Leviticus 18:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

At that time, murder alone was regarded as heinous, but now even feelings of anger or slander can lead one to eternal separation; adultery was the only offense punished, yet now even a lustful glance toward someone else's spouse bears guilt; swearing was deemed evil, but now also, in addition to swearing, it is declared that “whatsoever is above this is of the evil one” (Matt. 5:37). The standards for the people back then were merely to love those who loved them, and yet this once-great expectation appears so inadequate that in striving to fulfill it, we find ourselves no better than tax collectors.

What was the true intention of the law? Its aim was to render humanity righteous. However, it proved powerless because no one was able to fulfill it. This was the end goal of the law, and it underpinned all rituals, commandments, sacrifices, and practices, intended to justify mankind. Yet, this aim was more successfully achieved by Christ through faith. Therefore, do not fear, the apostle reassures us, regarding any transgression of the law after coming to faith: it is only when you let the law deter you from believing in Christ that you truly break it. When you place your faith in Him, you fulfill the law in an even greater measure, as you reach a far superior righteousness. This is the apostle's insight, supported by Scripture: “Moses writes of righteousness from the law.” This implies that Moses reveals to us the essence of legalistic righteousness and its attainment. What does this righteousness entail, and how is it achieved? It is found in the observance of the commandments: “He that fulfill it shall live by it” (Rom. 10:5). Attaining righteousness under the law necessitates complete adherence to all commandments, a feat no one has been able to accomplish, thus rendering that righteousness null. Now, speak to us, Paul, about the alternative righteousness, the righteousness that comes through grace—what does it comprise, and how is it obtained? Listen to the apostle’s clear explanation. After rejecting righteousness through law, he transitions to grace and says, “The righteousness of faith saith thus, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven?” which means that Christ shall be brought down. Or, “who shall descend into the abyss?” referring to Christ being raised from the dead. But what does the Scripture convey? “The word is near thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart, that is, the word of faith which we preach.” For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Rom. 10:6-9). Therefore, to dispel any doubts among the Jews about why those who embrace this new righteousness, which surpasses the old, have achieved it so easily, the apostle provides a clear demonstration that this new path is more accessible than the former. Previously, fulfilling every commandment was essential, but now, as he states, righteousness by faith does not require that; it simply entails, “If with your mouth you confess Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Yet, what must a person feel when he contemplates the blessing of life proclaimed by the law, knowing that the same law carries a curse for anyone who strays even slightly from it? As one examines their actions, the realization dawns that no living soul could stand justified before the Lord’s judgment. Death looms alongside the law of life, forcing humanity to either remain in constant fear or to abandon the law in search of other comforts. Only Jesus can "deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:15) and dispels the fears surrounding it. He unites all our deaths into His own singular death, bearing them to the cross and depositing them in His tomb. After His resurrection, He leaves behind merely a garment, signifying that only the outer, coarse fabric of our existence will linger in the grave, while humanity ascends to the exalted life of heaven. In the light of Jesus, believers perceive the immortality glimpsed amid the shadows. Through Jesus, the distant promise of the law of life is embodied in tangible form, allowing the Holy Spirit to employ a mere human oath to reassure us that the death of those united with Christ is transformed into a blessed repose from life's toil. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours" (Rev. 14:13).