Matthew 5:17-20
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. 18 I tell you the truth, 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. 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same 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. 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.
ENTERING INTO KINGDOM LIVING
So far, we have been studying the sermon on the mount, and so far, Jesus has been teaching on the principles that govern persons who belong to his Father’s Kingdom. He has shown how this life progresses into what his Father wants.
The two aspects of this life are seen here so far:
The life of blessedness (the Beatitudes)
The life of usefulness (salt and light)
And now he confronts his audience with the life of righteousness, and how we as believers should live out this life of righteousness here and now.
From Jesus’s statement here in Matthew 5: 17, many present were already questioning his authority. Certainly, from the beginning of his ministry, people had been awe-struck by his teachings.
A -matter-of-fact Matthew records them this way:
“…The people were astonished at his doctrine” (Matthew 7:8).
“What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him” (Matthew 8:27).
“But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God which had given such power unto men” (Matthew 9:8).
“And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake and the multitudes marveled saying, it was never so seen in Israel” (Matthew 9:33).
“And all the people were amazed and said is not this the son of David” (Matthew 12:23).
“And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works” (Matthew 13:54).
“But when they sought to lay hands on him they feared the multidude, because they took him for a prophet” (Matthew 21:46).
“When they had heard these words, they marveled and left him, and went their way” (Matthew 22:22).
“And when the multitude heard this they were astonished as his doctrine” (Matthew 22:33).
It was only natural therefore that many were asking what the relation was between Jesus’ authority and the authority of the law of Moses. It was clear to the people that the scribes were submissive to the law, for they were the teachers of it. They devoted themselves to its interpretation and claimed for themselves no authority apart from the authorities they cited. But it was not as clear with Jesus of Nazareth. He spoke as the authority and by his own authority. He introduced a formula no ancient prophet, priest, or modern scribe had ever used before. He would introduce some of his most impressive utterances with the words “Truly I say to you” or “I tell you the truth” or “I say unto you.”
Jesus began the sermon on the mount with the beatitudes in the third person (Blessed are the poor in spirit), continued in the second person (you are the salt of the earth), and now he changes to the authoritative first person and uses for the first time his distinctive and emphatic formula “I say to you” (18) or “I tell you” (v.20).
This passage that we have before us this evening is of great importance not only for its definition of righteousness but also for the light it throws on the relation relationship between Jesus and the Torah and hence our relationship with the law.
Notice first.
OUR COMMITMENT TO THE LAW v. 17, 18
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. 18 I tell you the truth, 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.
Jesus was clear that his mission was not to abolish, nullify, bring to an end, or put aside the law and prophets. His purpose here was clear, he came to fulfill them. And we can see this in all the gospels, but more intentionally in the book of Matthew. Matthew emphasizes this truth more than any other evangelist by his repeated formula “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet…” or “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet…”
Matthew 1:22
Matthew 2:5, 6
Matthew 2:15
Matthew 2:17
Matthew 2:23
Matthew 4:14 -16
Matthew 8:17
Mattew 12:17-21
Matthew 13:35
Matthew 27:9
Jesus’ understanding of the law was comprehensive.
Jesus’ understanding of the law was conclusive.
Notice secondly,
OUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE LAW v. 19
19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same 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 we see our involvement with the Law in three aspects.
The Law and God’s Kids
The law and God's Kingdom
The Law and God’s Kindness
OUR ASSESSMENT OF THE LAW v. 20
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.
Jesus, in verse 20, is clear that unless we do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, we won't know the first thing about entering the kingdom of heaven.
The author of Matthew uses the Greek word which means to superabound.
KJV “exceeds”
NIV “Surpasses”
AMP “More than”
CEB “greater than”
GNT “More faithful”
MSG “better than”
