Many people hear the phrase “works of the law” and immediately think that all law is abolished, that the law is only Jewish, or that keeping God’s commandments means becoming a Judaizer. From there, they conclude that the Ten Commandments and the Law of Moses were one single thing and were all removed. This first assumption is where the confusion begins, and if it is not corrected, everything that follows will be misunderstood
.
In Scripture, the word “law” does not always mean the same thing. God gave the Ten Commandments also called moral commandments that show His will and His character, such as loving God, loving others, honoring parents, not murdering, not stealing, not lying... These commandments define sin and righteousness. God also gave Israel covenant signs and ritual laws, such as circumcision, sacrifices, food laws, and temple rules. These marked Israel as a nation and pointed forward to deeper spiritual truths. Mixing these together and treating them as one single system leads people to think that obedience itself is the problem. Jesus never taught that.
Jesus did not speak against God’s commandments. He spoke against trusting in outward religious acts while the heart remains unchanged. When a man asked Jesus how to gain eternal life, Jesus answered plainly, “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17, NKJV). Jesus then quoted commandments from the Ten Commandments. He did not say they were abolished. He treated them as the standard of life.
The phrase “works of the law” describes attempts to be counted righteous through outward acts, identity markers, and rule-keeping without repentance, mercy, or obedience of the heart. This is exactly what the Pharisees practiced, and Jesus rebuked them severely for it. They were experts in religious rules, but strangers to mercy and truth.
Jesus exposed their false works many times. He said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith” (Matthew 23:23, NKJV). They were careful with small religious details but ignored love, compassion, and faithfulness. This is a clear picture of “works of the law.”
J
esus also rebuked them for using the law to avoid helping others. He said they found ways to excuse themselves from caring for their parents while claiming to honor God with religious vows. He told them, “Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition” (Matthew 15:6, NKJV). Their works looked holy, but they canceled God’s will.
They fasted, prayed, and gave alms to be seen by others. Jesus warned against this kind of religion. He said, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them” (Matthew 6:1, NKJV). He taught that public religion without humility has no reward from God. These were works done for pride, not for love.
They also trusted in their religious status. Jesus spoke of a Pharisee who prayed by listing his religious acts and thanking God that he was better than others. Jesus showed that this man was not justified, while the humble sinner who cried for mercy was accepted by God (Luke 18:9–14, NKJV). Again, this shows the problem was not obedience, but self-righteous works.
Jesus made it clear that true obedience comes from the heart. In the Sermon on the Mount, He showed that anger breaks the command against murder, lust breaks the command against adultery, and careless words break the command against truth. He did not lower the law. He revealed its true meaning. He also said plainly, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17, NKJV). He then warned against setting aside God’s commandments or teaching others to do so.
Jesus also taught what true works look like when the heart has been changed. These are not works done to earn life. They are works that flow naturally from love, mercy, and obedience. Jesus described them clearly when He spoke about the final judgment. He said, “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me” (Matthew 25:35–36, NKJV). These people were not trying to prove themselves. They were simply living out love, and Jesus said that what they did to the least, they did to Him.
Jesus also said, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46, NKJV). He compared the obedient person to a wise man who built his house on rock. Hearing without doing was not enough. True faith listens and acts.
He taught generosity, care for the poor, and quiet mercy. He said, “Give to him who asks you” (Matthew 5:42, NKJV), and “Sell what you have and give alms” (Luke 12:33, NKJV). He also taught that these acts should be done in secret, from a sincere heart, not for praise.
In simple words, false works try to earn righteousness. True works reveal righteousness. “Works of the law” are actions done to claim status, identity, or salvation without a changed heart. Jesus rejected that path completely. He called people to repent, to believe, and to follow Him.
When the heart is changed, obedience follows. Feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, visiting prisoners, forgiving others, and living truthfully are not replacements for faith. They are the fruit of faith.
Jesus summed it up clearly when He said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15, NKJV). Love comes first, but love is proven by obedience. Jesus did not remove God’s commandments. He restored their true meaning and showed that real faith is alive, active, and full of mercy.
.
In Scripture, the word “law” does not always mean the same thing. God gave the Ten Commandments also called moral commandments that show His will and His character, such as loving God, loving others, honoring parents, not murdering, not stealing, not lying... These commandments define sin and righteousness. God also gave Israel covenant signs and ritual laws, such as circumcision, sacrifices, food laws, and temple rules. These marked Israel as a nation and pointed forward to deeper spiritual truths. Mixing these together and treating them as one single system leads people to think that obedience itself is the problem. Jesus never taught that.
Jesus did not speak against God’s commandments. He spoke against trusting in outward religious acts while the heart remains unchanged. When a man asked Jesus how to gain eternal life, Jesus answered plainly, “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17, NKJV). Jesus then quoted commandments from the Ten Commandments. He did not say they were abolished. He treated them as the standard of life.
The phrase “works of the law” describes attempts to be counted righteous through outward acts, identity markers, and rule-keeping without repentance, mercy, or obedience of the heart. This is exactly what the Pharisees practiced, and Jesus rebuked them severely for it. They were experts in religious rules, but strangers to mercy and truth.
Jesus exposed their false works many times. He said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith” (Matthew 23:23, NKJV). They were careful with small religious details but ignored love, compassion, and faithfulness. This is a clear picture of “works of the law.”
J
esus also rebuked them for using the law to avoid helping others. He said they found ways to excuse themselves from caring for their parents while claiming to honor God with religious vows. He told them, “Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition” (Matthew 15:6, NKJV). Their works looked holy, but they canceled God’s will.
They fasted, prayed, and gave alms to be seen by others. Jesus warned against this kind of religion. He said, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them” (Matthew 6:1, NKJV). He taught that public religion without humility has no reward from God. These were works done for pride, not for love.
They also trusted in their religious status. Jesus spoke of a Pharisee who prayed by listing his religious acts and thanking God that he was better than others. Jesus showed that this man was not justified, while the humble sinner who cried for mercy was accepted by God (Luke 18:9–14, NKJV). Again, this shows the problem was not obedience, but self-righteous works.
Jesus made it clear that true obedience comes from the heart. In the Sermon on the Mount, He showed that anger breaks the command against murder, lust breaks the command against adultery, and careless words break the command against truth. He did not lower the law. He revealed its true meaning. He also said plainly, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17, NKJV). He then warned against setting aside God’s commandments or teaching others to do so.
Jesus also taught what true works look like when the heart has been changed. These are not works done to earn life. They are works that flow naturally from love, mercy, and obedience. Jesus described them clearly when He spoke about the final judgment. He said, “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me” (Matthew 25:35–36, NKJV). These people were not trying to prove themselves. They were simply living out love, and Jesus said that what they did to the least, they did to Him.
Jesus also said, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46, NKJV). He compared the obedient person to a wise man who built his house on rock. Hearing without doing was not enough. True faith listens and acts.
He taught generosity, care for the poor, and quiet mercy. He said, “Give to him who asks you” (Matthew 5:42, NKJV), and “Sell what you have and give alms” (Luke 12:33, NKJV). He also taught that these acts should be done in secret, from a sincere heart, not for praise.
In simple words, false works try to earn righteousness. True works reveal righteousness. “Works of the law” are actions done to claim status, identity, or salvation without a changed heart. Jesus rejected that path completely. He called people to repent, to believe, and to follow Him.
When the heart is changed, obedience follows. Feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, visiting prisoners, forgiving others, and living truthfully are not replacements for faith. They are the fruit of faith.
Jesus summed it up clearly when He said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15, NKJV). Love comes first, but love is proven by obedience. Jesus did not remove God’s commandments. He restored their true meaning and showed that real faith is alive, active, and full of mercy.
