The Law and Prophets

Matthew 5:17-20

“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 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. 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. 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.

Jesus’s teaching here in Matthew 5:17-20 makes five assertions;

1.      Jesus’s Scriptures are the 'Law and the Prophets' (v17a)

2.      Jesus is the fulfillment of the 'Law and the Prophets' (v17b)

3.      The Scriptures are not done away with, they hold permanent truth (v18)

4.      The Scriptures are to be obeyed by God’s children (v19)

5.      They are essential for our citizenship in God’s Kingdom (v20)

In this section of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus speaks to His disciples and the crowds about His mission that’s based on the Law and the Prophets. And for us today this passage is key in helping us understand the continuity and fulfilment of the Old Testament in the New Testament through Christ.

Verse 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."

In this verse, Jesus clarifies the ground rules by stressing that His purpose is not to discard the Law but to fulfill it. His fulfillment of the Law reveals his intent to bring the Law to its intended completion and full expression in Him.

The term “The Law and the Prophets” includes the entire Hebrew Scriptures.  Here Jesus asserts that His teachings and actions are in perfect harmony with all of God’s earlier revelations.

Jesus embodies every aspect of the Law’s intentions through His life, death, and resurrection. He reveals the deeper spiritual and moral truths that are the foundations of the commandments, that urge a heart-centered application and obedience to.

Verse 18: "For truly, I say to 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.”

This speaks of the permanence of God’s Word which Jesus underscores as the enduring nature of the Law. Every small detail has significance until its purpose is fully realised.

The reference to "heaven and earth" passing away points to the ultimate completion of God's plan at the end of days. This end-time or “eschatological” perspective confirms that until that day, the Law remains vital!

Verse 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."

Here Jesus stresses the importance of adhering to God’s commandments by preaching that remaining faithful to God’s teachings and practices are crucial for those who follow Him.

Jesus continues by teaching that our greatness in the kingdom will be measured by our faithfulness to God’s commandments and the transformative nature they make in our lives here and now.

Verse 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."

Here Jesus redefines ‘Righteousness’ and this must have seemed impossible challenge to those heard him becasue the scribes and Pharisees were renowned for their strict legalism. But Jesus calls for a deeper form of righteousness that goes way beyond mere external compliance. Jesus teaches that we are to have obedience that is ‘heart-centered'. True righteousness involves a transformation of the heart, characterised by love, mercy, and justice, as opposed to legalisms that are based on rigid adherence to rules!

These verses from Matthew 5 challenge us to view the OT Law through the lens of Christ’s fulfillment. Through his ministry Jesus calls each of us to a deeper righteousness that goes far beyond mere external observance to the point where our hearts become flesh that is aligned with God’s will. Jesus invites each of us in this passage to live out our faith authentically as we embody the spirit of the Law throughout our daily lives.

Have a great week and God bless,

Trev.