Matters Of The Heart. Matthew 5:17-48 Series

2025.02.16. Sermon Notes. MATTERS OF THE HEART. Matthew 5:17-48

THE Law and True Righteousness.

William Akehurst HSWC

BIG IDEA: It’s a Heart Matter. JESUS is teaching what it means to be a disciple in GOD’s Kingdom in understanding and applying the law and true Righteousness, by dealing with our sin nature through the matters of the heart.

JESUS’ Intention is for us to be set apart, distinct and different.

Scriptures: Matthew 5:27-48, Romans 10:4, Matthew 24:35, Romans 8:4, Galatians 2:21, Romans 3:23, Philippians 3:8b-9, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Psalms 14:1, Romans 12:18, Ephesians 4:26-27, James 1:14-15, 2 Samuel 11:2-4, Matthew 6:33, Deuteronomy 24:1, Exodus 20:7, Romans 12:21, Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 3:21-22, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Leviticus 11:45

THE LAW AND TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS.

(17-18) JESUS’ relation to the law.

17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

I did not come to destroy but to fulfill

JESUS didn’t come against the law, but to bring fulfillment

ILLUS. The law is a vessel (a container), the law and prophets pointed to a time when it would be filled, fulfilled. JESUS fills (fulfills) that vessel.

POINT: The law and prophets of the Old Testament were pointing to a time when they would be fulfilled. The Old Testament referred to the Messiah as “the coming One”. One who would fulfill those prophecies.

JESUS did not come to destroy the word of God,

JESUS came to show the Way and Truth of GOD’s WORD, where the Pharisees and Scribes had wrongly interpreted it.

JESUS wanted to make it clear that HIS Authority was separate from the Law of Moses, but not against it.

One way JESUS came to fulfill the law, was by perfect obedience.

JESUS fulfilled the doctrinal teachings of the Law and the Prophets by revealing it’s Truth in HIMSELF.

JESUS fulfilled the prophecy of the Law and the Prophets in that HE is the Promised “Coming One”.

JESUS fulfilled the Law and the Prophets by fully obeying them as HE reveals and explains them in their truth.

JESUS fulfilled the penalty of the Law and the Prophets for us by His death on the cross, taking the penalty that we deserved.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

In a word, Christ COMPLETED the law

By his own sacrifice, HE perfected the law satisfying GOD and sanctifying man.

HE completed it in himself by submitting to it with exact obedience.

HE verifies it by his death upon the cross.

HE completes this law, and the sayings of his prophets, in his followers, by giving them grace to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and their neighbour as themselves; for this is all the law and the prophets.”

“One jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

THE jot and the tittle were small marks in Hebrew writing.

JESUS not only is saying the ideas of GOD’s WORD are important, but also the words themselves and the letters of the words are important.

This shows us how highly God regards His word.

The smallest detail of the Law will remain. Every little detail of the WORD will not pass away.

The jot refers to yod (?), the 10th and smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet; it looks like half a letter. Example: Like the dot over the lowercase “i”

The tittle is a small mark in a Hebrew letter, somewhat like the crossing of a “t” or the tail on a “y.” Example: putting a cross on a lowercase “l” to make a “T” or lowercase “t”.

POINT: Every single letter, and every little part, every little detail of GOD’s WORD is important.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Till all is fulfilled

This is the assurance that JESUS Himself fulfilled the law by His perfect obedience.

And that JESUS Himself fulfills the law IN US by His perfect obedience.

Romans 8:4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us…

POINT: This is the assurance that God’s plan will be fulfilled at the end of the age.

(19-20) THE Disciple’s relationship to the law. Persons in the kingdom.

19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, HE shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.