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The Pastoral Relevance of the Mosaic Law

by on May 15, 2023

Preaching and teaching Scripture is one of the most important tasks of pastors, who have been called by God to care for churches. Listen to some texts on the subject:

And he gave … shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ … so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine. (Eph 4:11–14)

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. (1 Tim 4:13)

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (2 Tim 4:2)

In the high calling of preaching, shepherds of God’s people should follow Paul’s example with the Ephesian believers and proclaim “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). Pastors should never hesitate to proclaim everything that God has given in Scripture because “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16).

As pastors preach the New Testament, two voices rise above the rest because of their significant and sustained contributions to theology and the life of the church—Jesus and Paul. Of special note regarding both is how often they direct their audience to the law. When Jesus quotes directly from Scripture, he most frequently cites the book of Deuteronomy. When Paul quotes the Old Testament, Deuteronomy joins Isaiah and the Psalms as his most frequent source texts. Judging by the number of citations alone, the Mosaic law (i.e., the Pentateuch) was favored by both prominent New Testament voices. Consequently, this demonstrates the importance of helping believers better understand the law: If the law was important to Jesus and Paul, it should be for us as well!

 Preaching from the Mosaic law presents pastors unique challenges and opportunities. As far as challenges go, pastors must reckon with what Paul says about believers not being under the law and that they have died to it (cf. Rom 6:14, 7:4) while portraying the law’s ongoing significance for the churches they serve. Although believers are under no obligation to obey the Mosaic law code established in Exodus through Deuteronomy, they can still benefit from what it reveals.

 Among other things, preaching from the Mosaic law presents opportunities to emphasize the following:

  • First, the law reveals the moral perfection of God. The law reveals what is necessary for fellowship with our holy God. The standards of God’s holiness revealed in the law remain the same in every era. If we are to enjoy fellowship with God, his standards of holiness must be met.

  • Second, the law declares the nature of the work of Jesus. The law points forward to a Messiah who will deliver Israel through an all-sufficient, one-time sacrifice. The law tells us about Jesus Christ because he fulfilled the law and brought it to its end (cf. Rom 10:4).

  • Third, the law illumines the human heart without Christ. Not only is the law helpful to regulate those who are lawless and disobedient (cf. 1 Tim 1:8–10), it is like a mirror or light that uncovers the sinful condition of their hearts.

  • Finally, the law accents the splendors of grace. Several New Testament texts reveal that grace exceeds or surpasses the law in many ways (e.g. 2 Cor 3, Heb 10). Preaching from the law gives pastors the opportunity to emphasize how living under grace and the gospel is better than living under the law.

Consequently, may what the psalmist wrote about the law still resonate with us today: “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psa 119:97).

 

Tags: pastor, mosaic law, jesus quotes the law

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