It’s the Law

Matthew 5:17-20

I. Jesus Christ the Same Hebrews 13:1-9

a. Here the Sermon on the Mount moves from our heart and our actions to Jesus and who he is and what he does.

b. Some were trying to accuse Jesus of teaching the Jews no longer needed obey the law

c. Nothing new – but some try to teach that Jesus is not the same God of the OT

d. Jesus was getting at the heart of the matter – what was the heart of the law

e. OT matters – you should read it and spend a lot of time there

i. No not every last element points shows Jesus

ii. Some shows how broken and fallen mankind is

1. How broken and fallen people have tried to live out their faith and trust in God.

iii. Jesus and all the NT writers spend a lot of time quoting the Old Testament

1. Even the OT prophets quoted other OT text.

a. Something many modern day prophets seem to miss.

iv. Luke 24:25-27

f. I did not come to stop the Law - Every jot and tittle, (smallest letter or one stroke)

i. Translation arguments

ii. Keep all the law – talk more about this in a bit.

g. Until Heaven and Earth Pass away – New heaven and new earth

II. Jesus fulfills the law

a. Complete, bring to an end, or to teach the fullness of

b. Jesus Authority Matthew 7:28-29

i. Boldness, and anointing

ii. Power of what he was saying

iii. Don’t think“I” came to abolish the law

1. Truly “I” tell you

2. This is important for us since we know Jesus is the son of God.

a. No OT Prophet or even a Scribe in Jesus day spoke in “I” Always God said

3. Jesus speaks as God not for God

iv. Notice some of the greatest struggles between the Pharisees and Jesus was over authority – Who gave you authority to heal?

c. John 5:39-40 – the law could not save us

d. Westminster Confession

i. Moral – think 10 commandments

ii. Civil

iii. Ceremonial

iv. All parts of the Law were to set the Israelites apart (make them holy) from all the other surrounding nations

e. Romans 3:19-24

i. The law shows us we are sinners

ii. Galatians 2:16

f. Jesus came fully God and fully man – huge theologically

i. Experienced life like we do – tempted in every way – yet he did not sin

1. Hebrews 4:14-16

ii. This is why he was the perfect sacrifice – death on the cross

1. In our place for what we owed – many have strange teachings to the contrary

The law is not the limit of obedience; it is to be seen rather as the springboard for a life of devotion to Jesus and his Father – Michael Green

Green, M. (2001). The message of Matthew: the kingdom of heaven (p. 92). InterVarsity Press.

III. So what about us

a. We strive to keep the moral (civil, ceremonial)

i. Sin church example - maybe?

ii. Romans 6:1-7 – no longer a slave to sin

iii. We do all we can, know we fulfill the law because of Jesus Christ.

b. Matthew 22:34-40 (Love God)

i. Not just a matter of doing the right thing

1. Again Christianity is not a behavior modification program

ii. Righteousness greater than the scribes (lawyers) and Pharisees (5:20)

1. Righteousness of the heart

2. Great High Priest – greater than the one from the law Hebrews 4:14-16

a. Approach the throne of grace with boldness

i. For Jesus has a greater righteousness than the scribes and Pharisees.

Jesus teaches us that God’s demands are far more radical than this. The righteousness which is pleasing to him is an inward righteousness of mind and motive. For ‘The Lord looks on the heart’. – John Stott

It was a new heart-righteousness which the prophets foresaw as one of the blessings of the Messianic age. ‘I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts,’ God promised through Jeremiah (31:33). – John Stott

3. The rest of Chapter 5 gives practical info on the greater righteousness

c. Ezekiel 36:27 – God creates the righteousness

d. Both the OT and NT are important – balance

i. Some teach we can ignore it, others say we must obey all moral, civil and ceremonial

1. Paul and the Judahizers

e. Do and Teach vs. 19

i. Words and actions matter. – One thing to for us break God’s law it is a whole other matter for us to teach it is ok to break God’s law to others.

f. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. And love your neighbor as yourself until Jesus comes.