The perspective of most Christians, and for that matter Jews, on the relationship between he teaching of Jesus and the law of Moses is one of supplanting of the latter by the former. Perhaps colored by a superficial reading of Paul’s letters, we have come away with the idea that law is bad, grace is good.
Paul T. Sloan challenges all that, showing that Jesus’ teaching was consonant with the law.
He states that “for centuries, interpretation of the Law in the Gospels has labored under false presuppositions of Jewish legalism, works righteousness, and compassionless nationalism and particularism.”
Of course, we should have know all along this was true. As Sloan points out, Jesus made that quite clear:
“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.” (Matthew 5:17)
And when asked what one must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus answered
“You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” (Mark 10:19)
Sloan critiques the supposed antipathy of Jesus toward the Law of Moses, showing that Jesus’ teaching was consistent with much of the early rabbinic teaching of his day as well as highlighting the grace that was inherent in the Law—better translated instruction—of Moses.
The Law was not a burden the ancient Jews dreaded, (how many times have we heard in sermons that the Jews labored under the curse of 613 laws to obey?) but rather a covenant that allowed for continual restoration and forgiveness. He notes that ritual impurity was not regarded by Moses’ teaching as sin, but rather a state of uncleanness with clear remedies. Impurity was not a moral category as the word might suggest to us.
Sloan sets the whole teaching of Jesus, including his interpretation and application of the Law of Moses, within an eschatological restorationist context, where his and his disciples’ mission to preach the gospel might require certain violations of the the Law. But those violations were consistent with other violations of the Law, e.g., performing circumcision on the Sabbath.
Personal Reflection
Jesus and the Law of Moses was an eye-opening, paradigm-challenging look at the topic, and a compelling argument for Jesus’ consistency with Jewish scripture and tradition. The supposed enmity and antipathy, which has fueled supersessionist antisemitism, is not supported by an analysis of Jesus teaching on the Law of Moses. The book is quite scholarly, filled with extensive footnotes—which are worth reading—and would make a great text for seminarians and Bible teachers looking for a serious treatment of the subject.
Granolativity 