Our relationship to the Old Testament law is changed in Jesus, who fulfills the law and clarifies the ethics that characterize the kingdom.
My last name is Faires. It’s pronounced “Ferris.” Yes, like Ferris Bueller. Or “ferrous,” as in something containing iron. Not “fairies,” like a group of woodland sprites. Nor is it “fairs,” like the plural of an event involving both cotton candy and hogs. And the plural of Faires (no matter how I try to avoid it by patiently writing out “The. Faires. Family.”) just has to be Faireses. This is a mouthful and, honestly, more of the letter “s” than I’d like to see before I’ve had my morning coffee. This occasionally leads to us being introduced not as the scribes, but as the “The Fairesees.” And I want to tell you that we (a little bit) deserve it.
No matter how well I comprehend the doctrines of grace, I still give myself a smug little “well done” if I manage to maintain a holy composure for one entire church service. It’s so easy for me to get distracted from the goodness of the Lord by the purported goodness of Rebecca. Are you, too, tempted to revel in your own rule-following and self-proclaimed goodness?
The Pharisees were excellent rule-followers. They loved rules so much they made up extra ones. They had rules for everything. And they didn’t just stick with the Ten Commandments. They had a multitude of additions, subpoints, and expansions. And they were serious about each of them. They instructed others that this was how people merited heaven: by keeping the Law and the traditions.
And works-to-righteousness legalism is so appealing on the surface, because finally it feels like there’s something we can do to secure salvation for ourselves. The problem with legalism is that while it seems to uphold the law to a serious degree, it actually undermines it.
This is why Jesus was opposed to the supposed “righteousness” of the Pharisees. But He rejected their legalistic notions in a peculiar way. You’d think that the way to reject legalism would be to swing to the opposite perspective: antinomianism, or the rejection of rules altogether. The Pharisees thought the keeping of the Law would save them. Antinomians thought the law was not worth a second thought, and that grace would save them no matter what degrading sins they could dredge up.
But Jesus said: “I did not come to abolish [the Law] but to fulfill” it (Matthew 5:17). Jesus rejects both a legalistic and an antinomian use of the Law. The law of God—not the heaped-up additions of men—must be fulfilled to the fullest degree. The law must pierce our hearts and change not only our external behavior, but our every thought and attitude. The law must be fulfilled perfectly: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). What an impossible standard!
The Pharisees, in truth, made little of the true Law, but made much of their own law-keeping. Christ came to fulfill the Law perfectly, so that repentant Pharisees and antinomians like you and me could have peace with God.
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57 thoughts on "The Law of the Kingdom"
Lord please forgive me of anything that comes between us, help me see what you see and guide my steps today.
I learned many years ago, “The only thing that truly matters is what is in my heart.” Father, show me where my heart needs more of YOU.
Father God, help me to love mercy and show mercy today. To love justice and to show justice today. To walk humbly with You.
Amen!
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Such wisdom you shared. Thank you for that.
Some people want to say that being Saved and living for God is too hard, but it’s not. If you really love Him and are genuinely Saved, you’ll want your life to be lived for Him. That’s not hard and that’s not complicated.
So nice seeing some of the “older” names from doing this study previously. Hoping they’ll join us again: Churchmouse, ERB, Kelly, Mercy…many more.
This was very timely as I’m having trouble loving those who hate me and have acted on that hate. The easy, human, thing to do is to return that energy… but I rebuke that spirit.
Lord God “keep me on the straight and narrow”, watch over all of my SRT sisters, family, friends, neighbors, the world and me. Help me to live a life that shows my faith, belief and love for You, Your Son, and Your Holy Spirit — by living this life help me to turn some wayward souls to You or back to You. God You are my ONE AND ONLY, I know I can turn to You and YOU WON’T LET ME DOWN!!! Amen.
Be blessed and let others see the Triune in you and your life — and that GOD, CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE YOUR ONE AND ONLY sisters.
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Good stuff!
Reading through the verses in Matthew 5 really hit differently today. Some of the subsections are titled “… begins in the heart”. We cannot change our heart we need the Holy Spirit to work in us. & we are guilty of so many sins because our hearts are wicked and deceitful. Lord have mercy on us & Holy Spirit help change my heart to love you most!
p.s. I’m missing everyone’s comments :(
I love what Kelly said! If we’re operating out of love, keeping the law should come about naturally.
Holy Spirit continue to lead me and change my heart. In Jesus name, Amen
I’ve been getting up extra early to read my Bible. I have been finding myself falling back into a scary place. As a stay at home mom to a 2 year old, it is hard to find time for myself. And when I do, I feel guilty. But these comments, and of course the Word, and prayers with my husband have been slowly bringing me back to a place of peace.
Remembering that the thing that cuts through it all is loving God and others. So hard when people can shape everything (following rules or not) to suit their view and way, so gotta just keep lifting my eye sto
And the other huge thing that was so timely with this devotion, was all the rules that come with our covid society.
So good to read through these comments about spending time with God and raising little ones! It is hard and God knows that. I think it’s so normal to crave the space and time with God – and he knows that desire and heart. So many moments in our days with little ones are refining – even sacrificing Holy things like moments with God that look a certain way. We have to shape and mould them to look different through them this season…right? And find ways to prioritise Him (from an authentic heart) when the moments come. For me that’s laying down housework or tv/social media distraction.
Oh how I remember being a Mon to four small children. It was near impossible to get those moments. Of course now I would do anything to have that time back. Now I still stay busy. Funny how you find so many ways to be busy. But now I just have to stop and spend my time with the Lord. Moms just do your best. Listen to the podcasts as you drive or do some chores. Pray throughout the day as you can. Quick prayers is all I could do. You will get have plenty of time when the kids are older – don’t worry it comes faster than you think. People used to tell me that and I would say yeah yeah yeah. Well it’s true. I promise. You are doing important God work right now. Praying for you and a little jealous.
Lord i thank you for being free in you!
Thank you sweet sisters for all the encouragement to us mommas of littles. Very well said Churchmouse and free indeed. Reading the word before I go to bed as both my littles are asleep and have both kept me up the past 3 nights as I’m recovering from being sick. So easy to get angry and frustrated and then that spewing on to them during the day. Relate to another sister’s comment about wanting to speak life over my children! Thank you, Jesus, for being with me as I raise these children you gave me. It’s ok if I am two days behind in the reading. I’m where you want me to be in this season. Love to all you SRT family ❤️
Free Indeed this is just what I needed to hear this morning! There is so much value in being in the word, but so often I just want to tune everyone out for a few minutes and dive into a book or mindlessly scroll. But choosing to be in the word is of so much value, even though it often seems in vain or like no one sees. Or that there is no immediate reward. Thank you for reminding me that choosing the word is always better. Thank you for the encouragement and understanding that while I don’t always want to choose the word it is always the better choice!!
Thank you!
Good Morning! Any of you near the Pittsburgh area? I would love to get together and form a SRT study group! Haven’t had any luck on the Facebook page hoping to find locals here!
I am praying over you mommas who are seeking the Lord during the times when all you really wanna do is seek a little peace and quiet, and then even that is difficult!! I am cheering you on. You’re doing a hard, important thing. Thank you for being a momma in the Word. A momma who prays. It matters. Thank you for your service to your little ones.
Praying with you, ABD!!!
ABD, don’t give up hope! Gods timing is mysterious and it’s impossible to see that He’s working sometimes, but trust that He is. The song “Do it Again” by elevation worship helps me to be reminded of God’s faithfulness when I feel like he’s not listening to my requests or working in my heart.
I love how Jesus always focuses on our hearts and intrinsic life. He knows that if we work on the inside, our outside life will be changed as well. I pray that I would focus on the thoughts of my heart and yield them to Christ’s.
ADB, praying for you and your family. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
What is the Law of the Kingdom of God? It is the law of Love. Vertically to God in Heavens, and horizontally to people around us. And if one asks, how do I love God and people? We can refer to the famous love chapter 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, often times recited at weddings, which shows God’s standards and the whole process of what mature love looks like. Love is such a commitment of the heart, mind, soul and strength. It is not simple or easy to love like the Love Chapter tells us, but possible, totally possible by God’s grace.
I would love prayers for reconciliation for several important broken family relationships. For several years I prayed, prayed and prayed, but then it just became too painful as they remained broken. I’m starting to pray again.
Today has been rough. I just wanted to sit and do my study in peace but doing a virtual school day with my 2 oldest and my youngest has now learned how to climb and get into everything. My mom called during nap time so didn’t get it done then. I am irritated and frustrated and then I read Matthew 5:22. It was telling me to speak life and my words can kill and here I was getting angry with my kids.
Praying that I keep those words with me during this season!
37 years ago today! May 5, 1984 I accepted Jesus into my heart at the young age of 17 years old! I’ll never forget it.
So often I feel that the 3rd piece of SRT teaching comes in reading all of your comments each day. Thank you all for faithfully sharing what God puts on your heart. Seems like we really could boil all of our walk with Christ down to loving God and loving others. The more we do the first, the better equipped we are to live out the latter. God bless each one of you, sisters!!!
Really enjoyed the breakdown of the sermon on the mount at the end of today’s reading. Something that stood out to me was that Jesus didn’t say, “It was written (blank), but I tell you (blank).” He said, “You have heard it said (blank).” It wasn’t that the Old Testament law was contrary to Jesus’s principles, it was that people, religious leaders, etc. had twisted and convoluted it to mean something it was never supposed to mean. Whenever something in scripture confuses me or something someone says about the Bible doesn’t sit quite right with me, I’m glad I can always come back to Jesus for Him to clear things up! He leads and guides me in understanding.
I couldn’t have said it better than Churchmouse. So mothers of young children please take time to read her comment. I remember those days and there are times when I wish I could go back to when they were little. My children are 20 and 15. And oh… These arms long to hold them as they fall to to sleep. Thank you Lord for blessing me with 2 beautiful children that love YOU!
The main thing I got out of today’s readings is the focus on our hearts. If our hearts are truly His, then our behavior, desires, etc. will flow from our love for Him rather than out of a sense of obligation. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Mat. 6:21. “Delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Ps. 37:4. He changes our hearts when we delight in Him!! May Jesus be our deepest treasure always!! Then our hearts will line up with the law!!
Churchmouse, love the bottom line and your words this morning. All the scripture pointing to what our God desires, not burnt offerings, but reverence for what is Holy to our God. Micah 6:8 What the Lord requires of us, to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. Lord help me to honor you in all of these no matter what the day brings, focus my eyes on you alone and my heart, mind soul and strength is loving you in all I do.
Erb, think you for your words this morning praying for you this morning His peace around you. Isaiah 4 is so brief, the smoke reminded me of the Arc and the cloud of God leading the Israelites. I loved in verse 5 and 6 “over all the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and a shade from the heat of the day and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and the rain.” Like Jesus, our Shelter, our Hiding Place covering us. To God be all glory. His best to you all this day Sisters. Love and joy, mercy and grace like a river.
Dear Sisters, thank you for all your words of wisdom this day! You really add to my understanding and give me strength. Have a wonderful day!
Angela, I agree 100%. When I try to be like Jesus I struggle. When I get l close to him through prayer, worship, and reading his word, I become more like Him. So thankful it’s not all up to my own strength.
James 2:19-22
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? Jesus said he came to fulfill the law not to abolish it. We had the Pharisees who believed the law would save them and the antimoniums who believed they were saved my grace so the law doesn’t apply. I believe the Bible makes it perfectly clear that we are saved by Grace through Jesus Christ alone but the evidence of our belief is dying to sin and obedience to God. Gods law hasn’t changed. The 10 commandments God wrote with his finger in stone allow us to understand what sin is. Once we are saved we are to become perfect and be like Christ. This means we don’t go on committing murder, lying, stealing, being covetous, putting other things above God, worshiping idols or graven images and that means we are also called to keep the Sabbath. Jesus summed these commandments up into loving God with all of your heart and loving your neighbor. If we love our neighbor we don’t steal from them lie to them or try to If we love God we put no other Gods before him and we delight in remembering to keep the Sabbath holy. Growing up as a Protestant Non denominational Christian all my life I always went to church on Sunday bc that’s what everyone did. But over the past year I have come to realize this fourth commandment shouldn’t be overlooked. If we love Him we obey His commandments. All of them. Like a bride saying her marriage vows we commit to His covenant. People never seem to have a problem acknowledging that we should still keep the other 9… it’s the 4th one people have a problem with. I think more people should study Gods word and see that it’s still important and required.
If we are to love God and love others, what then is love? “ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT
Lord, Fill me with Your Spirit anew this day. Help me to “love” as you loved. More of You, sweet Jesus, much, much less of me.
Mothers of young children, there is a season for everything. This may very well not be the time for anything but prayers on the go. Give yourself grace! A prayer of “Help!” is still talking(ok maybe yelling) to God your Father. He knows your season of life and He does not expect you to dig into apologetics or even do SRT every day. You’re parenting the children He entrusted to you. That is His will for your life now. Think about that. You are in His will, even if it’s chaotic. There’s no other place He would want you or really anything else He would have you do. He knows you’re not perfect (He doesn’t expect it) and He knows parenting is HARD (look at His kids lol). He treasures every prayer and every tear. An honest prayer is more valued than a pretty one. So you don’t get your Bible reading or devotions done today, it’s okay. He knows your heart and that is enough. Tell Him “Help!” or “Please! “or “Thanks.“ You’re in His will, fulfilling your purpose and you’re talking to your Father who is happy with every little conversation. Sounds like a very good day!
Thank you church mouse, this was needed today
Amen!
@Heidi, I’m walking through that same season! Trying to cram in devotional time and being upset or angry when it gets interrupted 463 times for potty breaks, snacks, diaper changes, help with changing in and out of princess dresses (over and over and over again!), Cocomelon playing in the background and putting out other mini fires all day long. Sometimes it’s all I can do to read it in “pieces” and it takes me until noon to finally finish it! And then I’m like…what did I just read again?
But I think you hit the nail right on the head! The heart posture is the most important. I admit, my “teenage girl vibes” can take over too and put me in a sour, bitter mood. That’s when I pause, and think about trying again during a different (maybe more nap-filled?) time and pray a quick prayer for patience and grace this morning while I try and refocus my heart. We’re giving our best in this tough, sweet, busy season of young motherhood while modeling Christ and failing almost daily, but it is a continual lesson on uncovering the ugly parts of my heart and making them more like Him. We’re being refined by the fire, and it certainly feels like it sometimes! Solidarity, sweet sister!
What good does following the law to the letter do when I don’t care to take the time to know the God who created them? Getting close to the Father’s heart changes my own heart and then my outward actions reflect that. It’s about relationship, with God and with others. Love God, love others…the rest will follow. Thank you Jesus for making such a beautiful way for us!
Woke up in a “mood”… actually, it more developed but just very quickly as my usual personal quiet time was interrupted by small ppl who live in my house and need me all of the time… It’s what I get for daring to sleep in a tiny bit. So- there was a filter through which I was reading Matthew through and I have to say I wasn’t taking it well. Mentally I was literally yelling back at those red-letters (VERY annoyed-at-her-parents-teenage-girl-vibes) “I ALREADY KNOW IM NOT GOOD ENOUGH THANKS FOR THE AWESOME REMINDERS!!” (aaaaaaannnnnndddddd—- door slam!). It Was all I could do to continue the reading because i just honestly (being VERY honest) didn’t want to hear/read it today. HOWEVER- even in the mood (praying I get out of it), I’m so grateful that I GET to fall short. I’m so grateful that on days like these, moments like these, my God is still right here with me, loving me, encouraging me, patiently waiting on me and my heart and mind to shift. I’m still not in the mood to read a lot of “do this or go to hell” lists (YES I KNOW IM SAVED BY GRACE AND THAT LAST STATEMENT WAS A WILDLY INCORRECT MISINTERPRETATION OF THE PASSAGES) Let’s all pray whatever is motivating my irritation to just please go. AND- it melts some of the frosted corners of my heart to be reminded His grace is sufficient, His mercies are new, His kindness (not anger or wrath) is here to lead me to a better place/mood/plan of action. Praying that kindness soaks in and pours out of me & onto others today.
Churchmouse thank you for showing us the bottom line! It is nothing but Jesus that earns us our salvation, nothing but Jesus that makes us righteous, nothing but Jesus that makes us whole! To HIM be all the glory and praise! I recommend listening to the song “I Thank God” by Maverick City Music and Upperroom to get your praise on :)
Mathew 5:37 “But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.”
This verse really stood out to me today!! Reminded me of Mathew 5:13 that we read yesterday… 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”
It’s so easy (at least for me) to want to empathize in a way that compromises and waters down God’s truth so that it’s more comfortable for me or for the person I’m talking to… So I really like how this chapter of Mathew encourages us to stay salty, to let our yes be yes, and our no mean no. It’s both convicting and encouraging!! Lord please help me to be salty, and not to be afraid of telling the truth (in love) exactly the way it is!! Amen!!
Maura, I too thought Isaiah 3 was hard to read… the consequences and destruction that come from living openly for ‘self’ is truly devastating!! But like you, I saw God’s faithfulness in it. He wants a people fully devoted to Him and Him alone. Chapter 4 (as short as it is) gives us a small glimpse of how incredibly faithful God is!! He waits for us to come to Him and then washes the filth away and calls us His own. Such a hard, painful process to come to the end of ourselves, but oh so Beautiful!!
Churchmouse, you said it all! “Jesus took all the laws the Pharisees had devised, gave then a good shake and bottom-lined them to just two. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. Adherence to rules and regulations is reduced to loving God and others. Another bottom line is only Jesus saves. Nothing I do earns me salvation.” So well expressed and succinct.
I’m a “bottom line” kind of person. I would be that one to say “Jesus, bottom line, what must I do to be saved?“ Jesus took all the laws the Pharisees had devised, gave then a good shake and bottom-lined them to just two. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. Adherence to rules and regulations is reduced to loving God and others. Another bottom line is only Jesus saves. Nothing I do earns me salvation. Surrendering to Him as Lord and Savior leads to loving Him more and loving my neighbor more. That’s how the Gospel is spread. They will know we are Christians by our love. Bottom line.
Thank you Jesus!
Just a thought: God wants our hearts. If we are opperating out of love we fulfill the law. For if we love Him there will be no other gods before Him. If we love others we would not lie, steal, or kill them. I think Jesus’ point of surpassing the righteousness of the Pharisees was that they may have kept the law, but did not operate out of love.
STRUGGLING – praying you have a good day today❤
Teach me, Lord, to love you with everything I have within me.
Amen!