Matthew 517-20 | "You Will Never Enter"

I. Reading of Scripture

Matthew 5:17 ESV

17 “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.

Matthew 5:18 ESV

18 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.

Matthew 5:19 ESV

19 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.

Matthew 5:20 ESV

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

This is God’s Word, Amen.

Pray

II. Introduction

A. Introduction to Theme

Question: If you were to die tonight, would you enter into Heaven, or would you enter into Hell?

I want you to give careful thought to an answer. What would it be?

If you were to die tonight, would you enter into Heaven, or would you enter into Hell?

What is your answer?

Are you happy with that answer?

How certain are you, that you got it right?

This is a very effective question to ask a person if you want them to hear what you have to say. Why?

It is an effect question because it taps into something that is true for everyone.

It speaks about something we all know, and many of us fear: Everyone will die.

Death is a known. It will happen with certainty.

The only exception for death will be for those who believe God’s Word, and belong to Christ, who are alive, who are left when He returns (1 Thess 4:17). Besides these, everyone will experience death.

But none of us know when that moment will be. So as a person is confronted with a known —death, they are also confronted with an unknown — the timing of one’s death.

“Could I really die tonight?” An honest person would have to admit, that is a possibility.

In light of this possibility, a person realizes his or her own mortality, and powerlessness to control what is sure to come.

In light of this possibility, a person is compelled to think about something of a spiritual and forever nature.

This question is so effective because it is shocking!

If we want people to hear what we have to say, and to believe that what we have to say is important, it is often a very effective strategy to begin with something shocking.

In public speaking, it is called a “hook.”

Say something that will grab the attention of your audience, and keep their attention until you finish speaking.

A. Introduction to Theme

What Jesus says in Matthew 5:17-20 is shocking.

Jesus says in verse 20:

Matthew 5:20(b) [ESV]

“you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

That statement is more shocking in the Greek language.

To intensify the force of a negative in Greek, the language will employ two different negative particles, two different words for “no” side by side, to create a double negative [ οὐ μὴ ] as it does here.

It’s not so much a phrase meant to be read, but a phrase meant to be felt.

It says something like: “by no means” — you will “certainly not” — you will no, not enter,” or as our translation renders it — “you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

That is a shocking statement, said with certainty!

And it leaves us all wondering what Jesus means by it, and what we must do in response to it, so that we might enter into the kingdom of heaven.

It is also a shocking statement, because it reveals something offensive to many about the kingdom of heaven —

Entrance into the kingdom of heaven, is restricted.

Entrance into the kingdom of heaven is limited.

Christians have not imposed this restriction. Jesus imposes and reveals this restriction, and He has the authority to do so as the King of Heaven’s kingdom!

There are some who will never enter!

Not just some, but in Jesus’ own words — “many” will never enter! (Mt 7:13).

What is Jesus doing? Is he making an evangelistic appeal?

Is he saying to the lost: “If you were to die tonight, would you enter into Heaven or would you enter into Hell?”

He is not! Jesus is not making an evangelistic appeal to the lost.

Don’t hear what Jesus teaches and think “I’m good, I’m heaven-bound, this teaching doesn’t apply to me, I sure hope those heathen sinners listen!”

Jesus is not speaking to the lost, he is speaking to the called.

When Jesus teaches “you will never enter the kingdom of heaven,” He’s speaking to the called. He’s speaking to the Church. He is speaking to his followers, his disciples. He is speaking to us!

And he is shocking us with terrifying words.

III. Exposition

Matthew 5:17 ESV

17 “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.

Jesus begins this main portion of teaching in The Sermon on the Mount by anticipating his disciples’ thoughts.

Matthew goes further than that in his gospel account to reveal Jesus as more than an anticipator of thoughts, but one who knows what others think (Mt 9:4, 12:25).

That alone should terrify us all! Jesus knows our thoughts. Not one thought is hidden from him.

I certainly don’t want you to know all of my thoughts. I don’t know about you, but I have a hard enough time keeping them to myself anyway!

Does anyone here want a public screening of your thoughts for all to see?

Every thought of every doubt, every fear, every failure God sees and knows.

Jesus would not have wasted words by saying: “Do not think” if his disciples were not thinking, or would be tempted to think, in this way.

Matthew 5:17(a) [ESV]

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.

Jesus is correcting wrong thinking about his coming.

Why did Jesus come into the world? Why is Heaven’s King on Earth? What did He come to do? What will he do? What will he abolish?

Jesus’ choice of words are intentional here.

What we think about his coming doesn’t matter. What he says about his coming matters.

But our thoughts and assumptions get in the way of the truth.

Whenever we get to thinking, and start assuming, which way do our thoughts tend to lead us? Do they usually lead us in a positive direction? Or a negative direction?

More often than not, we tend to think the worse. We think negatively.

A person who assumes, do they usually assume correctly?

More often than not, their assumption is proven wrong.

Most of the time our thoughts are negative! Most of the time our assumptions are wrong.

I have been your pastor now for 17 months.

Only the first six months resembled anything like what we knew as “normal.”

This last year has created a fertile field for assumptions to grow as we get to know each other. Assumptions you have made about me, and assumptions about our future.

I’ve learned that this natural, especially with a new pastor and a new congregation. And while I feel like I’ve been here for a long time, in reality, it’s been a short while.

A seasoned pastor shared this week in a conference call that when he was first introduced to a new congregation, he greatly underestimated how his presence alone was a major change for the people he pastored.

Before he made any decision, or lead with any vision, or pointed any direction — the fact that he was standing in front of the people breathing was a significant change for them — a different face, a different personality, a different person — and he is right!

I point this out to say, that we can imagine in part, the kind of thoughts and assumptions the disciples of Jesus might have been thinking or entertaining about who he is and what he came to do.

This is why Jesus instructs his disciples not to think a certain way!

What we think is less of a concern than what is right.

Assumptions are what they are, because they are void of evidence of truth.

But we are a people who seek after the truth, and know where to find it in Christ and in His Word. And we have all the evidence that we need!

Jesus anticipates a thought and answers it with truth.

And it is a truth about him. Why he has come.

The focus of The Sermon on the Mount is not on “they” who are blessed, or “you” who are salt and light. The focus of this sermon, as should every spiritual teaching, is upon him — upon Jesus.

Jesus speaks about Himself, with authority (Stott).

And the truth Jesus presents about Himself is found in what He has said long before, in the evidence of the words of the Law and Prophets.

Matthew 5:17 ESV

17 “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.

The phrase “Law and Prophets” was a reference to what we know as the Old Testament Scriptures.

If we were to look at a Hebrew Bible, and turn to the back spine or the title page, we would not find the title “The Old Testament” or “The Hebrew Scriptures.”

Instead, the Hebrew Bible goes by the title: “Law, Prophets and Writings.”

These are the three main groupings of texts contained in the Old Testament.

“Law and Prophets” was a shortened way of speaking about the Old Testament Scriptures — Scriptures that Jesus is not merely the subject of, but he is the Lord of! (Luz).

Jesus as the Son is one with the Father and Spirit who inspired and breathed out the Old Testament Scriptures.

Why then, would he abolish what he Himself gave? Why would he destroy, or invalidate what proceeded forth out of His mouth?

Has the Word of God changed? Can truth be repealed and replaced by truth?

No!

God’s Word which is the Law and Prophets has not changed. Jesus did not come to abolish it — and neither should we!

There have been major attempts in the history of the Church to do away with the Old Testament.

Marcion was a heretic who viewed the two testaments as representing two different gods.

If we view the Old Testament as speaking about a different God, we’d want to do the same as Marcion and seek to abolish it.

For these men gathered around Jesus and hearing his teaching, the Old Testament was all they had. It was their life. Their culture. Their history. Their religion.

And Jesus says — I’m not destroying that. I’m fulfilling it.

That word “fulfill” is a specific word. It’s not the word for “keep” or the word for “do” it’s the word “fulfill.” (Luz).

Jesus is the true and complete meaning of the Law and Prophets (LN). He is the only one who “fulfills.” That is Jesus’ work. That is his mission.

I’m not getting rid of it, but I’m pressing into it, and carrying it to its intended conclusion, to its prophesied end and final destination.

Matthew 5:18 ESV

18 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.

Verse 18 builds upon verse 17, beginning with the word “Amen.” Truly.

It is the first time this word is used in the New Testament, and it is a word that belongs to Jesus. It is a word of authority — to say that all will take place of what was said of old.

An iota and dot were the smallest features of writing. Like a comma, or point on a letter.

If the iota and dot will not pass away from the Law, neither will the whole letter, sentence, paragraph, chapter, or book!

If the least of the instructions of the Law will not pass away (like tithing mint and dill and cumin) then the weightier and greater matters will most certainly be fulfilled — (matters of justice, mercy and faithfulness). Mt 23:23.

Let us pause here, and reflect upon how shocking of a statement this is.

The law was already a high standard of obedience to reflect covenant loyalty to God. The prophets continually called God’s people to repent and return to God and live according to His ways.

The Law, or instruction of God, set forth a standard of living in a way contrary to the ways of the world, for a people called by God, set apart by God, to be distinct from the world.

To represent God’s sovereignty and reign among all the nations of the earth who put their trust in worldly kings and kingdoms with a message that there is a heavenly kingdom whose king is God!

And yet the Law was not kept by God’s people. God’s instructions were not obeyed.

And with the Law, because it is God’s Word, it is all or nothing.

James 2:10 ESV

10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

We don’t get to pick and choose what we believe and obey.

Matthew 5:19 ESV

19 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.

Verse 19 continues a series of connecting statements that become more shocking as they proceed: “Whoever therefore.”

Based on what Jesus has revealed about his mission in coming, to fulfill the Law and Prophets, so that all that is contained in the Law takes place, Jesus then converts this to a kingdom principle:

“whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments...”

The word “relaxes” is the same root word translated earlier in verse 17 as “abolish.”

In other words —

Let us not do with the Law what Jesus does not do with the Law!

Jesus did not come to abolish it, so we shouldn’t either.

The Law is a good thing!

Galatians 3:24 ESV

24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

The Law has a function, even today.

We imagine the Jewish religion as being consumed with obeying the law so that those who were obedient might earn God’s favor. But scholars have pointed out that the Jews viewed their obedience not as a means of earning favor, but as an expression of loyalty to “God who had redeemed them” (Brown).

And this was really what the scribes and Pharisees and teachers of the law were so concerned with! Faithfulness. Keeping the law so that the people would not fall back into idolatry again (Ross).

Remaining loyal to God, their Redeemer. Worshiping the Lord, and him only.

This text is where Kingdom Living and Covenant Loyalty collide!

Matthew 5:19 ESV

19 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.

This is how we know Jesus is talking to his followers and not to the lost, or unbelievers.

BOTH those who relax the commandments, and those who do them, will both be in the kingdom of heaven.

Why? Because

Entrance into the kingdom of heaven is not determined by keeping the law!

It never has been, and never will be.

But faithfulness and obedience does matter. So much so that the one who does what the Law instructs, and teaches what the Law instructs, will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

The one who relaxes them, or abolishes them, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.

Do not think that in Heaven, we’ll all have the same standing.

Yes, we all will be saved. Yes, we all will be made new. Yes, we will be glorified, and be in the presence of our Savior. Yes, we will worship and serve Him forever!

But do not think that what we do on earth does not matter.

What we do, and what we teach does matter!

This is why I believe it is possible for someone to repent on their deathbed, in their last dying breaths and find salvation in Jesus — but for someone who has lived and heard the gospel, It is risky if not unlikely for such a person to come to faith in their last moments.

Because...

What we do with what we’ve been given matters.

That’s what Jesus is teaching here!

He gave the Law. He spoke through the Prophets! If we set them aside, relax or abolish them, we rid ourselves of what God has given, and rid ourselves of knowing God through Christ.

Jesus is not maintaining the Law. He is transcending it. He is intensifying it!

If we abolish what went before, we certainly won’t adhere to what is being built upon it!

For Jesus, entrance into the kingdom of heaven is not about restrictions — it’s about righteousness.

Matthew 5:20 ESV

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

When Jesus says “you will never enter the kingdom of heaven,”

It sounds like a condemning statement, but in context it is a conditional statement.

Which context are you in?

Sin condemns us all! Being without Christ — condemns us all!

John 3:18 ESV

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Such a person has not believed in the Great Fulfiller of the Law and Prophets!

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

All of us have heard these words applied to us as a statement of condemnation: “You will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

And without a Savior, we never should, never could, and never would!

But Jesus, and Jesus alone, makes that statement of condemnation conditional.

Meaning, Jesus makes an exception. He opens a door. He sends forth an invitation. He provides a way by which anyone may enter in to the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:20 ESV

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

The scribes and Pharisees were meant to be teachers of the Law and examples of living by obedience to it. The role models.

Matthew 23:2 ESV

2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat,

Matthew 23:3 ESV

3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.

This is shocking.

Based on what Jesus has said, his highest praise should be for the scribes and Pharisees, but in Matthew they receive Jesus’ harshest words — for they are hypocrites.

And this attitude of hypocrisy is what Jesus is beginning to rebuke in this sermon.

It is not impossible for your righteousness to exceed the scribes and Pharisees, because true righteousness is not an outward adornment. True righteousness is not in works.

True righteousness is the work of God upon the heart.

Entrance to the kingdom of heaven is restricted by righteousness in such a way that what we “say” must align with what we “do.”

And only one person ever had such a righteousness.

It was He, who came to do what He said, in the Law and the Prophets, as the fulfillment of them.

Who gave his life, shedding his blood, as the sacrifice of atonement for us, on the cross. Fulfilling in his one offering on behalf of all, every offering prescribed in the Law.

So that by the cross, we may worship God in spirit and in truth. As those who are made righteous.

Who become the righteousness of God in him (2 Cor 5:21).

Romans 10:4 ESV

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

IV. Conclusion

Jesus will later say in:

Matthew 24:35 ESV

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Jesus did not come to make things easy, he came to make things impossible — without Him.

If we read through the Law and Prophets and miss Jesus, we need to go back and read them again!

And as we read, we’ll see God’s love.

The Law was not given as a means of punishment. It was given as a loving guide.

To guide us to Christ, by whom we are made righteous and enter into God’s kingdom.

B. Exhortation

We know who we are.

What does all of this mean for what we are to do?

Jesus will go on to explain in his teaching from on high. But before we go on, before we enter in, we must first receive a surpassing righteousness that only Christ gives.

Jesus has made some shocking statements. We all are compelled to think about them carefully and prayerfully.