Endzone:
What are His commandments?
In the OT there were carnal ordinances. When we say carnal we simply mean that these ordinances were of the flesh or were kept out of fleshly observance. The writer of Hebrews brings this out and makes a very powerful contrast between the carnal ordinances and the things of the Spirit ushered in by Jesus Christ.
Heb 9:10-28 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. (11) But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (13) For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: (14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (15) And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (16) For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. (17) For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. (18) Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. (19) For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, (20) Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. (21) Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. (22) And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (23) It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (24) For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (25) Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; (26) For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (28) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Notice that the carnal ordinances are referred to as a PATTERN of the things in the heavenlies or in the Spirit. Now the pattern is only a representation of a thing and not the thing itself. Jesus made this point in the Sermon on the Mount. He began by saying that unless the righteousness of the people exceeded that of the scribes and Pharisees that they would in no way enter the kingdom of God. Now the kingdom is not some location called “heaven” that is out in space somewhere, nor is it a reward for good deeds, but it is found in restoration to right relationship with God. Romans 14:17, 1 Cor. 4:20
I am now part of or in the kingdom of God. That kingdom will one day be established in a very literal way on this earth in the reign and rule of Jesus Christ. The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was a carnal righteousness, we understand they were not really righteous in God’s eyes, that the people despaired of ever attaining. To them the Pharisee was the pinnacle of righteousness due to the zeal with which he kept the law. Jesus statement would have pulled the rug out from under everyone on that mountain. Then Jesus illustrates His point with statements such as, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” The commandment did not deal with lust. A Pharisee could lust all he wanted to and still have kept the law in respect to adultery. Jesus shows the people that what true righteousness looks like is something the law with its carnal ordinances does not even begin to approach unto.
But the law was good enough to accomplish the purpose for which it was sent. It brought man to a point of despair at ever being good enough by keeping ordinances in his flesh. If it is used lawfully, 1Ti 1:8-10 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; (9) Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, (10) For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
Rom 7:12-14 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. (13) Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. (14) For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Gal 3:19-25 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. (20) Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. (21) Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. (22) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. (23) But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. (24) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (25) But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Given the purpose of the OT law and the righteousness that is provided without the law and given the aggregate of Paul and Jesus teaching on the law, I must conclude that the commandments Jesus refers to are not found in the carnal ordinances. Look at these two passages.
Rom 7:1-13 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? (2) For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. (3) So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. (4) Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. (5) For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. (6) But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. (7) What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. (8) But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. (9) For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. (10) And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. (11) For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. (12) Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. (13) Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Heb 10:1-18 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. (2) For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. (3) But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. (4) For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (5) Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: (6) In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. (7) Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. (8) Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; (9) Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (10) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (11) And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (13) From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. (14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (15) Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, (16) This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (17) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (18) Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
The shadow is not the thing. Jesus did fulfill all the law and the prophets. He fulfilled the prophets when He said and did exactly that they foretold. He fulfilled the law in that He became the one sacrifice that set us free from carnal ordinances to serve in newness of life. He has set us free from the carnal ordinances which were a mere shadow or representation meant to serve as an insurmountable obstacle between man’s ability and righteousness and has instead written His laws, His true commandments, on our hearts. Jeremiah 31:33, Heb. 8, Heb. 10. So when I serve Him out of relationship and are obedient to the voice of the Holy Spirit I will by the very nature of regeneration and righteousness keep the commandments of God.
I will give a very practical example. The law does not speak at all about television. Television is not evil. Yet I have had God lead me to NOT have a television. I have obeyed. This was God’s commandment. Some of these commandments are universal. For example we are to forgive our brother. We have no choice. Some are unique as me not owning a television.
I encourage you to study all the scriptures that speak to our liberty in Christ. Paul totally annuls the dietary laws as he speaks of eating in faith.
I believe we must define the commandments as something other than and superior to the OT law. We please God when we walk in the Spirit, led of the Holy Spirit. We please Him by sold out intimate relationship with Him in which He is Lord of all and we are not lord of anything.
