THE COMMANDS OF CHRIST MT. 5:17-20

The Commands of Christ    Matthew 5: 17-20  12.12.12      

     There is a mistaken notion held by some; Jesus Christ, 
God the Son, came to annul the Law of God.  This notion 
cannot be true,  for in Christ’s own words;  “Do not think 
that I  came to destroy the Law or  the Prophets.  I did not 
come to destroy but to fulfill...”  Matthew 5:17-20.  Since 
Jesus did not  come  to  destroy  the Law of  God,  what is  
His take on  the commandments.   What are "His" Com-
mands?  

    When we look in His Word at His words, we are taken 
with the number of references  to law and the command-
ments.  His words support  fully Old Testament law and 
the Ten Commandments in particular.   It is also accep-
ted by Bible scholars that Christ was;  “...born under the 
law...” as in Galatians 4:4.  If  you continue to read this 
passage you  find the purpose of  His incarnation was to 
purchase  freedom  for those of  His who  were  under the 
law,  turning them  from slaves (to sin) to  free men  and 
sons of  God.  No where do we find Him saying anything 
but  good of  the Law of  God.  His only references  to the 
Law  that could  be construed  as negative is  to this  fact; 
justification  is  not  accomplished  through  keeping  the 
Law and  the weakness of  Law was/is the flesh.  No man 
has kept the law before or since our Lord Jesus Christ.
  
    So, just what did Christ come to do with respect to the 
    Law of God, “Jewish” Law?  Our Lord interprets the 
    law for us and enables us to keep "His commands."

    There were no laws annulled by Jesus Christ.  He was 
opposed to  the rules some  leaders added to  the “Law of 
Moses,” according to the Bible.  He clarified the law, 
making it plain, as only He could.  When He was tested 
by a lawyer about the great commandment in the law, 
he gave the sum all of the commandments in verses 37-
40, Matthew 22. He did, as was His custom, quote from 

Scripture, Deuteronomy 6, 10, and 30.  Adding that all 
of the law hung on the two great commandments.  (Love 
God with all your heart and love your neighbor as your-
self.) In another place he hung the law on the “Golden 
Rule” or “As ye would that men should do for you, do 
you also unto them.” (Matthew 7:12) The former showed 
His summation of the law and the latter indicated how it 
is to be practiced.  As our Lord gave these two examples 
of how to satisfy the law, “The Golden Rule” and “The 
Law of Love” for God and man, he freed us from narrow 
interpretations of the Law.  
  

      In redemption, Christ removed the curse of the Law 
from those who placed their faith in Him through an act 
of repentance for the deeds of the flesh.  This repentance 
is a turning away from justification by works of the flesh 
and turning to the work of Jesus Christ.  The key in this 
act is the believers joining Christ in His death, burial 
and resurrection.  The picture is Believers Baptism, lived 
out in the life of the believer through submission to the 
Son in all of life.  The believer no longer lives his own 
life, but has submitted that life to Christ living in the 
believer, just as our Lord submitted to the Father in His 
incarnation.  Since our Lord was as we are in every way
except for personal guilt, He was not born with original 
sin.  He had God for his father and not man.  He kept 
the Law of God perfectly.  When we receive him, we are 
considered to be free of guilt, in Him.  We have died to 
ourselves as we identify with Christ in His death. We are 
free from our sins as we take part in His burial and are 
alive, in Him.  He died, was buried and rose from the 
dead as our substitute.  Since Christ, and what He did 
are unique in history, there are no parallels on which 
we might draw to illustrate what He did for us. We can 
say, he was punished (bruised) for our iniquity and by 
His abuse (stripes) at the hands of sinful men, we are 
pardoned (healed). (Isaiah 53) His sacrifice fulfilled 
the law of ritual blood sacrifice of the Jewish Temple 

or Tabernacle which was, in reality, a picture of His 
death on the cross.  There is no longer a need for such 
sacifice.  (Slaughter of lamb without spot or blemish)

     We could say Jesus Christ had a very high regard 
for the Law of God, since He was God.  He did not des-
troy it, but fulfilled it.  Now men need no longer look 
at the  law as a  burden, but  as a  guide,  or "School-
master" to bring us to Grace. There He unburdens us 
of our sin/guilt as we see the Law of God was not the

problem.  It  was/is our sin,  separating us from God.  
The law displays our sin to us and shows us our utter 
inability to keep the law.  As the Children of God we 
are  not saved  through  the works of  the law, “..not

through works of righteousness...” or of any effort in 
the  flesh.  We are  made right with  God through His 
grace and mercy. Our part; to accept the gift through 
faith in our Savior.  His teaching shows us how to live 
life well pleasing to God the Father,  above reproach 
before our peers.  He  already fulfilled the “righteous

requirements of  the law,” on our  behalf.  It is not re-
quired nor expected of mere beings of flesh and blood. 
We are instructed by the Apostle Paul to die to the flesh 
every day, reckoning ourselves dead to the flesh, alive 
in Christ.  In "Dead reckoning,"  God the Son, through 
His Holy Spirit, takes up residence in our mortal bodies 
and quickens them to life.  Since it is now Christ living 
in us, He will, over time, mortify the deeds of our flesh, 
for He is responsible in the sanctification process.  It is 
no longer us, alone, trying to keep laws we do not under-
stand.  We have Christ along side and within, doing the 
regeneration.   He has already fulfilled the Law of God.

   One sticking point with many is keeping of the Sabbath 
as required in the Ten Commandments.  There is one pos-
sible answer to this. When one reckons himself dead, his 
life is in Christ. He has entered into rest promised to all 
who are in Christ. This one is no longer working.  He is 
at rest and every day a Sabbath or day of rest, worship 
and praise to his Lord.  Jesus Christ kept the law and is 
keeping the law on our part... AMEN!  The Sabbath in
the Law of God was merely a picture of Salvation in our
Lord, Jesus Christ.

CAVEAT:  If one has not received the gift of Jesus Christ,
what he did on earth to free us from the penalty of our 
transgressions of the Law of God, he is still under the 
full weight of the law and the penalty of eternal (death)
separation from the Lord as well as our family and 
friends.  
"The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will 
   gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and 
   those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into 
   the furnace of fire.  There will be wailing and gnashing 
   of teeth."  Matthew 13: 42-43

(This is not to be construed as an attempt at scholarship 
on law or grace.  Of that, the author is hardly capable.  
It is an attempt to show my limited understanding of the 
matter.  No one I’ve heard or read has addressed it to my 
satisfaction.  I'm still not so sure it has been adequately
 addressed.)                      donporter  12.12.12

If you have a comment or clarification of something that 
is not crystal clear, contact me at jlrsbnch@msn.com                                                                                      

   Since writing this, there has been a book brought to my 
attention; "Jesus Did It Anyway," (The Paradoxical 
Commandments for Christians) Kent M. Keith, author 
came up with this at age 19 as a student a Harvard Uni-
versity.  It is eye-opening, humbling and well worth 
reading.                            donporter  edited on 1.11.14                                                                                                                                                                                    

WHAT THEN SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN...?

WHAT THEN WILL IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE GAINS
THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSES  HIS OWN SOUL?
                     (Matthew 16: 24 - 26)

       When He had called the people to Himself, with His 
disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come

after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and

follow Me.

       For  whoever  desires to save his life will lose it,  but

whoever  loses his life  for My sake  and  the gospel’s will 
save it.

       For what will  it profit a man if  he  gains  the whole 
world and loses his own soul?

      Or what will a man give  in exchange for  his soul?"

     Admittedly, the followers of Christ, today, have  great

difficulty with  this passage of Scripture.  There are some

church  congregations teaching  some things   foreign to

this Word from our Savior.  Many times Scripture is dia-
metrically opposed to  current thought in "religious" cir-
cles and the message is "watered down" in order for it to 
be acceptable.  It takes a level of Spiritual maturity  seen
rarely in this life for one to accept the passage along with 
this:

"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this 
adulterous and  sinful  generation, of  him  the Son of 
Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory 
of His Father with the holy angels."

    Regrettably,  I  also have had difficulty receiving this 
one  message and  incorporating it into life.   It is much 
easier  to think of being a Christian as always pleasant; 
requiring  little if  any sacrifice on  our part.  Of course, 
the opposite is true.  Then,  again;   Is there anything in 
life,  worthwhile,  that  does not require  sacrifice,  hard 
work and is thankless at that.   If you or I are expecting 
to be  commended and  highly  regarded  with a reward 
here  for  doing  the "right"  thing,   we  will be  greatly

disappointed.   "But  without  faith  it  is  impossible  to 
please Him, For he who comes to God must believe that 
He is,  and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently 
seek Him."   (Hebrews 11:6) The reward of  the believer 
comes later, when it will be an eternal reward, not some 
temporal  blessing.  One other  question;  does the word 
"diligently" give  you pause as  it  does  me?  Just  how 
does my life measure up to this principle? Have you and 
I been diligent?  Webster  defines diligent  as, "Charac-
terized   by  steady,  earnest,  energetic  application  and 
effort; Painstaking."  Also implied is the word, "haste." 
   

      One day I will stand before my Creator and Savior, 
who  for  me made the ultimate sacrifice.   He gave His 
very  life's  blood to atone for my sins.   What will  I say 
in answer  to  the penetrating  questions  He will ask of 
me?  God forbid  that you or I fail to hear; "Well done,
good and faithful servant:  You were faithful over a few
things...  Enter into the joy of your Lord."  (Mt. 25: 23)

In the allegory, 'Paradise Lost," by Milton, Satan was 
said  to remark, "I would rather reign in Hell  than to 
serve  in Heaven."   That  option is not  available to us 
anymore than it  was to  Satan.  Would you  not rather 
reign with  your Lord and Savior in His Kingdom than 
to  suffer  eternal destruction in  hell?  Those  two  are 
our only options.   Satan's  "rule"  in  Hell  is  not  an 
acceptable way to exist for eternity.

     You and I are unable to determine whether a friend
or  relative is destined to  suffer or be eternally blessed. 
There are, however; behavior patterns for clues and we
must always be  ready to communicate the  reasons for
the hope that is in us, since we are "in Christ."  I am
convinced it is related to our salvation experience.  The
Scripture says that if we confess our  Lord before men,
he will confess us as well.  (paraphrase)  One way we
confirm our relationship to our Lord is when we com-
municate  our confession of  faith in Him, to someone 
we  believe might be outside of  faith.  Study Scripture
to increase your faith and as in Romans 10: 9-10.....
  "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God has raised
Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the
heart a man believeth unto righteousness and with the
mouth, confession is made unto salvation." 
 
                                                     (edited  9.19.17)  
(Scripture quoted is from the New King James Version.) 

Thanks for looking.            donporter 1.03.14

     

COMMANDMENT vs TRADITION, MARK 7

 

Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came toge-
ther to Him,  having come from Jerusalem.  Now when 
they saw some of  His disciples eat bread  with defiled, 
that is,  with unwashed  hands,  they  found  fault.  For 
the Pharisees and  all the Jews do not  eat  unless they 
wash their  hands in a special way,  holding the tradi-
tion of the elders.  Mark 7: 1-3

     Then the Pharisees and Scribes asked Him, "Why 
do your disciples not walk according to the traditions 
of  the elders,  but eat bread with unwashed  hands?”   
He answered and said  to them, “Well did Isaiah pro-
phesy of  you hypocrites, as it is written:  This  people 
honors Me with their lips,  but their  heart is far from 
me.  And  in vain  they worship Me,  teaching  as doc-

trine the  commandments  of  men.   For  laying aside 
the commandment of  God,  you hold the  tradition of 
men—the  washing  of  pitchers  and cups, and  many 
other things  you do.”   He said  to them,  “All to well 
you  reject  the commandment  of  God,  that you may 
keep your tradition."   Mark 7: 5-9

As recorded in Mark 6, Jesus had just performed the

miracle of  the fish and loaves, walked on  the water, calmed the sea and arrived with His disciples at  the 
land of Genesaret.  This was a rural  area or  plain 
and  there  was a small  town  nearby with  the same 
name.  Along with everyone  else,  came  scribes and
Pharisees.  These Jewish leaders  had  determined to 
show Him a  fraud.  They  noticed His disciples were 
not  adhering to their  traditions.  (This  had  little or 
nothing to do  with the  Law  received  by  Moses and 
recorded in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy.) 

 Their traditions had, in  their  practice, taken on more 
significance than Law. Their traditions had to do with 
formal, outward display;  the Law  as  recorded  in the 
first  five books of  the Bible had  not  only to  do  with 
formal observances, but was primarily about our rela- 
tionship to God and man and doing the just and hono- 
rable thing in every situation.  (Jesus had summarized   
it by saying, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all 
thine  heart with all thy soul  and  with all  thy  mind." 
The second is like  unto it,  "Thou shalt love thy neigh-
bor as  thy self."  This law, or  great  commandment is  
recorded in Mark 12: 30, Matthew 22: 37, and in part; 
Deuteronomy 6:5. "On these two commandments hang 
all of  the Law and  the  Prophets"  according  to Jesus 
Christ  in Matthew 22:40.  Christ has  just summarized 
or "hung"  the Old Testament  Law on  this one  princi-
ple,  "love."  Love  of  God,  the  Great  Commandment, 
and Love of  mankind, His  principle  creation,  second 
only to love of God.

  We, as the followers of Jesus Christ, at in danger  at
times of the being guilty of  the same thing.  Are there 
not  times when  you and I hold the approval of  other 
men to be more important  to us than the  approval of 
our  Lord.  This is displayed any  time status becomes 
important to us and we do  things just for appearance
sake. This might be displayed as we try to present our-
selves to be different from what we know is true, or as
 we tell truth,  but add something to make  us look bet-
ter.  This could also happen as we fail to  forgive ano-
ther, or fail to ask forgiveness when we know we have 
offended someone.  In my own case it is true as prefe-
 ferential treatment is given one  when it is beneficial 
to me rather than being the same to everyone whether 
there is benefit or not. 

     Finally; in order to  fulfill  the "Law of Christ," you 
and I must find ways to be of assistance to his crowning 
creation, mankind.  In other words, as we have opportu-
nity we meet needs or give help without expecting some-
thing  in return and share  personal possessions with all 
whom we meet, who are in need.  Then,  we will begin to 
search out those in need in order to be of service to God 
and mankind.  Jesus  spent his  time on  this earth going 
about doing good.  He did not  ask  questions as  to whe-
ther the persons he helped had good qualifications. Just 
as it is today,  Jesus comes to do service for  you and me.  
The only qualifications is  that we have a need. May the 
Lord God bless  your efforts and  mine as we seek  to be-
come Christ to those around  us. One caveat; Christ will
honor  any deed, large or small, when it  is  done on His 
behalf  and  in  faith.  Everything  we  do,  for  the Lord, 
must  be  done at  His direction,  in His  will,  and empo-
wered by the Spirit of God.  Scripture says:  
     
  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, 
the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders 
   obtained a good report.             
 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed 
  by the Word of God, so that the things which are seen 
  were not made of things which are visible." 
                                      Hebrews 11: 1,2,3

     "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, 
       for He who comes to God must believe that He is, 
      and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently 
      seek Him."  Hebrews 11: 1,2,3,6. 

  Thanks for looking; just remember, there  are no "super 
saints"  We all fail our "Master" at  times.  Don't become 
discouraged,  since discouragement is  a tool of our com-
mon enemy.  (Satan) The "Mind of Christ" is lived  out in 
you and me as we  join with the  local Body of Christ, His 
church.   In this way  the church is  edified and  the  Lord
God receives the glory.  
     We do not want to be "Lone Ranger Christians".

donporter  1.01.14  (jlrsbnch@msn.com)

THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST, Isaiah

The oldest manuscript of Isaiah is from Dead Sea Scrolls,  dated
over  100 years  before the  birth of Jesus Christ.  Isaiah  penned
the book over 600 years before that.  There is some  controversy 
over the possibility of  two authors,  but this does not take away
from  the  authenticity  of  this  Scripture.  (Isaiah is reported  to
have had an assistant, or  Scribe, who helped him transcribe the 
book of Isaiah.)  

     Our celebration of  the Christmas season is coming  to a close
and it  is imperative to  address  this  with some  knowledge from
God's Word.  I do not choose to get  into the controversy created
during  the past few years concerning our celebration of the birth
of Jesus Christ.  Some say Holy Day others say Holiday:
(The  word, "Holiday"  is  another way of  saying "Holy" Day.")

 

There are some things that need clarification:
   1.The word "Christmas" does not  occur in Scrip-
ture, and there is no place in the Bible commanding
us to observe such a holy day.  We are instructed in
the  New Testament to remember His death until He 
returns to this earth. My family has always celebra-
ted the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25th. We
know, He may have been born in the Spring.

  2.  The  many ways in which this holiday has been
observed  over the years  has given rise to a sort of 
backlash  from persons within and  without church.
To  state it  plainly,  this "holiday" has  been  more
about  exchanging gifts with  friends and  relatives
than about the propagation of the gospel of Christ. 

    3. There is strong evidence  in  the observance of 
this event that Santa Claus has top billing with side
mention  of  Jesus Christ.  To enter a  discussion of
Santa Claus being omitted from  the  celebration is
profitable,  since  fantasy is  incompatible with  the
Holiness of  the season.  We  will not  consider that
debate at this time.   

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with  God and the Word  was God.  He  was  in  the 
 beginning  with  God  and  all  things  were  made  
through Him and  without  Him  nothing was  made
that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the
light of  men. And the light  shines in  the  darkness, 
and the darkness did not comprehend it. (“..did not 
overcome it.”)  John 1: 1-5”

         “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.  But as 
    many as  received Him, to them  He gave the right to become chil-
    dren of  God, to those who  believe in  His name: who  were  born, 
    not of blood, nor of the will  of  man, but  of  God.   And the Word 
    became flesh and dwelt among us,  and  we beheld His  glory,  the 
    glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”  
                                                                                          John 1: 11-14

  "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: 
Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a Son,
   and shall call His name Emmanuel." 
(“God with us”)                                  Isaiah 7: 14

(Speaking of Joseph as he thought on his dilemma
 with Mary who had conceived before their coming
together...)    
                   "But while he thought about these
                    things, behold an angel of the Lord
                   appeared to him in a dream, saying,
                  Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid
                    to take to you Mary, your wife, for
                 that which is conceived in her is of the
                  Holy Spirit,' And she will bring forth a
                 Son, and you shall call His name Jesus,
                  for He will save His people from their
                sins.    
                   So all this was done that it might be
                 fulfilled which was  spoken by the Lord  
                   through the  prophet saying:"
   "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear
     a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel,
    which is translated, God with us."  (Also spelled
    "Immanuel")  John 1: 20-23, donporter 12.28.13

LESSONS FROM THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES

    *****************************************************
         Matthew 23: 2-8
              "The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses
               seat.  Therefore  whatever they  tell you to
               observe, that observe and do, but do not do
               according to their works;  for they say and
              and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens
              hard to bear and  lay them on men's shoul-
              ders; but they  will not move them  with one
              of their fingers.  But all of  their works they
              do to be seen by men. They make their phy-
              lacteries broad and  enlarge the borders of
              their garments. They love the best places at
              feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, gre-
              tings in  the market  places and to be called
             'Rabbi,  Rabbi.'   But  you, do  not be  called 
             'Rabbi,' for one is your  teacher,  the  Christ
             and you are all brethren." 
 
        The Lord taught his disciples to respect their leaders in
       Judaism, and warned against (1.) Oppression of those in 
       your charge. (2.) The dangers of doing  "good works" for
       show, and (3.) Seeking recognition or status.The Scribes, 
       Pharisees and Saducees were  flagrant in  their violation 
       of these principles; with you and  me, it's subtle.  Just as  
      Jesus taught; Matthew 6: 1-6 to do good in secret, give in 
      secret and to pray in secret. He is consistent when warning 
       his disciples against the pride and hypocrisy of these "lea-
       ders." (Matthew 6: 1-6) In Matthew 5: 20 He states openly; 
    "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds 
     the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by  
     no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

     Consider the possibility of you or I having a smug
or "Self-righteous" attitude as we do good deeds, give 
to the cause of Christ or pray faithfully. There is little 
difference  in  doing  these  things for  show or  doing
them that we might be  self-satisfied. Our motivation 
for doing good deeds, (works) prayer and fasting, and 
making an offering above the tithe  first, because our 
Lord  taught us  these things.  The second reason; His
love  for  us and  our  subsequent  love  and  care  for 
others. There is promise of blessing from the Lord. If 
we believe Scripture, we are aware of  the blessing of  
the  Lord  being on those  who obey  and  there is  no 
blessing promised to those of us who fail to obey. 

Who is there among us that does not have a desire for 
 the blessing of the Lord Christ on his or her life? 

 http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2013/05/and-thy-father-which-seeth-in-secret.html

So, in addition to denying ourselves that we may have 
to give to others, doing good deeds and prayer, we're
led to communicate this  good news of  the Gospel of 
Jesus Christ in it's  fullness, to  those  around  us  and  
eventually, to all people around the world.
   Our Lord gave the model prayer to his disciples, as 
recorded by Matthew in chapter 6, verses 9  through 
13, he added remarks that are constantly with me. 

 Every time we pray, and consider this model prayer,
"The Lord's Prayer" the  next  two verses  that  refer
to verse 12; "And forgive our debts, trespasses, as we
forgive our debtors... "those that trespass against us."  
Below in verses 14 and 15 of this same chapter, state 
the following: 

             "For if you forgive men their trespasses,
               your heavenly Father will also forgive
              you.  But if you do not forgive men their
              trespasses, neither will your Father for-
               give your trespasses."

     What kind of burden to forgive does  these words 
place upon us as we deal with the Lord in reconciling 
our own sin  and  disobedience?  The  passage means 
just  what  it  says," ...if you do not  forgive men their 
trespasses, neither will you Father  forgive  your tres-
passes."   Who could stand if  the Lord  God  were to 
reckon our sins against us?  (Serious business) 

In these verses you will notice the word "trespasses" 
is used and  not the word  "debts" as  in the  body of 
the "Model Prayer,"  or "Lord's Prayer."

  (New King James Version)       donporter 12.14.13 

http://noglobaltaxes.org/ck11.30.11.html