Deuteronomy 34:5

Deu. 34:5. Moses brought the children of Israel into the wilderness and to the very border of Canaan, but carried them no further; there he left them, and it was not Moses, but Joshua or Jesus, that carried them over Jordan and brought them into Canaan, to the promised rest, and gave them possession of the land flowing with milk and honey, which seems to signify to us that we can never obtain heaven or saving blessings by the Law. Moses, who gave the Law, seems here to signify the Law; the Law brings persons into the wilderness, - that is, can bring souls under conviction, - and so leads them on into the wilderness. It carries along in that work - that is, preparatory to saving grace and comfort - even till they are brought to a next preparation for conversion and comfort, but there it leaves them. It can bring them no further; it cannot bring them over Jordan into a state of salvation, that must be done by Jesus or the spiritual Joshua. All the use of the Law is to lead men on in their wilderness travel, and when it has done that, and brought them to the border of Canaan, and to a next preparedness for a state of salvation, there it dies. John says, "The Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:17, and Hebrews 7:19).