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Is it Humanly Possible to Obey the Law of Moses?

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Is it Humanly Possible to Obey the Law of Moses?

[Posted October 31, 2022}

Are we to understand this to mean Zacharias and Elisabeth both kept and obeyed the Mosaic Law perfectly? And if that’s the case, how can it be true when Acts 15:10 tells us the Mosaic Law is a burdensome yoke that none of us can bear?

Thanks so much for your help and I look forward to your reply.

your brother,

C​____​

Hi C​____,

Thank you for your question which is:

The Greek word translated ‘blameless’ is:

In Heb 8:7 we are told that the law itself is not ‘faultless’, placing us in dire need of “a new covenant”:

Heb 8:7  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Heb 8:8  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Heb 8:9  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

Paul tells us that he himself was “blameless… touching the righteousness which is in the law”:

Php 3:6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

​L​ook now at how this same apostle who was “blameless… touching the righteousness which is in the law”… valued “the righteousness which is in the law”:

Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

The next verse explains that the righteousness which accords with the law of Moses is “mine own righteousness” and is not “the righteousness which is of God by faith”:

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

The rich young ruler had kept the law “from [his] youth up”, and Christ still told hi​m​ there was something he was yet lacking:

Luk 18:18  And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luk 18:19  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
Luk 18:20  Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
Luk 18:21  And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
Luk 18:22  Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

According to Paul “all that thou hast” is​,​ “mine own righteousness which is in the law.”​ ​The scriptures go on to tell us that the law is not for a righteous man​;​ rather it is for the lawless and for the disobedient:

1Ti 1:8  But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
1Ti 1:9  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,
1Ti 1:10  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;

The law is for the lawless and disobedient and any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. It is “not for a righteous man” which ‘righteous man’ needs a new covenant if he aspires to the resurrection of the dead. Those who seek to keep the law of Moses are, according to the scriptures, seeking “[their] own righteousness”:

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

The Truth is only to be found in “the sum of Thy Word”:

Psa 119:160  The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever. (ASV)

I hope this helps you to see that the reason “neither we nor our parents” can bear the law of Moses is not because we are incapable of being blameless… in the righteousness which is according to the law”. Rather, the reason neither we nor our parents can bear the law of Moses is that it has no promise of life, and therefore neither we nor our fathers could bear such an unfruitful economy as the ‘law for the lawless’ with no promise of life eternal.

Act 15:10  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Act 15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Peter’s point in posing the question of verse ​10 is answered in verse 11… “But we believe that through the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved…”

YbiChrist, Mike

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