Last time, we saw Moses die in Moab. A Prophet Like Moses Part 40 Deu 34:5 (CEV) And so, Moses the LORD's servant died there in Moab, just as the LORD had said. Deu 34:6 The LORD buried him in a valley near the town of Beth-Peor, but even today no one knows exactly where. Deu 34:7 Moses was a hundred twenty years old when he died, yet his eyesight was still good, and his body was strong. Deu 34:8 The people of Israel stayed in the lowlands of Moab, where they mourned and grieved thirty days for Moses, as was their custom. There are some things that are peculiar in the death of Moses. (1) The Lord buried him (2) No one knows exactly where he was buried (3) When he died, we are told that his eyesight was still good and his body was strong Why are we given these details? It could have been just written that Moses died and the people mourned for him. But everything in the Bible, including these circumstances surrounding the death of Moses are important. Let's look at the third detail first. When Moses died, his eyesight was still good and his body was strong. What is this telling us? Moses didn't die of old age! The Lord killed him as punishment of his disobedience at the waters of Meribah. Some of you will say, that's it?!? That one little disobedience, and the Lord killed Moses while he was still strong and his eyesight was still good? Well, let's not forget why this happened to Moses. Let's remind ourselves of the reason why everything that happened to Israel happened to them. 1Co 10:11 (KJV) Now all these things happened to them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the eons are come. The reason that it is written that Moses died while his eyesight was still good and his body was still strong is for our admonition, in other words, to warn us. To warn us of what? 1Co 10:12 (ESV) Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. Here's another translation: 1Co 10:12 (BBE) So let him who seems to himself to be safe go in fear of a fall.
There it is! Don't be so sure of yourself. You could fall anytime. Like Moses, you might think that your eyesight is still good, that you are seeing spiritual things. Like Moses, you might think that you are strong spiritually, but to the Lord, you are just dead. Whenever we feel like were being complacent, remember Moses. He was faithful to God until the waters of Meribah where he didn't talk to the rock as instructed by the Lord. Remember Judas, who was with Christ for His whole ministry, until he was overtaken by the devil to betray our Lord. Deu 34:10 (GW) There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD dealt with face to face. Deu 34:11 He was the one the LORD sent to do all the miraculous signs and amazing things in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials, and to his whole country. Deu 34:12 Moses used his mighty hand to do all the spectacular and aweinspiring deeds that were seen by all the Israelites. Israel's greatest prophet was buried by the Lord Himself. And the Lord didn't tell anyone where Moses' grave was. Why? Is it possible that the reason is because there will be a time that Israel will move on from the laws given to them through Moses and start listening to another prophet? Deu 18:15 (ESV) "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers it is to him you shall listen Deu 18:16 just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.' Deu 18:17 And the LORD said to me, 'They are right in what they have spoken. Deu 18:18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. When Christ lived on earth in the flesh, Moses was still considered the greatest prophet of Israel. The law of Moses was preached regularly to all Jews. Act 15:21 (GNB) For the Law of Moses has been read for a very long time in the synagogues every Sabbath, and his words are preached in every town." The law of Moses was the code of righteousness for the Jews. It is how they tell who is good and who is bad. What does Christ think of the law of Moses?
Mar 10:17 (GNB) As Jesus was starting on his way again, a man ran up, knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?" Mar 10:18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good except God alone. Mar 10:19 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not accuse anyone falsely; do not cheat; respect your father and your mother.' " Mar 10:20 "Teacher," the man said, "ever since I was young, I have obeyed all these commandments." This man was asking Jesus what must he do to receive eternal life. Jesus then reminded him of the law of Moses, Do not commit murder... do not steal... do not cheat, respect your father and your mother. The man then answered that he has been obeying all those commands since he was young. What do you think is the Lord's answer? Did He say, Well then, you're all set. Just keep obeying those laws and you will have eternal life? No, He didn't say that. This is what He said: Mar 10:21 (GNB) Jesus looked straight at him with love and said, "You need only one thing. Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me." Mar 10:22 When the man heard this, gloom spread over his face, and he went away sad, because he was very rich. Mar 10:23 Jesus looked around at his disciples and said to them, "How hard it will be for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God!" Mar 10:24 The disciples were shocked at these words, but Jesus went on to say, "My children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! Mar 10:25 It is much harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle." That's kind of a weird answer, isn't it? The Lord tells this man to sell everything that he has, give the money to the poor and follow Him. If it was you, how would you react? Maybe some would say, Can I just follow you Lord? Why do I have to sell everything that I have and give the money to the poor? Or maybe you're thinking this is easy for you to do. After all, you're young and you don't own that much anyway. Well, if you're thinking along that line, you are forgetting something. The Lord always talked to others in parables. He always talked in symbols so that others will not understand Him.
The Lord was not talking about physical wealth here. He was talking about spiritual riches. That's why He quoted those laws, do not murder, do not cheat. When the man answered I have obeyed all those, he basically said he is spiritually rich. The Lord's answer to him? No, you're not! The Lord didn't quite say it directly that way, because He is hiding this truth to people He wants to continue to blind. The disciples didn't see that hidden message either. Mar 10:26 (GNB) At this the disciples were completely amazed and asked one another, "Who, then, can be saved?" Mar 10:27 Jesus looked straight at them and answered, "This is impossible for human beings but not for God; everything is possible for God." The Lord was trying to tell them that it is not enough to obey the law of Moses to get you saved. At that time, they were not ready to receive that message, so the Lord was slowly showing them that He is changing the law of Moses to a higher law which is impossible for anyone to obey unless God gives them the holy spirit. Joh 16:8 (ERV) "When the Helper (the holy spirit) comes, he will show the people of the world how wrong they are about sin, about being right with God, and about judgment. Joh 16:9 He will prove that they are guilty of sin, because they don't believe in me. Joh 16:10 He will show them how wrong they are about how to be right with God. The Helper will do this, because I am going to the Father. You will not see me then. Joh 16:11 And he will show them how wrong their judgment is, because their leader has already been condemned. Joh 16:12 "I have so much more to tell you, but it is too much for you to accept now. In the fifth chapter of Matthew, we find the Lord telling His followers that their righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Jews, which is based on the law of Moses, to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:20 (KJV) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. He then compares the law of Moses and the law of God. Mat 5:21 (ESV) "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'
Mat 5:22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire. Under the law of Moses, as long as you don't murder someone, you are still considered righteous. But under the law of God or the law of the spirit, you are a murderer the moment you hate someone (1Jn 3:15). Mat 5:43 (ESV) "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' Mat 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Mat 5:45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Mat 5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? Love your enemies?!? Pray for those who persecute you? Did He really say that? Yes He did. But how many Christian churches today believe those words? How many teach their members that they're not supposed to join the military and kill their enemies? Most of them honor the military. Mat 5:38 (DRB) You have heard that it hath been said: An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. Mat 5:39 But I say to you not to resist evil: but if one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other: Mat 5:40 And if a man will contend with thee in judgment, and take away thy coat, let go thy cloak also unto him. Mat 5:41 And whosoever will force thee one mile, go with him other two. Do not resist evil. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other one also. Do we see those commands obeyed? How did people react to the school shootings? They want to arm the teachers and train them how to shoot the bad guys! How many Christians own a gun to protect themselves? Mat 5:27 (ISV) "You have heard that it was said, 'You must not commit adultery.' Mat 5:28 But I say to you, anyone who stares at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
You are not excused from this law, boys and girls. If you're a boy and you think of kissing a girl, you have already committed adultery. The same is true for a girl who thinks of kissing a boy. It is in our very nature to think lustful thoughts on people we are attracted with, so this is just another law that is impossible for us to obey, unless we have the holy spirit in us. But wait, there's more! Mat 5:33 (ESV) "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' Mat 5:34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, Mat 5:35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Mat 5:36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Mat 5:37 Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil. It is so easy for us to make a promise not knowing what's going to happen tomorrow, let alone the distant future. Whenever you are tempted to make a promise, remember that anything you say more than a 'Yes' or a 'No' comes from evil. The law of Moses was certainly a lot better than the existing laws back then because it contains a command to love God with all our hearts and with all our might. Deu 6:5 (ESV) You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. The law of Moses gives us a basic idea of right and wrong, but it focuses on outward show of righteousness like fasting and keeping the Sabbath. Exo 31:14 (ESV) You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Exo 31:15 Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. The Lord is not concerned on outward rituals, He is concerned in what's in our hearts. Mat 23:25 (GW) "How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You clean the outside of cups and dishes. But inside they are full of greed and uncontrolled desires.
That is the reason Christ has repeatedly broken the Sabbath, to show us that obedience to the law He has given through Moses is not enough to get us eternal life. Joh 1:17 (KJV) For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. When Christ said He will raise a prophet like Moses, He was referring to Himself. He came in the flesh to show us the only way to come to the Father. Joh 14:6 (ESV) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.