Matthew 5:17-20

Matthew 5:17-20
Remember that we are still reading Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount," where Jesus was teaching His disciples. Jesus' teaching seemed radically different than the Old Testament teaching; but it applied in Jesus' day, and it still applies to us today. Jesus did not come to abolish the Old Testament Law or the Prophets. Rather He came to fulfill them. v. 17

"In the Old Testament, the law can be understood to have three dimensions: ceremonial, civil, and moral.
1)The ceremonial law related specifically to Israel's worship...Its primary purpose was to point forward to Jesus Christ; these laws therefore, were no longer necessary after Jesus' death and resurrection. While we are no longer bound by ceremonial law, the principles behind them--to worship and love a holy God--still apply.
2)The civil law applied to daily living in Israel. The specific laws don't apply today, but the principles are timeless and should guide our conduct. The moral law, such as the Ten Commandments, is the direct command of God, and it requires strict obedience.
3)The moral law reveals the nature and will of God, and it still applies today. God's laws were given to help people love God with all their hearts and minds. Throughout Israel's history, however, these laws had often been misquoted and misapplied. By Jesus' time, religious leaders had turned the laws into a confusing mass of rules. When Jesus talked about a new way to understand God's law, he was actually trying to bring people back to its original purpose. Jesus did not speak against the law itself but against the abuses and excesses to which it had been subjected."
(from the Life Application Study Bible, p. 1329)

Jesus, in v. 18, reminded them that every word of the Bible, even the smallest stroke of the pen, is true and will eventually be fulfilled.

We are reminded in v. 19 that our obedience to the Word is of first importance. Then we can teach others, and this pleases God.

v. 20 teaches us that we cannot "be good enough" to enter the kingdom of heaven. No one could outwardly obey and practice the law better than the Pharisees did. They had a superficial type of righteousness, but they were not right with God. In order to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must have Jesus' righteousness. This is the righteousness (or right relationship with God) that comes only when we place our faith in Jesus and what He has done for us. We recognize that we're sinners and totally helpless to save ourselves. We recognize that Jesus paid the penalty for our sin (as individuals), and we receive what He has done in our behalf. When we do this, we are born into God's family, and just like our earthly families, once we're born into a family, we cannot be "unborn." When God sees us, He sees Jesus' righteousness covering our sinful selves.

We try to live right out of love for God and thanksgiving to Him for His wonderful grace--not because we think we are earning our salvation. Salvation can't be earned--it's a free gift!

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Death is what we've earned, but God offer us the gift of eternal life through Jesus!