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FAITH AGAINST LAW

In the Gospel, the word Law is the interpretation of the word Torah. One should always translate Torah in order to really understand the sense of the text. Thus, when Paul tells "We estimate that a man is justified by faith (in Jesus) without the practice of the Law (Torah)" (Romans 3,28), the reader doesn't always understand Paul's intention who also speaks about the curse of the Law" (Galatians 3,13). But while reading that one is saved by faith in Jesus Christ and not by the deeds of the Torah, which became "a curse", one understands the importance of the faith and the uselessness of the cults prescribed by the Torah. (Refer to our text "Cult and Place of Cult")

Some argue answering: "But Jesus said: do not think that I came to abolish the Law (Torah) and the prophets. I did not come to abolish but to accomplish. In truth I tell you: till Heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, is to disappear from the Law until all its purpose is achieved" (Matthew 5, 17-19). This is true! Jesus came to accomplish the Torah, yet not in its cults, but in the prophecies therein that announce His advent.

Indeed, there are two categories in the Torah (the Law):

1) The category of the Ten Commands (Exodus 20,1-17) and of the Messianic prophecies (Genesis 3,15 and 49,10 / Numbers 23,17 / Deuteronomy 18,15) that Jesus came to accomplish.

2) The category of the cults that Jesus came to abolish, for example:

- Consecration of the priests: Exodus 29,22 etc (compare with Consecration of Christ's priesthood: Hebrews 4,14 to 5,10 / Revelation 1,6 and 5,10 and 20,6)

- Daily holocaust: Exodus 29,38 etc

- Sacrifice for the forgiveness of the sins: Leviticus 4,3 (compare with Matthew 26,26-28)

- Impure animals: Leviticus 11,1 etc (compare with Matthew 15,10 etc / Acts 10,9-16)

- Circumcision: Leviticus 12,3 / Deuteronomy 10,16 (compare with Jeremiah 4,4 / Romans 2,28-29)

- Sabbatical rest: Exodus 31,12 etc (compare with Luke 6,1-11)

- Stoning of an adulterous woman: Leviticus 20,10 / Deuteronomy 22,23 (compare with John 8,5)

- Not to eat any blood: Leviticus 17,10-14 (compare with John 6,53)

- Impure pregnancy: Leviticus 12,1 etc

- Sexual Impurity: Of the man: Leviticus 15,1 etc / Of the woman: Leviticus 15,19 etc

When Jesus says: Don't go believe that I came to abolish the Law and the Prophets, I didn't come to abolish, but to accomplish…" (Matthew 5,17-19), He doesn't refer to the deeds of the cult of the Torah but to the prophecies found therein announcing his Advent. He comes in order to accomplish them. He also refers, of course, to the Ten Commandments: "The one therefore that will rape one of these least precepts and will teach others to do the same will be considered the least in the Kingdom of Heaven…" (Matthew 5,19).

On the other hand, Jesus denounces as invented by the scribes and the Pharisees the worship practices of the Torah (Matthew 15,1-20 / Matthew 23).

In the same way, St. Paul revolts against the worship practices of the Torah that he qualifies as a curse: "The Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law (Torah)" (Galatians 3,13).

Conclusion