The Purpose of the People of God - 5:17-20
The Purpose of the People of God - Matthew • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 47:10
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The Purpose of the People of God 5:17-20
The Purpose of the People of God 5:17-20
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Pragmatic/Thematic Climax
Narrative Climax
17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
19 “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, 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 surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Let’s Pray
Where we’ve been in the SoM:
Characteristics of Jesus (5:3-10)
Invitation to Discipleship (5:11-12)
Warning about Discipleship (5:13)
Example of Discipleship (5:14-15)
Discipleship Commanded (5:16)
16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Second Exodus/Sinai Event
5 ‘So now then, if you will indeed listen to My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”
What about the law?
17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
“Do not think that” - this tells us that somebody thought this!
Law or Prophets - Torah, not simply Mosaic Covenant Law
Jesus has come to fulfill the First Testament
This is easier for our perspective because it allows us to recognize that Jesus is not making a comment solely on practice here, but on the covenants, on the entirety of the First Testament!
What would it mean to Matthew’s audience to say Jesus is the fulfillment of the Torah and the Prophets?
What does that include?
Well, I think first and foremost the covenants would come to mind!
Abrahamic Covenant
Land - Mosaic Covenant
Fellowship
Palestinian/Land Covenant
Seed - Davidic Covenant
2 Sam 7
Blessing - New Covenant
Ezek 36, Jer 31, Isa 42.6, and Isa 49
6 “I am Yahweh, I have called You in righteousness; I will also take hold of You by the hand and guard You, And I will give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, 7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who inhabit darkness from the prison. 8 “I am Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.
What does this sound like?
16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Jesus is standing on the mountain proclaiming the fulfillment of God’s covenants!
Who is the only one who can fulfill the God’s covenants? GOD!
17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
18 “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
For truly I say to you - support
“until heaven and earth pass away”
17 “For behold, I am creating a new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come upon the heart.
Is that what Jesus/Matthew has in mind here?
18 “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Does Jesus have a specific time in mind? Perhaps, but a minimum he seems to be speaking of the continued function of the “law” until there is a radical change.
“Until the cows come home”
Is there a near term radical change coming up?
At the resurrection, the reception of the Holy Spirit
“not one iota”
“not one horn” serif
18 “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Law = Torah, not just Mosaic Law
“until all becomes” γενηται
17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
So taking 17 and 18 together, why don’t we practice the “law”
There is a growing movement in Christian circles to say we should follow the law.
Most would turn to Paul in Gal or Romans to refute that, and they would be correct. But is that at odds with what Jesus is saying here?
14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Context is key! Paul uses “law” 74 times in Romans alone, not all of them referential to Torah, which is what I believe we have here. Paul is referencing the concept of law, not “the law” specifically.
8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Community Groups
17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Jesus is speaking of Torah, the Law
but let’s say for a moment, that He is speaking of the Mosaic Law.
Did Jesus fulfill the Mosaic Law?
What was the purpose of the Law, to teach a people how to live in fellowship with God. The sacrificial system is about dwelling with God! Is there anything you can add to the sacrifice of Jesus that would add anything to your ability to fellowship with God?
NO!
We don’t practice the Mosaic Law because it has been completed in the person of Jesus Christ!
Has all of Torah been fulfilled?
NO!
Bookended with physically being “in the kingdom”
We’re not physically in it, but we can still be participants of it today, as Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Habakkuk, Daniel, and Isaiah were along with many others.
The Abrahamic Covenant is not complete, as such the law is not abolished, but it has been fulfilled and made complete by Jesus.
The righteous requirement of the law for fellowship with God has not changed, but it’s been paid!
19 “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, 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.
What are these commandments?
Mt 5.21-48
19 “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, 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.
Subjunctive/Third Class Conditional εαν
19 “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, 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.
Future
20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Support Statement
The meaning of this supports what has previously been said
Most people grab this verse and try to extract a “plan of salvation” because of the word “righteousness” and the phrase “enter the kingdom of heaven”
Let me ask you a question?
What in the immediate context of what we’ve studied tells us that is how we should interpret this verse?
Nothing does
19 “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, 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.
In fact, in 5:19 it’s about the greatest and the least, and that is achieved how, by doing and teaching!
So the question remains, what is Mt 5.20 saying?
20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Righteousness = Practice
1 “Beware of doing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Pharisees = Legalism
Enter the Kingdom = Participate in the kingdom life!
3 “The fulfilled are those dependent upon God, because of them is the kingdom of heaven.
10 The fulfilled are those who have been persecuted on account of righteousness, because of them is the kingdom of heaven.
These are present realities!
20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
This is participation in it now!
You participate in the race now, so that we can experience the podium later!
Jesus is saying unless your righteousness surpasses the legalists, you are not participating in discipleship.
Jesus is about to qualify all of this with how to live life in fellowship with God. It’s not about simply doing as the Scribes and Pharisees are.
So what?
Takeaways:
You can be as intimate with the Lord as you want
The only obstacle to your fellowship with God is you
The righteous requirements of Torah are fulfilled in Jesus
2. Do and Teach the commandments of God
This is not just for elders, this is for followers of Jesus
There are least and greatest in the kingdom
3. Participate today
How you live today matters
Participate in the kingdom today!
Let’s Pray
16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
