Honor God's Law
As we read and study the 49 scriptures that are Jesus's commandments, let's ask God to help us observe these words, apply them, and faithfully follow them throughout our lifetimes. The command we will focus on today is "Honor God's Law."
Verse of the Day
“Don’t think that I have come to destroy the Law of Moses or the teaching of the prophets. I have come not to destroy their teachings but to give full meaning to them.”
Matthew 5:17 ERV
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
Matthew 5:17 KJV
Lesson of the Day
Jesus commands us to honor God’s law. When Jesus says He didn’t come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it, He’s settling a misunderstanding that’s still around today. Some people hear “grace,” which is what Jesus Christ came to give us, and assume the Old Testament rules don’t matter anymore. But Jesus is saying the opposite—He didn’t come to erase the Law; He came to complete it, to fill it full of meaning. Every command in the Old Testament was pointing to Him all along, and He’s the final word on what they actually meant.
In the next scripture, Matthew 5:18 ERV, Jesus assures us that nothing will disappear from the Law until heaven and earth are gone.
Jesus is saying even the smallest detail of God’s Law matters. He’s not lowering the bar; He’s raising the standard of what honoring it looks like—not just not murdering, but not being angry without cause. Not just not committing adultery, but not even looking with lust. He took the Law deeper, not away.
So honoring God’s Law isn’t about earning salvation by rule-keeping. It’s about recognizing that every command came from God’s heart, and Jesus showed us what that heart actually looks like. That’s why He came.
Encouragement
Don’t fret. The Law never saved anyone—it was always the thing that showed us we needed saving. The Law points out the sin; it doesn’t fix it. So when Jesus fulfilled the Law, He didn’t erase the standard; He met it for us because we couldn’t. Now we don’t keep the Law to earn God’s love. We love God, and the Law’s heart is written in us. Same standard, different reason.
In other words, we follow the Law because we love God, but we are not condemned by the Law because Jesus already made us righteous.
Let me share this with you: When I was younger, I was taught that we live under grace now, and the Law doesn’t matter anymore because Jesus already died for those sins. I was told that I could sin and everything would be fine because Jesus already paid the price. Our pastor said we are saved by grace. I believed it because I didn’t read the following scriptures for myself.
Well, today the Lord walked me through it as I studied to write this devotional. Now I see that the Law still matters. It’s not Law or grace; it’s both. The Law shows us our needs, and grace meets those needs. We honor His laws because we love Him, and we’re not condemned by His laws because Jesus loves us and therefore made us righteous.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, You knew from the beginning that we would need a Savior. You gave us laws to protect us and help us respect ourselves and others. You’re a wonderful Father. Every law You made was for our sake. You put us first, even before Your only Son. When we think of the act of You giving up a part of Yourself and putting Him in harm’s way…what a sacrifice! Thank You. We owe You all of the praise. Hallelujah to You, Lord. Hallelujah! You deserve the highest praise. We love You, Lord, so we will strive to honor Your laws. Help us and guide us through this life. Show us when we’re wrong and help us make it right. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, amen.