In Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus tells us what He came to do while giving his sermon on the mount.
It can be likened to a relationship. First, there is the initial period where
you get to know the person and you date that person. Later comes the courtship where you decide that this is the person I am going to exclusively date with the intent to marry. It is followed by the engagement where you make it official, this is the person that you are going to marry and choose to marry. Marriage then cements what was already there and what you have built. Now does that mean that the preceding stages before marriage were meaningless? Does marriage cancel out those stages? No it does not. Marriage then ties those stages together because if it wasn't for them there would be no marriage.
Jesus was that marriage that tied both Law and Prophets together and did not cancel out either because they are very important. He states how important the Law and Prophets are by stating the consequences for breaking and observing the commandments. This teaches us that what God has declared for His people to follow will stand til the end of time. Not one jot or tittle will pass away from the commandments of God. That is how important they are.
Jesus goes on to talk about our righteousness and how it has to exceed that of the Pharisees and scribes. These persons in Jesus' day accused him and his disciples of not following the Law on numerous occasions. They held themselves above others as they knew the law and observed the law on their terms. They switched the law to suit their lifestyles and taught others to do the same (Matthew 15:1-7). They were not really following the commandments of God but the teachings of men that twisted God's commandments to their liking. Furthermore, although they knew the law and could recite it from beginning to end and backwards again, their hearts were far from God (Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 15:8). Jesus is saying that we need to go beyond just knowing the law and judging others based on it but we have to observe the law in our hearts, that's where it is most important and where our righteousness can begin to blossom. God looks at our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7).
Brothers and sisters continue to study the word and live the word.
God bless you!
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.Fulfill means to accomplish, complete or realize. Jesus came not to do away with the law but to bring both the law and prophets to fulfillment.
It can be likened to a relationship. First, there is the initial period where
you get to know the person and you date that person. Later comes the courtship where you decide that this is the person I am going to exclusively date with the intent to marry. It is followed by the engagement where you make it official, this is the person that you are going to marry and choose to marry. Marriage then cements what was already there and what you have built. Now does that mean that the preceding stages before marriage were meaningless? Does marriage cancel out those stages? No it does not. Marriage then ties those stages together because if it wasn't for them there would be no marriage.
Jesus was that marriage that tied both Law and Prophets together and did not cancel out either because they are very important. He states how important the Law and Prophets are by stating the consequences for breaking and observing the commandments. This teaches us that what God has declared for His people to follow will stand til the end of time. Not one jot or tittle will pass away from the commandments of God. That is how important they are.
Jesus goes on to talk about our righteousness and how it has to exceed that of the Pharisees and scribes. These persons in Jesus' day accused him and his disciples of not following the Law on numerous occasions. They held themselves above others as they knew the law and observed the law on their terms. They switched the law to suit their lifestyles and taught others to do the same (Matthew 15:1-7). They were not really following the commandments of God but the teachings of men that twisted God's commandments to their liking. Furthermore, although they knew the law and could recite it from beginning to end and backwards again, their hearts were far from God (Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 15:8). Jesus is saying that we need to go beyond just knowing the law and judging others based on it but we have to observe the law in our hearts, that's where it is most important and where our righteousness can begin to blossom. God looks at our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7).
Brothers and sisters continue to study the word and live the word.
God bless you!
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