If Jesus Said It, Should We Do It?

Just because Jesus said it, should we do it?

Jesus told the Twelve Disciples the following in Matthew 10:5-6:

“Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.”

Contrast this with Peter being told in a vision from God to go to a Gentile’s home and tell them to receive forgiveness by faith in Jesus (Acts 10).

So, what is Peter to do?

Which set of instructions is Peter to follow?

Should Peter follow the instructions of Jesus that he was given before the cross, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus while the law was in place?

Or should Peter follow the instructions of the vision he received in Acts 10, which is after the cross, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus when grace was in place?

Matthew 10 is under the old testament of law.

Acts 10 is under the new testament of grace.

Peter in Acts 10 is being taught that the testaments have changed.

Law has gone.

Grace has come.

This was a difficult transition for Peter.

So, should we do it because Jesus said it?

The clear, biblical answer is “no.”

We must study the teachings and instructions of Jesus in the context of law and grace, his initial earthly ministry to the Jewish people under law and his ascended ministry to all people under grace.

Acts records the difficult transition from law to grace the Jewish people were having.

To accurately understand and apply the Bible, we must understand this transition as well.

This will help us understand that what Jesus taught under law may or may not be applied under grace.

For more of Brad’s teachings on law and grace and the old and new testaments, see the categories under the blog title.

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