Filled or Fulfilled?, Part 3 of 3

"Don't assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commandments will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:17-19 HCSB

The issue of what parts of Jewish culture imbedded in the Tanakh (the Old Covenant) should still apply to B’rit Hadashah (New Covenant) believers was a hot topic in the first century too. I believe it is very pertinent that when Paul sought clarification on this very issue, the elders of the church of Jerusalem limited their requirements to four things:[1]

1. Abstinence from things polluted by idols
2. Abstinence from sexual immorality
3. Abstinence from eating anything strangled
4. Abstinence from eating blood

Interestingly, these are the same four requirements that have always been required of the goyim (Gentiles) according to Noahide Laws! The Noahide Laws were seven ancient laws originally given to Noah that Jews considered relevant to all people. The first six prohibit idolatry, blasphemy, murder, adultery, robbery and the eating of flesh cut from a living animal. The seventh was an injunction to establish courts of justice. Jews were expected to keep all the Torah laws, but the Nations were expected to keep only these seven. A Gentile who kept these laws was called hasidei ummot ha-olam (the righteous of the nations of the world).

The national laws of the first century already proscribed murder and robbery.

The group addressing the issue was a beit din. A beit din is a group of elders gathered together in order to render a ruling or judgment on a matter. A beit din should be composed of at least three adult believers, at least one of whom needs to be widely knowledgeable in halakha, and must be sufficiently knowledgeable to instruct the other two members in any matters of halakha relevant to the case being heard. The Christians were at that time submitting to the elders of Jerusalem as a court of justice.

Since these early Christians were troubled by what was entailed in living a holy life, it is not likely they were particularly troubled by the sin of blasphemy!

So only the four remaining Noahide Laws were enunciated. Isn’t it interesting that in this matter the elders of the church of Jerusalem allowed Halakah to interpret and apply the Scriptures to a novel situation?

We must be very cautious to not disregard any part of the Scriptures. All Scripture is inspired and useful.[2] Let us neither disregard the Old Covenant entirely nor apply every principle without discernment. Let us follow the dictates of ALL the Scripture.


[1] Acts 15:20, 29; 21:25
[2] 2 Timothy 3:16-17