Ask the Pastor 47

Why is the teaching of Jesus better than Moses?

This question goes with the question of the difference between law and grace. “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17). Our Lord did not disparage Moses in any way but rather stated, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17). The teaching of our Lord was to bring the law up to its fullness. Moses prophesied of one to come who would be greater than him (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) and warned that Israel was to listen to Him. Our Lord is seen to have a higher position than that of Moses (Hebrews 3:5-6) where Moses is seen as a faithful servant in the house of God, but the Lord is the son over the house and as the Son, the Lord Jesus is God which is not true of Moses. Moses gave the law, but the law cannot bring us to God, “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20). For what the law could not do, our Lord Jesus accomplished in His death and resurrection. It has been said, “Do this the law demands, but gives me neither feet nor hands, a better message the gospel brings, it gives me wings and bids me fly.” What is required of us is to appropriate the gospel of grace by our faith in the Lord Jesus.

Have questions about the Bible? Send them to Dr. Greg Koehn at gak4850@gmail.com and read the answer here in this article.