Jesus - The Law Fulfilled

The greatest sermon ever is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew in chapters 5-7. This sermon was preached by Jesus to a multitude who gathered to hear him speak. His counter cultural message to the people of that day was as much for them as it is for us today.

Two weeks ago, we talked through the first 12 verses in Matthew 5 known as the beatitudes. These are statements about Christ followers who are blessed when they live out certain qualities of a genuine follower of Christ.

Last week we took the next section where Jesus calls us the salt and light of the world. We are to share both our salty and light giving qualities with the world around us. That requires us to be tapped into the source of salt and into the one who is the source of light.

Today we’ll read the next passage that in my Bible has the heading “The Fulfillment of the Law.”

Let’s read this passage, and then go back through it verse by verse.

Matthew 5:17–20 NIV

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 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. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:17 NIV

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Jesus starts this section with a definitive statement that the Law and the writings of the Prophets are not abolished with his coming. This was likely in direct response to some of the rumblings going around as Jesus was constantly challenging the teachers of the Law and Prophets.

Instead Jesus says that him coming is to ultimately be the fulfillment of those writings. A fulfillment that according to the verb tense is taking place as he is speaking.

Another point to note about this verse…when Jesus says “I have come” and I have not come”, the Greek phrase was typically used to denote a mission or a purpose. Jesus knew his specific mission and purpose. His mission was to fulfill the Law and Prophets through his life, his death and resurrection.

Matthew 5:18–19 NIV

18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 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.

Jesus placed additional emphasis on this teaching not one letter, not the tiniest stroke of the pen can be erased until heaven and earth disappear. If you are wondering if that has happened…nope, not yet. Not everything has been accomplished yet.

Then, verse 19, Jesus points to a practice common to the Pharisees and teachers of the law. In order to better categorize the law, there were laws that were considered lesser and those which were greater. In some cases they would teach that it’s not a big deal to break this “lessor” law according to their ranking system.

They would make justifications for themselves to make themselves feel better about not following the law as it was written.

You might be thinking…how dare they! I would caution you to have that thought...

In Luke 10 Jesus has this conversation...

Luke 10:25–29 NIV

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

This expert in the law was trying to get an answer that might allow him to not love those he disagreed with…those he didn’t like....those who were different from him. Jesus then tells a parable about a Samaritan who cared for a man who was attacked and robbed while a priest and a Levite passed the man by.

By this parable, Jesus is saying our neighbor is anyone we see in need…that was not the answer the expert in the law wanted.

Unfortunately, I think we all have a tendency to in some way justify our actions if we can find a loophole or way in which it’s not really that bad.

I’ve always said, If you are asking if something is permissible, 1. You probably already know the answer and it’s not the answer you want and 2. You are probably asking the wrong question.

A better question - Will my actions show my love to God and love to my neighbor?

Let’s read the last verse in our passage...

Matthew 5:20 NIV

20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

I imagine this was actually quite confusing from some that heard this. People really looked up to the Pharisees and the teachers of the law because of their righteousness in following each detail of the law.

The problem is that they followed the individual laws that best suited their needs and what made them look the best. Then ignored those that they thought were lessor in importance or didn’t fit what they really wanted to do.

So, how do we get to the point where our righteousness surpasses that of those guys so that we can enter the kingdom of heaven?

Before answer that, I want to summarize some the Jesus’ comments about righteousness in this sermon on the mount up to this point and few future ones...

Matthew 5:6 NIV

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Matthew 5:10 NIV

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 6:1 NIV

1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

Matthew 6:33 NIV

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Putting all of those statements together...

Seek God’s kingdom, and God’s righteousness, Practicing righteousness in private, Not caring what others think, good or bad Being filled of the hunger and thirst for it.

In this way we are on a path to surpass the righteousness of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law.

I want to close with a passage from Romans that mentions righteousness a few times…eight times to be exact.

Romans 9:30–10:13 NIV

30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 33 As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. 5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

***Invitation to receive Christ***

Not only does Paul give the means by which we are to accept Christ, he challenges those of us who know and have a relationship with Jesus...

Romans 10:14–15 NIV

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Just as I’ve given an opportunity for anyone to receive the free gift of salvation, I want to give others the opportunity to respond to this challenge from Paul.

If you are sensing a call to ministry, whether in a formal role, or God is just challenging you to be a minister of the gospel in your work place…please come.

Maybe you are sensing a call to missions whether short term or long term, local or international, please respond.