Not To Destroy, But To Fulfill

Text: Matthew 5:17-20

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (03/04/01)

Introduction:

One day we will all give account for our response to God’s Word.

You cannot be neutral!

Our response today to the Bible will determine our attitudes, actions, speech, character and ultimately our destiny.

There were those in Jesus’ day who thought He had come to abolish the teaching of the law.

Jesus plainly corrects the false notion by asserting that He will fulfill (the idea is to complete) and not destroy the law.

Romans 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Isaiah 42:21  The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.

Jesus is not speaking here of the fulfillment of the law through His person.  Now it is true that in His person and work of redemption literally hundreds of OT types and foreshadowings were fulfilled, but that is not primarily in view here.

What is in view is the fulfillment of the law through His teachings.

The context makes that clear.  Examples abound in vs. 21-48 as Christ deals with the OT teaching on murder, adultery, divorce etc.

In every case Jesus not only maintains the OT law in His teaching, He also extends the teaching to govern the issues of the heart.

FOR EXAMPLE: Is “be not angry” contrary to “do not kill”.  No, one is a completion of the other, and is greater for this reason.

An individual who will not be carried away into anger (Neither blowing up nor clamming up) will be far less likely to commit murder.

“What a King is ours, who stretches His scepter over the realm of our inward lusts!” - Spurgeon

The law forbids the end of sins (Fruit) Christ forbids the beginnings (Root) also.

There are some today who do not view the OT as essential to Christian teaching.

We must refute that as a false teaching.

Every stream of OT truth flows without hindrance into the great river valleys of NT teaching.

Every thread of OT prophecy is woven into the majestic fabric of the whole.  The Bible is truly a seamless garment.

God’s Word in it’s entirety is eternal.

Matthew 5:18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

JOT - The Greek iota (ENG – “every iota) and the Hebrew yod, corresponding to the English i.  Smallest letter and easily overlooked.

TITTLE – Or “horn” denotes a very slight projection at the corner of certain Hebrew letters, which distinguishes them from others which are rounded.

Together this is similar to our saying of crossing every t and dotting every i.

No part of the law, not the most insignificant letter or portion of a letter was to be set aside.

There are no contradictions!  There is no need for abolishing or minimizing the OT.

Matthew 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Psalms 119:89   For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

Psalms 119:152  Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

In this passage there are three responses to God’s Word.

Two are responses from believers; the third is the response required of God from an unbeliever.

I. Contempt for God’s Word vs.19

“One of these least commandments”.

This is not to say that there are any commandments that are unimportant, but that there are those who consider certain commandments as unimportant and thereby hold God’s Word in contempt.

Christ Himself clearly recognized some commandments as weightier than others, while expressly declaring that none were unimportant.

Matthew 23:23  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Now the Jews had made artificial distinctions in the moral duties of man.

Men will say “Oh this is not so important after all” – But is it a commandment of God’s Word?  Beware how you disregard it!!

Sin is excused by people who say “God looks on the heart”, or “God knows my heart”, or the “spirit and not the letter”.  EXPLAIN the balance that is needed.  EXAMPLE – Anger, Evil Communication.

A. Demonstrated by Disobedience

“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these…”

BREAK – Signifying “to loose”  In regard to the law, to loose the obligation of the law, by acting contrary to it.

Deuteronomy 27:26  Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.

James 2:10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Romans 6:15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

B. Disseminated through Doctrine

“and shall teach men so”

It is bad enough to do wrong, worse if we teach others to do wrong.

Proverbs 6:12-15  A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

13  He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

14  Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

15  Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

Luke 12:1  In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

II. Contrition before God’s Word vs.19

There is humility, trust, and deep contrition shown through simple obedience to God’s Word.

It reveals dependence upon God.

A fact/knowledge requires no obedience.

A commandment (in precept or principle) demands obedience.

What kind of Obedience?

A. Personal Obedience

“DO”

“whosoever shall do”

You are the one involved in the doing.  Obedience begins with you.

It is a choice we make.  Obedience demonstrates faith.

The Bible recognizes no faith that does not lead to obedience, nor does it recognize any obedience that does not spring from faith. The two are opposite sides of the same coin.

B. Prioritized Obedience

“DO & TEACH”

Doing always comes before the teaching.   Otherwise we are first-rank hypocrites.

LOOK UP & READ Romans 2:21-24

Philippians 4:9  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

C. Proclaimed Obedience

“TEACH”

Teaching = Doctrine.

Some say, “We’re only interested in evangelism, we are not worried about doctrine”.

The great commission is not evangelism only, it involves teaching/doctrine and discipleship.

1 Timothy 4:11  These things command and teach.

If we’re not teaching doctrine, what are we teaching??

III. Conviction of Sin by the Word vs.20

This is the only one acceptable response for the unbeliever.

Apart from the conviction of sin producing faith and repentance in the heart there is no salvation.

It doesn’t matter how many good works you have done.

A. The law cannot bring righteousness

The Pharisees were the most respected religious people of the day.  The Scribes (many were also Pharisees) were the supreme “experts” in the law and oral traditions.

The Pharisees were righteous.  Self-righteous!

Clearly stated this verse indicates that all their righteousness was insufficient!!

“The Jews looked upon the Scribes and Pharisees as being preeminently righteous and doubtless did not think it incumbent on ordinary people to be as good as they were; so much the more surprise must have been this declaration of Jesus”. - Broadus

B. The law only brings condemnation

“ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven”.

Philippians 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Romans 10:2-3  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Revelation 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Conclusion:     (Review)