to faith in Jesus in the earliest church, continued to associate and worship with other Temple Jews, until it was no longer possible because of persecution and divisiveness (see Acts 21:20).

On the other hand, earliest church leaders who were all Jews, rejoiced at the repentance and faith of Gentile conversions (Acts 15:3). And, after coming together in council at Jerusalem in Acts 15:6, decided that it was not needful to circumcise believing Gentiles, neither to command them to keep the law of Moses (Acts 15:5).

In a final analysis, after James the last conference speaker spoke, it was decided that letters from the apostles and elders at Jerusalem be sent to the Gentile churches obligating them to do the following three things: 1. no idol worship, 2. no eating of blood with meat, 3. no sexual sins. The Holy Spirit also authorized those things, according to Acts 15:28. Thus, Jews and Gentiles could at least eat and talk together in mutual respect.

For those interested in learning more, James had said, "Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day" (Acts 15:21). Jesus’ immediate followers also maintained highest respect for the law of Moses.