TITLE: The Law of the Realm are fulfilled in Jesus

TEXT: Matthew 5:17-21

THEME: Jesus came to fulfill the law of God so that we can share in his righteousness.

Roger Wengert, a philosophy professor at the University of

Illinois

How many of the students believe that truth is relative?

Professor Wengert

"By using words like should and ought, you betray your alleged conviction that truth is relative. If you were a true relativist, you would realize that there is no external standard to which my grading should conform. If my truth and my ethic lead me to an alternate grading system that you deem inappropriate, c'est la vie! I will grade however I wish."

Matthew 19:16-19

“If you want to enter (eternal) life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

What is the standard of righteousness required to enter

the Kingdom of God?

I. The law and its standards must be fulfilled. (17-18)

Matthew 5:17-18

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”

I. The law and its standards must be fulfilled. (17-18)

A. It is not to be abolished but fulfilled in Christ.

The Suzerain/Vassel Treaty

A. Two sections: 1. The identification of the Suzerain by his name and titles;

The Suzerain/Vassel Treaty

A. Two sections: 1. The identification of the Suzerain by his name and titles;

2. The historical survey of the Suzerain's dealings with the vassal.

The Suzerain/Vassel Treaty

A. Two sections: 1. The identification of the Suzerain by his name and titles;

2. The historical survey of the Suzerain's dealings with the vassal.

B. The "stipulations." What the vassal is required to do is spelled out in principal and detail.

The Suzerain/Vassel Treaty

C. The blessings and curses of the Suzerain

The Suzerain/Vassel Treaty

C. The blessings and curses of the Suzerain1. If the stipulations are met by the vassal,

he will receive the Suzerain's blessings, which are listed.

.

The Suzerain/Vassel Treaty

C. The blessings and curses of the Suzerain1. If the stipulations are met by the vassal,

he will receive the Suzerain's blessings, which are listed.

2. If the vassal fails to meet the stipulations, he will receive the Suzerain's curses, which are also listed.

The Ten Commandments (part) (Exodus 20)

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”

Matthew 5:21-22

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”

Matthew 5:31-32

“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

Matthew 6:3-34

3 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne.” He does this three other times as well. In other words, he is both affirming the law as well as showing how it applies to the Kingdom of God.”

I. The law and its standards must be fulfilled. (17-18)

A. It is not to be abolished but fulfilled in Christ.

B. It is permanent.

Rober Gagnon

“nothing in the authentic Jesus tradition suggests that Jesus abrogated the Torah during his earthly ministry… at several points, Jesus did prioritize the law's core values and even amended the law by closing loopholes and expanding its demands. This much is clear from the six antitheses that follow in Matt 5: 21-48. .. But at no time did Jesus overturn a specific prohibition of the law.”

John 7:9-11

“9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

I. The law and its standards must be fulfilled. (17-18)

A. It is not to be abolished but fulfilled in Christ.

B. It is permanent.

C. Even the smallest detail will remain in effect.

Luke 16:16-17

16 “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it. 17 It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.”

Absolutes vs. relatives.

• Absolutes are values that are universal- they cross time and space.

• They are not changed or influenced by culture of environment.

• They stand in judgement over both. • They are unchanging and based on the

nature of God.

Absolutes vs. relatives.

• Absolutes are values that are universal- they cross time and space.

Absolutes vs. relatives.

• Absolutes are values that are universal- they cross time and space.

• They are not changed or influenced by culture of environment.

Absolutes vs. relatives.

• Absolutes are values that are universal- they cross time and space.

• They are not changed or influenced by culture of environment.

• They stand in judgement over both.

Absolutes vs. relatives.

• Absolutes are values that are universal- they cross time and space.

• They are not changed or influenced by culture of environment.

• They stand in judgement over both. • They are unchanging and based on the

nature of God.

Absolutes vs. relatives.

• Relatives are things that can change with time or culture.

Absolutes vs. relatives.

• Relatives are things that can change with time or culture.

• Hair length, clothing styles, music tastes, what movies are appropriate, etc. change with time and are not fixed.

Absolutes vs. relatives.

• Relatives are things that can change with time or culture.

• Hair length, clothing styles, music tastes, what movies are appropriate, etc. change with time and are not fixed.

• These values can be debated without compromising our role in the Kingdom of God.

What is the standard of righteousness required to enter

the Kingdom of God?

II. Only those who practice and teach these laws will enter the

kingdom of heaven (19)

Matthew 5:19

“Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

II. Only those who practice and teach these laws will enter the

kingdom of heaven (19)A. To set aside any command negatively impacts us in the Kingdom.

II. Only those who practice and teach these laws will enter the

kingdom of heaven (19)A. To set aside any command negatively impacts us in the Kingdom.

B. Kingdom citizens must practice and teach these commands.

Dorothy Sayers

• The law of the stop sign a law that says the traffic is heavy on a certain street, and as a result the police department or the city council decides to erect a stop sign.

• The law of the fire says if you put your hand in the fire, you'll get burned.

Dorothy Sayers

• The law of the stop sign a law that says the traffic is heavy on a certain street, and as a result the police department or the city council decides to erect a stop sign.

Dorothy Sayers

The moral law of God is like the law of the fire. You never break God's laws; you just break yourself on them. God can't reduce the penalty, because the penalty for breaking the law is bound up in the law itself.

What is the standard of righteousness required to enter

the Kingdom of God?

III. The righteousness required to enter the Kingdom must exceed that of the

Pharisees. (20)

Matthew 5:20

“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

III. The righteousness required to enter the Kingdom must exceed that of the

Pharisees. (20)

A. The Pharisees were considered the most devout law keepers.

III. The righteousness required to enter the Kingdom must exceed that of the

Pharisees. (20)

A. The Pharisees were considered the most devout law keepers.

B. Only Jesus has fulfilled the law.

III. The righteousness required to enter the Kingdom must exceed that of the

Pharisees. (20)

A. The Pharisees were considered the most devout law keepers.

B. Only Jesus has fulfilled the law.

C. Only in uniting with Jesus we are granted his righteousness .

III. The righteousness required to enter the Kingdom must exceed that of the

Pharisees. (20)

A. The Pharisees were considered the most devout law keepers.

B. Only Jesus has fulfilled the law.

C. Only in uniting with Jesus we are granted his righteousness

D. It is only by walking in the Spirit that we can live out this righteousness.

Romans 8:1-4

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:1-4

“3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Laws Protect Us

God gives to you laws to protect you from your own destructive impulses. He gives to us Jesus to forgive us and protect from when we have acted on these same destructive impulses.

APPLICATION

The law of the OT is based on the nature and character of God Himself so as such they are absolute and eternal.

APPLICATION

We are measured against His Holy nature and we find ourselves woefully short. The depth of our depravity when measured against God’s Holy standard is immense.

APPLICATION

We have no hope of achieving it by our own efforts. But what we cannot do Jesus has done and offers to us grace and forgiveness and grants to us His righteousness.

APPLICATION

Our greatest need in life is to accept this free gift of Jesus and live for Him out of genuine love and thankfulness for His immeasurable gift.

Lake Tahoe, California

Lake Superior

What do you lack?

• God has exactly what you need and provides through Jesus Christ.