Many believe that there is a conflict between what Jesus taught and what Paul taught. There is no conflict. Both what Jesus taught and what Paul taught are very compatible with each other. Jesus was a teacher of the law. His purpose in teaching the law was to reveal the nature and character of God and the sinfulness of man. Jesus took the law of Moses and elevated it. He also spiritualized it. Many times Jesus would say...
"You have heard it said by them of old time...but I say unto you".
He would then either elevate the law of Moses or he would spiritualize it. A good example is Matthew 5:27-30. Under the law it was sin to commit adultery, but now if you look at a woman and lust after her you have already committed adultery with her in your heart, Matthew 5:28.
The law now searches the thoughts and the intent of the heart, Hebrews 4:12. This is why Paul wrote,
"For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin" Romans 7:14
Paul understood that he was a sinner, not because of his actions, but because he was born after Adam, Romans 5:12. This is why he said, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one" Romans 3:10.
It is not humanly possible to obey the law of Moses and the commandments of Jesus. The two great pillars of the law are...
"You shall love God with all of your heart mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself" Matthew 22:37-40.
The self righteous rich young ruler thought that he had kept all of the commandments of God from the time that he was a youth, but when Jesus said, "If you will be perfect, go and sell all that you have and give it to the poor" Matthew 19:21. If you are going to love your neighbor as yourself, then you will have to sell all that you have and give it to the poor. The scripture say that the rich young ruler went away sorrowfully because he had many possessions.
It is not the purpose of the law to make one righteous as many seem to believe. The sole purpose of the law is to reveal the nature and character of God and to reveal the sinfulness of man. Paul wrote,
"Now we know that what things so ever the law says, it says to them that are under the law: THAT EVERY MOUTH MAY BE STOPPED AND ALL OF THE WORLD MAY BECOME GUILTY BEFORE GOD. Therefor by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: FOR BY THE LAW IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN" Romans 3:19-20.
Jesus was trying to tell us that our standards fall short of what God requires. To some this is very obvious, to others they just don't seem to get it. The only thing that is going to pass in the judgment is the righteousness of Jesus Christ all other righteousness will disappear in a puff of smoke.
"You have heard it said by them of old time...but I say unto you".
He would then either elevate the law of Moses or he would spiritualize it. A good example is Matthew 5:27-30. Under the law it was sin to commit adultery, but now if you look at a woman and lust after her you have already committed adultery with her in your heart, Matthew 5:28.
The law now searches the thoughts and the intent of the heart, Hebrews 4:12. This is why Paul wrote,
"For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin" Romans 7:14
Paul understood that he was a sinner, not because of his actions, but because he was born after Adam, Romans 5:12. This is why he said, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one" Romans 3:10.
It is not humanly possible to obey the law of Moses and the commandments of Jesus. The two great pillars of the law are...
"You shall love God with all of your heart mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself" Matthew 22:37-40.
The self righteous rich young ruler thought that he had kept all of the commandments of God from the time that he was a youth, but when Jesus said, "If you will be perfect, go and sell all that you have and give it to the poor" Matthew 19:21. If you are going to love your neighbor as yourself, then you will have to sell all that you have and give it to the poor. The scripture say that the rich young ruler went away sorrowfully because he had many possessions.
It is not the purpose of the law to make one righteous as many seem to believe. The sole purpose of the law is to reveal the nature and character of God and to reveal the sinfulness of man. Paul wrote,
"Now we know that what things so ever the law says, it says to them that are under the law: THAT EVERY MOUTH MAY BE STOPPED AND ALL OF THE WORLD MAY BECOME GUILTY BEFORE GOD. Therefor by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: FOR BY THE LAW IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN" Romans 3:19-20.
Jesus was trying to tell us that our standards fall short of what God requires. To some this is very obvious, to others they just don't seem to get it. The only thing that is going to pass in the judgment is the righteousness of Jesus Christ all other righteousness will disappear in a puff of smoke.