The Righteousness that Exceeds that of the Pharisees Mt. 5:17-20
Note: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is tearing the law out of the grip of the false teachers of the law, the scribes and Pharisees. They had reduced the Law to mere externals. Our Lord Jesus is here restating the Law in “heart terms”, which is its original context!!!
I. Matt. 5:17-18 Christ Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the prophets. Isa. 11:1-5, 41:10, 42:6, 45:18-25, 53:10-11
A. Matt. 6:13-15 Remember Jesus’ words to John the Baptist? “It is fitting for us to fulfill ALL Righteousness.” B. Matt. 17:1-7 Remember the Mount of Transfiguration? “Hear Ye Him” (KJV) C. Vs. 18 “Heart Law” is the operating principle of the heavens and the earth. The Creator must be the Re-Creator and reestablish the Law in the hearts of His people for the creation to return to its beautiful function of glorifying the Father through the Son by the Spirit!!!
II. Matt. 5:19-20 The scribes and Pharisee’s, the “teachers of the Law. Their excessive bondage must be exceeded.
A. Isa 29:13/Mark 7:1-9 The condition of the teachers and therefore the people. The Law became “traditions”. B. Mark 10:17-27 The example of a “good” man, whether teacher of student, we can’t be sure. Notice that the Lord doesn’t question his vaunted obedience, but slashes directly to his heart treasure. This is a “teachable moment” of His Words in Matt. 6:19-21.
III. Gal. 3:10-29 The true purpose of the Law!!!
A. Vs 10-14 Faith alone is the “path” to Justification before God. The Law of God allows for no human modification—every jot or tittle must be obeyed to the fullest. Therefore, for fallen man, the law is a curse.
B. Vs 15-18 Abraham’s covenant was the Seed, Christ. The inheritance of the Law is fulfilled in Christ Jesus, the Seed of Abraham. C. Vs 19-25 The Law was the tutor to bring man to the Promised Seed, Christ Jesus. The Law was to keep the people of the Seed, who were the channel of the Seed, desperate & anxious for the coming of the Seed.!!!
IV. The Old Testament “heart law” The Old Testament law was never first of all about doing!
Deut. 6:3-6, 10:12 Notice “love” and “heart”.
Deut. 13:1-4 The love test! Verse 4 in the KJV, “hold fast” is “cleave unto Him”. Like a small child with his arms around Daddy’s legs.
Deut. 30:1-10 True heart repentance!!! Notice verse 8 implies that obedience requires a heart that loves the Lord with ALL its heart and soul!
V. Matt. 22:34-40 The Law is all about relationship!!!
A. First, with the Lord our God, a love that is from the heart, soul, and mind, and secondly, it is the outworking of the first commandment, loving our neighbor like we love the Lord. REMEMBER, LOVE AND HEART!!! B. Psalm 40:6-8 And here is the only one Who can love this way perfectly. He came fully delighting in the Father’s will/Law, and note, “YOUR LAW IS WITHIN MY HEART”. This is His coming to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.
C. Hebrews 10:5-18 And here is that fulfillment!!! By His perfect obedience/delight in the Father’s Will/Law, He took away the school master and brings us into the Father’s Living Room!!!
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a BY A NEW AND LIVING WAY which He consecrated for through the veil, that is His (perfect) flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, LET US DRAW NEAR with a true heart in full assurance of faith (that He has fulfilled all my Righteous requirements), having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience (which is what the Law by itself was intended to bring about) and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering FOR HE WHO PROMISED IS FAITHFUL.”
Christ Jesus has fulfilled the whole law. Not one jot or tittle remains for you to do. Believe in Him Whom the Father has sent!!! (John 6:29)
Note: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is tearing the law out of the grip of the false teachers of the law, the scribes and Pharisees. They had reduced the Law to mere externals. Our Lord Jesus is here restating the Law in “heart terms”, which is its original context!!!
I. Matt. 5:17-18 Christ Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the prophets. Isa. 11:1-5, 41:10, 42:6, 45:18-25, 53:10-11
A. Matt. 6:13-15 Remember Jesus’ words to John the Baptist? “It is fitting for us to fulfill ALL Righteousness.” B. Matt. 17:1-7 Remember the Mount of Transfiguration? “Hear Ye Him” (KJV) C. Vs. 18 “Heart Law” is the operating principle of the heavens and the earth. The Creator must be the Re-Creator and reestablish the Law in the hearts of His people for the creation to return to its beautiful function of glorifying the Father through the Son by the Spirit!!!
II. Matt. 5:19-20 The scribes and Pharisee’s, the “teachers of the Law. Their excessive bondage must be exceeded.
A. Isa 29:13/Mark 7:1-9 The condition of the teachers and therefore the people. The Law became “traditions”. B. Mark 10:17-27 The example of a “good” man, whether teacher of student, we can’t be sure. Notice that the Lord doesn’t question his vaunted obedience, but slashes directly to his heart treasure. This is a “teachable moment” of His Words in Matt. 6:19-21.
III. Gal. 3:10-29 The true purpose of the Law!!!
A. Vs 10-14 Faith alone is the “path” to Justification before God. The Law of God allows for no human modification—every jot or tittle must be obeyed to the fullest. Therefore, for fallen man, the law is a curse.
B. Vs 15-18 Abraham’s covenant was the Seed, Christ. The inheritance of the Law is fulfilled in Christ Jesus, the Seed of Abraham. C. Vs 19-25 The Law was the tutor to bring man to the Promised Seed, Christ Jesus. The Law was to keep the people of the Seed, who were the channel of the Seed, desperate & anxious for the coming of the Seed.!!!
IV. The Old Testament “heart law” The Old Testament law was never first of all about doing!
Deut. 6:3-6, 10:12 Notice “love” and “heart”.
Deut. 13:1-4 The love test! Verse 4 in the KJV, “hold fast” is “cleave unto Him”. Like a small child with his arms around Daddy’s legs.
Deut. 30:1-10 True heart repentance!!! Notice verse 8 implies that obedience requires a heart that loves the Lord with ALL its heart and soul!
V. Matt. 22:34-40 The Law is all about relationship!!!
A. First, with the Lord our God, a love that is from the heart, soul, and mind, and secondly, it is the outworking of the first commandment, loving our neighbor like we love the Lord. REMEMBER, LOVE AND HEART!!! B. Psalm 40:6-8 And here is the only one Who can love this way perfectly. He came fully delighting in the Father’s will/Law, and note, “YOUR LAW IS WITHIN MY HEART”. This is His coming to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.
C. Hebrews 10:5-18 And here is that fulfillment!!! By His perfect obedience/delight in the Father’s Will/Law, He took away the school master and brings us into the Father’s Living Room!!!
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a BY A NEW AND LIVING WAY which He consecrated for through the veil, that is His (perfect) flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, LET US DRAW NEAR with a true heart in full assurance of faith (that He has fulfilled all my Righteous requirements), having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience (which is what the Law by itself was intended to bring about) and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering FOR HE WHO PROMISED IS FAITHFUL.”
Christ Jesus has fulfilled the whole law. Not one jot or tittle remains for you to do. Believe in Him Whom the Father has sent!!! (John 6:29)