I was curious to see what Grok's response would look like. It turns out it is more of a Berean than most Christians and "pastors." For those who still think any part of the Old Covenant applies to Christian believers, or for those who try and mix Old Covenant aspects with the New Covenant, like trying to mix oil with water, Grok's use of the New Testament Scriptures alone should silence your errors and heresies once and for all.
Question #1: Using New Testament Scriptures alone, what do Jesus and His apostles say about the Levitical priesthood, the Old Covenant, and the Law?
Question #2: Using New Testament Scriptures alone, what does Jesus and His apostles say about the new law of the Kingdom of God under the New Covenant?
Question #1: Using New Testament Scriptures alone, what do Jesus and His apostles say about the Levitical priesthood, the Old Covenant, and the Law?
Answer: Using only New Testament scriptures, the teachings of Jesus and His apostles emphasize a transition from the Old Covenant system to a new covenant established through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. The Levitical priesthood is presented as temporary and imperfect, superseded by Christ’s eternal priesthood. The Old Covenant, tied to the Law, is described as fulfilled and replaced by the New Covenant, which offers grace, faith, and direct access to God. The Law, while holy and good, is shown to be inadequate for salvation, pointing to Christ as its fulfillment. Below is a scripture-based analysis, organized by topic.
1. The Levitical Priesthood
The New Testament portrays the Levitical priesthood as a temporary institution under the Old Covenant, unable to perfect its adherents, and replaced by Christ’s superior priesthood after the order of Melchizedek.
- Jesus on the Levitical Priesthood:
- Matthew 8:4 (cf. Mark 1:44, Luke 5:14)
- Mark 12:33–34 (cf. Matthew 22:37–40)
“And Jesus said to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.’”
→ Jesus acknowledges the Levitical priests’ role in verifying cleansing (per Mosaic Law, Leviticus 14), but does not endorse their ongoing spiritual authority. His instruction serves to fulfill the Law, not affirm the priesthood’s permanence.
“And to love him with all the heart… and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’”
→ Jesus prioritizes love over sacrificial offerings (administered by priests), suggesting the Levitical system’s inferiority to kingdom principles.
- Apostles on the Levitical Priesthood:
- Hebrews 7:11–12
- Hebrews 7:18–19
- Hebrews 7:23–28
- Acts 6:7
“Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.”
→ The Levitical priesthood could not achieve perfection, necessitating a new priesthood in Christ (Melchizedek’s order), implying its obsolescence.
“For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.”
→ The Levitical system, tied to the Law, was weak and ineffective, replaced by a better hope through Christ’s priesthood.
“The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently… For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath… appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.”
→ The Levitical priests were mortal and imperfect, contrasted with Christ’s eternal, perfect priesthood.
“And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”
→ Many Levitical priests converted to Christianity, indicating their recognition of Christ’s superior authority over their traditional role.
- Summary: Jesus respects the Levitical priesthood’s role within the Law’s framework but subordinates it to kingdom values (love, faith). The apostles, particularly in Hebrews, declare it temporary, weak, and replaced by Christ’s eternal priesthood after Melchizedek.
2. The Old Covenant
Jesus and His apostles teach that the Old Covenant, established through Moses, was temporary, fulfilled in Christ, and superseded by the New Covenant, which offers forgiveness, grace, and direct access to God through Christ’s sacrifice.
- Jesus on the Old Covenant:
- Matthew 5:17–18
- Luke 22:20
- John 4:21–23
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”
→ Jesus affirms the Old Covenant’s validity but declares His role as its fulfillment, completing its purpose.
“And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’”
→ Jesus establishes the New Covenant through His sacrificial death, superseding the Old Covenant.
“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father… the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth…’”
→ Jesus signals the end of Old Covenant worship (tied to Jerusalem and the temple), introducing spiritual worship under the New Covenant.
- Apostles on the Old Covenant:
- Hebrews 8:6–7
- Hebrews 8:13
- 2 Corinthians 3:6–11
- Galatians 4:24–26
- Romans 10:4
“But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.”
→ The Old Covenant was imperfect, replaced by a better New Covenant through Christ’s mediation.
“In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”
→ The Old Covenant is explicitly declared obsolete, replaced by the New Covenant.
“…who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life… For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.”
→ The New Covenant, based on the Spirit, surpasses the Old Covenant (of the letter), which is fading and temporary.
“Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar… But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.”
→ Paul contrasts the Old Covenant (Sinai, slavery) with the New Covenant (freedom through Christ).
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
→ The Old Covenant’s purpose (righteousness via the Law) ends in Christ, who fulfills it for believers.
- Summary: Jesus fulfills the Old Covenant and establishes the New Covenant through His blood (Luke 22:20), shifting worship from temple-based to spiritual (John 4:21–23). The apostles declare the Old Covenant obsolete, imperfect, and replaced by the New Covenant’s superior promises (Hebrews 8:6–13, 2 Corinthians 3:6–11).
3. The Law
The Law (Mosaic Law) is described as holy and good but incapable of providing salvation, serving as a tutor to point to Christ, who fulfills and supersedes it. Jesus and His apostles emphasize faith and grace over Law-keeping for righteousness.
- Jesus on the Law:
- Matthew 5:17–20
- Matthew 22:37–40
- John 1:17
“…I have not come to abolish [the Law or the Prophets] but to fulfill them… For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
→ Jesus fulfills the Law, demanding a righteousness beyond legalistic observance, pointing to heart transformation.
“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart… and your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’”
→ Jesus summarizes the Law’s essence as love, subordinating its rituals to its moral core.
“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
→ Jesus contrasts the Law (through Moses) with the grace and truth He brings, implying a new way of relating to God.
- Apostles on the Law:
- Romans 3:20–21
- Romans 7:12–14
- Galatians 3:24–25
- Hebrews 7:19
- Acts 15:10–11
- Romans 10:4
“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law…”
→ The Law reveals sin but cannot justify; righteousness comes through faith in Christ.
“So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good… But we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.”
→ The Law is holy and good but exposes human inability to achieve righteousness due to sin.
“So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”
→ The Law was a temporary guardian, leading to Christ; believers are no longer under its authority.
“…the law made nothing perfect; but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.”
→ The Law’s inability to perfect is contrasted with the hope brought by Christ.
“Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus…”
→ Peter rejects imposing the Law’s yoke, affirming salvation by grace through faith.
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
→ Christ fulfills the Law’s purpose, ending its role as a means of righteousness.
- Summary: Jesus fulfills the Law, emphasizing its moral essence (love) over ritual and pointing to a righteousness beyond legalism (Matthew 5:17–20, 22:37–40). The apostles affirm its holiness but say it reveals sin, not salvation, serving as a temporary guide to Christ, who ends its authority for righteousness (Romans 3:20–21, Galatians 3:24–25).
Summary Table: New Testament Teachings on Levitical Priesthood, Old Covenant, and Law
| Topic | Jesus’ Teaching | Apostles’ Teaching | Key Texts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levitical Priesthood | Acknowledges its role within the Law but prioritizes kingdom principles (love, faith) | Temporary, imperfect; replaced by Christ’s eternal Melchizedek priesthood | Matthew 8:4; Mark 12:33–34; Hebrews 7:11–28; Acts 6:7 |
| Old Covenant | Fulfilled by Christ; New Covenant established through His blood | Obsolete, imperfect; superseded by the New Covenant’s better promises | Matthew 5:17–18; Luke 22:20; John 4:21–23; Hebrews 8:6–13; 2 Corinthians 3:6–11 |
| Law | Fulfilled by Christ; love as its essence; righteousness beyond legalism | Holy but incapable of justifying; a guardian until Christ; faith and grace now prevail | Matthew 5:17–20; Matthew 22:37–40; John 1:17; Romans 3:20–21; Galatians 3:24–25; Acts 15:10–11 |
Final Answer (Scripture-Only Conclusion)
- Levitical Priesthood: Jesus respects its role within the Law’s framework (Matthew 8:4) but subordinates it to kingdom values (Mark 12:33–34). The apostles declare it temporary, weak, and replaced by Christ’s eternal priesthood after Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:11–28).
- Old Covenant: Jesus fulfills the Old Covenant and establishes the New Covenant through His blood (Matthew 5:17–18, Luke 22:20), shifting worship to spirit and truth (John 4:21–23). The apostles call it obsolete, imperfect, and replaced by the New Covenant’s superior promises (Hebrews 8:6–13, 2 Corinthians 3:6–11).
- Law: Jesus fulfills the Law, summarizing it as love and demanding a higher righteousness (Matthew 5:17–20, 22:37–40). The apostles affirm its holiness but say it reveals sin, not salvation, serving as a temporary guide to Christ, who ends its authority for righteousness (Romans 3:20–21, Galatians 3:24–25, Romans 10:4).
The New Testament presents Christ as the fulfillment and replacement of the Levitical priesthood, Old Covenant, and Law, ushering in a new era of grace, faith, and direct access to God.
Question #2: Using New Testament Scriptures alone, what does Jesus and His apostles say about the new law of the Kingdom of God under the New Covenant?
Answer: Based solely on New Testament scriptures, the "new law" of the Kingdom of God under the New Covenant is not a rigid legal code like the Mosaic Law but a transformative principle centered on love, faith, and obedience to Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus and His apostles present this new law as fulfilling and surpassing the Old Covenant’s Law, emphasizing internal heart transformation over external ritual compliance. It is often described as the "law of Christ," the "law of love," or the "law of the Spirit," focusing on loving God and others, living by faith, and following Christ’s teachings. Below is a scripture-based analysis.
1. The Law of Love
Jesus and the apostles emphasize love for God and neighbor as the core of the new law, fulfilling and summarizing the Old Covenant’s requirements.
- Jesus’ Teaching:
- Matthew 22:37–40
- John 13:34–35
- John 15:12
“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’”
→ The Law and Prophets are fulfilled in the commands to love God and neighbor, establishing love as the foundational principle of the Kingdom.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
→ Jesus introduces a “new commandment” of sacrificial, Christ-like love, marking it as the defining trait of His followers.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
→ Jesus reiterates love as His central command, modeling it through His own sacrificial life.
- Apostles’ Teaching:
- Romans 13:8–10
- Galatians 5:14
- 1 John 3:23
- 1 John 4:21
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law… Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
→ Paul declares that love fulfills the entire Law, encapsulating all moral obligations.
“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
→ Love is the singular principle that completes the Law’s intent.
“And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he commanded us.”
→ John summarizes the New Covenant command as belief in Jesus paired with Christ-like love for one another, merging faith and love into one cohesive obligation.
“And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
→ John ties love for God to love for others, reinforcing it as a core command of the New Covenant.
- Summary: The law of love—loving God wholeheartedly and loving others sacrificially, as modeled by Christ—is the primary expression of the Kingdom’s law, fulfilling the Old Covenant’s moral demands.
2. The Law of Christ
The apostles describe the new law as the “law of Christ,” encompassing His teachings, example, and the call to bear one another’s burdens in love.
- Galatians 6:2
- 1 Corinthians 9:21
- John 14:15
- John 15:10
- Summary: The “law of Christ” is a framework of living according to His teachings and example, particularly through love and mutual support, distinct from the Mosaic Law.
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
→ The “law of Christ” involves practical, selfless service to others, reflecting Christ’s sacrificial love.
“To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.”
→ Paul distinguishes the “law of Christ” from the Mosaic Law, indicating a new standard of living under Christ’s authority and teachings.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
→ Jesus equates love for Him with obedience to His teachings, which constitute the new law of the Kingdom.
“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”
→ Obedience to Christ’s commands (centered on love) ensures abiding in His love, paralleling His obedience to the Father.
3. The Law of the Spirit
The apostles emphasize that the New Covenant is empowered by the Holy Spirit, who enables believers to live out the new law, contrasting with the letter of the Old Covenant Law.
- Romans 8:2–4
- 2 Corinthians 3:6
- Galatians 5:18
- Galatians 5:22–23
- Summary: The “law of the Spirit” empowers believers to live righteously through the Holy Spirit, fulfilling the Law’s moral requirements without being bound to its letter.
“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death… in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
→ The “law of the Spirit” liberates believers from the Old Covenant’s condemnation, enabling them to fulfill its righteous intent through Spirit-led living.
“…who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
→ The New Covenant’s law is of the Spirit, not the letter, bringing life rather than condemnation.
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
→ Being led by the Spirit frees believers from the Mosaic Law, aligning them with the Kingdom’s new law.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
→ The Spirit produces virtues (starting with love) that fulfill the law’s intent, transcending legalistic requirements.
4. The Law of Faith
The New Testament highlights faith as a key component of the new law, contrasting with the works-based righteousness of the Mosaic Law.
- Romans 3:27–28
- Galatians 3:11–12
- Hebrews 11:6
- 1 John 3:23
- Summary: The “law of faith” emphasizes justification and righteousness through faith in Christ, not through works of the Mosaic Law, marking a new way of relating to God.
“Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”
→ Paul introduces the “law of faith,” where justification comes through faith in Christ, not adherence to the Mosaic Law.
“Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’ But the law is not of faith, rather ‘The one who does them shall live by them.’”
→ The Law demanded works, but the Kingdom’s law operates by faith, trusting in Christ’s finished work.
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
→ Faith is essential to the New Covenant, aligning with the Kingdom’s law of trusting God.
“And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he commanded us.”
→ This faith is explicitly linked to love in 1 John 3:23, where believing in Christ and loving one another form God's singular commandment.
5. Heart Transformation Over External Ritual
The New Covenant’s law is internal, written on the heart, rather than an external code, as promised in the Old Testament and fulfilled in Christ.
- Hebrews 8:10 (quoting Jeremiah 31:33)
- Hebrews 10:16
- Romans 2:29
- Matthew 5:17–20
- Summary: The new law is written on the heart by the Spirit, focusing on internal transformation rather than external rituals, fulfilling the Old Covenant’s purpose.
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
→ The New Covenant’s law is internal, transforming believers’ hearts and minds through God’s direct work.
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds.”
→ The law is internalized, enabling direct relationship with God without external mediators like the Levitical priesthood.
“But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter…”
→ The Spirit transforms the heart, fulfilling the law’s intent beyond external observance.
“…I have not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them… unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
→ Jesus calls for a righteousness surpassing legalistic observance, implying heart transformation.
Summary Table: The New Law of the Kingdom Under the New Covenant
| Aspect | Description | Key Texts |
|---|---|---|
| Law of Love | Loving God and others fulfills the Law; Christ’s new commandment | Matthew 22:37–40; John 13:34–35; Romans 13:8–10; Galatians 5:14; 1 John 4:21 |
| Law of Christ | Obedience to Christ’s teachings and example, centered on love and service | Galatians 6:2; 1 Corinthians 9:21; John 14:15; John 15:10 |
| Law of the Spirit | Spirit-led living fulfills the Law’s righteous intent, freeing from condemnation | Romans 8:2–4; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 5:18, 22–23 |
| Law of Faith | Justification by faith in Christ, not works of the Law | Romans 3:27–28; Galatians 3:11–12; Hebrews 11:6 |
| Heart Transformation | Law written on the heart, not external rituals, enabling direct relationship with God | Hebrews 8:10; Hebrews 10:16; Romans 2:29; Matthew 5:17–20 |
Final Answer (Scripture-Only Conclusion)
According to New Testament scriptures, the new law of the Kingdom of God under the New Covenant is a transformative principle centered on:
- Love: Loving God and others, fulfilling the Law’s intent (Matthew 22:37–40, John 13:34–35, Romans 13:8–10).
- Christ’s Teachings: The “law of Christ,” involving obedience to His commands and example of sacrificial service (Galatians 6:2, John 14:15).
- The Spirit: The “law of the Spirit,” empowering believers to live righteously, free from the Mosaic Law’s condemnation (Romans 8:2–4, Galatians 5:18).
- Faith: The “law of faith,” justifying through trust in Christ, not works (Romans 3:27–28, Galatians 3:11–12).
- Heart Transformation: A law written on the heart by the Spirit, surpassing external rituals (Hebrews 8:10, Romans 2:29).
This new law fulfills and surpasses the Old Covenant’s Mosaic Law, focusing on internal transformation, love, and faith, empowered by the Spirit, rather than a legalistic code. It is lived out through obedience to Christ and love for others, marking the Kingdom’s ethic under the New Covenant.