God’s final word of revelation to the world

Lucas Cranach - The Law and the Gospel

“He [Christ] had come, not to destroy Moses and his work, not to undermine the rightful prestige of the Old Testament mediator, but to bring the religion of Moses to its promised perfection by elevating its commands and teachings to an unexpected grandeur… Just as Moses ascended the mount of Sinai to give the Old Law, Christ ascended the lakeside mountain to deliver the New Law, one incomparably superior to that of Moses. This New Law calls blest the poor, the sorrowful, the meek, the just, the merciful, the simple, the peacemakers, the persecuted. It insists on the internal dispositions of men rather than on external practices, on the spirit which should inspire alms, prayers and fastings more than on the actions themselves. Above all, it demands a constant and perfect practice of universal love and in this, particularly, does the New Law of Christ differ sharply from the Mosaic Law which was based solidly on the virtue of justice.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:38-45)

In conclusion then, we can determine the following important aspects of Christ’s apostolate. His teaching was his acceptance of the role previously held by Moses. He had come as the greatest of all prophets, the incarnate Word of God bearing God’s final word of revelation to the world. In a manner surpassing that of Moses, he had also come as the new Law-giver, and this law could be reduced to one command—love. He called for a truly interior dedication to God, for which the phrase, ‘utter and undying love,’ seems the only sufficient description.”

Neal M. Flanagan, Salvation History, pp. 150;159