… born under the law,
Summary: One of those words that has many meanings is the word “law.” Making an assumption about which “law” a person is talking about can be dangerous, even deadly.
Jesus’ appearance on earth was not a random event. As Paul has already pointed out, Jesus was born at a “set time,” and born “of a woman.” God had a plan and he chose Mary, Jesus’ mother, to help him carry it out. God’s Son, then, became a Son of Man as well.
In addition to being born human and subject to human frailties, Jesus was born “under the law.”
The question that immediately springs to mind is, “Which law?”
It is easy to gloss over this question. I can hear the voice in my head asking the question, and the answer that comes back is, “You know… the law.” Maybe it means “the law of God” or something like that.
Let’s take a closer look, and see if we can figure it out.
The first laws that we encounter as human beings are the laws of physics. Gravity weighs us all down and holds us to the surface of the earth. Water is water, and wine is wine, and if we walk along the beach and into the surf, we sink into the water.
Except none of this applies to Jesus. He changed water into wine (John 2:1-11), and when he chose to, he could defy the law of gravity and walk on top of the water (John 6:19). Obviously, he is not subject to the laws of physics, but what about the Jewish laws?
Perhaps he was born under the Mosaic laws? You know, the ones that say you shouldn’t do any work on a Sabbath. But if that is the case, why were the Pharisees always accusing him of breaking the law? (Matthew 12: 1-14)
Hmmm…
Maybe he is subject to the temple laws? No … I remember now. He said he was “exempt” for some reason. (Matthew 17:24-27)
What’s left?
When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, he answered this way:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your 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 22:37-40)
Oh … !
Application: Strive to live the Law as Jesus did.
Food for Thought: What examples come to mind of Jesus submitting to “the law”?
First and foremost, Jesus showed His love for the Father and all of mankind by willingly giving His life for the sins of mankind.
He also demonstrated His love for God and man by:
Healing the sick and restoring sight to the blind.
Luke 7:21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight.
Liberating people trapped in social injustice and prejudice.
Luke 5:12-13 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him.
Luke 7:36-50
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among[a] themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
He cast out demons for those in bondage to demonic powers.
Luke 4:33-35 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.
He held great compassion.
Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Luke 7:13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”
As a man, Jesus’s ability to perform these acts of love came from His total submission to God’s Will. His spirit was aligned with God’s Spirit. This isn’t an equation or magic formula, some kind of incantation or power that He wielded, this can only happen through love and devotion to the Father. Likewise, God worked though Him because Jesus loved those around Him. If there had been hostility in His heart towards others, He would not have been able to help them.
Jesus really demonstrated how the Father works in our lives, through our lives, and in the lives of those around us.
Thank you, Chris!
Nice synopsis! Using the simple grid of the two greatest commandments brings everything into focus.
What examples come to mind of Jesus submitting to “the law”?
Jesus, the Son of God, fulfilled the Law in a way only He could. He
cloaked Himself in flesh, lived among us, teaching by word and deed, Gods will for mankind and became the perfect sacrificial lamb, as He took upon Himself the sins of all mankind and provided salvation to all who believe in Him.
He came to fulfill the Law, Matthew 5:17. Jesus lived a life that met the righteous requirements of the Law as He taught that all other commands flow from the two great commandments – to love God and love others.
Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:37-40
Thank you, Ron!
Jesus not only lived the commandments, but he taught them as well. That is a powerful combination, isn’t it? When someone actually lives what they teach?
Thanks for the comments. I have nothing to add. My mind went right away to the fact that Jesus never broke any of the OT Law – just the man made additions to the Law. He fulfilled the Law and all of the Law and Prophets pointed to Him.
Matthew 5: 17 – 20: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Thanks Rich!
You are spot on! Jesus understood the difference between God’s Law and the additions man added to the law. Both are called “law” but they have vastly different pedigrees.
It is!
And today He continues to live in the hearts of all believers as we focus on allowing Him, His power to be seen by all those around us. It’s a huge task as we push ourselves out and open ourselves to His increasing presence in our lives.