.
In a conversation not too long ago a member here said the laws and guidelines in the Old Testament were written for the Jews, and that they don't apply to Christians. Now I know he didn't mean all Old Testament laws and guidelines, just those he was finding troublesome.
So, I guess you could say that Jesus also picked and chose. He said that whichever things were loving were the proper laws.
My question here is that in light of what is said in the New Testament:
2nd timothy 3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
how can a Christian honestly dismiss
any parts of the Old Testament?
.
.
Matthew 21:43. He said, “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you” — addressing the Jewish leaders as representative of Israel — “and given to a people producing its fruits.” In other words, Christians.
"According to one Christian source "The implication this has for the appropriation of the Old Testament laws is that all the laws which had as their design a ritual distinction between Israel and the nations have come to an end because those nations are now being folded into the very people of God, and the cultural stumbling blocks are being removed — like circumcision, like food and dietary laws, like the weaving together of two different fabrics that you’re not supposed to wear in order to show that there’s a distinction between Israel and the nations."
The above source also states "He then argues that the law in some cases was a temporary compromise with sin, but in the beginning it was not so; it was different." (I will look up the passage if you need me to. I do remember it.)
Another good point made by this source states "Matthew 12:7: “And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.” In other words, there are mercy and law commandments, which sum up the entire legal, moral code, and become a guideline for us today." I would say that mercy is one of the Ten Commandments because it is a part of love.
John 10:30-39
30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’[a]? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
Romans 7:4–6: “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another.” So once you belonged to the law; now you belong to another — “to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.”
Jesus healed on the Sabbath many times.
Mark 2:23-28 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Hebrews 10:11-22 Speaks of an end to sacrifices because Jesus was the sacrifice for all sin and the Holy Spirit says that He will put my laws in their hearts,and will write them on their minds and their sins and lawless acts He will remember no more.
“This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20) Jesus particularly states that He is the New Covenant which is the law.
Jesus says explicitly in Mark 7:19 that all foods are now clean for you.
1 Corinthians 7:19: “For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.”
Jesus did speak of the Ten Commandments, particularly of love, so that Christians should always be loving people. That is what Jesus was about.
And my source for those parts I quoted a source is
Five Ways Jesus Changes Our Relationship to the Old Testament. I am not the only person with these beliefs.
I think that the most important thing for any Christian to realize is that Jesus said:
Matthew 22:36-40 English Standard Version (ESV)
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Paul stated also: 1 Corinthians 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
So, I guess you could say that Jesus also picked and chose. He said that whichever things were loving were the proper laws.