In Defense of the Faith

Jesus Our Example Kept The Law

Mr. Canright continues:

“The prophet, speaking of Jesus, says, ‘He will magnify the law, and make it honorable.’ Isaiah 42:21. Then we shall expect Jesus to keep this law, and honor it in all His ways and teachings; and so we find He did. He says Himself, ‘I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.’ John 15:10. The holy Son of God paid the greatest deference to His Father’s law, and devotedly obeyed every one of the Ten Commandments. What gives this greater force is the fact that He did this as our example. Hence the apostle says, ‘He that says, I know Him, and keeps not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.’ ‘He that says he abides in Him ought himself also so to walk even as He Walked.’ 1 John 2:1, 6. This is very plain. Christians should walk as their Master walked. He kept this law of God. If they claim to be His followers, and do not keep the commandments of God, the apostle says they are liars. DOF 37.1

“In stronger language the Savior continues: ‘For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled.’ Matthew 5:18. How could language be stronger? Heaven and earth have not passed yet. But till they do, not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law-not one. Every precept shall stand. Not even a letter, or the corner of a letter, shall be changed till heaven and earth shall pass away, yea, longer, till all (all things) are fulfilled. Christ is speaking of the law and the prophets, and He says till these are all fulfilled, the whole law shall stand. But all the prophets will not be fulfilled, even when heaven and earth pass away. No, not till the eternal kingdom is reached. Thus in the strongest language, Jesus teaches that every precept in the law will be in force until we shall reach the eternal world. He confirms this position with the following solemn words: ‘Whosoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.’ Verse 19. How sacred was every one of these commandments in the eyes of the divine Son of God! Not the least one of them can be disregarded. Reader, if you are breaking one of these commandments and teaching others to do the same, how will you meet these words of the Master in the judgment?” DOF 37.2