Bryan Myers Minister of the Body of Christ

The short answer is yes. Jesus said that He had not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill the law. The epistle to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus was in every way like as we are, yet without sin.

When we as Christians look to the work of Christ upon the cross, it helps to keep in mind that the Old Testament sacrifices were a picture of the redemptive work preformed by Christ. The sacrifices of the Old Testament were to be without blemish. In like manner, only sinless Christ could make atonement for the sins of mankind.

February 13 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Aurel Gheorghe

The unequivocal answer is YES, Jesus followed the law of the OT. Of course, we are talking about the Ten Commandments, not the hundreds of ceremonial rules that the Pharisees unnecessarily burdened the people (Matthew 23).

There are Christians who believe that we are not required to follow the Ten Commandments anymore because Jesus gave us two new commandments (Matthew 22:37-40). But these two commandments were not new at all and Jesus was quoting from the OT, Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. 

Clearly Jesus did not wish to replace the Ten Commandments and expressed that by saying: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-20). And to avoid any confusion about what laws Jesus was talking, in the following verses He cites several of the Ten Commandments (Matthew 5:21-48). 

As a matter of fact, there isn't a single commandment that Jesus did not addressed in the NT: 

First Commandment : Matthew 4:10, Mark 12:30
Second Commandment : Matthew 4:10, Luke 4:8, John 4:24 
Third Commandment : Matthew 12:31
Fourth Commandment : Matthew 12:11-12, Matthew 24:20, Mark 2:27, Mark 6:2, Luke 4:16, Luke 4:31, Luke 6:5,9 
Fifth Commandment : Matthew 15:4, Mark 7:10, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20
Sixth Commandment: Matthew 5:21-22, Matthew 15:19-20, Matthew 19:18, Mark 7:21,23, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20
Seventh Commandment: Mat 5:27-28, Mat 5:32, Mat 15:19-20, Mat 19:9, Mat 19:18, Mk 7:21,23, Mk 10:11-12, Luke 18:20, John 8:4,11
Eight Commandment : Matthew 15:19-20, Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20
Ninth Commandment : Matthew 5:33-34, Matthew 15:19-20, Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20
Tenth Commandment : Matthew 6:25, Matthew 15:19-20, Mark 7:22-23

If Jesus intent was to change His laws, it would have made no sense to talk so much about it and say nothing abolishing or changing it. Not only that but he urged us to keep His laws if we love Him and want eternal life (John 14:15, Matthew 19:17, Matthew 7:21, John 14:23, Revelation 14:12).

February 13 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Ariel HaNaviy Messianic Jew and Torah Teacher with Messianic Congregation 'The Harvest'

Did Jesus follow all the laws of the Old Testament? The short answer is “yes” and “no.” While Yeshua (Jesus) did not follow all of the laws because every single commandment cannot be kept by a single individual, because every single commandment does not apply to every single person, he was in fact righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the LORD. What is more, we too, by the power of the Spirit, can be blameless in God’s sight by upholding the totality of the authority of each and every Law of Moses, and in this way we keep all of the Torah just like the Messiah did. 

Contrary to popular opinion, any believer under the power of the Spirit of God, (just like Jesus was), can keep all the laws of God. Observe Luke 1:6, “And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the LORD.”

Were John the Baptists’ parents perfect or sinless? Hardly. Yet Luke says they were “righteous” and “blameless in all the commandments.” God does not expect perfection. He never has. God knows that some commandments are for kings, some for priests, some for women, and some for parents, etc., and that every single commandment does not apply to every single person. Plus, God knows we will fail from time to time as we seek to keep all of his commandments. That is why there is forgiveness and mercy and grace, as one preacher I used to know stated, “…from Genesis all the way to maps.” Always has been. Always will be, amen?

Conclusion:
Yeshua was sinless, he was perfect, and he upheld the totality of the authority of each and every Law of Moses. In this way you could say he “guarded” all of the commandments (the original Hebrew word for guard is “shamar,” but it is often translated as “keep” or “do” in some versions). Most importantly for us to affirm is that, as far as the commandments that applied to him as a non-king, non-priest, and single male with no offspring, he perfectly modeled Torah observance for all to see.

September 05 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report