The Law and The Prophets (Follow Up)
We survived the message regarding the law and the prophet (at least I think we survived).
I agree with Brady (that must be a first) that verse 20 is of great importance. And while I was tempted to just start at verse 20 I realized that 17 through 19 could be understood (and were also important) through the lens of 20. (All the verse references are still from Matthew 5).
Since I’m always concerned about the element of time in the deliver of a message I hit (as quickly and extensively as possible) some major areas. Here are the highlights.
THESE WORDS OF JESUS
Here I addressed the question posed by Thurman8er and concluded that Jesus was talking to the crowds (that were following), he was talking to his disciples (who had just started following), he was talking to the readers of Matthew’s gospel (who had been following) and he’s talking to us (who are and who would follow).
It’s important to make a distinction between followers of Jesus and disciples of Jesus. Followers were along for the ride while disciples were along for the life. In an age (today) where the word disciples carries some baggage we are more comfortable with the word followers. That’s fine. But we must understand that anyone who wants to be part of the kingdom must follow Jesus as a disciple.
LEAST IMPORTANT AND MOST IMPORTANT
l.marie.d gets the shout out on this one and her observation about being least in the kingdom but not absent from the kingdom.
I talked about Jesus’ use of metaphor in 13-16 and explored the idea if Jesus was using hyperbole. By the way, I love the definition of hyperbole (extravagant exaggeration). What other kind of exaggeration is there?
Notice how the subject of this discussion regards the commands of God. Jesus talks about the smallest letter of the alphabet and the smallest mark in the alphabet being important carrying the idea that what seems insignificant is actually important.
It was the Pharisees who were devoted to the minutiae of the law at the expense of the greater demands of the law (specifically a greater righteousness). Think of Matthew 23:23!
Also what must be considered are the thoughts of Jesus regarding greatness in the kingdom (Matthew 20:25-28).
I think these words are in direct response to the Pharisees who considered themselves great in the kingdom and there is this suggestion by Jesus that they are not even in the kingdom.
JESUS IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW
The idea here is that Jesus came specifically to bring the law to it’s intended goal. This is not just that Jesus came to accomplish everything the law and prophets said about him - he came to convey what God intended to accomplish through the law.
THE PURPOSE & ESSENCE OF THE LAW
The purpose of the law and the prophets: To show us our sin and show us our savior. (Romans 3:19-26)
The essence of the law: How you treat other people is important to God. (Matthew 7:12)
This is what Jesus came to tell us and what so many spice tithing legalists fail to see.
Jesus came to make sure we understood (and heard correctly) what God has been saying through the law, the prophets and the other writings.
Jesus came to make sure we made the connection between what was communicated and what was intended.
His teaching in the sermon on the mount, (through the use of six specific examples) was designed to give us insight and understanding into the heart of God and his will for his people. Specifically:
This is what God said (and wanted you to do).
This is what you heard (and chose to do).
This is what God meant (and still wants you to do).
This is what Jesus came to do, to bridge the disconnect between what God said, what we heard and what God meant.
What I failed to fully address because of time constraints was how are “New Testament” Christians supposed to relate to an “Old Testament” mandate.
But that gives us something else to talk about.
3 Responses to “The Law and The Prophets (Follow Up)”
“This is what Jesus came to do, to bridge the disconnect between what God said, what we heard and what God meant.”
Sounds like a must subject for Christianity 101.
Hey, if I’d known you were going to use our comments, I would have written something brilliant!
This is what God said (and wanted you to do).
This is what you heard (and chose to do).
This is what God meant (and still wants you to do).
Good lines. I will use them one time.
That’s not the first time we’ve agreed. I seem to remember agreeing that, at times, fishing is even better than sleep.
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