Page 35 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2010

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“…OUR SUFFICIENCY IS FROM GOD, WHO ALSO MADE US SUFFICIENT AS MINISTERS OF THE NEW
COVENANT, NOT OF THE LETTER BUT OF THE SPIRIT; FOR THE LETTER KILLS, BUT THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE.”

2 Cor. 3:5-6

If you read the contextual setting in which the above verse is found, you will see that Paul is talking
specifically about the Law of Moses. He contrasts the Ten Commandments that were written on stone
tablets to the Law that the Spirit of God is now writing on the hearts of believers in Christ. In context,
Paul refers to the Jewish interpretation of the Law of Moses as being “the letter of the Law” which places
a veil upon the heart of the readers. The turning to Christ takes away this veil and in doing so, reveals
“the Spirit of the Law” which imparts life instead of death by means of the letter of the Law:

“…FOR UNTIL THIS DAY THE SAME VEIL REMAINS UNLIFTED IN
THE READING OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, BECAUSE THE VEIL IS

TAKEN AWAY IN CHRIST. BUT EVEN TO THIS DAY, WHEN
MOSES IS READ, A VEIL LIES ON THEIR HEART.

NEVERTHELESS, WHEN ONE TURNS TO THE LORD, THE VEIL IS
TAKEN AWAY. NOW THE LORD IS THE SPIRIT;

AND WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS,THERE IS LIBERTY.”
2 Cor. 3:14-17

THE LETTER OF THE LAW IF THIS IS INDEED THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW
WHAT PAUL IS PRESENTING,
REVEALED IN WHY WOULD A NEW TESTAMENT REVEALED IN
THE READING OF BELIEVER IN CHRIST WANT TO RETURN
TO STUDYING THE VEILED, DEAD LETTER THE NEW TESTAMENT
THE OLD TESTAMENT OF THE TORAH AS A MEANS TO
(AS GIVEN TO CHRIST)
(AS GIVEN TO MOSES) LIVE A MORE HOLY LIFE? IMPARTS
IMPARTS
LIFE
DEATH

Often, in an attempt to defend the need of New Testament believers to be Torah-observant, I hear the
argument that Jesus Himself taught such compliance. Did He indeed? Let us take a look at how Jesus
made a similar comparison such as we find Paul making above in contrasting what was in the letter of
the “Torah law” to a more Spirit-based interpretation of its true meaning:

“YOU HAVE HEARD THAT BUT I SAY UNTO YOU THAT WHOEVER IS
IT WAS SAID TO THOSE OF OLD, ANGRY WITH HIS BROTHER WITHOUT A
‘YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,’ AND WHOEVER
MURDERS WILL BE IN DANGER CAUSE SHALL BE IN DANGER OF THE
JUDGMENT…WHOEVER SAYS, ‘YOU FOOL!’
OF THE JUDGMENT.
“YOU HAVE HEARD SHALL BE IN DANGER OF HELLFIRE.”
IT WAS SAID TO THOSE OF OLD, Matt. 5:21-22
‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.’
BUT I SAY UNTO YOU THAT WHOEVER
LOOKS AT A WOMAN TO LUST FOR HER

HAS ALREADY COMMITTED ADULTERY
WITH HER IN HIS HEART.” Matt. 5:27-28

“FURTHERMORE “BUT I SAY UNTO YOU THAT WHOEVER
IT HAS BEEN SAID, (TO THOSE OF OLD) DIVORCES HIS WIFE FOR ANY REASON EXCEPT
‘WHOEVER DIVORCES HIS WIFE, LET HIM
GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE.’ SEXUAL IMMORALITY…COMMITS ADULTERY
Matt. 5:31-32
“AGAIN YOU HAVE HEARD THAT
IT WAS SAID TO THOSE OF OLD, “BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, DO NOT SWEAR AT
‘YOU SHALL NOT SWEAR FALSELY, BUT YOU ALL…BUT LET YOUR ‘YES’ BE ‘YES,’ AND
SHALL PERFORM YOUR OATHS TO THE LORD.’
YOUR ‘NO’ ‘NO.’ FOR WHATEVER IS MORE
“YOU HAVE HEARD IT WAS SAID, THAN THESE IS FROM THE EVIL ONE.”
‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE Matt. 5:33-37

AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ “BUT I TELL YOU NOT TO RESIST AN EVIL
PERSON…TURN THE OTHER CHEEK…
“YOU HAVE HEARD THAT IT WAS SAID,
‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR (LET THEM EVEN SUE YOU)…” Matt. 5:38-42
AND HATE YOUR ENEMY.’
BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, BLESS
THOSE WHO CURSE YOU, DO GOOD TO THOSE
WHO HATE YOU, AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO
SPITEFULLY USE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU…”
Matt. 5:43-44