“Anyone who has REJECTED MOSES’ LAW DIES WITHOUT MERCY on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:28-29) The reference here to those who “set aside the law of Moses” means those who willingly, purposefully, spitefully REJECTED God’s laws. “Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron…The man must surely be PUT TO DEATH; all the congregation SHALL STONE HIM with stones outside the camp.” (Numbers 15:27–31).
In those cases, the old covenant made no provision for atonement. In simple terms, the Law of Moses treated intentional defiance of God as AN UNFORGIVABLE SIN. This is the Law that the Pharisees grew up under and diligently taught. Remember they brought a woman to Jesus and said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, COMMANDED US that such SHOULD BE STONED. But WHAT DO YOU SAY?” (John 8:4-5) Remember what Jesus did, He wrote their sins on the ground and in their hearts and said, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (John 8:7)
Jesus taught this in the Beatitudes, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28)
“Some Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, TESTED JESUS with this question: “Teacher, which is the GREATEST COMMANDMENT in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your HEART, SOUL and MIND.’ This is the first and GREATEST commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets HANG ON these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:34-40)
In other words, the entire law and all the prophecies from God are designed, ultimately, to MOTIVATE and ENFORCE LOVE for God and love for other people. Put another way, God’s greatest desire for any human being is that they LOVE GOD AND LOVE OTHERS.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham