PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 16:16-18
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Everyone is forcing their way into (the kingdom).” (Luke 16:16)
My bible version calls this section ‘additional teachings’.
Jesus refers to the Law, affirms the Law, then goes beyond it.
The Law allowed for divorce, but Jesus speaks against it.
Is he dropping this ‘stroke of a pen’ from the Law?
By ‘since that time’, Jesus means after the Law, after John.
Jesus is preaching the good news of the kingdom, not the Law.
The Law is not good news, but the kingdom of God is.
The Law did not change people, it only challenged people.
The divorce law only managed divorce, the people remained sinners.
But the good news of the kingdom welcomes sinners by grace.
This is why the sinners were forcefully cling to Jesus.
The Law served its purpose, showing us our need for grace.
But Jesus takes us beyond the Law, into the loving embrace of God.
This is good news worth forcefully clinging to!
PRAYER
Lord, the Law cannot save me, it only exposes my weakness. You reveal God’s love, despite my weakness, and I desperately, forcefully cling to this!
“It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.” Understanding God is understanding what God deems important – it is He who designed us and gave us the breath of life. The more we are in tune with his intentions that more we come close to Him. There were many laws, yet Jesus promises help with the HS so that we can not only understand the law but live it meaningfully and graciously – not judgmental or condemning! It is important to know God’s will – the law is a good place to start – but Jesus is the answer to living the law the way God meant it to be!
As Matthew tells us, Jesus did not come to abolish the law but fulfil the law. That I can not do. Even the pharisees could not do that. But Jesus could and did. Tat He did on the cross and all who believe the law no longer becomes a yoke. All believers need to live for Jesus each day following the commands He has given us. It is by His grace we can live for Jesus.
1 Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured–
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.
Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!
2 Sin and despair, like the sea-waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater– yes, grace untold–
Points to the Refuge, the mighty Cross. [Refrain]
3 Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
All who are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive? [Refrain]