Steve Gregg of http://thenarrowpath.com
Download free on MP3 at http://thenarrowpath.com
Christ's approach to the OT law
Christ's teaching were considered radical but were only radical in the sense that they went back to the root of the law
Christ conveyed the righteousness of the law and what it required
The practice of the law among the Jews was different to what the law intended
Christ taught that the moral issues of the law had not changed
The law was God explaining and teaching righteousness
Jesus wanted the Jews to understand that when God gave them the law it was to teach them love (Matt 7:12)
The weightier aspects of the law (Matt 23:23) justice, mercy and faithfulness
Jesus used two examples of justice -- murder and adultery
Jesus used two examples of faithfulness -- divorce and taking oaths or vows
Jesus used to examples of mercy
Breaking vows and promises
The law taught the Jews not to swear falsely and perform any oaths made to the Lord
Jesus clarified things that were morally right and wrong
Jesus did not take something morally right in the OT and make it morally wrong in the NT
In the OT swearing oaths was not wrong (Heb 6)
Breaking an oath sworn by God is blasphemy
The Jews were commanded to swear by God as opposed other gods, false gods (Ex 23:13 Josh 23:7 Is 65:16)
Swearing by the name of God in the OT was not forbidden, swearing falsely was (Lev 19:12 Deut 23:21-23)
Jesus under oath in the NT (Matt 26)
Paul under oath in the NT (Gal 1)
The Pharisees had turned taking oaths into a system for deceiving people
Jesus refers to the system (Matt 23:16-22)
The Pharisees had created a dishonest corrupt system of oath taking
Jesus taught not to accept this corrupt system
Be faithful and honest
Oaths are not bad but what they had become was best avoided
Be a person of integrity