Observing the Law for Salvation

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 104 views

Can the Law be observed in a way that leads to salvation? (Matthew 23:13)

Understanding the Context

The Bible is filled with teachings on the Law and its relationship to salvation. In Matthew 23:13, Jesus addresses the Pharisees, a group of Jewish leaders who were known for their strict adherence to the Law. However, Jesus criticizes them for their hypocrisy and for shutting the kingdom of heaven against men. This passage raises an important question: can the Law be observed in a way that leads to salvation?

The Pharisees and the Law

The Pharisees were a group of Jewish leaders who emerged in the 2nd century BC. They were known for their strict adherence to the Law, which they believed was the key to salvation. They spent countless hours studying the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, and developed a complex system of rules and regulations to ensure that they were living in accordance with God's will.

However, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. He says that they shut the kingdom of heaven against men, meaning that they made it impossible for people to enter the kingdom of heaven through their strict adherence to the Law. This criticism is not because the Law itself is bad, but because the Pharisees had distorted its true meaning and purpose.

The Purpose of the Law

The Law was given by God to the Israelites as a means of guiding them in their relationship with Him. It was meant to be a guide for living a holy and righteous life, and to show the Israelites how to love and serve God. However, the Pharisees had turned the Law into a means of earning salvation, rather than a guide for living a life of love and service.

In Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus says that He did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. He explains that the Law was given to show people their need for a Savior, and that He is the fulfillment of that Law. This means that the Law is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a guide for living a life of love and service to God.

Observing the Law for Salvation

So, can the Law be observed in a way that leads to salvation? The answer is no. The Law is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a guide for living a life of love and service to God. Jesus says that the Law was given to show people their need for a Savior, and that He is the fulfillment of that Law.

In Matthew 23:24, Jesus says that the Pharisees strain out a gnat, but swallow a camel. This means that they were so focused on following the Law that they neglected the more important things in life, such as love and compassion. This is a warning to us today, that we must not get so caught up in following the rules and regulations of the Law that we forget the true purpose of the Law, which is to guide us in living a life of love and service to God.

The Relationship Between the Law and Salvation

So, what is the relationship between the Law and salvation? The Law is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a guide for living a life of love and service to God. Jesus says that the Law was given to show people their need for a Savior, and that He is the fulfillment of that Law.

In Romans 3:20, Paul says that through the Law, we know that we are sinners, and that we need a Savior. This means that the Law is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a means of showing us our need for a Savior. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law, and He is the one who saves us from our sins.

The Importance of Faith

So, what is the importance of faith in relation to the Law and salvation? Faith is the key to understanding the true purpose of the Law. Jesus says that the Law was given to show people their need for a Savior, and that He is the fulfillment of that Law. This means that faith is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a means of trusting in Jesus as our Savior.

In Galatians 3:11, Paul says that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. This means that faith is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a means of trusting in Jesus as our Savior. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law, and He is the one who saves us from our sins.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Law is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a guide for living a life of love and service to God. Jesus says that the Law was given to show people their need for a Savior, and that He is the fulfillment of that Law. Faith is the key to understanding the true purpose of the Law, and it is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a means of trusting in Jesus as our Savior.

The Pharisees and the Law: A Lesson for Today

The Pharisees were a group of Jewish leaders who emerged in the 2nd century BC. They were known for their strict adherence to the Law, which they believed was the key to salvation. However, Jesus criticizes them for their hypocrisy and for shutting the kingdom of heaven against men. This passage raises an important question: can the Law be observed in a way that leads to salvation?

The answer is no. The Law is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a guide for living a life of love and service to God. Jesus says that the Law was given to show people their need for a Savior, and that He is the fulfillment of that Law. This means that the Law is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a means of guiding us in living a life of love and service to God.

The Importance of Love and Service

The Pharisees were so focused on following the Law that they neglected the more important things in life, such as love and compassion. This is a warning to us today, that we must not get so caught up in following the rules and regulations of the Law that we forget the true purpose of the Law, which is to guide us in living a life of love and service to God.

In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus says that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This means that love and service are the most important things in life, and that we must not neglect them in our pursuit of following the Law.

The Relationship Between the Law and Love

So, what is the relationship between the Law and love? The Law is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a guide for living a life of love and service to God. Jesus says that the Law was given to show people their need for a Savior, and that He is the fulfillment of that Law.

In Romans 13:10, Paul says that love is the fulfillment of the Law. This means that love is the key to understanding the true purpose of the Law, and that it is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a means of guiding us in living a life of love and service to God.

Conclusion

The Pharisees and the Law: A Lesson for Today

The Importance of Love and Service

The Relationship Between the Law and Love

**The Importance of
Q&A: Can the Law be observed in a way that leads to salvation? (Matthew 23:13)

Q: What is the main message of Matthew 23:13?

A: The main message of Matthew 23:13 is that the Law is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a guide for living a life of love and service to God. Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and for shutting the kingdom of heaven against men.

Q: What is the relationship between the Law and salvation?

Q: Can the Law be observed in a way that leads to salvation?

A: No, the Law is not a means of earning salvation. The Law is a guide for living a life of love and service to God, and it is not a means of earning salvation.

Q: What is the importance of faith in relation to the Law and salvation?

A: Faith is the key to understanding the true purpose of the Law. Jesus says that the Law was given to show people their need for a Savior, and that He is the fulfillment of that Law. Faith is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a means of trusting in Jesus as our Savior.

Q: What is the relationship between the Law and love?

A: The Law is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a guide for living a life of love and service to God. Jesus says that the Law was given to show people their need for a Savior, and that He is the fulfillment of that Law. Love is the fulfillment of the Law, and it is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a means of guiding us in living a life of love and service to God.

Q: What is the importance of love and service in relation to the Law?

A: Love and service are the most important things in life, and they are the key to understanding the true purpose of the Law. Jesus says that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Q: What is the warning to us today from the Pharisees and the Law?

A: The Pharisees were so focused on following the Law that they neglected the more important things in life, such as love and compassion. This is a warning to us today, that we must not get so caught up in following the rules and regulations of the Law that we forget the true purpose of the Law, which is to guide us in living a life of love and service to God.

Q: How can we apply the teachings of Matthew 23:13 to our lives today?

A: We can apply the teachings of Matthew 23:13 to our lives today by focusing on living a life of love and service to God. We must not get so caught up in following the rules and regulations of the Law that we forget the true purpose of the Law, which is to guide us in living a life of love and service to God.

Q: What is the ultimate goal of the Law?

A: The ultimate goal of the Law is to guide us in living a life of love and service to God. Jesus says that the Law was given to show people their need for a Savior, and that He is the fulfillment of that Law.

Q: How can we know if we are truly following the Law?

A: We can know if we are truly following the Law by examining our hearts and our actions. Are we living a life of love and service to God? Are we following the rules and regulations of the Law, or are we neglecting the more important things in life, such as love and compassion?

Q: What is the relationship between the Law and the gospel?

A: The Law is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a guide for living a life of love and service to God. The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of the Law. The gospel is the means of salvation, and it is not a means of earning salvation, but rather a means of trusting in Jesus as our Savior.

Q: How can we apply the gospel to our lives today?

A: We can apply the gospel to our lives today by trusting in Jesus as our Savior. We must not try to earn salvation through our good works or our adherence to the Law, but rather we must trust in Jesus and His finished work on the cross.