“Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it” (Acts 7:52-53).
Stephen went through a narrative of Israel’s history and arrived at this conclusion. It was the central problem of the religious leaders in Jesus’ day and it is the central problem of legalists today. They revered the Law, spoke well of the Law, and rigorously imposed it on others but they didn’t obey it themselves.
They didn’t understand God’s plan at all. The Law was never intended to save us or there would have been no need for Jesus to die. The Law was designed to show us our need of a Savior because of our inability to keep it. The Law was designed to bring Israel, and us, to believe in Jesus—the only One who could keep the Law and who kept it for us.
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day clung to the Law they didn’t keep and crucified the Savior who came to fulfill it. It is a tragic mistake for anyone to make. Thank God for the Law! It is the x-ray that shows we need surgery. Jesus is the Great Physician who can perform the surgery and save our lives. He can cut out the sin, guilt, and corruption that is destroying us and give us the gifts of righteousness and eternal life.
Let the Law do for us what it was intended to do. Bring us to Jesus who is the only hope of salvation for everyone. Don’t do what legalists always do, cling to a law they can’t keep and reject the Savior to whom it points who kept it for us.
