Understanding Jesus' View on the Law

Christians often discuss the relationship between Jesus' teachings and the Law of Moses. A common question arises from Matthew 22:37-40 where Jesus states, 'On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.' How can we reconcile this statement with Jesus' seemingly different approach to ethical behavior as recorded in the Gospels?

Jesus' Ethical Paradigm versus the Rabbinic Law

A casuistic view of the law was espoused by the great Jewish scholar, Rabbi Hillel, who succinctly summed up the Law with the phrase, 'Do not do to others what you would not want done to you.' According to Hillel, the law should be respected by not violating it.

The Two Great Commandments

Jesus, however, introduced a more positive ethic, centered around the two great commandments. He stated, '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.'

Jesus' emphasis on active love and positive actions represents a shift from merely avoiding harm to actively seeking to do good. This teaching encourages individuals to go beyond just not violating the law and to work towards positive ethical actions.

Jesus' Challenge to the Legalistic View

Jesus' teachings go beyond the traditional legalistic understanding of the law. He emphasized that the goal is not merely to avoid breaking laws, but to avoid needing to use the law at all. His approach is often described as 'fencing the law,' which means going beyond the bare minimum legal requirements to demonstrate authentic moral behavior.

He believed that adhering strictly to the law was not enough; one must live a lifestyle that avoids the need for the law. In essence, Jesus called for a standard of righteousness that exceeds that of the Pharisees. The question was not whether one could follow the letter of the law but whether one could love enough to move beyond the law.

Divorce and Retribution

For example, Jesus' teachings on divorce challenge the Mosaic law's permissive stance. He said, 'But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.' Here, Jesus is not advocating against a legal act (divorce) but rather against the attitude that led to its occurrence.

The same principle applies to the laws of retribution, such as when he teaches in Mark 7:18-23 to focus on the cleanliness of the heart rather than just the outward cleanliness. He affirms that many practices, while legal, are not the best way to live.

Focus on the Positive, Not Just the Negative

For Jesus, the law is a guide for ethical behavior, but it is not the end in itself. He teaches that the law should inspire a life of positive action. This is why he says that the righteousness of his disciples must exceed that of the teachers of the law. He does not merely enforce the law but calls for a standard of righteousness that transcends legal requirements.

One key aspect of Jesus' teaching is the focus on mercy and compassion. He prioritizes ethical behavior over legal compliance, as exemplified in his healing on the Sabbath. For instance, in Mark 3:1-5, Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath, not because the law explicitly prohibits it, but because compassion and healing are more important.

Radical Implications of Jesus' Teachings

The phrase 'not one jot or tittle will pass from the law' (Matthew 5:18) is often misunderstood. While it affirms the permanence of the law, it does so with the understanding that the law is not to be merely followed but to be fulfilled through ethical actions that exceed the legal minimum.

Jesus does not seek to abrogate the law but to fulfill it in a way that goes beyond the mere therapeutic view of 'do not do what you would not want done to you.' Instead, he calls for a radical shift in mindset and action, where the law is not just a guide but a reflection of the essence of love and righteousness.

Jesus' teachings challenge us to live ethically in a way that embodies righteousness, not just in the negative sense of avoiding sin but in the positive sense of actively doing good.