Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I am 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, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
C. H. Spurgeon – “We who believe have as yet failed to see much of the truth of God. We know enough to save us, to comfort us, and to help us on our way to heaven; but oh, how much of the glory of divine truth has never yet been revealed to our eyes! Some of God’s children do not fully know even the common truths as yet, and those who do not know them realize but little of their depth and height.”
#1. JESUS CAME TO THE FULFILL THE LAW. As the Lord continued His sermon, He turned His attention to “The Law” — the foundation of Jewish national life and the moral, ceremonial, and religious code under which they lived.
First He stated His personal appreciation and obedience to God’s law. He had not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. There was never a moment when the Lord Jesus did not absolutely fulfill in every detail every commandment…
• As a baby, as a boy, as a teenager and as an adult. At home, at school, at work, at play. As a son, brother, and neighbor. As a carpenter, as an itinerant preacher, in secret and in public. When surrounded by family, friends and foes.
• At all times, in all places, in every way, He kept the law of God. He kept it in letter and in spirit; its order and in its intention. He kept it because it was His nature to keep it. He would never dream of not keeping it. It was His Father’s will and Jesus always did those things that please the Father (John 8:29).
In Old Testament times the most sacred object connected with Israel’s richly symbolic system of worship was the “Ark of the Covenant.” This Ark stood within the holy of holies, which was behind the veil.
Inside that ark was an unbroken copy of the Law, a pot of Manna and Aaron’s Rod. Upon the ark rested, as upon a throne, the Shekinah glory cloud as a visible token of the presence of God.
Hebrews 9:1-8 “Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. 6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:”
The “Ark” was a picture of Jesus Christ.
• The acacia wood speaks of the indestructible humanity of Jesus. He was 100% man. God Himself became flesh and suffered the agonies of the human experience. He was tempted, He was weary, He thirsted, He hungered.
• The pure gold that overlaid the wood teaches us that Jesus was 100% God. John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”
• The crown of gold around the top of the ark speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. He overcame even death itself and rose triumphantly and was given a crown, and glory, and honor, because He is the King. According to John it was Jesus who Isaiah saw seated on the throne of glory with the angels crying ’holy, holy, holy.’
• The unbroken tables of stone identify Jesus as the One who perfectly kept the Law and never broke God’s Commandments.
• Aaron’s rod that budded (Num 17:8) speaks of the death and resurrection of Jesus something that had died and supernaturally came to life again. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life."
• Aaron’s rod also speaks of Christ as our Great high priest, chosen by God as our eternal representative before the Almighty.
• The golden pot of manna speaks of Jesus as the bread of life who came down from heaven to bring spiritual food, the Word of God, to a world in darkness and dying of hunger.
• Even the golden poles speak of the ever living and ever present Savior who is with us in all of life’s journey.
As you examine the history of “The Ark” there is a wonderful resemblance to the ministry of Jesus our Lord:
• The ark went before the people – Jesus went before them: John 10:4 "And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”
• The ark was in the midst of God’s people – Jesus is in His people: John 14:20 "At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.”
• The people were to follow the ark – We are to follow Jesus: Matt 4:19 “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
John the Baptist said, "He (God) that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he" (John 1:33).
• Descending [katabaino] to come down upon.
• Remaining [meno] abide, continue, dwell, remain.
The Holy Spirit remained upon Jesus because of the unbroken law embedded in His heart (Psalm 119:11). In the heart of this One, and this One alone, God’s Word could be found intact and unbroken.
God’s law had two parts: the “Moral Law” & the “Ceremonial Law.” In His life the Lord Jesus fulfilled the demands of the moral law. In His death He fulfilled the details of the ceremonial law, fulfilling the symbolism of the sacrifices and offerings.
• Jesus fulfilled the rich symbolism of the “sin” offering, the “trespass” offering, the “meal” offering, the “peace” offering, and the “burnt” offering.
• Jesus was the lamb that was slain on the day of atonement, whose blood was taken into the holy of holies; He was also the scapegoat upon which were laid the sins of the people before it was led away into "a land not inhabited" (Leviticus 16:22).
• Jesus was the bird that the cleansed leper brought to be slain in his place; and He was the other bird that the cleansed leper brought to be dipped in the blood of the first before being set free to fly heavenward for home.
• Jesus was the Unleavened Bread of the Passover, and He was the Passover lamb.
• Jesus was the ashes of the Red Heifer (Num 19), and His was the blood that was shed for sin.
• The Crimson Rivers that poured from ten thousand times ten thousand sacrifices were but a feeble type of His precious blood that flowed from His pierced side on Calvary.
This is why He could say: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil it.”
#2. JESUS FULFILLED THE WORDS OF THE PROPHETS. The prophets in glory were overjoyed at the birth and life of Jesus.
Isaiah might have cried, "I wrote about His suffering," reciting Isaiah 53.
“Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
David might have added, "Do you remember what I wrote of him in Psalm 22?"
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. 3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”
The angels would have gazed down in wonder, for these are "things the angels desire to look into" (1 Peter 1:10-12).
“The prophets… prophesied of the grace that should come… 12 Unto whom it was revealed,… which things the angels desire to look into.”
CONCLUSION: The problem – v 18-20 “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one 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.”
The only way for this to take place is for you to be in Christ! To be “in Christ” you must be “born again” (John 3:7).
Romans 5:1-8 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,…”
