King | Part 12 | Deeper

Matthew 5:17–30 NKJV

17 “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. 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. 27 “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. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Introduction

Matthew 5:17–18 NKJV

17 “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.

I. What Does it me He came to Fulfill?

To an audience that has lived by the law, Jesus assures his audience he has not come to abolish it. He came to satisfy it’s demand and lead us in a better way.

Jesus is the answer to the burning question: “Could someone be worthy to be declared innocent of violating God’s law and become a sinless sacrifice?

Jesus is giving us a look into what he came to do. He satisfied the legal demands that sin required. Because He could follow the law perfectly, He is able to become our sacrifice.

Hebrews 10:1–5 NKJV

1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.

Jesus fulfills the law in his Death, The law is not abolished. It is still authoritative in the lives of believers. Jesus freed us from the weight of trying to gain salvation under the LAW. His Fulfilling ushers in a NEW COVENANT or a NEW TESTAMENT. Here believers RECEIVE salvation and are free from the burden of trying to EARN salvation.

Jesus did not abolish the Law but fulfilled it. This meaning the Law remains valid and authoritative today. It’s nature has been transformed by Christ’s victory on the cross. The law still has authority in our living.

It is still not good to murder, steal or transgress the law.

It is still good to honor God, and keep the sabbath principle.

We do not do these things to gain salvation. But because they are right.

Power Principle: It is possible to be a part of the kingdom and still not reach our full potential as believers

Christ has fulfilled the law. He did what we could never do. Therefore our obedience is not salvific in nature. He alone purchased our salvation by His perfect and sinless life sacrificed on the cross. The principles of His Law are a blueprint to righteous kingdom living.

II. A Deeper Look

Matthew 5:19–20 NKJV

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.

Jesus wants to move us beyond superficial righteousness. A righteousness that requires mindless obedience with the head and not heartfelt submission of the heart.

One form of righteousness attempt to be outward in. But True righteousness starts inward out. God is after obedience at the heart level.

Matthew 15:7–9 NKJV

7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

God seeks heartfelt devotion. Our devotion should be sincere and lined up with God’s word from that sincerity not just as mindless rule keeping.  God has always sought obedience out of love rather than forced obligation. Even with Adam and Eve. If our hearts aren’t truly submitted to God we will not be able to get into heaven with the “Fake ID” of insincere, surface obedience. We should search our hearts and devotion to worship God from the sincerest core of our being. John 4:24

John 4:24 NKJV

24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

III. A Deeper Insight

Matthew 5:21–22 NKJV

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

Raca is a very diminishing and demeaning term. Why such a focus on language? Because hateful language comes from a hateful heart. Don’t measure hatefulness on how you treat the people you like; measure by how you speak about the people you don’t. Hatefulness in our heart toward any person will hinder our journey to heaven,

Power Principle: Don’t measure hatefulness on how you treat the people you like; measure by how you speak and post about the people you don’t.

Self-righteous people devalue others to cover for the fear and insecurity in their heart.

They seek to gain power and a feeling of security and superiority by belittling others.

They seek to diminish others accomplishments to make theirs seem larger. “I.e. you only have done it at this level, I’m at this level”.

They project failure on people to numb the pain of their own failures.

“People who are not at peace will tear you to pieces!” - Willie Berry

Matthew 5:27–28 NKJV

27 “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.

Power Principle: Many of our issues have defeated us because we tried to police them at the level of the head rather than eradicate them at the level of the heart.

God desires our worship and does not want anything to get in the way of His relationship with us. Lusts start at a heart level. What are we consuming or entertaining that is building the apetite for Lust in our hearts? Lust is an intense desire and will often drive us to places of no return to satisfy itself. It can sever our relationships as it takes our focus, obedience and devotion.

Matthew 5:30 NKJV

30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

God seeks to know us on DEEPER level of relationship. He wants us to be with him a avoid total separation from Him. He Desires Our whole heart and wants us to go Deeper.