JEFF TURNER
Some who read the Bible notice that some verses seem to say different things. This can be confusing, especially when two passages appear to oppose each other. One example often raised is found in the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:17 and the teaching of Paul in Ephesians 2:15. At first glance, it may seem like they are not in agreement.
Jesus says that He did not come to remove the law, while Paul writes that Christ has done away with the law of commandments. These statements can sound like they clash, but a closer look shows that they are speaking about different things.
It is important to begin with the understanding that the Bible comes from one source, which is God. Because of this, it does not contain conflict within its message. Each part is given by God, and He does not go against His own word. With this in mind, the goal is to understand what each passage is actually saying.
When Jesus speaks about the law, He is referring to the moral law of God. This law reflects who God is. It shows His character and His nature. The commands found in it are not random rules but are tied to God’s own being. Since God does not change, His moral law does not change either. Jesus makes it clear that He did not come to set this aside or treat it as if it no longer matters.
On the other hand, when Paul writes about the law being set aside, he is addressing a different issue. At that time, many believed that keeping the law could make a person right with God. They treated it as a way to earn salvation. Paul explains that this idea is no longer in place. Christ removed the use of the law as a path to be saved.
This means that the law still shows what is right and reflects God’s character, but it is not the way a person receives salvation. Instead, salvation comes through faith in Christ alone. The misunderstanding of the law as a means to earn favour with God is what has been taken away.
When both passages are understood in their proper meaning, they do not oppose each other. They work together to show that God’s standards remain true, while the way to be made right with Him is found in Christ.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2:8
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