The lecture explains that the Lord Christ did not come to abolish the Law or cancel the Old Testament, but He came to fulfill it and reveal its true spiritual depth. Pope Shenouda III confirmed that the Coptic Orthodox Church honors the Old Testament and respects everything written in it, because all Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching and salvation.
Pope Shenouda III explains that Christ fulfilled obedience to the Law, as He submitted to everything concerning the Law although He Himself is the giver of the Law. Christ also fulfilled the prophecies and symbols that referred to Him in the Old Testament, and therefore He often quoted from the Holy Scriptures and the prophets during His teaching.
The lecture confirms that the problem was not in the Law itself, but in the people’s literal understanding of it without entering into the spirit of the commandment. Therefore, Christ came to reveal the deep spiritual meaning of the Law, such as the understanding of the Sabbath, love, mercy, forgiveness, and not limiting oneself to the external letter.
Pope Shenouda III also explains that the commandment “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” was related to judgment and achieving justice, and was not a call for personal revenge, while Christ called for loving enemies and doing good to everyone. He cited examples from the life of Joseph the righteous and David the prophet, who showed the spirit of love and forgiveness even in the Old Testament.
The lecture explains that the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament were not abolished in the sense of cancellation, but they were fulfilled through the complete sacrifice of the Lord Christ, which achieved redemption and salvation for all human beings. The spiritual principle remained established, but the symbol was fulfilled in Christ Himself.
The lecture also confirms that the New Testament presented a deeper spiritual level because of the work of the Holy Spirit, grace, and the holy sacraments, and therefore man became able to understand the divine commandments with a higher and deeper understanding.
At the end, Pope Shenouda III explains that Christianity is the complete spiritual continuation of the Law of God, and that the Lord Christ came to lead man to understand the spirit of the commandment and not merely cling to its literal form.
“For better translation support, please contact the center.”
The Sermon on the Mount – Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law, but to fulfil it
The lecture explains that the Lord Christ did not come to abolish the Law or cancel the Old Testament, but He came to fulfill it and reveal its true spiritual depth. Pope Shenouda III confirmed that the Coptic Orthodox Church honors the Old Testament and respects everything written in it, because all Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching and salvation.
Pope Shenouda III explains that Christ fulfilled obedience to the Law, as He submitted to everything concerning the Law although He Himself is the giver of the Law. Christ also fulfilled the prophecies and symbols that referred to Him in the Old Testament, and therefore He often quoted from the Holy Scriptures and the prophets during His teaching.
The lecture confirms that the problem was not in the Law itself, but in the people’s literal understanding of it without entering into the spirit of the commandment. Therefore, Christ came to reveal the deep spiritual meaning of the Law, such as the understanding of the Sabbath, love, mercy, forgiveness, and not limiting oneself to the external letter.
Pope Shenouda III also explains that the commandment “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” was related to judgment and achieving justice, and was not a call for personal revenge, while Christ called for loving enemies and doing good to everyone. He cited examples from the life of Joseph the righteous and David the prophet, who showed the spirit of love and forgiveness even in the Old Testament.
The lecture explains that the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament were not abolished in the sense of cancellation, but they were fulfilled through the complete sacrifice of the Lord Christ, which achieved redemption and salvation for all human beings. The spiritual principle remained established, but the symbol was fulfilled in Christ Himself.
The lecture also confirms that the New Testament presented a deeper spiritual level because of the work of the Holy Spirit, grace, and the holy sacraments, and therefore man became able to understand the divine commandments with a higher and deeper understanding.
At the end, Pope Shenouda III explains that Christianity is the complete spiritual continuation of the Law of God, and that the Lord Christ came to lead man to understand the spirit of the commandment and not merely cling to its literal form.
“For better translation support, please contact the center.”