Breaking the Law
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Definition and Context
Breaking the law, in a biblical context, refers to the act of transgressing God's commandments and statutes as revealed in the Scriptures. The concept of law in the Bible encompasses both the moral law, as epitomized in the Ten Commandments, and the ceremonial and civil laws given to the nation of Israel. The New Testament further expands on the understanding of law through the teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles.

Old Testament Perspective
In the Old Testament, the law was given to the Israelites as a covenant between God and His people. The law served as a guide for righteous living and a means to maintain a relationship with God. Breaking the law was considered a serious offense, often resulting in severe consequences. For instance, in Deuteronomy 28, blessings are promised for obedience, while curses are pronounced for disobedience.

The prophet Isaiah highlights the gravity of breaking God's law: "Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). This separation underscores the spiritual consequences of lawbreaking.

New Testament Perspective
The New Testament reaffirms the importance of the law but also introduces the concept of grace through Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself stated, "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" (Matthew 5:17). Christ's fulfillment of the law provides believers with a model of perfect obedience and a means of redemption through His sacrificial death and resurrection.

The Apostle Paul addresses the issue of breaking the law in his epistles, emphasizing that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). He explains that the law reveals sin but cannot save; salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul writes, "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law" (Romans 3:28).

Moral and Ethical Implications
Breaking the law is not only a legal issue but also a moral and ethical one. The Bible teaches that the law is written on the hearts of believers, guiding them to live in accordance with God's will. The Apostle John writes, "Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness" (1 John 3:4). This underscores the intrinsic link between sin and breaking God's law.

Believers are called to uphold the law through love, as love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10). The Holy Spirit empowers Christians to live righteously, producing the fruit of the Spirit as evidence of a transformed life.

Consequences and Redemption
The Bible is clear about the consequences of breaking the law, which include spiritual death and separation from God. However, it also offers redemption through Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul assures believers, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Through repentance and faith in Christ, individuals can receive forgiveness and be reconciled to God. This transformative process is central to the Christian faith, emphasizing the hope and renewal available to those who turn from breaking the law to embrace the grace offered through Jesus Christ.
Topical Bible Verses
Romans 2:25
For circumcision truly profits, if you keep the law: but if you be a breaker of the law, your circumcision is made uncircumcision.
Topicalbible.org

1 John 3:4
Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Topicalbible.org

Psalm 119:126
It is time for you, LORD, to work: for they have made void your law.
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 12:5
Or have you not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
Topicalbible.org

Greek
3847. parabasis -- a going aside, a transgression
... contrary" and , "go") -- properly, an "overstepping" (); a going "." 3847 ("a stepping
the line") in the NT refers to the (breaking) of God's law which His ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3847.htm - 7k

3892. paranomia -- lawbreaking
... 3892 -- properly, what is in direct contradiction to what is lawful; (literally,
"beside the law"); law-breaking, violation of divine justice. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3892.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
5927. alah -- to go up, ascend, climb
... to go up, ascend, climb. Transliteration: alah Phonetic Spelling: (aw-law') Short
Definition ... ascent (1), attack (2), been (1), blow away (1), breaking (1), bring ...
/hebrew/5927.htm - 8k
Library

Keeping the Law; the Jews' Glorying; the Fear of Punishment; the ...
... thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? thou that makest thy boast
of the law, through breaking the law dishonorest thou God? ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 13 viii keeping the law.htm

Whether Christ Conformed his Conduct to the Law?
... they that do them, but they also that consent to them that do them." But Christ,
by excusing His disciples, consented to their breaking the Law by plucking the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ conformed his conduct.htm

The Righteous Men who Lived in the Time of the Law were for all ...
... that they were not only prostrated under the propagation and domination of sin,
but also convicted by the additional guilt of breaking the law itself: not in ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 29 the righteous men who.htm

Whether the Mode of virtue Falls under the Precept of the Law?
... mode of virtue does not fall under the precept either of Divine or of human law,
since neither by man nor by God is he punished as breaking the law, who gives ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the mode of virtue.htm

The Breaking Out of Discord
... XIII TO END THE BREAKING OUT OF DISCORD. ... Pharisees which believed, saying, That it
was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.6 ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the breaking out of discord.htm

The Adulterous Woman.
... On the other hand, to set aside the Mosaic judgment would make him liable to the
charge of breaking the law of Moses and would be a powerful aid in breaking ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the adulterous woman.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xiii. 52, "Therefore Every ...
... Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast
of the Law, through breaking the Law dishonourest thou God? ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xxiv on the words.htm

A Simple Sermon for Seeking Souls
... The way in which God saves you is twofold: he finds man a sinner breaking
his law, he says, "I forgive you, I will not punish you. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/a simple sermon for seeking.htm

But that the Honour which we Pay to the Son of God...
... consists of an upright course of life, is plainly taught us by the passage, "Thou
that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter x but that the.htm

Making and Breaking Connections.
... In both cases the initial is the owner's seal, recognized by law as sufficient evidence ...
the main topic we are to talk about is making and breaking connections. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on power/making and breaking connections.htm

Resources
What does the Bible mean when it speaks of the breaking of bread? | GotQuestions.org

What are valid reasons for breaking up with a boyfriend/girlfriend? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about breaking generational curses? | GotQuestions.org

Breaking: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Breaking

Breaking a Personal Covenant

Breaking a Vow

Breaking Bad Habits

Breaking Bread

Breaking Covenants

Breaking Curses

Breaking Generational Curses

Breaking Promises

Breaking the Law

Breaking the Ten Commandments

Breaking Up

Related Terms

Sabbath-breaking

Breach (55 Occurrences)

Breaker (2 Occurrences)

Bands (130 Occurrences)

Crash (7 Occurrences)

Fellowship (114 Occurrences)

Fracture (2 Occurrences)

Festering (7 Occurrences)

Taint (1 Occurrence)

Eruption (6 Occurrences)

Blisters (2 Occurrences)

Brake (80 Occurrences)

Boils (6 Occurrences)

Blains (2 Occurrences)

Crucifixion (4 Occurrences)

Continuing (24 Occurrences)

Agape

Stedfastly (23 Occurrences)

Sores (16 Occurrences)

Steadfastly (19 Occurrences)

Sabbathbreaking

Smashes (1 Occurrence)

Leg (24 Occurrences)

Crimes (22 Occurrences)

Punishments (31 Occurrences)

Crime (45 Occurrences)

Break (257 Occurrences)

Chains (100 Occurrences)

Eucharist

Supper (17 Occurrences)

Boil (29 Occurrences)

Beauty (98 Occurrences)

Kir (11 Occurrences)

Heifer (22 Occurrences)

Hezekiah (124 Occurrences)

Broke (153 Occurrences)

Communion (8 Occurrences)

Sabbath-day (23 Occurrences)

Deluge (17 Occurrences)

Animals (224 Occurrences)

Animal (163 Occurrences)

Lord's (548 Occurrences)

Bound (175 Occurrences)

Noah (55 Occurrences)

Zedekiah (63 Occurrences)

Beast (243 Occurrences)

Languages (36 Occurrences)

Hurt (84 Occurrences)

Harrow (3 Occurrences)

Despised (96 Occurrences)

Yoke-bars (3 Occurrences)

Bread (433 Occurrences)

Quantity (18 Occurrences)

Vessels (210 Occurrences)

Kick (8 Occurrences)

Kiln (5 Occurrences)

Net (91 Occurrences)

Unsparingly (5 Occurrences)

Occurs (7 Occurrences)

Often (74 Occurrences)

Outbreak (2 Occurrences)

Nehelamite (4 Occurrences)

Jasper (8 Occurrences)

Judas (42 Occurrences)

Lawless (16 Occurrences)

Laden (14 Occurrences)

Listening (47 Occurrences)

Loathe (19 Occurrences)

Loads (12 Occurrences)

Guarded (27 Occurrences)

Gap (4 Occurrences)

Godhead (5 Occurrences)

Giving (611 Occurrences)

Gleaning (10 Occurrences)

Gladness (83 Occurrences)

Grievious (1 Occurrence)

Generous (17 Occurrences)

Wrestled (6 Occurrences)

Breaking the Jar
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