Before Christ’s death the Old Covenant was still in effect. That means that during Christ’s life, up until the cross, the law was still over God’s people. Even while Jesus was still pointing to the new, coming system (Matthew 4:17; John 4:21), He nevertheless led the way in showing respect for the Law (Matthew 5:17-20).
Jesus respected and kept the law.
- He kept the Sabbaths regularly (Luke 4:16).
- He went to the yearly festivals (John 5:1; 7:2, 10).
- He kept the Passover (Mark 14:14).
- He told people to go to the Levitical priests and offer the necessary sacrifices (Luke 5:14; 17:14).
In truth, Jesus kept the Law perfectly. The Pharisees accused Him of breaking certain laws (Mark 7:1-5; John 9:16), but their accusations were false. Jesus kept the Law itself. But He refused to submit to the Pharisees’ “traditions”—their man-made interpretations and rules (Mark 7:6-13). As regards God’s Law, Jesus obeyed it all, and so was without any sin (Hebrews 4:15; 7:26).
He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him…. Which one of you convicts me of sin?…. I do know Him and I keep His word. (John 8:29, 46, 55)
If Jesus had not fully kept the Law, He would not have fulfilled the prophets’ predictions about His purity (Isaiah 53:9; 42:1-3). He could not have been the perfect sacrifice to take away our sins. But He truly was free from moral fault or defect, and so He qualified as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:18-19)