Is Your Righteousness Enough? Matthew 5:17-20

 The Fulfillment of the Law

These verses are some of most important verses in the New Testament.  It is critical to understnad the concepts Jesus explains here, especially in regard to 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. 

The natural human response to Jesus' promise of forgiveness through repentance is to think that since one was forgiven, the Law does not matter anymore.  This has plagued the church ever since and has come to be known as "anti-nomianism".  The term means, "against the Law".  Jesus is not referring to the ceremonial law, but the moral law i.e. the Ten Commandments. 

There are two ways in which Jesus would fuflill the Law and the Prophets.  Jesus fulfilled the Law by being the perfect example of how to obey it.  Jesus not only modeled keeping the letter of the law, but more importantly the Spirit of the Law.  We will get more into this tomorrow.  The other way was he fulfilled what was said by the prophets regarding him being the Messiah.  As we know Jesus fulfilled at least 300 prophecies. 

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. 

Older translations use the words "not any jot or tittle will pass from the Law. The “jot” is the Greek iota (0, the Hebrew yod (’), the smallest of all the letters of the alphabet. The “tittle” was one of the smaller strokes, or twists of other letters, such, e.g., as distinguished ד (D) from ר (R), or כ (K) from ב (B). Jewish Rabbis used to caution their scholars against so writing as to cause one letter to be mistaken for another, and to give examples of passages from the Law in which such a mistake would turn a divine truth into nonsense or blasphemy (Ellicot)

The most challenging aspect of of the verse is the phrase "until everything is accomplished."  Does that mean the Law is done away when Jesus fulfils the covenant by his once and for all sacrifice? So to answer this question we must again look at the twofold nature of the Law.  First the moral law as it is sumarized through the Ten commandments.  This will never change. I.e. murder will always be wrong.  

The ceremonial part of the Law dealt with the atonement for sin.  The only way the Israelites' sin could be forgiven was through the offering of an innocent lamb whose blood covered their sin as part of the Passover feast.  When Jesus fulfilled this part of the Law by dying on the cross and shedding his innocent blood, the was abolished once and for all.  Paul says it in Romans 10:4 best, 

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

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.

Jesus re-emphasizes the importance of the moral law.  If anyone were to say or teach, "you're forgiven so you don't need to worry about keeping the commandments", they are clearly not understanding the purpose of the law.  The commentary below by David Guzik best explains this distinction, 

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. (Guzik)

We don't obey God's law to earn his love, but because we have it!

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.

This can be another confusing passage, as one might interpret this as works righteousness.  I.e. Unless I do enough good works I cannot enter heaven.  But the only righteousness that will qualify us to enter into heaven is Jesus' righteousness.  In an indirect way this passage is teaching that you will never be righteous through obeying the Law.  The Pharisees saw righteousness as external to which Jesus called them a "brood of vipers" because they were so hypocritical.  Paul says "No one is righteous no not even one." 

Paul sums this up quite clearly in Romans 3:21-23

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

When did you realize that you could never do enough good works to earn your way to heaven? Why is the Law still important even though you are already saved?  Have you ever been tempted to take advantage of God's grace which is summed up by the phrase, "It is better to ask for forgiveness than permission?"

 Jesus sets us free from the demands of the law. so we can serve him freely not under obligation but gratitude!