What Was the Goal of the Law? Insights From Israel
by Mike Ginther
When one observes the opening verses of Romans chapters 9 and 10, one is immediately confronted with the Apostle Paul’s deep concern for the “sake of [his] brothers, those of [his] own race, the people of Israel … [those for whom he has] great sorrow and unceasing anguish in [his] heart” (Rom. 9:2-4 NIV Study Bible [1985]). His “heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved” (Rom. 10:1). So great is his concern for the Israelites that if it were possible, Paul seemed prepared to be “cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of [his] brothers” (Rom. 9:3). However, in view of his agony and desire, Paul em- phatically affirms his answer to his own question: “Did God reject His people? By no means” (Rom. 11:1). His concern for the Israelites in the opening verses of chapter
10 is not that they lack zeal; in fact, their zeal for God is well documented, and Paul would personally understand that zeal. However, it is a zeal that is based not on knowledge, but on tradi- tion: “Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God …” (Rom. 10:3). How could they not know? Tey had the covenants; they received the Law and the promises! How could they not know? Tey did not know because a distorted view of the purpose
and intent of the Law of Moses had been handed down to them for countless generations. Had they been taught the true meaning and purpose of the Law — to teach everyone that righteousness from God was always a stated matter of faith in God's righteous- ness and not an achievement brought about by any amount of works or good deeds — they would, in fact, have known. It is most interesting that every year towards the end of May,
Israel celebrates the feast of Shavuot [Pentecost] which celebrates the receiving of the Torah (the writing of Moses) at Mount Sinai. Teir zeal for the word of God, which puts many evangelical Christians to shame, is a zeal that is misguided. For far too long they have been taught that keeping the Law, which was demand- ed by God, was the means to righteousness in the eyes of God, and many kept it meticulously. Tis was most prolific in the days Jesus lived in the land of Israel. But this was not the means to the righteousness that comes from God. Paul goes way out of his way to explain this in Romans chapter 4 where his emphasis is that “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteous- ness” (Rom. 4:3). Many evangelicals reading modern translations today also
seem convinced that not only were the Jews misunderstanding the Torah, but that this is what the Torah expected, especially
when Romans 10:4 declares that “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” Many conclude that since the Law is done with, that is, has come to an end, righteousness from God is available only through Christ. And this is correct, since the righteousness that God accepts is through faith in Christ. However, what is miscommunicated through this translation is that the Law may in fact have taught righteousness through observance instead of faith, and that is why it is done with. But is that what Paul is saying? Is that what this passage
teaches? When we consider the interpretation and translation of the Messianic Jewish community, a clearer intent seems to emerge. Te Tree of Life Version (TLV), created by Messianic Jewish Fam- ily Bible Society (Baker, 2015), translates Romans 10:4 this way: “For the Messiah is the goal (italics added) of the Torah as a means to righteousness for everyone who keeps trusting.” Also an unac- companied work by David Stern entitled Te Complete Jewish Bible (Messianic Jewish Publishers, 1998) translates Romans 10:4 similarly: “For the goal (italics added) at which the Torah aims is the Messiah, who offers righteousness to everyone who trusts.” Te NIV Study Bible addresses this point in a similar way
stating that “Although the Greek word for ‘end’ (telos) can mean either (1) ‘termination,’ ‘cessation,’ or (2) ‘goal,’ ‘culmination,’ ‘ful- fillment,’ it seems best here to understand it in the latter sense.” Many Israelis to this very day will still read through the Torah
(Genesis through Deuteronomy) at least once each year. We may find it unnecessary and even amusing that the Jewish people celebrate the receiving of the Word of God since they seem to misunderstand the goal of the very Law they read. It is critical to bear in mind Paul’s declaration in Scripture that “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day” (Rom. 1:8). Christians would do well to appreciate that Israel’s relationship
with God is temporarily suspended even though he watches over Israel and will resume that relationship again at some point in his own timing. It would be an honour to our heavenly Father if we, who understand redemption history and God’s culminating giſt of salvation in Jesus Christ, would also make a point to celebrate not only the receiving of the Law, but also the receiving of New Testament revelation.
Mike Ginther has been teaching and preaching God’s Word at Compass Immanuel Church (Rapid View, Sask.) since 1989.
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