jeremiah1five
Active Member
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
Luke 10:25–28.
"Inheritance" generally refers to the passing down of something from one entity to another.
This lawyer (Greek: "Nomikos" = noun, an expert in the (Mosaic) law) asks Jesus, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus directs the man to the Law of Moses and asks him how he understands the Law (of Moses) in context to his inheritance question. The lawyer responds by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5.
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deuteronomy 6:5.
Although the lawyer doesn't state an exact quote of Deuteronomy 6:5, he does summarize the word "might" (Heb. "vehemence") by combining "strength" and "mind" as "might" in the sense of vehemence or "wholly" or "speedily."
In response to this Jesus tells the lawyer, "Thou hast answered right:" and instructs the lawyer, "this do and thou shalt live."
Conclusion: Obey the Law of Moses, specifically, the command "to love the LORD, and thou shalt live" (receive his inheritance.)
Does anyone have a problem with this conclusion? This lawyers' inheritance has nothing to do with "faith" or "accepting Jesus into 'your' heart", or "believing in Jesus Christ." Jesus has assigned eternal life as an inheritance. And rightly so, for being someone who was an "expert in the Law" the lawyer thoroughly tested Jesus' doctrine and knowledge of the Law of Moses and came up with the same understanding of not only having an inheritance but what it was that was being inherited. Simply put, the lawyer and Rabbi Jesus were on the same page: eternal life is an inheritance under the Law of Moses. This conclusion also plays into the apostle's statement in his letter to Jewish Christians in the Galatian region:
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:28–29.
So, we have one inheritance associated with the Mosaic Covenant in which eternal life is promised as an inheritance, and one inheritance associated with the Abraham Covenant (of land and other promises described in Genesis 12, 15, and 17.)
Many promises, one inheritance. And the inheritors are Abraham and his seed; a people later identified as the children of Israel.
But what about the New Covenant? What was promised by God in this covenant?
In Jeremiah 31:31-34, God promises a "New Covenant" that is distinct from the old covenant made with Israel when they came out of Egypt, which they broke. This New Covenant is characterized by a profound internal transformation and a complete and lasting forgiveness.
Here are the key promises, itemized:
A New Covenant with Israel and Judah: God declares that He will make a new covenant specifically with "the house of Israel and the house of Judah" (Jeremiah 31:31). This signifies a renewed and unified relationship with His people.
Internalized Law (Law on Their Hearts): Unlike the old covenant, which was written on stone tablets, God promises: "I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts" (Jeremiah 31:33). This implies an internal desire and inclination to obey God's will, rather than mere external adherence.
God as Their God, and They as His People: The fundamental covenant relationship is reaffirmed and deepened: "And I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (Jeremiah 31:33). This expresses a restored and intimate fellowship.
Universal Knowledge of God: There will be no need for individuals to teach one another to "Know the Lord," because "they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest" (Jeremiah 31:34). This speaks to a direct and personal relationship with God that will be widespread among His people.
Complete Forgiveness of Sins: God promises a radical and lasting forgiveness: "For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more" (Jeremiah 31:34). This highlights the removal of guilt and the permanent blotting out of transgressions, making a clean slate for the covenant relationship.
Abrahamic Covenant ---> Mosaic Covenant ---> New Covenant.
"It is finished!"
And all Israel shall be saved.
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
Luke 10:25–28.
"Inheritance" generally refers to the passing down of something from one entity to another.
This lawyer (Greek: "Nomikos" = noun, an expert in the (Mosaic) law) asks Jesus, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus directs the man to the Law of Moses and asks him how he understands the Law (of Moses) in context to his inheritance question. The lawyer responds by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5.
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deuteronomy 6:5.
Although the lawyer doesn't state an exact quote of Deuteronomy 6:5, he does summarize the word "might" (Heb. "vehemence") by combining "strength" and "mind" as "might" in the sense of vehemence or "wholly" or "speedily."
In response to this Jesus tells the lawyer, "Thou hast answered right:" and instructs the lawyer, "this do and thou shalt live."
Conclusion: Obey the Law of Moses, specifically, the command "to love the LORD, and thou shalt live" (receive his inheritance.)
Does anyone have a problem with this conclusion? This lawyers' inheritance has nothing to do with "faith" or "accepting Jesus into 'your' heart", or "believing in Jesus Christ." Jesus has assigned eternal life as an inheritance. And rightly so, for being someone who was an "expert in the Law" the lawyer thoroughly tested Jesus' doctrine and knowledge of the Law of Moses and came up with the same understanding of not only having an inheritance but what it was that was being inherited. Simply put, the lawyer and Rabbi Jesus were on the same page: eternal life is an inheritance under the Law of Moses. This conclusion also plays into the apostle's statement in his letter to Jewish Christians in the Galatian region:
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:28–29.
So, we have one inheritance associated with the Mosaic Covenant in which eternal life is promised as an inheritance, and one inheritance associated with the Abraham Covenant (of land and other promises described in Genesis 12, 15, and 17.)
Many promises, one inheritance. And the inheritors are Abraham and his seed; a people later identified as the children of Israel.
But what about the New Covenant? What was promised by God in this covenant?
In Jeremiah 31:31-34, God promises a "New Covenant" that is distinct from the old covenant made with Israel when they came out of Egypt, which they broke. This New Covenant is characterized by a profound internal transformation and a complete and lasting forgiveness.
Here are the key promises, itemized:
A New Covenant with Israel and Judah: God declares that He will make a new covenant specifically with "the house of Israel and the house of Judah" (Jeremiah 31:31). This signifies a renewed and unified relationship with His people.
Internalized Law (Law on Their Hearts): Unlike the old covenant, which was written on stone tablets, God promises: "I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts" (Jeremiah 31:33). This implies an internal desire and inclination to obey God's will, rather than mere external adherence.
God as Their God, and They as His People: The fundamental covenant relationship is reaffirmed and deepened: "And I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (Jeremiah 31:33). This expresses a restored and intimate fellowship.
Universal Knowledge of God: There will be no need for individuals to teach one another to "Know the Lord," because "they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest" (Jeremiah 31:34). This speaks to a direct and personal relationship with God that will be widespread among His people.
Complete Forgiveness of Sins: God promises a radical and lasting forgiveness: "For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more" (Jeremiah 31:34). This highlights the removal of guilt and the permanent blotting out of transgressions, making a clean slate for the covenant relationship.
Abrahamic Covenant ---> Mosaic Covenant ---> New Covenant.
"It is finished!"
And all Israel shall be saved.
