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“You have heard that it was said”<\/p>\n
Scripture, we find two kinds of laws related to human conduct: those directly commanded by God, and those instituted by human leaders or customs that God permitted temporarily among His people. For example, the Israelites were allowed to practice divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1), capital punishment for certain sins such as adultery (Deuteronomy 22:22), and the principle of lex talionis\u2014\u201can eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth\u201d (Exodus 21:24)\u2014which regulated justice and prevented excessive punishment.<\/p>\n
However, it is crucial to understand that these laws, while found in the Torah, were not part of God\u2019s original design for human relationships and society. From the beginning, God\u2019s intention was for marriage to be a permanent, sacred union. As recorded in Genesis 2:24 (ESV):<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cTherefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n God never commanded divorce or killing as ideal practices. These laws arose from the hardness of human hearts and the sinful condition of mankind. We see this clearly in the teaching of Jesus Christ, who restored God\u2019s original intention for marriage and human relationships.<\/p>\n The children of Israel inherited many customs from Egypt and their surrounding cultures, including divorce, revenge, and harsh punishments. When God led them out of Egypt to the Promised Land, their hearts remained stubborn and attached to these practices. Because of their spiritual immaturity and hardness of heart, God allowed Moses to permit these laws temporarily. This was an act of divine concession<\/strong> (also called economy<\/em> or economia<\/em> in theological terms), not a reflection of God\u2019s perfect will.<\/p>\n Jesus explains this concession in Matthew 19:3-9 (ESV):<\/strong><\/p>\n 3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, \u201cIs it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?\u201d<\/em> Here, Jesus emphasizes the original intent of marriage<\/strong> as lifelong and exclusive. The allowance of divorce by Moses was a concession to human sinfulness, not God\u2019s ideal. This shows us how God\u2019s law interacts with human weakness \u2014 God accommodates but does not approve the brokenness of sin.<\/p>\n This teaching reveals the progressive nature of divine revelation. The Old Testament laws contained both moral principles<\/strong> and ceremonial or civil regulations<\/strong> appropriate for Israel\u2019s covenantal context. Many laws in the Old Testament anticipate or find their true fulfillment in Christ (Hebrews 8:13). The Mosaic law is pedagogical<\/em> (Galatians 3:24), guiding God\u2019s people until the coming of the Messiah who perfects and fulfills the Law.<\/p>\n This is why Paul writes in Romans 1:28 (ESV):<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAnd since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n God allows human beings to follow their hardened desires, but this is not His perfect plan.<\/p>\n It is also important to recognize that the Old Testament laws regarding revenge and punishment were limited and regulated to prevent escalating cycles of violence (Exodus 21:23-25). They were justice-oriented<\/strong>, not personal vengeance. Yet, God\u2019s ultimate revelation in Christ calls for a higher standard.<\/p>\n In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus commands radical love and forgiveness (Matthew 5:43-45, ESV):<\/strong><\/p>\n 43 \u201cYou have heard that it was said, \u2018You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.\u2019<\/em> This calls us beyond the legalistic, retributive mindset to a life marked by grace, mercy, and reconciliation\u2014reflecting God\u2019s own character.<\/p>\n Paul reinforces this in Romans 12:20-21 (ESV):<\/strong><\/p>\n 20 \u201cTo the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.\u201d<\/em> This is the ethic of the Kingdom<\/strong>\u2014not retaliation but overcoming evil through love and goodness.<\/p>\n The laws in the Old Testament reflect God\u2019s patience and mercy toward a fallen people. They are not the final word but part of God\u2019s unfolding redemptive plan. Jesus came to restore God\u2019s original intent for marriage, justice, and human relationships. He calls us to a higher standard of holiness, love, and forgiveness.<\/p>\n Our role today is to live according to this new covenant, pray for those who oppose us, and share the good news of God\u2019s transforming grace.<\/p>\n Maranatha!<\/strong><\/p>\n Please share this message with others.<\/p>\n For prayers, worship schedules, advice, or questions, contact:<\/strong> +255693036618 or +255789001312\n
The Context of Moses\u2019 Law<\/h3>\n
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4 He answered, \u201cHave you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,<\/em>
5 and said, \u2018Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh\u2019?<\/em>
6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.\u201d<\/em>
7 They said to him, \u201cWhy then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?\u201d<\/em>
8 He said to them, \u201cBecause of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.<\/em>
9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nTheological Significance<\/h3>\n
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God\u2019s Heart Toward Enemies and Justice<\/h3>\n
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44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,<\/em>
45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
21 \u201cDo not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nConclusion<\/h3>\n
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