Hey Dan473,
I will consider that.
My way of looking at "under the Law" was from what Peter said first:
Act 15:10 KJV Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Thinking of "beast of burden" which were animals under the "yoke" or "heavy Harness" for a draft horse. the idea was the same.
Then also where where Jesus mentioned;
Mat 11:28-30 KJV Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Jesus knew the law was a heavy burden and he knew that those who were entrusted with the responsibility to help His people shoulder the burden did nothing compared to what He does for us. There he said:
Mat 23:3-4 KJV All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. (4) For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
The part I highlighted shows the Pharisees were "Unrighteous Hippocrates" Hence the reason Jesus in Matthew said:
Mat 5:20 KJV For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
I don't think Jesus was intimating that the Pharisees are these "uber-righteous" dudes, and you have no hope of getting even close to their holiness. I think he was warning his disciples that while they do hold the office that Moses did, they don't do what they say, you had better do better than they are! Does that sound correct to you?
I will consider that.
My way of looking at "under the Law" was from what Peter said first:
Act 15:10 KJV Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Thinking of "beast of burden" which were animals under the "yoke" or "heavy Harness" for a draft horse. the idea was the same.
Then also where where Jesus mentioned;
Mat 11:28-30 KJV Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Jesus knew the law was a heavy burden and he knew that those who were entrusted with the responsibility to help His people shoulder the burden did nothing compared to what He does for us. There he said:
Mat 23:3-4 KJV All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. (4) For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
The part I highlighted shows the Pharisees were "Unrighteous Hippocrates" Hence the reason Jesus in Matthew said:
Mat 5:20 KJV For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
I don't think Jesus was intimating that the Pharisees are these "uber-righteous" dudes, and you have no hope of getting even close to their holiness. I think he was warning his disciples that while they do hold the office that Moses did, they don't do what they say, you had better do better than they are! Does that sound correct to you?
now the particular phrase
under the law
is found only in Paul's letters, once in 1st Corinthians and five times in the book of Galatians.
(many English translations have it a few times in Romans, but that's a different phrase in Greek, the similarity is an accident of translation)
another example
Galatians 4:4. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law.
does this mean that Jesus was born buried by the immense pressure of the law?
I don't think so. I think it means Jesus was born required to do the things in the law.
does that sound correct?