August 23, 2015
Morning Service

Matt. 5:17 – 20

            As we study what many call the sermon on the mount, we want to look at the comparison of the teaching, with how others in the New Testament time, taught these teachings. .

We will notice how Jesus fulfilled this prophecy from Isaiah;  Isa 42:21  The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.

This prophecy refers to the Messiah, and we believe this to be Jesus of Nazareth.  He will magnify the law.  Throughout this discourse we see how He magnifies the law.  Just another O.T. prophecy fulfilled by Jesus.  Just as He fulfills all the O.T. types, and shadows.

            Bro. Sam brought us a good lesson on letting our light shine, last Sunday evening.  I walked away with the summary that we Christians are to show forth the Christ like virtues, and works, in everyday life, and if we don’t we are good for nothing, but to be trampled under foot by the world.

This morning we will look at what Jesus taught His disciples concerning the law.  Let’s begin.

 

Mat 5:17-20  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.  (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.

Now let’s look at this more closely.

·         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.

To fulfill = To complete the design; to fill up what was predicted; to accomplish what was intended in them.  The law of Moses contained many sacrifices and rites which were designed to shadow forth the Messiah. These were fulfilled when he came and offered himself a sacrifice to God, The prophets contained many predictions respecting his coming and death. These were all to be fulfilled and fully accomplished by his life and his sufferings.  Jesus fulfilled them all.

As Jesus was beginning His ministry He wanted everyone to know that He had not come to teach contrary to the law, but He came to fulfill all that spoke of types, and shadows of the things in the heavens.  If you recall this is recorded;  Exo 25:8  And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. Exo 25:9  According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.   The earthly tabernacle was but a shadow of what was in heaven.

Then listen to the Hebrew writer of the N.T. :

Heb 8:1-13  Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;  (2)  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.  (3)  For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.  (4)  For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 

·         The earthly priests came from the tribe of Levi, and Jesus was from the tribe of Judah.

(5)  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.  (6)  But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 

(7)  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.  (8)  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:  (9)  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.  (10)  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:  (11)  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.  (12)  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.  (13)  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Now concerning this prophecy of the New Covenant, it was from Jeremiah 31:31-34.

NOW NOTICE THE SERIOUSNESS JESUS PLACES ON TEACHING THE LAW:

(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.

Let’s look at these commandments:Exo 20:3-17    All are taught in the N.T.

1.      Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  Mat_4:10; 1Co_8:4, 1Co_8:6;

2.     Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:  Act_17:29, Act_19:26-35; Rom_1:23; Rev_9:20, Rev_13:14-15, Rev_14:9-11; Rev_16:2

3.     Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain;  Mat_5:33-37, Mat_23:16-22, Mat_26:63-64; Jam_5:12

4.     Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Exo_31:17; Neh_9:14; Eze_20:12, Eze_20:20, Eze_44:24;  Fulfilled = Col.2:16-17; Rom. 14; Heb.4;  Our Sabbath rest is Jesus, He fulfilled this shadow.   

5.     Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.  Eph_6:1-3; Col_3:20.

6.     Thou shalt not kill.  Rom_13:9; Gal_5:21; 1Ti_1:9; Jam_2:11, 1Jo_3:12-15.

7.     Thou shalt not commit adultery.  Rom_7:2-3; Eph_5:3-5; Heb_13:4; Jam_4:4; Rev_21:8

8.    Thou shalt not steal.  1Co_6:10; Eph_4:28; 1Th_4:6.

9.     Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Eph_4:31; 1Ti_1:10; 2Ti_3:3; Jam_4:11.

10.Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.  Rom_7:7; 1Co_6:10; Phi_3:19; Col_3:5; 1Ti_6:6-10; Heb_13:5.  These scriptures cover the teaching of coveteousness, applies to everything.

The Apostle Paul tells us that the “the law is holy, just, and good.”  The proper teaching for all of these ten commandments are taught in the N.T. gospel that Paul taught.  We do not shun to teach all the commandments of God, for the New Covenant that Jeremiah said would come one day, has came, and is still being taught by the Church of Jesus Christ, Who fulfilled all the types, and shadows of the O.T.   

The book of Hebrews is the best tool for disputing the necessity for keeping, and teaching the law today.  The Apostle Paul summed it up when he said, “you are complete in Him.”  Meaning we lack nothing that would pertain to salvation, if we are in Him.  And, we are baptized into Him.

HEAVENLY FATHER, BUILD OUR FAITH, THAT WE ARE PLEASING TO YOU, WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED INTO JESUS.