Matthew 5:17-20 / Fulfilled
Notes
Transcript
“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.
We are expected to live by an unchanging standard or righteousness.
We are expected to live by an unchanging standard or righteousness.
It was fulfilled by Christ
It was fulfilled by Christ
“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.
Law and the Prophets – all OT (Torah)
3 types of Law – Ceremonial, Civil, Moral
“Fullfilled”
We understand that there is a righteous requirement set buy God.
The Law.
Legal Requirement for atonement
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.
Life is in the blood.
Atonement is made by this blood.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
All have sinned
Redemption that is in Christ
Propitiation by His blood
“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 fulfilled the prophesies about him
Jesus fulfilled the legal requirement for our salvation
Is the Law now abolished then? NO
Ceremonial (atonement) fulfilled
Moral and Civil remain.
*** Jesus would go on to explain that the law is from the heart. (verses 20-48)
It is unchanging
It is unchanging
(The righteous standard is unchanging)
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.
Iota – actually a letter in the Greek alphabet (shortest letter)
Dot – is a mark made to accent letters
Jesus is driving the point home – The Law doesn’t change!
Not only was it NOT why Jesus came,
NO ONE is going to abolish the law!!!!
(Illistration) Bootcamp is to train you to conform, change your ID.
But bootcamp is not really reality.
OT relationship with God WAS NOT Bootcamp.
God revealed His righteous standard and it WILL NOT CHANGE.
What is the purpose of the Law?
“… the law reveals to us what is pleasing to God.” R.C. Sproul!
Excellent description
But this also presents a problem.
The world is increasingly concerned with pleasing self
Less concerned with pleasing God.
Therefore, the moral fabric is constantly eroding
But God Moral Standard is unchanging!
You will not be able to pacify both!
It is our standard of life
It is our standard of life
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.
God’s unchanging commands (given through Moses) remains the standard of righteousness.
That all will be judged by.
***Jesus is telling us here that the Law is not a requirement of old
We are still accountable to this same righteous requirements.
Matthew 5:48 “We are called to be perfect!!!”
As Christians we are called to pursue the perfection of God.
Salvation is a gift
But it does not entitles us to “relax” even the smallest part of the law.
Conservative Christianity is seen to be unyielding and disconnected from reality.
Conservative Christianity is seen to be unyielding and disconnected from reality.
It is a standard for heaven
It is a standard for heaven
For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
o Does that make it seem daunting?
Jesus once called them “whitewashed tombs”
“wash outside of the cup...”
Called them hypocrites...
This IS a unchanging standard of Righteousness
Handed down by God.
We ARE called to please God
By seeking to life a perfect life.
According to God’s standard of perfection.
But...
Salvation is begins in the heart and then changes our actions.
Salvation is begins in the heart and then changes our actions.
· They were all about “looking the part”
They were about outward conformity