Fulfilled Matthew 5:17-20

Guess what our intro is? Thats right, the context of what Jesus is teaching. Look at

Matthew 5:1–12 “ And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 5:13–16 “ “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Now lets look at our text for today - because everything we just read is pretty shocking to a scribe or pharisee - because Jesus is about to upset their apple cart to put it mildly. Because if you expect to make it into the kingdom on your own merits, perfection is the requirement.

Matthew 5:17–20 “ “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Now, our text today at first glance, seems complicated but it really isn't. Lets take a deep look at the bite at a time.

Matthew 5:17 “ “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”

destroy: katalyo: throw down, demolish.

Not their traditions or ours, which he did come to thrash, but scripture. Gods word is always above the traditions of men.

fufill: pleroo: complete fill. means what it means. If i say that jesus fulfilled a prophecy what means? That jesus is the fulfillment of it all.

Jesus is about to smack their traditions for Matthew 5:21a “ “You have heard that it was said to those of old…”

Jesus said in John 3:17 “ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” here he says the same thing in theological terms to those who are fearful because they think they can earn it.

Jesus is about to lay down some very serious teaching in verse 21 through Chapter 7. Does Jesus saying this mean we don’t have to obey the law to be saved? Is Jesus canceling the OT?

No. Where the law brings death, Jesus says his words bring? John 6:63 “ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:68 “ But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

He literally says no until ALL IS FULFILLED. Lets take it apart.

One person wrote, “Fulfilled law is written on the heart. Jesus himself fulfilled the law in several ways: (1) by keeping it perfectly; (2) by fulfilling the Old Testament messianic types and prophecies; and (3) by providing the way of salvation that meets all the righteous requirements of the law.” he fulfilled the moral, ceremonial and judicial types of the bible. Which was the “law”; Torah, and the “prophets”, tanakh (Josh - Malachi)

Jesus was the perfect rep for this, we are told Hebrews 4:15 “ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

As we had discussed before the is the one that was promised that would come who was like Moses, like we talked about last week and Peter preached about - Acts 3:22 “ For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.” Referring to Deut. 18:15.

what Jesus has done allowed us to become a new creation in Him, 2 Corinthians 5:17

Continuing in Matt 5 he adds

5:18 “ For assuredly, (verily kjv like you and me saying honestly…or to tell the truth) I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

Jot or tittle. cross your (t’s) dot your (i’s). Its the idea that even a dot or a swoop, even the accent of or serif the letters is important. Thats why we study the ancient languages so, examine in detail, even to the minutiae, because its God breathed, i want to catch every breathe.

Isaiah 40:8 “ The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”” God vaunts His word. Not this ink and paper, but what he says and what will come through it. 2 Timothy 3:16 “ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,”

All is fulfilled also applies to the promises made to and in us. Its not just the big things but the little things. Down to the littlest things.

Matthew 5:19 “ Whoever therefore breaks (loose, untie, release) one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” 20 “ For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Breaks one of the least - I really think that the commandments refer to the big 10, but lets just look at one. Adultery.

in the ot was simply Exodus 20:14 “ “You shall not commit adultery.” but Jesus says, Matthew 5:27–28 “ “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

how can we even for a moment begin to think that we can get there by us being personally sinless and super-moral. Listen this is not a command for you to be even more betta than the best guy (pharisee) Jesus is teaching that a real relational walk with God means that we need to be indwelt because I cannot see myself approaching much less exceedingly surpassing the righteousness of the pharisees. Yes I should seek to obey, but need to recognize that it is only in Jesus and His righteousness that we achieve this. Yours and mine will never measure up.

Turn to, Romans 3:21–22 “ But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;” Romans 10:4 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” This means righteousness is fulfilled in who(not what). And we are caught up in Him. this doesn't mean the law ends but the law cannot apply to us because we live in Him! Hebrews 9:12 “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”

Jesus did this for us, securing it with His righteousness fulfills it all - and we can trust what he tells us here, that He is the way. He is telling the truth. And gives us the kingdom.

The fact here isn't that Jesus says we cannot enter heaven unless we are super-moral, but that we cannot get into heaven without Christs mercy and grace and sacrifice. If you want to enter, then accept Jesus right now. Accept His righteousness on your behalf and enter in right now!