CHRIST AND THE LAW ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 5:17-20

NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY
POTCHEFSTROOM CAMPUS: FACULTY OF THEOLOGY
SERMON ON THE MOUNT: CHRIST AND THE LAW, MATTHEW 5:17-20.

SUMMARY: This paper was presented in the BA (Th) Hons seminar at the Bible Institute of South Africa, Kalk Bay-Cape Town for the NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY

INSTRODUCTION.
17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil 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 commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called the least in the kingdom of God, But whoever practices and teaches others these things and commands, will be the 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 never enter the kingdom of heaven. NIV.

INTRODUCTION/ BACKGROUND
The kingdom of God is the kingdom of righteousness and all who look forward to being there ought to perfectly graduate from the school of righteousness. This is not about the physical but the spiritual. Jesus came to promote the righteousness of God and to direct the people so that they be part and parcel of it.

Throughout his ministry, Jesus Christ advocated the kingdom of God and identified himself as a Son of God and the one who had the kingdom of God. It all started from his youth as he was seen discussing with the teachers of the law in the temple. When he grew up, he did so many remarkable things that explained the uniqueness of his identity. Now when he started his ministry in Galilee, he proclaimed repentance because he had brought the kingdom of God with Him. He preached, healed the sick, cast out demons and performed many miracles. His action and philosophies in many times contradicted with the already existing authority in Israel.

Now in the whole text understudy, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is seen sorting out things with his disciples. Of course they had known him for a while, as this was the very early part of his ministry. As early as this, Jesus imparted the whole knowledge in the lives of the disciples in the whole sermon he conducted on the mount, where he revealed some things about the kingdom of heaven. In the text understudy, we shall therefore look into the following: Firstly we shall look into Jesus position as regard the laws of Moses and the prophets and the whole interpretation of the Old Testament law and the prophets. We shall also look into Christ stand on those who are the great and least candidates of the kingdom of heaven. Finally we shall check the implication of righteousness as a key or formula for one to attain or enter the kingdom of heaven.

DESTROY THE LAW OR THE PROPHETS …VERSE 17 a.
Jesus said, “ Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets….”. To the background of this, there were so many things that surrounded what Jesus said to his disciples at this moment in time. Firstly its vital to be reminded that Jesus had a group of disciple which didn’t know the full vision of his ministry though they had seen him performing all the great miracles otherwise if they had clear vision of it all, Christ couldn’t have wasted his time with them on the mountain teaching them the truths and the treasures of the kingdom of God. There were answerless questions about his whole work because he did things that according to the Jews, contradicted with the Mosaic laws. This was a big problem mainly also to those who grew up under the teachings of the religious leaders, the Pharisees and the scribes. Many thought as from His action that he was against the Laws of Moses..

Thus Christ said to them, “Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophet ” verse 19a. Thus according to Henry Matthews, Christ meant that:

“Let not the pious Jews who have an affection for the law and the prophet fear that I come to destroy them. Let them be not prejudiced again him and his doctrine, from jealousy that this kingdom he came to set up would derogate from the honour of scripture which they had embraced as coming from God and of which they had experienced the power of purity; no let them satisfied that Christ has no ill design upon the law and the prophet. (Henry Matthews 1996: 45).

But the perfect definition of the law as far as the Jewish custom was concern, meant that mosaic form of rules that came from God on Mt Sinai. These were the rules that showed the nature and Holiness of God. The laws also referred to the first division of the Hebrew Scriptures from Genesis to Deuteronomy (Davison F.1959:779). This also meant all that we have in all the major and minor prophetic books of the OT. The prophets in another way mean prophetic books of the OT from Joshua to II Kings and from Isaiah to Malachi. Thus with this explanation, the law and the prophets meant the whole of the OT Scripture (Davison 1959:779). Thus the OT is divided up into three major sections of the law; the moral laws, the civil laws and the customary or ceremonial laws. But as regard the moral laws, it consisted of the tem commandment and the great moral principles that were laid down once and forever. The judicial or civil laws were laws that were given for the nation of Israel in its peculiar circumstances at that time on their way to the Promised Land and as they stayed in Canaan. Finally the ceremonial laws were law given concerning the burnt offering s and sacrifices and all ceremonial rituals of the children of Israel (Jones: 1959:185).

In additional to the three division of the Law, John Stott, explains that the OT contains doctrinal teachings, predictive prophecy and ethical precepts (p.71).With this, Christ said that he came not to abolish any of the said mosaic laws or any of the sayings of the prophets as thought or speculated but that he said that he came to fulfil the law. This meant all of the writings of the mosaic laws and the prophets. But the word fulfil, means to confirm in action and keeping the law perfectly (Carson: 1994: 41)

Unlike Carson, Jones points out that the word fulfil has the element of total obedience to the law and literally carrying out everything that has been said and stated in these laws and in the prophets ( Jones 1959:186 ). Unlike the three scholar, Spurgeon the evangelist interprets Jesus as himself as the fulfilment and substance of the type and prophecies and commands of the law (25).

Though the Jews saw great deal of Christ ministry, the question could be how did Jesus fulfil the law and the prophets? According to Carson the prophecy were fulfilled by Jesus in predictive fashion. This included the prediction of the coming Messiah, childbirth…. Micah 5: 2 (p.40). But the law are fulfilled in Christ by being prophetic according to Matthews 11:12 and finally consumed in Christ. In Christ the purpose and intentions of the law reached their climax and finally fulfilled and he is the one to who the law and the prophets pointed (McGrath: 1986: 39). Jesus also presents himself as the eschatological goal of the Old Testament and there by its authoritative interpreter, the one through whom the OT finds its valid continuity and significance (Baker1994: 27

In every aspect of the relationship between the OT and The New Testament, Jesus came to fulfil the laws and the prophets as it is all consumed in him through the death on the cross. On the cross he died in the place of a sinful man and Christ put on the rob of all the sins of the world at that time he fulfilled the sayings of the apostle Paul to the Romans (Rom 3:23). Also his death fulfilled the Old Testament sacrificial way of offering to God.

All the burning offerings and the killings of animals and use of blood, got fully fulfilled by his death on the cross. This included all the Old Testament rituals that god required to Jews to do as they approached Him. Thus now they were to approach Him not through the killing sacrifice or through the prophets but through the great High priest and Prophet Jesus in whom all things got consumed. With this, every bit of the Old Testament law and prophets got finally fulfilled in hence he (Jesus Christ), didn’t come to abolish the law but he came to fulfil every bit of it.

THE KINGDOM AND THE LAW. … VERSE 19B.
‘ ….. for truly I say to you , till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota will pass from the law until all is accomplished … verse 18b.KJV
In a continual process of explaining some things about the kingdom of God, Christ did not only refute the allegations (that he came to destroy the law) but also now he goes ahead to prove to the disciples that the writings of the law will not pass away till the end of the age. In this case, the laws of Moses were absolute and binding (Allen W: 1957: 45).

Jesus moves on from the law and the prophets to talking about the kingdom of God. He talks of the Kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of this earth (Carson: 1992: 42).
The iota. verse 18 or the smallest letter ( NIV) will not disappear from the law until everything is accomplished. Every letter that was in the Law was important to Jesus Christ and that why he says that the things of the world can pass way but the law of God will never till the end of the age.

This Iota was the representation of the smallest writing of the Hebrew and none of the letters in the law will be removed until it has all been fulfilled and this was until the end of the age (John Stott: 1995: 73). This end of the age was the second coming of Christ to set up the new heaven and the new earth

THE LEAST AND THE GREAT IN THE KINGDOM…. VERSE 19
'…. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandment and teaches others to do the same will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be great in the kingdom of God.’
At this point in time, Jesus reveals the most hidden things of the kingdom of heaven. He points out to them that some will be the least while others will be great. Its interesting though that Jesus didn’t point out anything about being neutral in the kingdom of God, being at the middle( between the least and the great). He is pointing out all these because He had the kingdom of God with Him and Him being God he knew the qualification of those who were to be the great and the least in the kingdom.

THE LEAST:
The least were those who were to break the least of the law and teach people. This was about not only breaking the least commandment but also going out to teach people. The problem with this was the action of teaching people. This was referring to the scribes, Pharisees and their teachings (John Matthew: 1945: 31). The Pharisees in Israel diluted the laws and changed it but adding in some things and also subtracting some things for their own gains. Now Christ indicates that such will be the least in the kingdom of heaven.

THE GREAT;
These were the people who were to keep the law and teach people do like wise. Here it’s not about keeping the laws but its all about teaching the peole to keep the law. Thus this was a full presentation of those who will be obedient to the law s of God. Thus Christ stated to the people that greatness in the kingdom of God was not achieved by the status that one has but by the spirit of obedience and humility to the commandments of God. Of course we need to understand that the Pharisees and the scribes were the most respected men in Israel because them knew the law and administered it. Now Jesus was indicating the truth to the disciples that those who who achieve high status and abuse it by breaking the commandment of God, will be the least no matter how high they may be in the world while those who are so humble before the lord and they obey the Lords commandments will be the greatest in the kingdom of God though they may have nothing in the kingdom of God. (Its vital to know that we are not dealing with salvation by works here BUT obedience as the fruits of the spirit from the one who is already saved by the grace of God).

RIGHTEOUSNESS THE KEY … VERSE 20
Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the laws, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven…” verse 20.
As earlier pointed out, Jesus indicated the importance of the laws and proves that he didn’t come to destroy any single one of them but that he came to fulfil them.
Jesus is seen again describing the qualifications of those who are to be the great or the least in the kingdom of God.
He is doing this job because he is the one who came with the kingdom and had the kingdom with Him. Finally now Christ points out the entry requirement for someone into the kingdom of God. Thus was the righteousness. Now Jesus introduced this other doctrine of righteousness divided into two, the righteousness of the Pharisee and scribes and that of God (Henry M: 1996: 46). The scribes were the learned men and teachers of the law while the Pharisees were the professors and observers of the law (George B. 1952: 293).
These were honourable men in Israel because they kept every bit of the law and added their wisdom into the law so that they succeed the handling of it. Their righteousness was external and not internal hence Christ warned the disciples that they will never enter the kingdom of heaven if they put on the righteousness of the Pharisees.

The righteousness that Christ advocated was that of the heart, internal one and not the external. This was because Jesus looks into the hearts and not the outward (Luke 16:5) God has nothing to do with the physical but the heart and this righteousness comes into a person when Jesus they are born again of water and of the spirit (John 3:1-5). It is important to note that righteousness becomes a key to entry into heaven in a way that whoever has the righteousness of God in him, has the spirit of God and this means that such a person is a born again. With this we see that this robe of righteousness that one put on , becomes a key to entry because this presents the spirit of God in Gods Children according to John 3: 1-3

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the text understudy has proved that Jesus came with a mission of redeeming the lost people back into the kingdom of God and not to destroy the
God given mosaic laws. Of course Jesus clearly stated that he came to fulfil the law and not to destroy it. Of course Jesus was made under the law as stated in Galatians 4:4;

But when the time had fully come, God sent His son born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those under the law that we might receive the full rights of sons. (Gal 4:4. NIV). He committed no sin and lived in total perfection to the Mosaic Law and the prophet. (John 8:46; Matthew 17: 5; 1 peter 2:21-23). Jesus also fulfilled the types of the law by His holy life and sacrificial death on the cross as stipulated in Hebrews 9:11-26.
This actually is the universal stand of things in the kingdom of God and it represents the whole Christian church. This is the body of believers. It is the Holy Spirit only that makes people obey the Lords commandments (Jeremia 3:3-5)

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Allen W. 1957; Critical & Exegetical Commentary According to Matthew,
Morrison and Gibb ltd , London
Baker K. 1994; Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Zondervan Publishing
House, Grand Rapid, Michigan
Carson D.A. 1994; The Sermon on the Mount, Carlisle Cumbria
U.K paternoster
Davison F. 1959. New Bible Commentary, Inter-Varsity Fellowship
UK
Geilich R. 1992 , Sermon on the Mount ( Matthew), Word Publishing,
Dallas, London, Vancouver. Melbourne.
.George. B. …… The Interpreters Bible Commentary, Abingdom Press,
New York USA.
Henry Matthew, Bible Commentary on Matthew, Hendricksen Publishing House
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John Stott.1995. The Message in the Sermon on the Mount, The Bible
Speaks Today Series, England.
Lyod Jones, 1959, Studies on the Sermon on the Mount VI, Bedford Square
WC Leicester, Inter-Varsity, England
Mc Grath, 1986, NIV Bible Commentary, Hodder and Stoughton
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