The Jesus Bible Reading PlanSample

THE LAW

The Law of God came to the people of Israel through Moses (Ex 21:1). In decrees, commands, instructions and statutes, the Lord declared how their relationship with him would work. The Law gave glimpses into the nature and character of God — revealing his preferences and methods. It gave boundaries and much-needed clarity for how to approach and relate to God.

Having heard from the Lord in the fire and smoke atop Mount Sinai, Moses went down and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws before writing everything down (Ex 24:3 – 4). Eventually, God inscribed his laws on stone tablets and gave them to Moses (Ex 24:12).

It is common to think of the Law as limited to the Ten Commandments. Actually, it was comprised of regulations for worship, instructions on legal matters, principles for society, edicts for sexual conduct and more. When obeyed, the Law was a path to fruitful life (Lev 18:4 – 5). The Lord made it clear that his laws were not negotiable — he expected unconditional obedience. Those refusing to listen to him and carry out all of his commands would be met with divine terror, overwhelming cost and the realization that God would always get his way (Lev 26:14 – 39).

The Law is much more than a set of restrictions — it gives guidance about the destructiveness of sin and it highlights habits leading to contentment and joy. The benefits of following God’s laws are passionately extolled by the writer of Psalm 119, who learned to take delight in the Lord’s commands.

The Law governed the Old Testament system of sacrifices — the mechanisms for maintaining a right standing with God. Yet it was only a shadow of the superior sacrifice Jesus made when he came to earth to redeem us from the guilt of our sins. In his death, Jesus set aside the first way and paved a new way by providing the perfect, ultimate sacrifice of himself once and for all. Men and women are now made holy through faith in his sacrifice and resurrection (Heb 10:1 – 10). This helps us understand Jesus’ words when he said that he did not come to abolish the Law but to complete it (Mt 5:17).

Jesus, thank you for the Law, and thank you for coming to complete it. Help me to love, understand and obey God’s commands, so that my life may bring glory to you. Amen.