David Butterfield, of davidjbutterfield.blogspot.com (This site has since been removed), challenges us: “Can you find a single instance in Scripture where Jesus or even just one of the Apostles commanded Christians to keep the Old Testament law?”
We answer:
“Master, which is the great commandment in the Law? Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and 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 22:36-40 MKJV).
The last sentence tells us that the Lord has indeed not done away with the Law (just as He said He had not come to do -see below), but that the way of fulfilling it was not found in the legalistic spirit and approach of the Pharisees. Nevertheless, the Law is good, Paul writes, if a man uses it lawfully (1 Timothy 1:8). It is still required of those that name His Name to fulfill the Law:
“Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17 MKJV).
So now you have two confirming instances of where Jesus said that those who follow Him are required to fulfill the OLD TESTAMENT LAW, apart from the ceremonial and sacrificial (and seconded by the apostle Paul). Did not Jesus say your righteousness would have to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees in their keeping of the Old Testament Law (Matthew 5:20)? There, you have three.
There are many more such Scriptures, this is but a sample. For more teaching on this matter, go to Law and Grace.
– Paul Cohen (February 9, 2008)