*** State the Lord’s
purpose concerning the law.
“The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will
magnify the law and make it honorable.” Isa. 42:21.
*** Why was it
necessary to magnify the law?
“It is time for thee, Lord, to work; for they have made void
thy law.” Ps. 119:126.
*** How was the law “made void” when Christ was on the earth?
“And He said unto them, Full
well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own
tradition.” Mark 7:9 (Matt. 15:1-9).
*** What was Christ’s
attitude toward the law?
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am
not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” Matt. 5:17.
*** How did He then
proceed to magnify the law before His hearers?
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt
not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment; but
I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall
be in danger of the judgment.” Matt. 5:21, 22. (See also 1 John
3:15.)
*** What did He say of
the seventh commandment?
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt
not commit adultery; but I say unto you, That whoever looketh on a
woman to lust after her had committed adultery with her already in his
heart.” Matt. 5:27, 28.
*** Did Christ Himself
keep the commandments?
“I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His
love.” John 15:10.
*** How long did He say
the law would last?
“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one
jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be
fulfilled.” Matt. 5:18.
*** Why did Christ come
to earth?
“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the
flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for
sin, condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law
might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit.” Rom. 8:3, 4.
*** In order to
accomplish this, what was it necessary for Christ to do?
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died
for the ungodly.” Rom. 5:6.
*** But if the law
could have been abolished, would not that have released men from
condemnation?
“Because the law worketh wrath; for where no law is, there is
no transgression.” Rom. 4:15.