The Meaning Of Righteousness Part 1
Jesus And The Law
Matthew 5:3-12 Jesus talked about the character of believers
Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus taught about the function of believers as salt and light in the world.
Matthew5:17-20 Jesus gives the foundation for the inner character qualities and the function of believers. That foundation is the Word of God. The Law of God.
The question that Jesus deals with here is a question of contemporary importance.
Here is the question: Is there an absolute basis for truth, for law, for morals, for right and wrong?
Matthew 5:17-
“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19“Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20“For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
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Jesus Taught That The Law Of God Remains Forever Authoritative
According to Jesus, there is an absolute basis for truth and law and right and wrong and that is the law of God.
Notice that he in verse 17 he said, “do not think”. Jesus did not follow the traditions that the church leaders had set up so the thought was that he was disregarding the law.
“vs. 17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19“Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day focused on the external aspects of religion. They talked about ceremonies, rituals and outward acts of religion, but Jesus focused on the heart.
Unable to keep the laws demands,they established traditions that were easier to obey, rituals that were complicated and involved BUT they were within the bounds of human accomplishment. Their rules and traditions were things that a man could do in his human strength and resource. They were tedious and dull and lifeless,burdensome, BUT do-able.
Most Jews in Jesus’ day had the idea that rabbinic instructions followed the proper interpretation of the Law of Moses.
Jesus disregarded these man made traditions causing some to have the mistaken idea that he was disregarding the law which of course was incorrect.
In this statement what Jesus does establish is that the Law of God is always valid,true and authoritative.
Notice what he said, “…the Law or the Prophets”. When Jesus used the term “law and the prophets” he meant everything in the Old Testament.
It is God’s Word . He Wrote The Law.
Exodus 20:1
1Then God spoke all these words, saying,
2“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3“You shall have no other gods before Me.
The Law of God was composed of three parts.
Moral Law was to regulate behavior for all men this is based on the Ten Commandment.
Judicial Law (civil law)pertained to Israel’s operation as a unique nation as a theocracy.
Ceremonial Law pertained to the structure and practice of Israel’s worship of God.
Dueteronomy 4:13-14
“So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone. 14“The LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might perform them in the land where you are going over to possess it.
When the prophets came along, they preached the Law of God. They called Israel to return to simple obedience to God’s moral, civil andceremonial law.
Jesus is saying that Law remains valid . It remains forever authoritative.
This is taught throughout the scriptures.
Psalm 19:7-8
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Romans 7:12
So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
Jesus Fullfills The Law Of God
Jesus used the word “fullfill”. This means to carry out. Jesus did not bring new teaching but rather carried out what God meant in the Law and Prophets.
“He did not simply teach it fully, and exemplify it fully. He WAS it fully.”
“He did not come simply to teach righteousness and to model righteousness; He came AS divine righteousness.”
Romans 10:4
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Other places where Jesus teaches that He is the theme of the Old Testament.
Luke 24:27;44
Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
44Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
John 5:39
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;
Moral Law
Jesus fulfilled the moral . He did not sin.
Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Judicial Law or Civil Law established God’s people and set them apart from every other nation. It established how they operated as a nation.
Indwelling of the Holy Spirit fulfills the civil law in setting apart His followers as the true people of God.
Ceremonial Law
This governed Israels worship. Sacrifice was the heart of all the ceremonial law. Jesus sacrifice of himself as the “perfect lamb of God” was the full and final sacrifice for sin. All other sacrifices were shadows pointing to God’s ultimate sacrifice of His Son.
Matthew 27:50-51
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.
Hebrews 10:19-22
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 9:11-12
11But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Obedience To The Law Must Be From The Heart
On the surface rabbinical teachings and traditions seemed to make the law harder to keep because they were complicated and tedious but really they were easier because it became a matter of external compliance. No faith in God was required.
God requires both inward and outward obedience.
Isaiah 29:13
Then the Lord said, “Because this people draw near with their words
And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me,
And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote,
Matthew 15:6
And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7“You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:
8 ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS,
BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.
9 ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME,
TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’”
