I read a blog today about the necessity of nuance when teaching and discerning Scripture. It got me to thinking about how we come to understand the truth about God - is it from us "searching" that truth out or is it revealed and taught to us? And if the latter, then from where does that truth come? I believe it has been through progressive revelation that God has disclosed himself (Hebrews 1:1-2). Though it is an imperative for us to receive this revelation by faith (a discussion for another time, perhaps), I think it is God who communicates to man, by whatever manner he chooses. The initiative is all his - we are but his creatures, gratefully receiving his Word.
Paul says that the Law was put forward to Israel in the OT "as a schoolmaster until Christ came" - this term "schoolmaster" (or guardian, Galatians 3:24) is translated in the Greek as paidagogos. It was designed to highlight and restrain transgression, while also foretelling the coming of Christ, the true Teacher. The schoolmaster disciplined the children, restrained evil, and pointed them forward to the future hope.
Jesus says earlier in the gospel account of Matthew that we have one teacher, the Christ (didaskalos, Matthew 23:8). As the one true Teacher of the Church, Jesus is the great revealer of all truth. The law was "but a shadow of the good things to come" (Hebrews 10:1) - whereas, "the substance belongs to Christ" (Colossians 2:17). Where the Law could only teach with types and patterns, the incarnate Word proves to be "the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints" (Colossians 1:26-27).
SDG
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