This one scripture speaks with such authority that it should be the very essence of all that we do or say. The solemn reality is that each of us will one day stand before a Holy God and be held accountable for our lives. While we may deceive others, we cannot deceive God, for He discerns the deepest secrets of our hearts. Think about that for a moment. God knows the motives and intents of everything we do and everything we say…not only the what, but also the why. I once heard a teacher say that when we get to Heaven, the Lord will ask us two questions: What did you do? And why did you do it?
In Matthew 12:36, Jesus said: “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” Sometimes we draw a very thin line between truth and deception, love and hate, right and wrong…but the fact is, there is no middle road, no gray areas with God. Everything is either black or white; it’s either right or wrong. If it isn’t good, then it’s evil and if it isn’t completely true, then it’s a lie.
2 Corinthians 3 gives us a detailed contrast between the old and new testaments, or covenants. Under the old covenant, men were given a specific set of rules and regulations to guide their lives, but in verses 4-6, Paul explains: “And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” The old covenant was built on the letter of the law, the new covenant on the Spirit.
Jesus gives us a perfect example of this contrast in Luke 18:18-25 when He was speaking with the rich young ruler. The young man testified that he had kept the letter of the law all his life, but Jesus required more than strict adherence to the rules of the Old Covenant. Jesus was looking at the young man’s heart and He saw that there was something there that was at odds with God’s place of Supreme worship in his life. Jesus pointed out the idol in this young man’s life…his wealth! God requires that the motives of our hearts be in line with the Word of God, and also the character of Who He is.
Many times we see that people are acting in deception because they think they can get away with it. Even some of our own laws allow us to do things that are acceptable from a legal standpoint, but we know by God’s Word that it is wrong. Abortion, for instance, was legal in all 50 states of our country for 50 years, and then on June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned that law so that it was no longer a federal mandate. But whether the law allowed it or not, Abortion was ALWAYS wrong in the sight of God.
After the Holy Spirit came and began to indwell all True Believers, He gives us an uncomfortable feeling in our hearts that is given specifically to warn us when we are doing something that God is not pleased with. That is called conviction. The laws in the Old Testament were for the good of the people, just as they are today. But the letter of the law, the exacting of their actions, broke down the very purpose that the law was given. It caused the people to take the law to extremes rather than act in obedience to the Spirit by which the law was given.
We see in the seventh commandment (Exodus 20:14) states, “Thou shalt not commit adultery”, but in Matthew 5:28, Jesus gives us the New Covenant Spirit of the Law when He said, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” We can do all the right things, say all the right words and still be living in a sinful lifestyle if the motives of our hearts are wrong. God is the God of the heart!
In Matthew 15, the Pharisees were trying once again to convict Jesus according to their law. The disciples failed to wash their hands before they ate. Can you imagine that a person could be considered an unfaithful servant of God because he forgot to wash his hands? Jesus outlined a simple lesson about the law and the Spirit in verses 17-20. He said, “Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
Legalism is still prevalent in our time just as it was 2000 years ago. Income tax evasion, for instance, is not lawful in our society, yet many will take advantage of every loophole, even the ones that are right on the borderline of legality, pushing the law to the extreme, acting in deception because legally, they won’t get caught. But what about accountability to God? Murder is illegal in our society, yet Jesus said if you are angry with your brother without a cause, you too are in danger of the judgment. (Matthew 5:22)
That puts a whole different perspective on things, doesn’t it? The truth is it doesn’t matter how Godly a person speaks with his lips. You can talk about Godliness, truth, honor and integrity, but if you are still acting in deception and causing others to believe an untruth, or if you are taking advantage of those around you either by word or deed…IT IS NOT BASED ON THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW!! It is sin, and God knows about it. The Spirit of God is Truth!
Jesus said in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Since the days of Moses when God gave the law to His people, men of every generation have hopelessly tried to fulfill the law of God in their own strength. Though Jesus was born under the Law, and the Law, or the Old Covenant, and He totally fulfilled the Law with His life, everything He taught was New Covenant. How did Jesus propose to perform such an awesome task?
HE CAME AS OUR EXAMPLE:
As a babe born in a manger, He stripped Himself of the glory and splendor of Heaven, forsook His position of authority over men for a while, and came in the spirit of meekness, godliness and righteousness. Throughout His earthly life and ministry, we see complete submission, even to the point of death. He refused to use any power for His own benefit, but instead humbled Himself, knowing that all authority is given by God. Because of that knowledge, He laid down His life willingly that the will of God might be fulfilled for the total good of all. JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE.
HE GAVE US A BETTER LAW:
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40) HALLELUJAH!! He reaches the very depths of the heart by this statement. The whole intent of the law is summed up in love…PERIOD! If you love God and everyone else out of a pure heart with pure motives, esteeming others more highly than yourselves, then the total law is fulfilled. You don’t lie to someone you love. You don’t steal from, murder, dishonor, deceive, cheat, falsely accuse anyone when the law of love is in operation. You cannot have any idols in your life when you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. The law is completely fulfilled.
HE CONQUERED SIN AND THE EFFECTS OF IT:Throughout Jesus’ life on earth, He did nothing, nor did He say anything, except by the divine direction of His Father in Heaven. Imagine that kind of strict adherence to the Word and will of God. He spoke not an idle word, wasted not one moment, performed not one unnecessary task…total, complete obedience. He didn’t abide by the laws of the Pharisees, but by the totality of the Law of God, and He learned obedience through the same method we do. Hebrews 5:8-9 says, “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” And in the end, He won total and complete victory over the penalty of sin and death, which is complete and eternal separation from God. He rose again to prove that the power of death had been broken. GLORY TO GOD!
HE PROVED THE POWER FOR US:“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Jeremiah 31:33) “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John14:26) The Holy Spirit dwells within each and every born-again child of God. He guides and directs our lives into all godliness and truth. Everything He does is to bring glory to Jesus. He is completely pure and holy. He strengthens us in our inward being, gives us the power to live our lives according to the will and the Word of God. But we must allow Him to do so.
The first step is to honestly search our own hearts. Ask God to reveal any areas of deception, bitterness, impure motives of the heart. Then ask forgiveness, accept it on the basis of God’s Word, and depend on Him to teach us the ways of Truth. 1 John 1:9 reminds us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Then we can live our lives with a humble heart, ready to walk in the Spirit of our Lord, depending on Him to direct our paths, leading us in the way of righteousness for His name’s sake. Praise the Lord!
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