The Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17-48)
Notes
Transcript
JESUS FULFILLS THE LAW
JESUS FULFILLS THE LAW
Not to Destroy, but to Fulfill
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
When Jesus says “the law, or the prophets” He is referring to the whole of the OT.
Jews in Jesus’ day did not call their Bible the OT.
They called it the Law,
or The Law and the Prophets,
or The Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms.
So Jesus here is not just referring to the 10 Commandments, or the Mosaic Law, but to the entirety of Scripture that was available at that time.
Jesus did not come to destroy, or abolish, the OT.
What did Jesus come to destroy?
The works of the devil (1 John 3:8).
Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.
Jesus fulfilled the doctrinal teachings of the Law and the Prophets in that He brought full revelation.
Jesus fulfilled the predictive prophecy of the Law and the Prophets in that He is the Promised One, showing the reality behind the shadows.
Jesus fulfilled the moral and legal demands of the Law and the Prophets in that He fully obeyed them and He reinterpreted them in their truth.
Jesus fulfilled the penalty of the Law and the Prophets for us by His death on the cross, taking the penalty we deserved.
Jesus did this in an unexpected way.
Not by destroying the Law and beginning with something completely new.
But by fulfilling the Law.
He made the Law something that was not just written on tablets of stone, but something that is written on the tablets of our hearts.
In other words, Jesus came to show how obedience to the Law is not just following a set of written rules, but demonstrative a true change of the heart.
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.
This statement is interesting and important because Jesus is claiming divine authority.
The Jews understood the Scriptures as the very Word of God, as we do today.
By Jesus saying “I say unto you” He was claiming the same authority as God.
Jesus wanted to make it clear that He had authority apart from the Law of Moses, but not in contradiction to it.
One day the current heaven and earth will pass away and God will make a new heavens and a new earth.
A “jot” and a “tittle” are terms in Hebrew grammar.
A “jot” is a small mark. It is similar to dotting an “i” in English.
A “tittle” is a small stroke. It is similar to the difference between a “P” and an “R.”
A “jot” and a “tittle” are small marks, but can change the entire meaning of a word or phrase.
So every single word in the Word of God is important and will be fulfilled.
The OT, and NT for us as well, will be completely fulfilled before the end.
This emphasizes the fact that the OT still has value for us today.
Jesus did not come to destroy or abolish the OT.
He came to establish it.
He came to embody it in human form.
He came to fulfill it perfectly.
He came to free people from the way that the Scribes and Pharisees had wrongly interpreted it.
Our Responsibility to the Law
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
The commandments of the Law are still to be obeyed.
However, some commandments have already been fulfilled in Christ.
For example, animal sacrifices were required under the OT Law.
However, Jesus completely, perfectly, and eternally fulfilled the purpose of the OT animal sacrifices in His death, burial, and resurrection.
So we no longer are required to perform animal sacrifices under the New Covenant because we have placed our faith in the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus.
The Christian does not obey the Law as a means of gaining a right standing before God.
Our right standing before God is based on our faith in Christ and we receive this right standing before God through Grace, not works.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
However, the Law stands as the perfect expression of God’s ethical character and requirements.
The Law sends us to Jesus to be justified, because it shows us our inability to please God in ourselves.
But after we come to Jesus, He sends us back to the Law to learn the heart of God for our conduct and sanctification.
What are some examples of other parts of the Law that we are not required to obey today?
We can wear clothes made from two different types of fabric (Leviticus 19:19)
When we get a pimple, we don’t have to quarantine for 7 days (Leviticus 13)
We can eat bacon without fear of suffering the eternal flames of hell (Leviticus 11:7).
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
The Scribes and Pharisees were extremely devoted to the OT Law.
They would tithe even of the very smallest things such as the seasonings made from herbs in their gardens.
They took commandments like “remember the sabbath day to keep it holy” hyper-literally by forbidding even the most simple tasks or refusing to help someone in need on the sabbath because they considered it work.
As a modern example, Orthodox Jews let three apartments burn to the ground in Israel in 1992 while they asked a rabbi whether a phone call to the fire department on the sabbath violated Jewish Law. Orthodox Jews are prohibited from using the phone on the sabbath because doing so would create an electric current, which is considered a form of work.
If the Scribes and Pharisees were so devoted to the Law, how can we hope to exceed their righteousness?
We can exceed their righteousness in kind, not degree.
The Scribes and Pharisees had good intentions, but they were focused was misplaced.
Paul describes two types of righteousness in Philippians 3:6-9:
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
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:
We are not made righteous by keeping the Law. We are made righteous by faith in Jesus Christ.
However, when we begin to view God’s Laws and Commandments as His will and desire for how we should live our lives and how we should relate to Him, others, and the created order, we should have a true desire to obey them.
JESUS INTERPRETS THE LAW
JESUS INTERPRETS THE LAW
Murder
21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
These people had not really ever studied the Law for themselves. All they had was the teaching of the Scribes and Pharisees. That’s why Jesus said, “you have heard that it was said.”
Jesus shows His divine authority when He says “But I say unto you.” The Scribes and Pharisees considered it blasphemy for someone to equate themselves with Moses. But Jesus was claiming to be greater than Moses in authority.
Thou shalt not kill is the 6th commandment of the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:13).
The Scribes and the Pharisees interpreted this law as a strict command against taking someone’s life.
But Jesus takes this commandment a step further. Not only is it a sin to take someone’s life, but it is a sin to even think it in one’s heart and to contemplate evil or damnation against someone else.
Not only those who commit the act of murder are in danger of judgment, but those who have a murderous intent in the heart are also in danger or the judgment.
“Raca” was a derogatory remark against someone’s intelligence. Keeping it rated PG, some examples of words that we use that express the same idea are:
Nitwit,
Blockhead,
Numbskull,
Bonehead,
Idiot.
“Thou fool” was a derogatory remark against someone’s character.
These words are not necessarily sinful in and of themselves and they can be used in jest or humor, but what Jesus is getting at is the murderous hatred behind the words.
This highlights Jesus’ intent in this part of the sermon which continues to the end of Chapter 5. Obedience to the Law is not about external performance, it is about matters of the heart. I tell people that fundamentally you don’t have a sin problem, you have a heart problem. Fix the heart problem and the sin problem will work itself out.
Does this make you stop and think about the thoughts and intents of your heart? Let me ask it this way, how many people have you killed this week in your heart because of angry or hateful thoughts?
Before we move on to the next interpretation of the Law, let’s pause here an contemplate one point that will helps us out as we continue with this list in Chapter 5. Physical murder, actually killing someone, is far worse than thinking evil thoughts about someone. What Jesus is saying is that these two things are equal in the since that they are both sins and they both have the potential to bring judgment on the sinner. All sin is sin, and all sin will be judged, that is true. But some sins are more egregious than others and some sins have more severe consequences than others. The point Jesus is trying to make is that you can’t deal with the external actions unless you deal with the underlying heart problem.
Relationship Problems
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
Jesus considers it far more important to be reconciled to a brother or sister than to perform a religious duty.
We can’t think that our service to the Lord justifies bad relationships with others.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Jesus commands us to agree with our adversaries quickly. In other words, don’t let the sun go down on your wrath .
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
When we refuse to forgive and be reconciled, it can become a prison for us spiritually and emotionally.
There is another deeper thought here. God will not accept the gifts of our praise and worship to Him as long as there is bitterness and unforgiveness in our hearts against others.
Adultery
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Again the Scribes and Pharisees taught against adultery, but they only applied the Law to the physical act, not to the condition of the heart.
Jesus explains that it is possible to commit adultery in our heart, or mind, and that this is also a sin.
Looking at a woman is not a sin. Looking at a woman may result in temptation, but initially it is not a sin. The temptation becomes a sin when the look turns into lust. This goes for the ladies too just like the men.
There should be a timer in your mind. 1, 2, ok my eyes are moving somewhere else. It is when the eyes linger longer than they should that we have time to be tempted in the first place.
If you have the right heart condition, you will also look at people differently. You won’t look at other people as objects of lust, but you will look at them with respect and honor. Treat older women like they are your mother or aunt. Treat younger women like they are your sister or children.
Think about it. Would you want someone gawking at your daughter like that? If you caught someone looking at your sister like that would you have to repent of murder in your heart?
Temptation and Sin
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Jesus is using a figure of speech. He does not expect us to literally pluck out our eyes or cut off our hands. If we did this we would soon run out of hands and eyes. And then we could still sin with our mind. So then what?
It is about removing the sources of temptation to sin. If there is something that causes you to stumble or to sin, get it out of your life. Set barriers or guard rails to keep you on the right path. Take accountability for your actions.
It would be better for us to sacrifice those things now and remove them out of our lives than to allow those things to produce sin in our lives that eventually move us out of fellowship with God and doom our souls to hell.
Unfortunately, many are unwilling to take these steps. As a result, they remained trapped in the cycle of temptation, sin, repentance. They wish to break out of this cycle and overcome these sins in their lives, but they never go beyond just simply wishing to get better.
Divorce
31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
In Jesus’ day, many people interpreted the Mosaic permission for divorce as granting virtually any reason as grounds for divorce. Some rabbis taught this even allowed a man to divorce his wife because she burnt his breakfast.
1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
The actual intent of the Mosaic law was to prohibit husbands from divorcing their wives for frivolous reasons. It also kept people from making a rash decision to divorce because of momentary anger or frustration.
The issue was with their interpretation of “uncleanness” in Deuteronomy 24:1.
Jesus makes it plain that “uncleanness” means sexual immorality.
Jesus further clarifies His teaching on divorce in Matthew 19:3-9:
3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
God intended marriage to be between one man and one woman while both are still alive.
Divorce causes the woman to commit adultery when she enters into a new relationship, and her new husband, because God doesn’t recognize an illegitimate divorce. It is possible to have a divorce that is recognized by the State, but not God.
The good news is that God forgives adultery just like every other sin except blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.
In additional to adultery, are there any other biblical grounds for divorce?
Abandonment (1 Corinthians 7:15).
What about cases of severe abuse?
A believing woman is married to an unbelieving man who refuses to become a believer. According to the Bible, is this just cause for the woman to divorce the man?
See 1 Corinthians 7
Oaths
33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
The Scribes and the Pharisees had twisted the law, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (Exodus 20:7), to permit taking virtually every other name in a false oath.
Jesus’ point here is that no matter what you swear by, God is involved, because God is the creator and sustainer of all things.
Having to swear in the name of something else just simply means that there is not enough weight behind your own words or character to confirm your words.
Just let your yes be yes, and your no be no.
Be genuine, trustworthy, and clear.
Oaths are permitted under certain circumstances, as long as they are not abused and are not used as a cover for deception:
God Himself swears oaths
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
Jesus spoke under oath in a court
63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Paul made oaths
9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
Retribution
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
The Mosaic Law did teach an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth:
24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Over time, the Scribes and the Pharisees changed it from its original intent as a means of capital punishment and applied it to personal relationships.
Jesus taught that whenever someone treats us with evil, we are not to seek retribution against them.
“Jesus is here saying that the true Christian has learned to resent no evil and to seek retaliation for no slight” (Barclay).
This doesn’t mean we should not resist physical attack. A slap on the cheek was culturally understood as an insult. So what Jesus is referring to here is personal insult or an attack against a person’s character. We don’t have to stand idly by while someone repeatedly punches us.
The main point here is vengeance is the Lord’s:
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Jesus teaches that our responsibility is to respond to evil or someone taking advantage of us in accordance with our Godly character. Also we are to give more than what the law requires.
If someone sues you for your coat, give them your cloak also.
If someone requires you to go one mile with them, go two.
In Roman times, a Roman solider could require a Jew to carry his pack for one mile.
Jesus says, “Go beyond the one mile required by law and give another mile out of love.”
If someone asks to borrow something from you, don’t withhold it from them.
Loving Your Neighbor
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
The Mosaic Law commanded to love your neighbor
18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.
The Scribes and the Pharisees added the opposite misinterpretation to “hate your enemy.”
Jesus reminds us that everyone is our neighbor, including our enemies.
Jesus commands us to love, bless, do good toward, and pray for our enemies.
When we respond in the way Jesus describes:
We are demonstrating that we are true children of God and disciples of Jesus.
We are imitating God’s example who:
Makes the sun rise on the evil and the good.
Makes the rain fall on the just and the unjust.
It is really nothing special for us to only love, bless, do good to, and pray for our friends.
Jesus points out that even sinners respond that way to their friends.
We can also see examples of sinners who respond better toward their enemies than some Christians do.
The point is for us to be Christ-like in all of our relationships.
We as Christians are held to a higher standard than sinners.
As Christians we are representatives of Jesus and are to reflect His character in our relationships.
JESUS HELPS US KEEP THE LAW
JESUS HELPS US KEEP THE LAW
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
If we could live the way Jesus outlines in this chapter, we would truly be perfect:
We would never hate or slander someone else.
We would never lust or covet.
We would never swear a false oath and always be truthful.
We would never try to defend our personal rights, but let God handle those rights.
We would always love their neighbors, even their enemies.
The problem is that we cannot perfectly follow these requirements.
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
So as we get to the end of this chapter and we read this verse, it may seem impossible for us to live the Christian life.
How can we ever hope to live up to this standard?
How can we ever hope to be justified before God?
The purpose here is not to require sinless perfection in order to be justified before God.
Jesus is demonstrating what it would take for us to be justified based on our own merit.
We would have to keep the law perfectly.
And we’ve already established that we are incapable of perfection.
Jesus is also demonstrating His righteousness and the righteousness of God.
The law shows us God’s perfect holiness.
The only one who is able to meet these requirements perfectly is Jesus.
So how then are we justified before God? We are justified by faith in the One who is able to keep the law perfectly.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
So what is our current relationship to the Law? The law exposes the fact that we are guilty sinners before God who can never make ourselves righteous by doing good works or on our own merit.
So how are we to be perfect like our Heavenly Father?
By placing our faith in Jesus Christ and receiving His righteousness.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
By the process of sanctification that is continually conforming us to the image of Christ
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: