Yes, Jesus told people to keep the commandments because Israel was still under the Law during His earthly ministry.
Jesus answered the rich young ruler, "Keep the commandments," because the Law was still the operating system for Israel. The temple was running at full speed with sacrifices, and even healed lepers were required to present themselves to the priests. Les Feldick notes that even in early Acts, no one had told believing Jews they were no longer under the Law.
Matthew 19:17 — Jesus directly tells the rich young ruler, "Keep the commandments," in answer to the question about inheriting eternal life.
Mark 1:44 — Jesus instructs a healed leper to fulfill the Mosaic requirement by showing himself to the priest.
Matthew 19:16-17 records the rich young ruler asking Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus answers, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Mark 1:40-44 records Jesus cleansing a leper and telling him, "See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them." Both passages show Jesus operating within the Mosaic system, with the temple, priesthood, and sacrifices still in place.
Les teaches that the answer is in the timing. Jesus' earthly ministry took place while Israel was under the Law. The temple was going full speed ahead, with up to a million animal sacrifices a year, and believing Jews were still law-keepers even into the early chapters of Acts. Jesus told the rich young ruler "Keep the commandments" and told healed lepers to present themselves to the priest because "it was all under law." Even Ananias, seven years after Pentecost, was described as a devout man after the Law.
Les says yes. He points to the temple operating at full speed, with up to a million animals a year being sacrificed at the time of Christ's earthly ministry. Jesus' instructions to the healed leper and the rich young ruler came while the Law was still in force. Even in early Acts, the twelve apostles were still meeting for prayer at the temple, and no one had told them they were not under the Law. Ananias, seven years after Pentecost, was still a devout man after the Law.
When the rich young ruler asked what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus answered, "Keep the commandments" (Matthew 19:17). For the leper healed of leprosy, the command was to present himself to the priests, who would give permission to re-enter society (Mark 1:44). Les says this was "all under law" — the whole legal system was still operating. He also notes that "the law" was more than just the Ten Commandments; it included the ritual, sacrificial, priesthood, and civil law.
Les illustrates from the Law that faith and obedience were inseparable. A man who stole from his neighbor and confessed to God, but refused to bring the commanded sacrifice to the priest, was not accepted because he did not do what God said to do. A man who brought a sacrifice only because his neighbor had done so, without faith, was also rejected. Faith expressed by obedience to God's specific instructions was the issue under the legal system.
Les teaches that the Law had one main purpose: "By the law is the knowledge of sin." The Ten Commandments showed the old Adam how he actually operated — bent to idolatry, blasphemy, envy, thievery, and every other thing the Law prohibits. The Law could do nothing but condemn; it had no power to save anyone. Paul's statement is clear: by the deeds of the Law, no flesh will be justified in God's sight.
Les contrasts the age of Law with the present age of Grace. He says "we're under Grace, and not under Law," and love is the dominant force in the believer's life. Love is the fulfilling of the Law, so adultery, murder, false witness, and coveting are excluded when love operates. Les observes that Paul repeats nine of the Ten Commandments under Grace, but notably does not repeat the Sabbath.
Faith and the Required Sacrifice
Les shows that a man who confessed his sin but refused to bring the commanded sacrifice was not accepted, and a man who brought a sacrifice without faith was also not accepted. Both faith and obedience were required under the Law.
Israel Still Under the Law
Les uses the healed leper and the rich young ruler to show that Jesus' instruction to keep the commandments came while Israel was still under the Law, and even early Acts believers still met at the temple.
Law and the Coming Messiah
Les explains that in the gospel accounts, keeping the Law was the response for that time, with the added responsibility to believe Jesus was the Christ, the fulfillment of the Old Testament covenants.
Under Grace, Not Under Law
Les contrasts the earlier command to keep the Law with the present age of grace, where love fulfills the Law and Paul repeats nine of the Ten Commandments but not the Sabbath.
The Law Was More Than Ten Commandments
Les explains that "the law" included the religious system, sacrifices, priesthood, and civil law, with the Ten Commandments at the heart.
The Temple and Sacrifices at Full Speed
Les stresses that the temple was fully operating with up to a million animal sacrifices a year, and believing Jews in Acts were still law-keepers, proving the Law was still in force.
No Justification by the Deeds of the Law
Les points to Romans 3:20 to show that keeping the Ten Commandments cannot justify anyone before God.
The Law's Purpose Is to Reveal Sin
Les teaches that the Law's only purpose is to give the knowledge of sin and show man his natural bent to violate God's commands.
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.
This is the direct record of Jesus telling the rich young ruler to keep the commandments.
Mark 1:44: And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
Jesus instructs a healed leper to follow the Mosaic law, showing the Law was still in operation.
Romans 3:20: Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Paul explains that law-keeping cannot justify; the law's purpose is to reveal sin.
Yes. In Matthew 19:17 Jesus answered the rich young ruler, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Les Feldick says this makes sense because Israel was still under the Law at that time.
Because the Law demanded that those healed of leprosy present themselves to the priests, who would give them permission to return to society. Jesus' instruction was in perfect keeping with the Mosaic law (Mark 1:44).
According to Les, believers today are under grace, not law. Love is the fulfilling of the Law, and Paul repeats nine of the Ten Commandments but not the Sabbath. The command to keep the whole law belonged to Israel under the Law.
Les says that under that legal system, keeping the Law was the response for that time, but Paul makes clear the Law cannot justify; it only gives the knowledge of sin. Faith had to be present in the obedience.
Watch the Teaching: The 3 Parts of the Law & Why They Don't Save You