Rightly Divided & Rightly Applied

A rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" (Mark 10:17). Convicted of the sin of crucifying the Son of God, many Jews in Jerusalem asked Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). These two questions are essentially the same; both questions are asking the most important question that could ever be asked: What must I do to be saved?

Now note the answers given to these questions.

Jesus answered the rich young ruler’s question saying, "You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother'" (Mark 10:19).

On the Day of Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ, Peter answered the Jews’ question saying, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

If the same question was asked, why were two different answers given?

Jesus directed the rich young ruler to the Ten Commandments of the Law of Moses. Peter told his audience to repent and be baptized. Why the difference?

To properly understand and apply the teachings of Scripture, one must observe the context.

The context of Jesus’ answer to the rich young ruler was when the Law of Moses was in effect. Jesus lived and died under the Law of Moses. Thus, He directed the rich young ruler to obey the law of God that was then in effect, which was the Law of Moses. But, when Jesus died, He "wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us [i.e., the Law of Moses], which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross" (Colossians 2:14). After Jesus’ death, a new law came into effect – the law of Christ.

It is helpful to think of these concepts in terms of a Last Will and Testament. The Hebrew writer used this analogy in discussing the difference between the old (the Law of Moses) and the new covenants (the Law of Christ): "For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives" (Hebrews 9:16-17). When Jesus died, His “last will and testament” – the New Testament – came into effect.

Under the “last will and testament” of Jesus Christ, the law of pardon as given through His apostles is that one must believe in Jesus (Acts 16:31), repent of sins, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) in order to receive the salvation that Christ effected on the cross.

To properly understand God’s will for man today, one must rightly divide the word of God (2 Timothy 2:15) and then rightly apply it to his life.

God’s word: rightly divide it and rightly apply it!



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