Fulfillment of the Law - Matthew 5:17-20
The Fulfillment of the Law
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. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Reflection: Since Matthew was written to a mainly Jewish audience, it would be important for Jesus to clarify the true intent of the Hebrew Scriptures, which were made up of the Law and the Prophets. The most important words are when he says, "I did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it." He did not mean to empty the vessel of water, but to fill it to the brim with living water.
There are two extremes to how the people were responding to the use of the Law. The first one was to use it as a hammer to beat people with, and tie heavy and unnecessary burdens on their backs. While at the same time the religious leaders were not fulfilling it in their own lives. These were the Pharisees, and Jesus has much to say to them in this regard. Then the other extreme would be to say the law no longer applies anymore, so anything goes. Yet we know that within the moral laws given, these are fixed absolutes that came from God himself, and would be true for all time.
Then Jesus says something very astounding, he says, "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." So we know righteousness is more than rule keeping. Righteousness is being in a right relationship with God, and as we will come to see can only come by God's grace through what Jesus will do on the cross. But before Jesus can proclaim the Good News he needs to address they way things are and clarify the real role of the Old Testament Scriptures.
What end of the spectrum do you lean to? The rule keeper, or the one who says, were under grace so the rules don't apply! Jesus will show us a new way in which he is "the way, the truth, and the life". As we come to him, the living water, we can live life to the fullest without disregarding the Law.
Jesus thank you for showing us the true path to righteousness. Thank you for being the perfect fulfillment of the Law.
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. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Reflection: Since Matthew was written to a mainly Jewish audience, it would be important for Jesus to clarify the true intent of the Hebrew Scriptures, which were made up of the Law and the Prophets. The most important words are when he says, "I did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it." He did not mean to empty the vessel of water, but to fill it to the brim with living water.
There are two extremes to how the people were responding to the use of the Law. The first one was to use it as a hammer to beat people with, and tie heavy and unnecessary burdens on their backs. While at the same time the religious leaders were not fulfilling it in their own lives. These were the Pharisees, and Jesus has much to say to them in this regard. Then the other extreme would be to say the law no longer applies anymore, so anything goes. Yet we know that within the moral laws given, these are fixed absolutes that came from God himself, and would be true for all time.
Then Jesus says something very astounding, he says, "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." So we know righteousness is more than rule keeping. Righteousness is being in a right relationship with God, and as we will come to see can only come by God's grace through what Jesus will do on the cross. But before Jesus can proclaim the Good News he needs to address they way things are and clarify the real role of the Old Testament Scriptures.
What end of the spectrum do you lean to? The rule keeper, or the one who says, were under grace so the rules don't apply! Jesus will show us a new way in which he is "the way, the truth, and the life". As we come to him, the living water, we can live life to the fullest without disregarding the Law.
Jesus thank you for showing us the true path to righteousness. Thank you for being the perfect fulfillment of the Law.
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