“Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5.19

It is wrong to oppose the Law of God to the Kingdom of God. Every kingdom has laws, and the Kingdom of God is no exception. The Kingdom of God is ruled by God’s King, administered by God’s Spirit, advanced through God’s household and nation, and comes to expression in the perfect Law of God, brought to completion in acts of love.

If we think we can understand the Law without that understanding leading us more deeply into the Kingdom, we are mistaken. If we think we can seek the Kingdom of God without understanding the Law, we are equally wrong.

A final governing principle for the task of interpreting the Law of God would therefore be this: The Law must be understood as a means for seeking the Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

This means several things. First, the Law has application to our own lives and hearts. That’s consistent with what we’ve already acknowledged.

Second, understanding and obeying the Law should bring us to peace – with God, within ourselves, and with others. Peace is the condition of the Kingdom, that which obtains when the perfect Law of God is brought to completion in human society.

Third, there is joy to be known in the Kingdom of God; thus, our study, interpretation, and application of God’s Law should bring us great joy. The righteousness God’s Law brings to light in and through us – Jesus’ righteousness, not ours – leads us to peace, the consequence of which is joy.

Seeking the Kingdom of God involves various disciplines, among them, prayer, the pursuit of holiness, loving God and others, worship, and so on. All these disciplines are addressed in the Law of God. Indeed, the Law of God, because it is the acorn of divine revelation to the oak of Holy Scripture, must not be neglected as we seek to understand any aspect of the Christian worldview.

Understand the Law as it was originally given. Receive the Law as a sinner. Expect to grow with respect to the salvation of God. Focus on love as the guiding outcome in all your study of God’s Law. Bring the perfect Law to completion in each specific situation. Follow the Spirit’s leading and agenda. Seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first of all. These are the principles that must govern all our interpretation of the Law of God.

T. M. Moore

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