As Paul continued his
instruction to Timothy, he included a description of the false
teaching Judaizers who were “desiring to be teachers of the law”
but they neither understood nor affirmed what they said. Paul did not
deny the goodness of the law “if a man use it lawfully”,
and in chapter one and verse nine of his letter to Timothy, Paul
began a list for whom the law was made where we read:
Knowing this, that the
law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and
disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane,
for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
The verse begins, “Knowing
this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the
lawless and disobedient,” Paul
began with this two word phrase, “Knowing this”
which means “seeing, perceiving, turning the eyes, mind and
attention toward” “that the law”
which is in reference to “a law or rule producing a state approved
of by God or by the observance of that which is approved of
God” “is not made” or “put in place, destined,
appointed or laid down” “for a righteous man” which
means “upright, virtuous man or one who keeps the commands of God”.
The “righteous man” naturally keeps the law, and therefore
really didn't need the law to be made, however, Paul goes on to add,
“but” which always means we should look at what was just
said because what is about to be stated takes preference, “for
the lawless” which means “destitute of Mosaic law, departing
from the law, a violator of the law and wicked” “and
disobedient” which refers to those who “cannot be subjected
to control and are unruly and refractory”. The “law of God” was
made for those who mistakenly and willfully go against the ways of
God.
The verse continues, “for
the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane,” Not
only does Paul include a general group of people for whom the law was
given, but he provided a more specific list as we read, “for
the ungodly” which refers to
people who are “destitute of reverential awe towards God,
condemning God and impious” “and for sinners”
which are “devoted to sin, not free from sin, pre-eminently
sinful, especially wicked and specifically of men stained with
certain definite vices or crimes”. Paul adds, “for unholy”
which are “impious and wicked” “and profane” which
literally means “accessible and lawful to be trodden” and implies
“internally impure”. No doubt Timothy paid particularly close
attention to this list given by Paul.
Finally
the verse says, “for murderers of fathers and murderers
of mothers, for manslayers,” As
though his description of those for whom the law was given was not
complete, Paul added, “for murderers of fathers”
which is “patricide or the willful killing of one's father” “and
murderers of mothers” which is
“matricide or the willful killing of one's mother” and “for
manslayers” which refers to
“murderers of other people”. As difficult as it is to believe,
there are those who dwell among men who kill their fathers, mothers
and other people, and to these the “law of God” was made and
directed.
As
we meditate upon Paul's words, we see the significance and importance
of the “law of God”.
The Bible is very clear in the book of Romans in chapter three and
verse twenty-three, “For all have sinned and come short
of the glory of God”, and the
law of God allows everyone to know where they have “missed the
mark” when it comes to God's ways. As we imagine ourselves learning
from Paul while he was teaching Timothy, let us consider carefully
what Paul is saying, and rather than thinking that these words are
certainly for someone else who is more “lawless” than we, may we
hear the voice of the Holy Spirit as He teaches us that we are the
ones “for whom the law was made”.
Next
time Paul continues his list for whom the law was made, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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