Is Keeping God’s Law Too Difficult?

Some falsely teach that keeping God’s law is simply too difficult. In this fallacy, God’s law is commonly viewed as a burden which Jesus Christ came to free us from, therefore we are no longer bound to keep and do God’s commandments – or so the thinking goes.

Consequently, this teaching wrongly implies that Yahweh freed the children of Israel from Egyptian slavery and mightily delivered them to Himself at Mount Sinai, only to be enslaved all over again to an unreasonable law that, in the end, was too difficult for them to obey. Because of this, God sent His Son to earth to come and die in order to free us from His law. These are only a few misconceptions that issue from this fallacy, though there are many.

To this day, it is generally maintained that God’s law continues to be too difficult for us to obey, and that any attempt to do so would be burdensome – legalistic, even. So, the question remains.

Question – Is Keeping God’s Law Too Difficult?

Answer – No, Keeping God’s Law is Not Difficult or Burdensome

According to Scripture, keeping God’s law – His Torah – is not something that is too difficult or beyond our ability. Furthermore, Scripture also declares that obeying God’s commands is not an unreasonable burden for believers. Why? Because Scripture says that His commandments are not burdensome. Rather, Scripture defines keeping God’s commandments as the proper expression of our love for Him.

We Can and Should Obey God’s Law

Many would say that keeping God’s law is an assignment to difficult to attempt. Still others might imply that not only is it too difficult – it is even oppressive. Often times, those who make keeping God’s commandments an expression of their faith are frequently called legalistic or accused of attempting to earn their salvation through works.

However, we should always remember that when Yahweh presents His law to His people, He does so to a people who have already been freed from slavery and delivered from the bondage of Egypt. Yahweh delivered them, brought them to Himself at Mount Sinai, and then offered His law to a freed people. They were never forced to accept and obey the laws of Torah, yet they agreed to do so willingly.

In light of this fact, God’s instruction to them should have been received as a great privilege, bringing with it joy and honor to the one who would walk in them. God’s laws were to be held onto dearly, they were to be cherished and treasured by His redeemed people, until it became their supreme delight.

God’s intention in giving His law was to reveal Himself, not only to Israel, but to the entire world. Israel was to be a kingdom of priests to the other nations, a radiant light illuminating who Yahweh is and what He requires of all mankind.

What then? When we imply that God’s laws are to difficult or unattainable when He has said they’re not, we are casting aside the very means of expressing who He is and what He is like in the earth. Oh, that His words would find a place in us and would be met with a heart willing to keep them in loving devotion. Dear friends – its not too hard, we can do it.

His Commands Are For Our Good

Yahweh’s commandments were never considered to be a burden. Instead, they are a special gift to those who love Him and desire to walk in relationship with Him. Yahweh’s commandments simply provide necessary instruction of how to live our lives righteously as He is. Thus, He gave them to us for our good, well-being, and to blessing.

When we keep Yahweh’s commands and fear Him, great blessing unfolds in our lives. However, the opposite is also true if we choose to disobey and disregard Yahweh’s commands; we suffer adverse consequences. We find then that Yahweh’s commands are quite beautifully a loving Father’s instruction to His children for their good.

We Love God By Obeying His Commands

Yahweh’s commands teach us how to know and walk in relationship with Him. According to Scripture, we dare not even profess of having a true relationship with God, unless we are seeking to love Him by keeping His commandments. If we are attempting to know and love God apart from an authentic willingness to keep His commands, then Scripture affirms the deception is ours, and we do not genuinely know or love God.

As we keep Yahweh’s commands, we’re simply exhibiting our love for Him. We have experienced His love for us through His Son, therefore, we’re simply giving preference to Him by doing what He says. None of which should ever be considered a burden, and because of love, it’s not.

Therefore, obedience to God’s commands is His prescribed means by which we unerringly express our love and worship back to Him.

Conclusion & Application

We’ve learned that God’s law – His commandments – are not too difficult, burdensome, or unattainable for us to keep. Rather, they’re a Father’s loving instruction to His redeemed children, that yield blessing when obeyed. As we obey and keep Yahweh’s law, we express His character in all the earth. Therefore, obeying His instruction is simply an act of loving devotion to our God who has first loved us.