Sermon Tone Analysis

Hemraj - only red letter matters -

others - don’t need OT, we have Jesus..

What’s the point of the Bible?

[especially the OT]

context: Jesus, the new Moses, the Light of God, speaking about life under his rule.

What is the point - they were pointing:

pointing to Jesus the Saviour

pointing to a deeper, heart based righteousness

This gets us to our first point

The Law and Prophets pointed to Jesus the Saviour

Note the word fulfil.

Not just do, or obey or practice - but fulfil.

To make happen what they say will happen:

THe promised chosen king of God - promised in the Abraham story where blessing will come - promised in the David story where we long for a perfect leader

Promised in Isaiah where we want someone to fix our sin.

Promised where we want God to return like he was in the Garden of Eden

it goes on and on throughout Matthew’s gospel -

a Moses replacement to teach God’s people how to live,

The Son of Man and Son of God multiple times referred to in Jesus - who brings toegher Godness and humanity.

The Suffering servant who brings rescue through his own suffering - first hinted at in the national life of Israel but actual fulfilled in Jesus life and death and resurrection.

The passover lamb - this is my blood - who fulfils the rescue better than out of Pharaoh’s clutches but now out of judgment.

Jesus’ life death and resurrection makes sense of the Law and the Prophets like nothing else ever did:

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But even when everything in Jesus’ life is accomplished - that doesn’t use up the purpose of the OT -

There was another point to the OT - to the Law and the Prophets

//what makes you a ‘good person’?

[i haven’t x, y, z] -

[electric fence -

The Law pointed to an overflowing heart righteousness

[heart change fulfils them?] -> as law they circumscribed God’s order, revealed sin - made concrete love for God and neighbour -

Matthew 5:19 (NIV)

19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

notice Jesus’ words - the law, through him (as refined), must be ‘done’ and taught’ / not dismissed and taught

In the following words of Jesus - he will ‘set aside’ oaths in favour of something more, and make more strict rules than murder - but at each point he is not setting aside the law but deepening the heart of it -

God’s revelation - his unfolding revelation - completed in Jesus - the functions of some of the law change - but not its moral character

Matthew 5:21–22 (NIV)

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’

22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment.

Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court.

And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

You have heard, but I tell you...

Matthew 5:33–34 (NIV)

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’

34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

Rest of sermon: you have heard (in the law), but I say… up the ante, get at the heart, no more box ticking -

Don’t just love your neighbour but your enemy… on it goes.

This is living in the pasture - not just avoiding the electric fence.

Nothing minimized, not one of the least of the commands set aside, but nor are they just law as law for you and me - they go through the lens of Jesus as the law’s interpreter.

What makes you a good person?

- ongoing repentance at Jesus’ words of full life -

OR even more:

Love God, Love your neighbour.

Live in the whole pasture, stay away from the electric fence.

If you’re a follower of Jesus - you have forgiveness - and you God’s Holy Spirit - your heart and mind are being remade and reshaped - you can have a go at creatively imagining how you might love God and love your neighbour -

And if you’re nearing the fence, not loving God or your neighbour, and you’re in danger of being left out of the kingdom - repent, go to the beautitudes, hunger after righteousness, mourn your sin, own up to your spiritual poverty -

And as a forgiven person, whose sins Jesus has dealt with, with right standing with God secured for you - have a go, by the spirit to love God and love your neighbour.

The only way into the kingdom is Jesus - and people with Jesus will obey his teachings - not by being box tickers, but overflowing hearts of love for God and neighbour.

But still - what about the Old Testament?

[what about tithing, eating pork, temple clothing, xyz]

How to use the OT/ and the Law

schema - creation, fall, Israel story (inc law), Jesus (teaching and life), church, final end

Creation->Fall->Israel->Jesus->Church->New Creation

Tithing:

Creation: All God’s, entrusted to humans

Fall: Grab for self

Israel: taught to give back to God (bloody, regulated, costly)

Jesus: critiques tithing spice rack but neglecting justice, ‘whose image and inscription’, gives life to God

Church: give cheerfully, generously, sacrificially, from what you have

New Creation: all given to him again (crowns, lives of worship)

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See how the OT law doesn’t get put aside, it is a jump start for Israel - but not a law for you - it may be 10%, or less or more - are you giving with your whole heart to God - a much harder question to ask than box ticking 10% of your stuff and keeping your heart from God.

Overflowing heart - a different kind of righteousness entirely - following the Saviour who is the Ruler who is Jesus who is God - living in the pastures - using the Old Testament to get a shape for wisdom for life - but