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Book of Mormon Commentary
3 Nephi Chapter 7
THE LAW OF MOSES HAS BEEN FULFILLED, VER. 1-14
3 Ne 7:6 Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel;
therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfill the law; therefore, it hath an end.
Jesus ended his teachings about the doctrines of the kingdom of God and reminded them, "Ye
have heard the things which I have taught before I ascended to my Father" (1). All that he had said
to the Nephites had previously been said to the sheep of his fold in Palestine. This message to the
Nephites is "a second witness" to the gospel of Christ. We should not wonder that it sounds like
the New Testament,
Jesus perceived that some "wondered what he would [say] concerning the law of Moses," not
understanding what he meant by "old things had passed away" (4). Therefore he gave them further
enlightenment. No one could speak more authoritatively, for he "gave the law" and "covenanted
with my people Israel" (6).
"The law [of Moses] was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the
promise was made in the law given to Moses" (Gal. 3:19).
"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many;
but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ" (Gal. 3:16).
These passages from Paul's letters should make it quite clear that the sacrifices and offerings, the
brass serpent, and so forth were all pointed toward the coming of Christ, and now that Jesus had
finished his work (John 17:4) the law had served its purpose and had been fulfilled.
“I do not destroy the prophets [prophecies]” (III N. 7:7) but fulfill them. Only those which
concerned his earthly mission are-included. The covenant made with Israel continues on until the
end, but the gospel of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:12), which Jesus preached, ushered in a new
era.
3 Ne 7:10 Behold, I am the law, and the light; look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live, for
unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life.
"I am the law" does not make him an autocrat-one who is above the law; but he was the author of
the gospel law (6). He also brought light to them who sat in darkness (Mos. 8:82).
Perhaps not enough emphasis is given to the virtue of endurance. It is much easier to start a
program than to see it through to full achievement. "Keep my commandments" (III N. 7: 11). This
is a call to live up to our best light and overcome the world.
3 Ne 7:13 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words, he said unto those twelve
whom he had chosen, Ye are my disciples; and ye are a light unto this people, who are a remnant of the
house of Joseph.
In a very real sense, all believers are disciples, but he is addressing this charge to a particular
group of twelve men. Should they fail, the people would be left to wander like sheep without a
shepherd.