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April 23, 2017 Good Morning Church!
The Law Matthew 5:17-48
The Law Matthew 5:17-48
Introduction: As we continue to look at this sermon on the mount
from the perspective of discipleship, the sermon breaks down into
three major sections. All of which seek to describe the habits of
God’s future-oriented kingdom community. Part one is focused on
clarifying the relationship between Jesus’ teaching and that which
had been heard previously by God’s people.
• “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the
prophets.” Jesus says; “I have not come to abolish but to fulfill”
(5:17). What does Jesus mean by “fulfill”? Given what follows
in verses 18-20 (compare 19:16-19 and 23:2-3, it cannot mean
that He has come to “complete” the law so that his followers
won’t have to. No, Jesus intends to “make full” God’s word to
Israel.
As Israel’s Messiah, Jesus is the fulfillment of the hope of salvation
to which the Old Testament points. This fulfillment of history in
Jesus does not invalidate what God spoke before. Jesus wants his
disciples to know that their understanding of what God previously
said takes on new light when heard in relation to what God is
saying through Him. (Jn.13:14 “New Commandment”)
• Jesus is Moses’ superior and must be received as such, but he
is not opposed to Moses; likewise the gospel is not opposed to
the law, and the New Testament is not opposed to the Old. The
whole Scripture must be understood as a developing story that
reaches a climax in the life and work of Jesus.
The “higher righteousness” that Jesus teaches, illustrated in the
example of 5:21-48, calls his followers to practice a life of godliness
that reaches far deeper than what is taught by the Jewish
leadership (5:20). They apparently focused on external compliance
to the law (do not murder), but Jesus insisted that the heart of the
ethical matter be addressed as well. (Mt.15 The heart)
• Again, Jesus’ disciples are to be characterized by wholeness:
not only will they not murder, but they will also reject hate.
This teaching “makes full” what God has said previously to
Israel, that they must worship God with their whole heart, soul,
and might (Deut.6:-6), circumcising not just the body but also
the heart (Deut. 10:12-22). Here’s the key: Jesus is teaching the
internal basis on which the outward practice of law rest.
Where the law promoted justice by restraining vengeance (Ex.
21:23-25; Lev. 24:17-22). Jesus goes to the heart and insists that
his followers reject retaliation altogether. Where the law called
God’s people to practice generous love toward their neighbors
(Lev. 19:13-18) and even strangers (Lev.19:33-34). Jesus drives the
law to its full implication by demanding love be extended
• To everyone, including even enemies. We are to “destroy” our
enemies not by killing them, but by turning them into friends.
Again, Jesus’ disciples are to be signpost of God’s Kingdom,
living lives that embody God’s reconciling will for the world.
What good is a signpost to heaven that simply points back to
the world? The world demands retaliatory justice and hates
enemies; the world thinks and acts in terms of it’s immediate
Perception of reality and not on the revelation of God’s future
hope. Jesus followers must act differently. In fact, they must be
“perfect” (Mt.5:48). The use of this term should not cause us to
fret: the Greek word means : “whole” or “complete.” Unlike the
Pharisees, disciples must be wholly holy, both inwardly and
outwardly. Unlike the world, disciples must seek a complete
• View of history, thinking and acting now according to the
knowledge of what God intends for the future.
Lesson Points:
1) Jesus intended to “make full” God’s word to Israel.
2) Jesus wants his disciples to understand that what God spoke in
the Old, takes on new light when connected with what God is
saying thru Him.
• 3) Jesus is calling for a “higher righteousness” Life of Godliness
fit for the future Kingdom in Heaven.
• 4) Jesus’ disciples are to be a signpost of God’s Kingdom.
• This continues to be Kingdom teaching and discipleship in that
Kingdom. Look for Jesus in the Old because He is teaching even
there that God wants us to be a signpost for His Kingdom and
live as He continues even today fulfilling God’s word. that’s why
the word is still here and the Old is still relevant to us today.