Jesus Fulfills the Law: The Good Life Under the Rule of Christ. Chapel Matthew 5:17–20

When Rules Feel Heavy

Have you ever thought, “Why are there so many rules in the Bible?” We live in a world that doesn’t like rules. If something feels restrictive, our instinct is to say, “That’s outdated” or “I’ll do what feels right for me.”

But here in Matthew 5:17, Jesus says something shocking:

“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.” (v.17)

D.A. Carson once said this passage is “one of the most difficult texts in the New Testament.” He’s right—it raises questions:

How does Jesus relate to all the Old Testament laws?

Why does He say our righteousness must exceed the Pharisees’?

What does “fulfill” even mean?

This morning, I want to show you that Jesus is the righteous fulfillment of God’s entire law, and those who belong to Him live differently because they are filled with His righteousness.

1. Jesus and the Law: Not Opponents, but Complements

When Jesus says, “the Law and the Prophets,” He’s talking about the entire Old Testament. That includes the moral law (like the Ten Commandments), the ceremonial laws (like sacrifices and rituals), and the civil laws that governed Israel.

Some people thought Jesus was going to throw those out the window. After all, He didn’t act like other religious teachers. He healed people on the Sabbath, ate with tax collectors, and declared all foods clean. So people wondered: “Is Jesus canceling the Law?”

Jesus says, “No—I didn’t come to abolish it, but to fulfill it.” That means He’s the goal, the destination, the completion of everything the Old Testament pointed toward.

As D.A. Carson explains:

“When Jesus says He came to fulfill, He fulfills in the sense that they point to Him—and He is their fulfillment.”

Illustration: Imagine the Law like a shadow on the ground—it shows the shape of something real but not the thing itself. Jesus is the real object casting that shadow. When He arrives, the shadow finally makes sense.

2. How Jesus Fulfills the Law

There are three ways Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets:

A. Through His Perfect Obedience

Jesus kept every command of God perfectly—heart, mind, and action. Peter says,

“He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth.” (1 Peter 2:22)

He did what no Pharisee, no priest, and no student has ever done—He lived righteously without flaw.

B. Through His Sacrifice

The ceremonial laws—the sacrifices, the temple, the priesthood—all pointed to Jesus. Jesus is the prophet, the very word of God. Jesus is the Son of David, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who rules with perfect justice and righteousness. He is the Great High Priest who offered Himself as the perfect Lamb. Hebrews says He entered the Holy Place once for all by His own blood.

So when He died on the cross, He didn’t destroy the law—He completed it, every iota of it.

C. Through His Teaching

Jesus didn’t just obey the Law; He redefined how we understand it. He says things like:

“You’ve heard it said… but I say to you.”

He wasn’t contradicting the Old Testament; He was revealing God’s original intent—that righteousness starts in the heart, not just the hands.

Illustration: Think of a student who only follows school rules to avoid detention. He obeys outwardly but resents it inwardly. That’s what the Pharisees did with God’s Law—they followed it externally but missed the heart behind it. This is why Jesus said things like, “You worship me with your lips, but your hearts are far from me.” He also called them whitewashed tombs. Yes, you look nice and clean on the outside, but inside you are filled with death. Jesus says your heart must be changed, and your righteousness must come from the inside out.

Jesus says real righteousness begins inside—a heart that loves God.

3. The Warning: Don’t Relax God’s Commands

In verse 19, Jesus warns:

“Whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments… will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.”

This isn’t about being a “lesser Christian.” It’s a warning that if you disregard Jesus’ commands, it shows you don’t truly belong to Him. Because Jesus fulfills the Law, he keeps the law on your behalf, so you can do your best to live it out in the world.

He says in John 14:15,

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

Application: For students—this means Christianity isn’t just about “trying to be good.” It’s about loving Jesus so much that obedience flows naturally out of that relationship. If you cheat, gossip, or ignore God’s Word, you’re not just breaking rules—you’re breaking fellowship with the One who loves you.

4. The Pharisee Problem: Why Their Righteousness Falls Short

Jesus shocks His listeners in verse 20:

“Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The Pharisees were the rule-keepers of rule-keepers! They counted steps on the Sabbath, measured their spices, and followed hundreds of extra traditions. But their righteousness was external. They cleaned the outside of the cup, but inside they were full of pride, envy, and self-worship.

Illustration: It’s like polishing your car every day—but never checking the engine. It looks good on the outside but doesn’t run right inside.

Jesus says the real issue is the heart. Sin isn’t just what you do—it’s what you desire.

Application for Students:

You can attend chapel, memorize verses, and make honor roll—and still have a heart far from God.

You can obey teachers but live in secret anger, jealousy, or lust.

Jesus wants more than behavior modification. He wants a heart transformed by grace.

5. A Righteousness That’s Given, Not Earned

Here’s the good news: The righteousness Jesus demands—He also provides.

You can’t outperform the Pharisees. You can’t out-obey them. But Jesus fulfilled the law for you and offers you His righteousness by grace through faith.

When you repent and trust in Christ:

Your sin is placed on Him at the cross.

His perfect obedience is credited to you.

You are declared righteous before God.

That’s what theologians call justification—you exchange your sin for Christ’s perfection.

Illustration: Think of it like this—if your report card was all F’s, and Jesus’ report card was all A+’s, He swaps with you. You receive His record. You didn’t earn it. It’s a gift of grace.

Transition: This changes everything. You no longer obey to earn God’s love—you obey because you have His love.

Conclusion: Living the Good Life Under Christ’s Rule

Jesus fulfills the Law so that you can live in freedom and joy, not fear and guilt. Now you live out the commands of God through His Spirit, not in your own strength.

So ask yourself:

Do I see Jesus as the fulfillment of all that God promised?

Do I obey from love or from fear?

Do I rest in His righteousness—or my own?

Main truth: Jesus is the righteous fulfillment of the Law, and only through Him can you live the good life God designed.

Closing Challenge to Students: You don’t need 600 rules to be righteous. You need one Savior to make you new. Let His righteousness be yours. Then live in obedience—not to earn God’s love, but because you already have it.