Jesus: Faithful Israelite Under the Old Covenant

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By Jerry Wierwille

Jesus: Faithful Israelite under the Old Covenant

Jesus the Messiah was born into a Jewish family and grew up learning and following Torah (the Law). He lived a faithful life of righteousness, obeying all the commandments of God and fulfilling the old covenant obligations as the model Israelite among
God's people.

The Story So Far…

  • The Exile and Return to Canaan (Palestine)
  • Rebuilding the temple
  • 400 years of silence
  • John the Baptist
  • Jesus the Christ

The Birth of Jesus: The Promised Messiah

The Prophecy of Gabriel

Luke 1:26-35

The Prophecy of Zechariah

Luke 1:68-73

Jesus the Jew

Jesus Was Circumcised

  • Luke 2:21-24

Jesus Attended the Festivals

  • Leviticus 23
  • Luke 2:41-43
  • Matt 26:17-30 // Mark 14:12-26 // Luke 22:7-38

Jesus Upheld Torah

  • Mark 12:28-33

Jesus Wore Tzitzit (“Tassels/Fringe”)

  • Matt 9:20; Mark 6:56; cf. Matt 23:5

Jesus Ate Kosher

  • What about Mark 7:19? (// Matt 15:10-20)

Jesus Observed the Sabbath

  • Matt 12:1-8 // Mark 2:23-28 // Luke 6:1-5
  • Luke 13:10-17

Jesus Kept the Law

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. 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. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 16:16-17
The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

John 15:10
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

1 John 3:5
You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Philippians 2:8
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

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  1. Carlos
    Jerry, Thank you for this important series. What do you make of many translations/paraphrases that render Luke 16:16 as “The Law and the prophets were in force” or “in effect” until coming of John the Baptist? Also, in light of your thesis that Jesus was under the Old Covenant how do you address the following? * God allowed a certificate of divorce for various reasons: Deut. 24.1-4 But Jesus gives only one reason, pornea: Mat 19. * God commands no work at all on the Sabbath: Deut. 5.13-15; Num. 15.32-36 But Jesus said his Apostles “broke the Sabbath....yet were innocent” and that he himself was “always at work” just like God the Father: Mat 12.1-14; John 5.17-19 * God commands “an eye for an eye”: Lev. 24.20 But Jesus says to “love your enemies” unqualified: Mat 5.38-39 * God commands Temple tax payment: Ex. 30.13; 38.26 But Jesus says they’re free from it: Matthew 17:24-27. Thanks again and look forward to more teachings, Carlos
    Reply
    March 11, 2021
    • Jerry Wierwille
      Hi Carlos, As regarding Luke 16:16, the text reads Ὁ νόμος καὶ οἱ προφῆται μέχρι Ἰωάννου· ἀπὸ τότε ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ εὐαγγελίζεται. The phrase you are interested in is μέχρι Ἰωάννου ("until John"). The phrase is open to interpretation as to the meaning of why the Law and the Prophets were "until" John. My contention is that if the Sinaitic Covenant (i.e., the Law) was in view, and Jesus is saying that the Law ended with John the Baptist, then the Prophets have nothing to do with it. So why does Jesus mention the Prophets along with the Law? I think the better answer is that since the phrase "the Law and the Prophets" is a common expression to refer to the entire revelation of the OT, it has more to do with the promised coming of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God. And this is then why Jesus says that "since then, the Kingdom of God has been preached" because in Jesus the time of fulfilling the prophecies/promises from the Law and the Prophets has come. I hope this helps. God bless!
      Reply
      March 12, 2021
      • Carlos
        Thanks, And look forward to you addressing the rest of my question: * God allowed a certificate of divorce for various reasons: Deut. 24.1-4; But Jesus gives only one reason, pornea: Mat 19. * God commands no work at all on the Sabbath: Deut. 5.13-15; Num. 15.32-36; But Jesus said his Apostles “broke the Sabbath....yet were innocent” and that he himself was “always at work” just like God the Father: Mat 12.1-14; John 5.17-19 * God commands “an eye for an eye”: Lev. 24.20; But Jesus says to “love your enemies” unqualified: Mat 5.38-39 * God commands Temple tax payment: Ex. 30.13; 38.26; But Jesus says they’re free from it: Matthew 17:24-27.
        Reply
        March 12, 2021

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