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
Reference: Exodus 20:7, Lev 19:12, Deut 23:23
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (Exodus 20:7 AV)
And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:12 AV)
That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth. (Deuteronomy 23:23 AV)
What was happening is that people would make oaths and choose the way they would say them. Since it was a sin to swear by the name of God they would swear by his temple. This was a ploy to get out of it. It is like crossing your fingers to lie. A lie is a lie.
Some people do this to replace curse words. They just replace them with another word. Yet when they say these word, which are similar, it reminds them of the curse words.
Answer: Let your communication be plain
Make clear what you are trying to say. Don’t try to deceive. Let your, yes be yes and no mean no.
V. Problem: Revenge Matthew 5:38-42
Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, (Exodus 21:24 AV)
Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again. (Leviticus 24:20 AV)
And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. (Deuteronomy 19:21 AV)
Should we search for vengeance? Should we retaliate? He is not abolishing the law but he is saying there is no requirement. We must know that our main motive is to win someone to Christ.
Answer: Turn the other cheek
VI. Problem: Hate for enemies Matthew 5:43-48
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18 AV)
Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever. Deut 23:6
But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
Ps 41:10
Israel was taught to disregard any one who was not like them. They would separate and isolate themselves. To the point of hating another race. This happened to the Samaritans. They were a hated people.
Answer: Love your enemies
Conclusion
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Mat 5:48
Hopefully it would lead the people to exclaim as the disciples did,
“And they were astonished out of measure (beyond reason), saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. (Mark 10:26-27 AV)
