JOSEPH W. TKACH
January 1988
Dear Friend:
Thank you for your question concerning Luke 16:16 and
whether or not this means that God's law has been done away since
the time of John.
No, that is not what Jesus meant at all. He explains it
Himself in the very next verse: "And it is easier for heaven and
earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail" (verse 17).
Have the starry heavens or the planet earth passed away? Jesus
said it would be easier for them to perish or be destroyed than
for even one tiny part of God's law to pass away!
On another occasion, Christ told a young man seeking the way
to eternal life, "If thou wilt enter into life, KEEP THE
COMMANDMENTS" (Matt. 19:17). How clear that God's holy law is
still in full force and effect!
What, then, did Jesus mean by the statement, "The law and
the prophets were until John?" When Jesus spoke of the "law and
the prophets," He was referring to the Old Testament. The first
five books of the Bible, written by Moses, are known as the
"law"; the books of Joshua through Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Ezekiel, and the 12 minor prophets comprise the "prophets." The
third major section of the Old Testament was known as the
"writings" or "psalms." Notice Luke 24:27, 44. Jesus meant that,
until the coming of John the Baptist, the Old Testament
scriptures were all that was available. The New Testament had not
yet been written.
John came as a forerunner of Jesus Christ. As the "voice of
one crying in the wilderness," he prepared the way before Him
(Mark 1:2-8). John thundered to the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and
all the people of his day, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand" (Matt. 3:2).
John began to proclaim the Gospel, preparing the way for
Christ Himself. And what Gospel -- good news -- did Christ
preach? "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into
Galilee, preaching THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, And saying,
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent
ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:14-15).
Christ preached the same Gospel as John. This is why He said
that from the time of John the Baptist, the Gospel, or good news,
of God's coming Kingdom is proclaimed.
Thank you again for your question. We hope you will let us
know whenever we can assist you further with your study of the
Bible. It is our pleasure to serve you.
PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT
PASTOR GENERAL