Matthew: True Kingdom Living Righteousness Matthew 5:17-20
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This is a difficult text.
This is a difficult text.
When D.A. Carson preached on Matthew 5:17-20, he said these four verses are some of the most difficult to understand in the New Testament. I agree with him. At first, its hard to the connection between the first section of 5:12-16 and the rest of the sermon. Structurally, it just appears like this is a random saying plopped in the middle of the sermon. In the previous section Jesus discusses the kingdom of God. In verse 17, he brings up the Law and the Prophets. Now we have to ask, “What does the law and the prophets have to do with the kingdom of God? Furthermore, Jesus says he fulfills the law and the prophets. Ok. What does the mean, and what does that mean for the rest of the sermon? What about Jesus saying, “Unless your righteousness exceeds the pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven? I thought the Pharisees were hypocrites or the adversary. What does Jesus mean when he says that my righteousness need to be greater than the Pharisees? Those are a few of the questions that reveal we are dealing with a difficult text in the Bible.
This morning I am going to ask five questions of our text. I hope the answers bring clarity and reveal to you that
Jesus is the righteous fulfillment of the entirety of God’s law, and those in Christ will teach his commandments and enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus is the righteous fulfillment of the entirety of God’s law, and those in Christ will teach his commandments and enter the kingdom of heaven.
Furthermore, also provides the right way to understand righteousness and right living in the kingdom. For those who teach his commands will know how to view the law and the prophets correctly in light of Jesus.
What is the relationship of law and the prophets and Jesus?
What is the relationship of law and the prophets and Jesus?
Jesus said, he did not come to abolish the law and prophets. The Law and the Prophets encompass the entire Old Testament as we know it: the moral, ceremonial, and civil laws of the Torah, the Historical writings, wisdom, and the minor and major prophets. The word for abolish means to untie, annul, set aside, or invalidate.
It's possible that Jesus made the statement to address the concerns of his disciples or opponents who were wondering about the relationship between Jesus and the law and the prophets. They might have been questioning whether Jesus would change, reinterpret, or even abolish the law (as mentioned in Matthew 5:17). Therefore, Jesus clarifies his stance on this issue right from the beginning.
17 “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.
To fully understand, Jesus’ clarification, we need to peal back a few levels of the hermeneutical onion. First, you need to see the structure of this section of Jesus’ sermon. If you turn to Matthew 7:12, the last part of Jesus’ sermon, you will notice he says,
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
The term "Lawn and Prophets" appears at the end of the Sermon on the Mount as an inclusio, which acts like bookends. In Matthew 5:17, this inclusio is used by Jesus to establish the relationship between his own ministry with that which has come before him, i.e., the law and the prophets. The main theme Jesus is highlighting is how he fulfills the law and the prophets. But Jesus’ understanding of the law looks so different from orthodox Jews that the impression is he is abolishing the law.
Jesus was not a conventional Rabbi. He spent a lot of time with sinners such as tax collectors and prostitutes, going against the Rabbi's rule to "keep far from an evil neighbor and consort not with the wicked." He was not afraid to affirm women and speak to them publicly. Additionally, he declared all foods to be clean, as seen in Mark 7:14-19 and Matthew 15:17-20. He even claimed to be the Lord of the Sabbath and healed a man on the Sabbath, which went against a traditional Jewish understanding of the law. However, despite these contradictions, Jesus still emphasized the importance of the law in his teachings, saying that he had not come to abolish the law and that not one iota of the law would fail until heaven and earth passed away. He even quoted the Old Testament six times in his sermon. So, how are we to see the relationship between Jesus’ ministry and the law and the prophets? It’s through fulfillment we see the connection.
How does Jesus fulfill the law and prophets?
How does Jesus fulfill the law and prophets?
What is the meaning of the word fulfill?The word fulfill in the Greek is πληρόω, which means to complete. When you think of completing the law, you would think of perfect obedience. Some would contend Jesus did just that. He obeyed the law perfectly. Jesus was found righteous in every thought, word, and deed. Peter testifies of Jesus,
22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
In regards to the ceremonial law or the civil law, it is important to note that in Christ, there is no need for the ceremonial law. This is because He is both the Great High Priest and the perfect sacrifice, and He has fulfilled it through His death and resurrection. Similarly, there is no need for civil law, which was specific to the nation of Israel, as God's people are not limited by geography or the temple. Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved, regardless of their location. This includes people from Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, and even Antartica.
But Jesus uses the phrase “Law and prophets again in Matthew 11:13
13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,
This concept adds an additional layer of understanding to the connection between Jesus’ ministry and the law and the prophets. That layer is prophecy. When we hear the term 'prophet,' we may tend to associate it with future events or predictions. However, how does this relate to the law? How does the law make prophecies? Does the law have a prophetic ministry similar to that of the prophets? I believe it does, as it points us toward Jesus and his arrival. The Book of Hebrews is a great example of this.
The author of Hebrews dedicates a significant portion of the text to establishing that the sacrificial system in the Old Testament foreshadowed the arrival of Jesus. According to the author, Jesus is the ultimate High Priest who entered the holiest of holies once and for all, and He is the perfect sacrifice that atones for sins once and for all. Thus, the old covenant in the Old Testament was a precursor to Jesus's new covenant.
Jesus is saying he is everything the law and prophets pointed to when he says he came to fulfill them.
D.A. Carson explains, “When Jesus says here that he did not come to abolish but to fulfill, he fulfills in the sense that they point to him, and he is their fulfillment.
“Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecies embraced by both the Law and the Prophets.” D.A. Carson
It is important to understand that the phrase "heaven and earth" carries a sense of the end times. It means that every aspect of God's law, every decree, will be fulfilled. From the promise of Christ's first coming and incarnation to his imminent return and the culmination of heaven and earth, everything will be accomplished. This is because everything is accomplished in Christ. This emphasizes the certainty of God's word. Danial Doriani wisley says,
“His word can fail no more than God can fail.” Daniel Doriani
“His word can fail no more than God can fail.” Daniel Doriani
What’s more, Jesus, as the fulfillment of the law and prophets, not only came and fulfilled them, but also continues to live, fulfilling them, and will ultimately complete them upon his return. This is why we make much of Jesus. Everything revolves around Jesus; the church, community, the home, all centers upon Jesus fulfilling the law and the prophets.
The implication of this is that Jesus has the authority to interpret the law as God sees it, which is in direct contrast to the way the Scribes and the Pharisees see it. Thats is why so much of Jesus’ life is at odds with the religious leaders of his day.
He knew the law and prophets. He fulfills the law and prophets, and he teaches us how to rightly, or properly understand the law and the prophets, which is what he does for the rest of the sermon. He says things like
Matthew 5:21–22 (ESV)
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
The religious leaders were offended by Jesus when he said, "But I say to you." They thought that he was trying to abolish the law. However, they failed to see Jesus as the Son of God and the fulfillment of the law and prophets. If they had recognized Jesus as such, they would have understood that he was not trying to abolish the law or reinterpret the law on murder. Instead, he was interpreting it in the way that God intended it to be received.
Jesus illuminates the stark contrast between righteousness and worldliness. He reveals that righteousness is not merely about your external actions, but about the internal motives and desires of your heart.
Are you driven by a hunger and thirst for righteousness or for the world? The religious worldly people may be content with outward action, but those who are truly righteous will be deeply concerned with the state of their hearts.
Jesus provides a framework that guides you to understand how to live a good life correctly.
Jesus provides a framework that guides you to understand how to live a good life correctly.
The law is fulfilled in Christ, and he provides the appropriate framework to comprehend it. From this point forward, Jesus will guide you on how to live righteously in his kingdom, in accordance with God's purpose. Jesus also warns that those who fail to understand and teach his commandments correctly will face real consequences.
What is Christ’s commandments and what are the consequences for relaxing them ?
What is Christ’s commandments and what are the consequences for relaxing them ?
Since Jesus is not abolishing the law, are we to try to keep the law as it is? If it is, then Jesus says that anyone who relaxes these commands are least in the kingdom of heaven.
The fulfillment of the law and prophets rest on Jesus. Jesus has fulfilled them, and will fulfill them in the future when he returns. Therefore the law will always be present and significant. R.T. France paraphrases Jesus’ point when he says, “The law, down to its smallest details, is as permanent as heaven and earth and will never lose its significance; on the contrary, all that it points forward to will in fact become a reality.” But what do we do with the law now?
Now that the law is fulfilled in Christ, every aspect of the law, down to its smallest stroke, will be seen with new eyes. It will function differently. Jesus shows this in his “you’ve heard it said…but I tell you” formula. To live the Good Life right, you need to listen and obey Jesus’ commandments as he enunciates them in Matthew 5:21 and the rest of the sermon.
For example, Jesus brings up adultery in Matthew 5:27. You broke the law concerning infidelity when you physically stepped out on your spouse. In light of Jesus’ fulfillment of the law, Jesus says if you lust after a woman you have commited adultery. The law through the lens of Jesus exposes your heart’s motives. You cannot violate or disregard his commands or you will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.
Some have taken the word least mean to apply to carnal Christians. These are people who profess Christ but their lives are so worldly you cannot tell the difference between them and the pagans. These Christians make it into heaven by the skin of their teeth, so to speak. They are the least of these in heaven. That is nonsense.
There are no 2 tier system in heaven. To be called the least of these is to say you do not make it into heaven. If you disregard the commands of Christ, you are not in the kingdom. You are a fake, a religious hypocrite. Jesus requires obedience from his disciples. Jesus says,
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
The consequence of relaxing Jesus’ commandments is to prove you do not belong to Him. Only those who obey them and teach them rightly will be called great in the kingdom of God.
At this point you may be thinking to yourself, “I’m in trouble. I cannot keep Jesus’ commandments. It’s hard enough to commit infidelity. Now you say that if I even lust I am as good as guilty?” Yes, and Jesus even doubles down and says you righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees.
What is the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees?
What is the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees?
These two groups were considered the most pious people of all Israel. The common Jewish person saw these people as the most accurate interpreters of scripture and were the most faithful to practice the Torah. These men were righteous in their own right, but missed the mark with the Lord.
The Pharisees aimed to establish a set of rules for leading a righteous life, which means behaving properly in every conceivable situation. They even created over six hundred codes of conduct to ensure they did not violate the laws. For instance, they set strict limits for work during the Sabbath, specifying how far one could walk (one thousand yards), how much one could write (one word), and how much food one could take from storage (one gulp). These people are known as legalists in the Christian world. They establish a code of conduct that they find acceptable and then impose it on others.
If you believe that gaining God's salvation comes from performing good works or by focusing on a single aspect of the faith while overlooking other aspects, then you are trapped in legalism. This means you do not understand that Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and prophets, and you are trying to combine Jesus and good deeds to achieve salvation.
Struggling with lust can be a challenge. Some people may turn to legalism in an attempt to overcome it. This involves putting all of your hope in external help, such as getting rid of your T.V. and computer, putting covenant eyes on your phone, or even cutting your eye out of your head to avoid anything that might provoke you to sin. While there is some wisdom in seeking external help, such as getting rid of your TV or computer, it's important to remember that this alone does not make you righteous. Cutting off your hand does not help you fight lust or make you righteous. Those who rely solely on external righteousness tend to lead joyless, bitter, and lonely lives. It's crucial to understand that religious righteousness alone cannot bring true happiness.
The problem is sin (lust, murder, ect) is in your heart, and you realize realize quickly that you cannot exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees, and that even the Pharisees righteousness even falls short.
The righteousness of the Pharisees is an external righteousness that falls short of God’s righteousness.
How doe my righteousness exceed their righteousness?
How doe my righteousness exceed their righteousness?
In Matthew 5:20, Jesus is using sarcasm to help you see that trues righteousness comes when Jesus gives you his righteousness with a new heart. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. He is the perfect righteousness and he gives it to you when you confess your sin, repent, and accept his offer of salvation. When you come to the cross there is a sweet exchange. You give him your sin and he in turn gives you his righteousness. He not only makes you clean and right before God, but he gives you a new heart that hungers and thirsts for his righteousness. Your new heart now does the right thing for the right reasons, to bring honor and glory the Father.
You don’t need over 600 codes of behavior to practice righteousness. You need a new heart that is empowered by the Spirit, cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, that hungers and thirsts for righteousness, and new eyes to see Jesus’ commands. TA new heart that sees anger the way God sees it, and avoids unrighteous anger so that you do not murder your brother or sister in your heart. And you live righteously not because of calculated fear, but because of the joy of obedient love to Jesus, and the opportunity so to do the good work of patience that will shine and bring glory to the Father in heaven.
Do you have Jesus’ righteousness?
Do you have Jesus’ righteousness?
Carson, D. A. 2016. “Kingdom of Heaven: Jesus, Christian, Law.” In D. A. Carson Sermon Library, Mt 5:17–48. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife.
Doriani, Daniel M. 2008. Matthew & 2. Edited by Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani. Vol. 1. Reformed Expository Commentary. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing.
France, R. T. 2007. The Gospel of Matthew. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publication Co.