Inconceivable

In one of my favorite childhood movies The Princess Bride a young boy is read a story by his grandfather on a day that he has to stay home from school because he is sick. The story is a mixture of action, drama, and comedy. In the movie there is a villian by the name of Vizzini with two henchmen one of which is Inigo Montoya. They are hired to kidnap the princess. Well throughout the movie Vizzini believes himself to be smarter than everyone else. He has things all figured out. But every time he thinks he has everything under wraps, the hero “The Man In Black” foils his plan! Each time Vizzini yells out Inconceivable! Eventually Inigo begins to question him by stating “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”. For something to be inconceivable means that it is impossible to comprehend.

Inconceivable- Impossible to comprehend

But Vizzini’s ironclad plans are not so ironclad and everyone can see it but him. And as I read the text throughout the week I just imagined the crowd upon hearing the word of Jesus crying out together! “Inconceivable!” As Jesus is telling them that contrary to popular opinion...

I actually love the law!

I have come to fulfill it!

I came to bring clarity to you about it!

I came to challenge you to not only do it but allow it to become a part of your life!

You see there was some confusion about the law. Based on their history folks began to build a fence around the law. In order to protect themselves from breaking the law and being punished again ie BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY they made up their own set of rules and in doing so the law was not able to penetrate hearts because the focus was now on doing and not allowing it to penetrate and change hearts!

Turn your Bibles with me to Matthew 5:17-20

Matthew 5:17–20 ESV

“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. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus’ Stance (17-18)

Matthew 5:17 NRSV

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

7- Do not assume that I came abolish (to completely invalidate something which has been in force) the law or the prophets (an idiom, literally all of the sacred writings of the OT) I did not come to abolish but to to fulfill (to give the true or complete meaning to something)

Matthew 5:18 NRSV

For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.

18- For truly I say to yall until the heaven and earth cease to exist not one yod or one stroke of a letter will not cease to exist from the law until all is accomplished (to happen, with the implication that what happens is different from a previous state)

Jesus’ Expectation (19-20)

Matthew 5:19 NRSV

Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

19- CONDITIONAL Therefore whoever fails to conform to one of the least of THESE commandments (that which is authoritatively commanded) and teaches so to other men they will called the least (pertaining to being of the least importance) in the kingdom (area or district ruled by a king) of heaven. But whoever keeps/does and teaches (to provide instruction in a formal or informal setting) THESE will be called great (being great in terms of status) in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:20 NRSV

For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

20- For I say to you all that if your righteousness (the act of doing what God requires) does not greatly surpass (a degree which is considerably in excess of some point on an implied or explicit scale or extent) that of the scribes (recognized expert in Jewish law both canonical and traditional laws and regulations) and Pharisees (a member of an important religious and political Jewish party at the time of Jesus and the apostles) you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven

Conceivable

What is able to be conceived; IMAGINABLE?