“Jesus Confronts the Oral Law”

What is meant by “oral law”? Some of God’s laws are specific, others more vague. Romans 13:9 (NKJV) 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

What is meant by “oral law”? Some of God’s laws are specific, others more vague. 1 Timothy 2:9 (NKJV) 9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,

Women’s fashion from 1900…to 2013 Which is “modest”? Neck lines have dropped… Material: tighter, more transparent… Length of skirt has changed…

Men’s fashions have changed too… Which is “modest”? Inappropriate advertisements… Amount of exposure has changed… Tightness…

Do we consider the styles worn at the time the Bible was written to understand what it meant to be “modest”?

What is meant by “oral law”? Some of God’s laws are specific, others more vague. Exodus 31:15 (NKJV) 15 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

Man should not attempt to create and/or enforce oral laws where God has not. Luke 11:37–38 (NKJV) 37 And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. 38 When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.

Man should not attempt to create and/or enforce oral laws where God has not. Mark 7:3–4, 7 (NKJV) 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches…"Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

Man should not attempt to create and/or enforce oral laws where God has not. Acts 1:12 (NKJV) 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.

Jesus Confronts the Oral Law Jesus warned against the scribes and Pharisees’ system of righteousness: Matthew 5:20 (NKJV) 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus refused to be bound by oral law. He didn’t teach His disciples to follow the oral law regarding cleanliness and defilement: (Mark 7:1-2) Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. (NKJV)

Jesus refused to be bound by oral law. He defended His disciples plucking and eating grain on the Sabbath: (Matthew 12:1-8) At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!" But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: "how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? "Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? "Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. "But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. "For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." (NKJV)

Jesus refused to be bound by oral law. He broke the oral law by healing people by healing people on the Sabbath. Luke 13:14 (NKJV) 14 But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”

Jesus refused to be bound by oral law. He broke the oral law by healing people by healing people on the Sabbath. Romans 14:1 (NKJV) 1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

Jesus refused to be bound by oral law. He broke the oral law by healing people by healing people on the Sabbath. Romans 14:4 (NKJV) 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

Jesus refused to be bound by oral law. Jesus exposed the oral law as hypocritical, self-serving and a setting aside of the commandments of God: Mark 7:1–13 (NKJV) 1 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” 6 He…

Jesus refused to be bound by oral law. Jesus exposed the oral law as hypocritical, self-serving and a setting aside of the commandments of God: Mark 7:1–13 (NKJV) …answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men— the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” 9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit…

Jesus refused to be bound by oral law. Jesus exposed the oral law as hypocritical, self-serving and a setting aside of the commandments of God: Mark 7:1–13 (NKJV) …you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

Jesus refused to be bound by oral law. Jesus avoided being trapped by the oral law. Matthew 19:3–6 (NKJV) 3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” 4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’ ? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Jesus refused to be bound by oral law. Jesus avoided being trapped by the oral law. Deuteronomy 24:1 (NKJV) 1 “When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce…

Jesus refused to be bound by oral law. Jesus publically challenged those who upheld the oral law. Luke 6:6–11 (NKJV) 6 Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. 8 But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?” 10 And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. 11 But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Oral law is an addition to God’s law. The danger of oral law. Oral law is ERROR! Oral law is an addition to God’s law. Deuteronomy 4:2 (NKJV) 2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

Oral law is an addition to God’s law. The danger of oral law. Oral law is ERROR! Oral law is an addition to God’s law. John 5:16 (NKJV) 16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.