We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for …
Summary: As Paul leads us into his list of people the law was made for, it is good to pause and consider our personal role in the Body of Christ.
Paul’s sentences can be difficult to follow. He says: ”We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for …”
When we untangle his logic, what Paul is saying is, “The law is not for the righteous.” He is not saying that the law doesn’t apply to the righteous, just that it is not made for them.
Why?
Because the righteous, by definition, are people who love God above all else and do what God tells them.* The people who need the law are those who do not know what God wants. They need the law’s guidance. For everyone else, those who knowingly reject God outright, the law is their judge.
Paul’s next words describe who the law is made for. Interestingly, Paul’s examples parallel the Ten Commandments almost exactly. The temptation that goes with knowing such a list is falling into the trap of judging people we know and finding ourselves sitting in the place of God. This is extremely dangerous!
Remember Paul’s words to the Corinthians when he says, “… judge nothing before the appointed time…” (1 Corinthians 4:5a), and Jesus words, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1).
So why does Paul tell us who the law is for?
Keep in mind that Paul’s words to Timothy are aimed at people who want to be “teachers of the law” (1 Timothy 1:7). These are people who are claiming to know God’s will but teach “false doctrines” (1 Timothy 1:3).
This situation is very similar to Jesus confronting the Pharisees and teachers of the law. These are exactly the kind of people Paul instructs Timothy to “command … not to teach false doctrines any longer…” (1 Timothy 1:3).
As we examine the examples Paul gives, context is important. Paul is an Apostle of Jesus Christ. He has been personally commissioned by the Lord to share the Gospel among the Gentiles. Timothy is Paul’s spiritual “son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). Timothy is doing the same kind of work Paul is doing.
For the rest of us, God says:
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)
And…
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (1 Peter 2:2)
It is one thing to call out unrighteousness in those who would be “teachers of the law” but are false teachers. It is another thing to live a righteous life. For most of us, striving to love God with all our hearts is challenge enough.
Application: Know your place in the Body of Christ.
Food for Thought: How does God look upon someone like Paul or Timothy compared to people like you and me?
*There are multiple uses of the word “righteous” in Scripture. This passage is talking about what I would call “lived righteousness” — those who serve Jesus as Lord and Savior walking their daily lives redeemed by the blood of the cross. Redemptive righteousness, the kind that saves us, only comes through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:4)
While their roles and responsibilities might have been different, they were just ordinary people like us. God is an extraordinary God of ordinary people. So I think He looks on all of us the same. Precious people created in His image that He loved enough for Jesus to go to the cross to save. Having said that, He did give them a lot of responsibility and authority. As you say – know your role – and they knew their role. It was a role that came with heavy responsibility. Yet their value is no greater than any human being created in God’s image.
Thank you, Rich.
That is a thoughtful perspective. From the standpoint of God’s love towards his creation, I agree.
How does God look upon someone like Paul or Timothy compared to people like you and me?
Romans 2:1, For God shows no partiality.
Psalm 14-3, They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
Acts 10:34, So Peter opened his mouth and said, Truly I understand that God shows no partiality.
James 2:4, Have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
There is no “ Little bit of Sin “ for one, and whole bunches of sin for another. In reality we will all one day stand before God as our
Inner-selves are laid bare formal to see. In our own power we are all equally sinful and equally accountable for our actions, as we stand before God. These physical housings have been foreordained, assigned by God and received as acceptable or rejected as unacceptable according to the standards established by mankind.
God looks at the inner person, the heart of all. The hearts of all those where Jesus has been welcomed and established will be found as being acceptable to God and will dwell with Him forever.
1 Samuel 16:7, But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Ephesians 3:16, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Thank you, Ron!
I especially like the Romans 2:1 passage!
Yep, Short and sweet!