Yes, Jesus lived under the Law throughout His earthly ministry.
Les Feldick states plainly, 'He lived under the Law. Israel was under the Law.' Jesus never told Israel they were no longer under the Law, and everything in the Gospels is still under the Law. The age of grace did not begin in Christ's earthly ministry.
Matthew 19:17 — Jesus' answer to the rich young ruler shows that 'keeping the commandments' was still the standard for Israel during His earthly ministry.
John 1:11 — This verse shows Christ came to His own people, the nation of Israel, which was under the Law.
During His earthly ministry, Jesus answered the rich young ruler, 'if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments' (Matthew 19:17). He did not tell him the Law was finished. John 1:11 says, 'He came unto his own, and his own received him not' — His 'own' were Israel, the people who had been put under the Law at Sinai. In the early chapters of Acts, Peter is still preaching to Israel: 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins' (Acts 2:38). The promise in Acts 2:39 is 'unto you, and to your children,' that is, to Israel. Scripture does not record anyone telling these Jewish believers they were released from the Law at that point. The test of the believer today is different: 'For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace' (Romans 6:14). Paul then asks, 'What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid' (Romans 6:15).
Les Feldick is emphatic: Jesus was under the Law during His earthly ministry. He says, 'He lived under the Law. Israel was under the Law,' and that Jesus 'never told them, you're not under the Law.' Les traces this from the Gospels into the book of Acts, where the twelve apostles were still meeting at the temple because no one had told them the Law was no longer in force. Les warns that 'everything that takes place in the Gospels... is still under the law,' and that the age of grace did not begin in Christ's earthly ministry. This is why the four Gospels are not presented as the source of church doctrine or grace doctrine. At the same time, Les carefully distinguishes the believer's position: the church is not under Israel's legalistic system but under grace. He describes being under grace as 'totally different' from being under the Law, while also emphasizing that grace is never a license to sin.
Les says the whole premise of Christ's earthly ministry to the nation of Israel was that they were to keep the Law. Jesus lived under the Law, Israel was under the Law, and Jesus never told them otherwise. Everything in the Gospels is still under the Law.
When the rich young ruler asked what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus answered, 'Keep the commandments.' In early Acts, the twelve were still meeting at the temple, and no one had told them they were not under the Law. The Law was still in force.
No. Romans 6:14 says believers are not under law but under grace. Paul asks, 'Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.' Les calls the idea that grace allows sin unthinkable; the freedom of grace is meant to keep old Adam in subjection, not let him rule.
Not Under Law but Under Grace
Les uses Romans 6:14 to show believers today are not under law but under grace, contrasting their position with Israel's position under the Law.
Israel Still Under the Law in the Gospels and Acts
Les points to the rich young ruler and the apostles at the temple in early Acts to show the Law was still in force during Jesus' ministry and into the beginning of Acts.
Jesus Lived Under the Law
Les directly states that Jesus lived under the Law, Israel was under the Law, and Jesus never told Israel they were not under the Law.
The Jew Was Under the Law
Les explains that the Jew, the nation of Israel, was the people under the Law, with the Ten Commandments at its heart.
Everything in the Gospels Is Under the Law
Les says everything in the Gospels is still under the Law, so the age of grace did not begin in Christ's earthly ministry.
The Law Was Severe
Les describes the Law as severe and a yoke of bondage that Israel could not bear, showing the weight under which Israel lived.
What Does It Mean to Be "All Things to All Men"? — 1 Corinthians 9
This thing had been so watered down with man-made ideas, that the law of Paul's and Christ's day was a whole set of six hundred and some rules and regulations. Now that was the law that the Jews really attained to, was the law that the rabbis had kind of put together, studying the various aspects of the Old Testament. Alright so Paul says, "...
Under Grace, Not the Legalistic System
Les explains that believers are not under Israel's legalistic system, and being under grace is entirely different from being under the Law.
Matthew 19:17: And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Jesus directs the rich young ruler to the Law, showing His ministry operated under it.
John 1:11: He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Christ came to Israel, the nation under the Law, but they rejected Him.
Acts 2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
After the resurrection, Peter's message was still addressed to Israel, with no announcement of release from the Law.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Paul states the church-age believer is not under the Law but under grace.
Romans 6:15: What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Paul rejects the idea that grace gives license to sin.
Yes. Les Feldick states plainly, 'He lived under the Law. Israel was under the Law,' and Jesus never told Israel they were not under the Law.
Yes. When the rich young ruler asked what to do to inherit eternal life, Jesus answered, 'Keep the commandments.' Les explains this was because everything then was still under the Law.
No. Les says that everything that takes place in the Gospels is still under the Law, and the age of grace did not begin in Christ's earthly ministry.
No. Paul writes in Romans 6:14 that believers are not under law but under grace. Les describes this difference as 'as different as daylight is from dark.'
Watch the Teaching: Not Under Law but Under Grace — What Romans 6:14 Really Means