Is the Bible Just about Law?

Several years ago my mother told me about a preacher who delivered a good biblical lesson which concluded with a plea to think and make personal application. He had left the application open-ended making each person responsible. The stay-at-home mom would have a different application than the doctor or the widow; different also than the application to the salesman or the school teacher.

Afterward a friend of my mom snorted, “Why can’t he just tell us what to do? It would be a lot easier if we knew the rules. I could do that.” Many would agree. There is something comfortable in a packaged set of rules. It’s neat and tidy. It’s brief and simple. It is not flawed like a command lacking precise definition such as: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

OOPS! Back up. Those were the words of Jesus drawn from the Law of Moses!

It is true, a packaged law code may sound simple, brief, and tidy. Yet it strikes against the two most important commands uttered by God in which the application is open-ended. Jesus commented on the two Great Commands saying:

On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets. 

 —Matthew 22:40 (NASB95)

In the Hebrew Scriptures ‘The Law’ was not simply the law code known as Law of Moses. It was the entire Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. ‘The Prophets’ included the historical books (Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings), as well as all the books of prophecy. So, Jesus was saying that God’s revelation, up to His point in time, depended on the two Great Commands. All scripture revolved around and was connected to the commands to love God and to love one’s neighbor which both had open-ended application.

We can thank a Jewish lawyer for pointing out the gray area, “Who is my neighbor?” Yet, Jesus gave an answer in the Parable of the Good Samaritan that showed that the lawyer had asked the wrong question. (Luke 10)

The statement from my mom’s friend suggested the same kind of thinking as the lawyer. On the surface it sounds good, “Just define the rules and we can follow.” “Give me a precise definition of ‘neighbor’ and I will comply.” And yet, that is the wrong approach.

Too often, people have reduced the Bible to a set of rules and tried to push those rules on others. As a result, many people have lost interest in the Bible.

In the late 1800’s there was a shift in biblical scholarship. Instead of the inspired Word of God many saw the Bible as mere ancient literature. The literary approach might have partly been a reaction to a legal approach, but it gave way to the view that truth is largely dependent upon history and culture. Based on the trend of modern biblical interpretation many 'Christian' groups have effectively stamped the word ‘Obsolete’ on the cover of the Bible.

However, the Bible still claims to be the inspired revelation of God. The Bible claims to be relevant in giving life answers regardless of location, time, cultural background, history or politics. So, one must either embrace the Bible in its entirety or reject the whole book. There is no middle ground.

The study and application of the Bible can be challenging. Not every question in life is answered directly, not every issue resolved by a single verse. However, if we are going to be true disciples of Jesus, we must devote ourselves to His Word. We will be wise to approach the Bible with a proper attitude and with a patient, thinking mind.


Mark Stinnett

July 27, 2025

Is Doing God's Will the Same as Obeying God's Law?

The author of the book of Hebrews writes of Jesus, “I have come to do Your will” (10:9). Is that the same as obeying God’s law?

The two may seem to be equivalent, but there is a difference. The difference between the two marks the difference between the old covenant and the new covenant and largely defines how we look at Scripture.

It is true that breaking the law of God is sin (James 2:10). However, the Scripture also says that law is not for a righteous person (1 Timothy 1:9).

Jesus was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Did that mean that He simply did not break any rules? Did God send His Son so that we would stop breaking rules?

To do the will of God is more than obeying the legal aspects of God’s word. Jesus was not merely flawless according to the Law of Moses. He was more. That was actually the point that the writer of Hebrews was making when he said of Jesus: “I have come to do Your will.”

That statement about Jesus was set in contrast to the first covenant in which sacrifices were offered “continually year by year” (10:3). Jesus introduced a better covenant through a better sacrifice. He presented Himself as a sacrifice that was acceptable to God for all sin for all people for all time (10:12).

But what was the new covenant? A new set of rules?

Jesus said of Himself that He had come to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17-20). He went on to say that one’s righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees.

In their day, the Pharisees were known as elite law-keepers. They were very strict when it came to the Law of Moses. In fact, in order to keep from breaking the Law of Moses, they created rules that were even stricter. The idea seemed to be that if they stepped over the line and broke their strict laws, they would still be a step away from breaking God’s law.

So, did Jesus mean that His disciples were supposed to be stricter than the Pharisees???

Jesus later taught that the two great commands (to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself) summed up all the Law and Prophets. Notice that these two commands are rooted in relationship. They are dependent upon one’s attitude and actions toward God and others. Obedience to these commands is far more than a strict adherence to a legal code. They are more descriptive of God’s will than the rule of law.

As long as we look at the Scriptures as a law code, we will see rules in the form of dos and don’ts. That will only produce a Pharisaical attitude toward the Scriptures. We will argue religious questions, boast in our knowledge and conclusions, and ultimately divide.

The Law of Moses gave the Israelites (and us) insight into the character of God: His holiness, His righteousness, His grace, His mercy, His forgiveness and His love. Nothing in the Law was arbitrary. It all pointed to something about God.

His desire was to produce in His chosen people an attitude of love and justice and holiness. He was trying to teach His people to be holy as He is holy and to love as He loves.

The problem was that Israel could not become what God desired through strict obedience to the Law of Moses. Strict law-keeping never made anyone like God, even if the law was divinely given. God sent Jesus to fulfill the Law, that is, to bring the Law to its natural state of completion. He came to do God’s will, not just obey rules. He demonstrated the very essence of God.

The obedience of Jesus is not about legal obedience but about doing God’s will. It is about sacrificial love. It is about sacrificial holiness. Sacrifice is about me giving up myself. I give up my things to help others; I give up my rights to preserve relationships; I give up my desires to please God. I consciously fight temptation to remain holy before God.

Jesus laid down His life for us and said:

No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.

—John 10:18

Being found in appearance as a man, He [Jesus] humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

—Philippians 2:8

Are you trying to do God’s will or just obey laws??

Mark Stinnett

June 6, 2021

Aren't You Glad You Can Eat Bacon?

I like bacon! I am so glad Jesus “declared all foods clean.” (Mark 7:19)

Do you think that was God’s expected response, “Yippee! I like bacon!”?

(Probably not.)

The laws about food in the Law of Moses can seem puzzling, especially since Christians are not restricted in their eating choices, at least, not restricted morally or religiously.

Pages and pages have been devoted to explanations of God’s imposed food restrictions on the Israelites. Some have explained the health benefits associated with God’s laws of cleanliness. One scholar, reasoning that pork is the finest of all meats, suggested that it was a test that God devised to see if Israel could refrain from such a delicacy. He failed to recognize that pork was not the only prohibited food. Not only that, not everyone would agree with his subjective assessment about pork. 

It is really about food???

Perhaps we’ve missed something.

In many ways the Law of Moses seems to have been behavior-oriented while the teachings of Jesus were different. Yet...I wonder...

When Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount He would say, “You have heard it said...but I say to you….” Many people today have mistakenly thought that Jesus was teaching something new. That is not the case. He had just said…

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law of the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 
—Matthew 5:18

He went on to say that the righteousness that God expected was not like the teachings of the Pharisees. They were so exacting in the literal obedience to the Law of Moses they created more restrictive laws that were precise and incredibly demanding. They had missed the point.

Paraphrasing, Jesus then taught: You have been taught, ‘Do not commit murder,’ but I tell you that whoever is angry with his brother is guilty. 

Jesus was not creating a new ‘anger law’ in place of the old commandment about murder. Rather, He was teaching the people that anger was the root of murder in the first place. Had they stopped and pondered the command, “Thou shalt not murder,” they would have reasoned that to avoid murder they must first deal with the anger of the heart. Murder is the conclusion of something that began in the heart: anger. Deal with the problem of anger and you’ve solved the murder problem.

The same path of thought applies to the other laws that Jesus addressed in Matthew 5:21-47.

• Adultery: Begins in the heart as lust. It is a desire in the heart that treats a person as a mere object of sexual satisfaction with little or no consideration for his/her humanity.
• Divorce: Begins in the heart with an unwillingness to sacrifice. It is a desire in the heart that makes selfish demands without consideration for commitment and relationship.
• Lying: Begins in a heart that fears or hates truth. It is a desire to manipulate circumstances by creating a false sense of reality. Lying is never sacrificial. Even when it protects another person, it is a purely selfish means of satisfying oneself.
• Vengeance: Begins in a heart refusing forgiveness. It is a desire to exact justice, yet ultimately justice on one's own terms. It fails to consider others as souls in needs of a Savior. It fails to consider God's justice.
• Hate your enemies: Begins in a heart of arrogant selective love. It is a desire to keep others out of one's own circle of acceptance. It fails to consider God's boundless (boundary-less) love.

Israel should have looked at the laws of God and found the core issue that made these things offensive to God, a heart in opposition to the very character of God. 

How do I know this?
Jesus taught that whatever comes out of the heart condemns a person. Go ahead and look it up. It is in Mark 7:20-23. It is right after Jesus “declared all foods clean.”

So, what about all the food laws and laws about cleanliness? God was teaching Israel about His own purity. 

To have a relationship with God, a person must be pure, just as God is pure in His divine character. And purity begins in the heart.

When you read the Bible, do you see God, or do you see rules...or just bacon???

Mark Stinnett

February 23, 2020

What King David Saw in the Law

Some Christians have reasoned that the Old Testament contains the law for Israel and the Jews; the New Testament is law for Christians. As a result the Old Testament is not given high regard, and in many churches seldom studied.

Is that all the Bible is, an ancient law code with an update for Christians?
I think NOT!

The Apostle Paul said that the earlier writings were written for our instruction. Yet the Old Testament is still largely ignored by many Christians. Let me show you something that King David saw that just might change the way you look at the Law of Moses.

The Book of Psalms is sometimes described as Israel’s song book. The songs range from praises to prayer-cries for deliverance. They deal with physical discomfort, distress in many forms, depression, abandonment, and many other human issues. Over and over the Psalmists encourage humble faithfulness to the God who created, who knows, who provides, who delivers, who shepherds, who saves, who also destroys....

The Book of Psalms is not a law book; nor is it the Christian's ’go to’ book for doctrine. Not surprisingly, of the 150 psalms, only a few refer to the Law of Moses. However, one psalm is completely devoted to the Law. For that reason it stands out as quite unique.

Perhaps better known for its length, 176 verses, Psalm 119 is more important for its attention to the Law. In this psalm King David (the assumed author) saw something quite amazing in the Law.

In general, law is considered to be burdensome and restrictive, and that includes the Law of Moses. Law is composed of rules; it can be difficult to read and it is impossible to follow perfectly. Even so, the kings of ancient Israel were instructed to make a personal hand-written copy of the Law of Moses, the first five books of the Old Testament, and read and meditate on the Law daily.

Psalm 119 records what David saw in the Law. Yes, he saw the rules and ordinances, but in them he found refreshment, joy, freedom, peace, and deliverance. He recognized that God had not saddled His people with arbitrary rules. God had actually revealed His divine character within the Law of Moses.

King David saw the heart of God in the Law. He saw love and mercy and holiness and justice.

God's desire was to have fellowship with his chosen people. However, there was such a difference between Him, deity, and his people, humanity, that he needed to communicate to them how they could draw near to Him in fellowship.

Who is this God that opened Himself to the scrutiny of his created beings? 
Who is this God that revealed his thoughts to mankind? 
Who is this God that directed His people with instruction that would move them into a fellowship relationship with their Creator?

What King David saw in the Law? God himself!

When you pick up your Bible and read the Law, the historical narratives, the poetry, the prophets; as well as the parables and the doctrine and instruction of the New Testament...do you see only rules and restraints? 
Look closer...!

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
--Proverbs 9:10

Mark Stinnett