Matthew 5:17, New Living Translation

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.”

In Egypt, the Israelites were under oppression. The Pharaoh of the time did not remember Joseph or what he had done for Egypt's survival during the famine. The Israelites were a feared people because of their strength and number. To conquer the Israelites, they were put into slavery and oppression by making bricks. Through the years of slavery, there were cries to the Lord of what they were going through. And God, being the God who hears the cries of His people, heard their cries, and initiated His plan of deliverance. It is the same for us today. Though we are not under the oppression of Egypt, we can find ourselves under oppression from our own sins or Satan himself. But as God told Moses, "I AM WHO I AM" is with us. When looking at the meaning of this phrase, in Hebrew it can be translated to "I am watching the sheep." In Matthew 9:36-38 (NLT) it says, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few.” So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.’”

God, our Father, had compassion on His people and delivered them from the harsh oppression of Egypt. His compassion was continued when Christ came to earth, fully man but fully God, and conquered death, hell, and the grave for His people. His compassion continues on to this day for us. When the New Covenant was established, it wasn't just for the church of that time, but from that time until the end of time as we know it.

In the Old Testament, Leviticus to be exact, it discusses the different offerings required of the Jewish people. There was the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the peace offering. The burnt offering was an offering given for the forgiveness of sins and was given several times throughout the year. The grain offering was an act of worship and thanksgiving to God for His provision. The peace offering was given in the fulfillment of a vow, and or giving thanks for deliverance in a dire time of need. Matthew 5:17 (NLT), Jesus says, “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” When Christ gave His life on the cross, He was the fulfillment of the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the peace offering. Hebrews 10:1-10 (NLT) says, “The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, ‘You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. Then I said, “Look, I have come to do your will, O God—as is written about me in the Scriptures.”’ First, Christ said, ‘You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them’ (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will.’ He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.”

Jesus sacrifice for us came at a time of dire need. It came at a time that was critical and is critical for many. We do not know the day or hour of His return, but we know that is near With His sacrifice, He has torn the veil, and we now can come boldly to the throne of grace, to our Father. Christ, our High Priest, makes intercession for us at the right hand of God our Father. With Him being seated next to our Father, which enables us to be empowered by His Holy Spirit which He promised us would come before His crucifixion. His Holy Spirit will remind us of the truths that we have learned, He will be our comforter, our friend, our guide.  

When we, ourselves, are dealing with the oppression of our own sins, or even the enemy, we must be quick to take it to the Lord when we recognize it! The enemy counts on us being influenced negatively and being consumed with negative thoughts, negative emotions, negative situations that will keep us under oppression. But this is not what Christ died for. As we have read and heard so many times, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10, NLT) We are also given the charge to “… But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13, NLT)

I would urge us, if we have not already accepted Christ as Savior, to pursue Christ, pursue salvation, receive Jesus and the love He lavishly poured out on the cross for you, for me, for everyone. With the love you receive, go out into the world, and share this love, the good news of Jesus Christ. For Christ didn't come to condemn the world, but that the world, through him, would be saved! We are in dire times, and people need Savior, whether they realize it or not. Let us boldly stand as sons and daughters of the One true King and share what Jesus so graciously has given us: freedom, hope, love, salvation.