Jesus and the Law

Hey Sweet Friend!!

As autumn approaches, my excitement spikes. I know in nature that fall represents a slowing down, a harvest after all the hard growing is over. But I feel a change in the air...and that brings me joy!

My husband and I just recently visited family back east, and I got a chance to see God's creation as it moves into the harvest season (apples and peaches) and the leaves change (even just a hint). Now where I live in Wyoming, I'm starting to see trees change almost overnight. It's amazing!

​If you've ever read through the Bible, maybe it feels a little like this anticipation when you reach the New Testament. The Old Testament can feel long and hard at times to work through...like the summer work of growing. But we get to the New Testament, and there's excitement in the air with the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah!

Sometimes it may feel like the Old Testament can be skipped, so you can "get to the good part" of the life and ministry of Jesus. But if you do that, you will miss so much richness.

In fact, Jesus Himself validated the Old Testament many times. He cited 14 books of the Old Testament and quoted it nearly 100 times. Wow!!

Our command from Jesus that we will look at today is from the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus, in Matthew 5:17-19, says this, “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. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (ESV)

Jesus demonstrated His seriousness about the entire Old Testament: the Law (what we commonly refer to as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy); and the Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah, and Malachi). What about the middle? Jesus quotes from the Poetry books, so we have to include everything.

Ok, but what do we do with this command? I like the part about "teaching them," so I included a free printable to help you memorize and teach the Ten Commandments from Exodus. There is an adult version with the full wording of each command, and a simplified kid's version included.

Feel free to print them and use them at home, with your kids, or pass them along to friends and family, if it would be encouraging. This is a way for you to "do them and teach" others about them.

I lift you up in prayer each week, so as always, please feel free to share any personal prayer requests you would like me to focus on!

In Him,

~ Stephanie

StephanieMBullock.com