Devotionals

Jesus Fulfilled the Old Law for Us Now We Keep His New Covenant Commands

by Michael Edwards 
06/25/26
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Jesus perfectly kept the Old Covenant law of Moses—including the Ten Commandments—on our behalf so we would not have to bear its burden. “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17 NASB). He lived under the law, obeyed it flawlessly, and then canceled its claims against us: “Having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14 NASB). “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4 NASB).

Believers are not under the dominion of the Ten Commandments or the Old Covenant law. That entire system has been made obsolete: “When He said, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear” (Hebrews 8:13 NASB). Paul declares: “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God” (Galatians 2:19 NASB). “But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter” (Romans 7:6 NASB).

“For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14 NASB)

Jesus clearly differentiates between the Father’s commands (which He kept under the Old Covenant) and His own New Covenant commands for believers. He said, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:10 NASB). Notice the distinction: Jesus kept the Father’s Old Covenant commands for us. Now He calls us to keep His commands under the New Covenant.

At the Last Supper He gave us these new commands: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35 NASB). He reinforced this: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments... He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me” (John 14:15, 21 NASB).

Love is the spirit of all of God’s law and the true fulfillment of the Author’s intent. “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:8-10 NASB). External rule-keeping could never fulfill the Author’s heart. Only love—the spirit behind the law—truly does.

Jesus kept the old for us so we could walk in the freedom of the New. Abide in Christ, rest in His finished work, and let His love empower you to keep His commands. This is the easy yoke of the New Covenant (Matthew 11:28-30 NASB).

Many more New Covenant Bible Studies HERE. Jesus poured out His blood for the New Covenant of grace and truth, replacing the Old Covenant law of Moses. Believers are exclusively under the New Covenant, the last will and testament of Jesus that began after the cross. And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood." Luke 22:20