Sermon On The Mount: Fulfilling Of The Law Series

Title: Fulfilling of the Law

Theme: To show what Christ meant by his words “Think not that I come to destroy the law, . . . but to fulfill”.

Text: Matthew 5:17-48

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, on jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:48 Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Fulfill from the Greek word pleroo (play-ro'-o) which means to “make full, fill up” “to make complete”. In other words Christ was saying that he did not come to destroy or get rid of the law he came to make it complete.

Where as the law could not do the total job in getting someone to salvation Jesus Christ came to complete it. This is what we learned from those who were in the Old Testament the ones who were captive and Christ descended into Hades to preach the fulfilling of the law to them.

If you from birth could obey each of the laws to its entirety then you could have salvation.

Jesus chooses six laws in the Old Testament as an example. In no way is this extensive. He is not making light of the other laws. Some say there were over 300 commandments in the Old Testament and thousands more placed on the Israelites by the scribes and rulers.

But Jesus chooses five as an example. He separates them by distinguishable words. “Ye have heard that it hath been said,” “But I say unto you” You will notice in each case he gives the law and then he gives the fallacy of it just being external and then he gives the answer to obedience.

In these words “ye have heard that it hath been said” Jesus is not questioning the reliability of the Old Testament what he is questioning is the interpretation of the laws that referred to the outward action with out an inward changing. This would cause a man such as the rich young ruler to boastfully say before Christ, “I have done all that the law has said.” Yet it was the inward change which Christ desired and it was shown that there was none when the man went away sad because he had his heart more on the treasures than on God.

I. Problem: Anger Matthew 5:21-26

Scribes and teachers way: Ye have heard it said

Simple law was thou shalt not kill. An external law.

Reference: Thou shalt not kill. Exodus 20:13

New Testament way: But I say unto you

Anger without a cause which leads to a slanderous word “empty headed fool” which leads to a curse “Thou fool”.

Answer: Reconciliation

God desires mercy rather than sacrifice

II. Problem: Adultery Matthew 5:27-30

Scribes and teachers way: Ye have heard it said

Do not commit adultery

Reference: Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

New way: Adultery is more than just the act but begins in the heart.

Answer: Cut it off

Find out what is the root of the cause and get rid of it. There is nothing that we are doing or have that is worth us going to hell over.

III. Problem: Ease of Divorce Matthew 5:31-32

Scribes and teachers way: Ye have heard it said

Reference:

When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. Deuteronomy 24:1

It was leading to where a woman could do almost anything wrong and be given a bill of divorcement even as far as burning the food.

Answer: Know the reasons of divorce before remarriage is considered.

Main reason for divorce is “fornication”. Paul carries this a little father in 1 Corinthians 7:12-16. He includes desertion from a spouse. This was probably a common cause in his day because of the newness of Christianity to society.

Before one commits divorce they must know the ramifications of.

IV. Problem: Oaths Matthew 5:33-37

Scribes and teachers way: Ye have heard it said