Adult Bible Study Guide Apr May Jun 2014 Adult Bible Study Guide Apr May Jun 2014 powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente

Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide An Appeal Dear User…. This PowerPoint Show is freely shared to all who may find it beneficial. While intended primarily for personal use, some find it useful for teaching the lesson in church. There are those, however, who add illustrations, change background, change fonts, etc. While their intention may be good, this is not right. Slide #2 says “designed by claro ruiz vicente.” For honest Christians, it is not necessary for another’s creation to be copyrighted in order to be respected. P LEASE U SE A S I S.

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Christ and His Law Contents 1 Laws in Christ’s Day 2 Christ and the Law of Moses 3 Christ and Religious Tradition 4 Christ and the Law in the Sermon on the Mount 5 Christ and the Sabbath 6 Christ’s Death and the Law 7 Christ, the End of the Law 8 The Law of God and the Law of Christ 9 Christ, the Law and the Gospel 10 Christ, the Law and the Covenants 11 The Apostles and the Law 12 Christ’s Church and the Law 13 Christ’s Kingdom and the Law

Christ and His Law Our Goal WE WILL study the law, especially the question of why so many Christians—misunderstanding the relationship between law and grace—have fallen into the trap of denying the continued validity of the Ten Commandments, thus unwittingly helping the attempt to “overthrow” God’s law.

Christ and His Law Lesson 3, April 19 Christ and His Law Lesson 3, April 19 Christ and Religious Tradition

Key Text Matthew 15:8, 9 RSV “ ‘ “THIS PEOPLE honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.” ’ ”

Christ and Religious Tradition Initial Words THE RABBIS who originally penned these traditions greatly respected the Scriptures and had no intention for these traditions to be elevated to the status of God’s Word. Some of their zealous disciples con- fused the method with the message and in doing so shifted the focus from God’s Word to human tradition.

Christ and Religious Tradition Quick Look 1. Human Commandments (Matthew 15:8, 9) 2. Traditions of the Elders (Matthew 15:1, 2) 3. Precepts of Men (Matthew 15:5, 6)

Christ and Religious Tradition 1. Human Commandments Matthew 15:8, 9 NLT “ ‘THESE PEOPLE honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ ”

1. Human Commandments Seat of Moses THE NAME Pharisees means “to separate.” In an age when many Jews had become greatly influenced by pagan cultures, the Pharisees saw it as their duty to ensure that every Jewish male was taught the law. To do this task, they formed the position of rabbi, which means “my great one” or “my teacher.”

1. Human Commandments Seat of Moses In saying that the “ ‘scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat,’ ” Jesus acknowledged their positions as teachers of the people (Matt. 23:2). The negative image of the Pharisee is so frequent in Scripture that the word is often used as a synonym for legalist.

1. Human Commandments Seat of Moses Jesus’ big problem with the Pharisees was not so much that they wanted others to keep the law of Moses but that they themselves were not keeping it. They were hypocritical—they said one thing, but did another—and even when they did the right thing, they did it for wrong reasons.

1. Human Commandments Worship in Vain Although the scribes and Pharisees “sat in Moses’ seat,” their source of authority for religious instruction extended beyond the Old Testament. The law that the Pharisees utilized consisted of biblical interpretations of leading rabbis.

1. Human Commandments Worship in Vain The minor laws began to take on major status, and after a while it was difficult to distinguish the traditional from the biblical. It does not appear that Jesus had a problem with the Pharisees having their own rules. He did have a problem with the elevation of these rules to the status of “doctrine.”

Christ and Religious Tradition 2. Traditions of the Elders Matthew 15:1, 2 NKJV “THEN THE scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, ‘Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.’ ”

2. Tradition of the Elders Washing of Hands THE DISCIPLES were not in violation of Mosaic law but the “tradition of the elders.” The issue was really about ceremonial uncleanliness.

2. Tradition of the Elders Washing of Hands The Pharisees were concerned that as people went about their daily business they would touch items that had been defiled. Consequently, if they ate without washing, they would contaminate themselves ceremonially by touching the food.

Christ and Religious Tradition 3. Precepts of Men Matthew 15:5, 6 NKJV “ ‘BUT YOU say, “ whoever says to his father or mother, ‘whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God’—then He need not honor his father or mother.” Thus you might have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.’ ”

3. Precepts of Men Above Divine Standard “THE SUBSTITUTION of the precepts of men for the commandments of God has not ceased. Even among Christians are found institutions and usages that have no better foundation than the traditions of the fathers.

3. Precepts of Men Above Divine Standard Such institutions, resting upon mere human authority, have supplanted those of divine appointment. Men cling to their traditions, and revere their customs, and cherish hatred against those who seek to show them their error….

3. Precepts of Men Above Divine Standard In place of the authority of the so-called fathers of the church, God bids us accept the word of the eternal Father, the Lord of heaven and earth.” —The Desire of Ages 398. Jesus wanted them to know that the problem was about the elevation of human standards over divine standards.

Christ and Religious Tradition Final Words JESUS CALLS for a righteousness that exceeds what the Pharisees them- selves thought that they possessed. It can be gained only by faith in Jesus Christ and by claiming His righteousness for ourselves.