Magnifying the Law by H. A. St. John

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 31, 1871

Magnifying the Law.

By H. A. St. John

“The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honorable.” Isa. 42:21. This prophecy refers to Christ, and his work at the first advent; and has especial reference to his mission as it related to the law of God. Jesus, in his example, his teaching, and his death, magnified the law of God. This is so clearly evident, from the writings of the New Testament, that none but the basely interested, it appears to me, will deny it.

But, strange as it may appear, there are some who advocate a change of the law, who would evade the force of this prophecy by giving the word magnify a definition to suit their ideas of the change of the law. Said one minister, in reply to my argument upon this point, “Jesus did magnify the law, that is very true, but to magnify does not mean to leave as it was, but to change.” In proof of this statement he referred to the Saviour’s teaching in Matt. 5:21–28, in relation to the sixth and seventh commandments. To this we replied that the Saviour did not change those precepts, but simply elucidated them, or, in other words, he showed that they not only governed the outward actions, but reached to the thoughts and intents of the heart as well. Nor did he create any new obligation out of them; for they were always thus comprehensive. He only made them appear, as they always had been, and always will be, “exceeding broad.”

When we inquired for the magnified fourth commandment we were gravely informed that Christ abolished that precept, because he did not quote it. Now it was evident that this man’s magnifying glass was unphilosophical and unscriptural, if not peculiar to himself. Just think, some parts of the law magnified into a change, and other parts, especially the fourth precept, magnified out of existence. How foolish and contradictory the positions men often take to evade the claims of the fourth commandment. No true magnifying glass produces any such result as this with the object magnified; but, on the contrary, the true glass leaves the thing magnified just as it was, but enables us to see, and understand it more clearly. ’Tis thus that Jesus magnified the law. Through his teachings, example, and death, we may see with greater clearness, the perfection, sacredness, and immutability of God’s holy law. All the holy men of old magnified the divine law, but in Jesus we have the most perfect example of a life that pleases God. He knew no sin. He came to do the will of God, and the law of God was written in his heart. In his “life the law appears, drawn out in living characters.” He is the Christian’s magnifying glass. He has set us an example that we should follow his steps.

Reader, it is your duty to magnify the law of God. This you may do, not by breaking one of the least of these commandments and teaching men so; no, no; but by doing and teaching them. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” H. A. ST. JOHN.