Does Luke 16:16 Mean God's Law Has Been Done Away?

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Submitted July 13, 2011

Source: United Church of God

What is the meaning of Luke 16:16The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
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Some people who believe that we don’t need to keep God’s law, or God's Sabbath or Holy Days today, cite Luke 16:16The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
See All...:  "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it."

Is Jesus saying in this verse that God’s law was required to be kept and the prophets respected until John the Baptist, but now the law has perished or failed, and is no longer necessary to keep?

Is Jesus saying also, that we no longer even need to respect or abide by the teachings of the prophets of God who came before John the Baptist?

The very next verse contains the spoken words of Jesus Christ, which show very clearly that the law of God is not done away with. The law of God is consistent and will always be.

“And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail” (Luke 16:17And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
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Have the starry heavens or the planet earth passed away?

Jesus said it would be easier for them to perish or be destroyed than even for one tiny part of God’s law to pass away or to perish.

Just before Luke 16:16The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
See All..., Jesus quotes the Tenth Commandment and corrects the Pharisees for their covetousness.

After Luke 16:16The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
See All... Jesus quotes the Seventh Commandment and gives detailed instruction about not committing adultery.

Hardly, doing away with God’s law, wouldn’t you say?

On another occasion mentioned in Matthew 19:17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
See All... Jesus told a young man, seeking the way to eternal life, “If you will enter into life, keep the commandments.”

How clear it is that God’s holy law is still in existence.

So what can we learn from Luke 16:16The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
See All...? What is the message Christ is delivering? What did Jesus mean by the statement, “The law and the prophets were until John”?

When Jesus spoke of the “law and the prophets”, He was referring to the Old Testament. The first five books of the Bible, written by Moses, are known as the law; the books of Joshua through Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the 12 minor prophets comprise the “prophets.” The third major section of the Old Testament was known as the “writings” or “psalms.” Notice Luke 24:27-45 [27] And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
[28] And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
[29] But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
[30] And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
[31] And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
[32] And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
[33] And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
[34] Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
[35] And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
[36] And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
[37] But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
[38] And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
[39] Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
[40] And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
[41] And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
[42] And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
[43] And he took it, and did eat before them.
[44] And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
[45] Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

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Jesus was simply stating a fact, that the Old Testament scriptures alone were preached until the coming of John the Baptist. They were the only writings and information that they had. The New Testament had not been written yet.

When John came on the scene, he was the forerunner of Jesus Christ, preparing the way before Him, the “voice crying in the wilderness” (Mark 1:2-8 [2] As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
[3] The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
[4] John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
[5] And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
[6] And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
[7] And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
[8] I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

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John had to deal with the Pharisees, just as Christ was dealing with them, here in these verses surrounding Luke 16:16The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
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John thundered to the Pharisees, the Sadducees and all of the people of his day, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
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John began to proclaim the gospel (good news), preparing the way for Christ Himself. But, what gospel and what good news did Christ preach?

"Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15 [14] Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
[15] And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

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So, we see plainly, that Jesus Christ preached the same gospel that John did.

This is why Jesus said in Luke 16:16The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
See All... that from the time of John the Baptist, the good news of God’s coming Kingdom or Government on this earth, was being proclaimed.

Jesus spoke later in Luke 16 of the importance of following God’s inspired Word and laws in the Bible: “But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead'" (Luke 16:31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
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Do we heed these words of Jesus today, or are we dead of hearing like the Pharisees?

Do we heed the words of Moses and the prophets and live God’s Way of life now in this life? Do we seek to develop the character and mind of Jesus (Philippians 2:5)? Do we lovingly keeping God’s commandments (1 John 5:3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
See All...) as we prepare now to be in Christ’s Government of God on this earth?