Sermon on the Mount (V) The Authority of the Word of God Mt

Mt 5:17-19 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

God’s Law Matters – vs.17 “Did not come to abolish” –But Jesus did “abolish” the Law: Eph 2:15 “by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace”

God’s Law Matters – vs.17 “Did not come to abolish” –But Jesus did “abolish” the Law How reconcile? –1. Two different words: Mt 5.17 “ abolish ” (kataluo) = “ utterly throw down or overthrow; dissolve, destroy ” Eph 2.15 “abolish” (katargeo) = to “make inactive, to render idle” –2. Jesus qualified it in vs.18 – “ until all is accomplished ” (vs.18) “It is finished” – Jn 19.30

God’s Law Matters – vs.17 “Did not come to abolish…” “…but to fulfill” –His purpose: Jn 4:34 “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.’”

God’s Law Matters – vs.17 “Did not come to abolish…” “…but to fulfill” –His purpose: Jn 5:30 “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”

God’s Law Matters – vs.17 “Did not come to abolish…” “…but to fulfill” –His purpose: Heb 10:7-9 “THEN I SAID, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME (IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME) TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.’ After saying above, ‘SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE in them’ (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.’ He takes away the first in order to establish the second.”

God’s Law Matters – vs.17 “Did not come to abolish…” “…but to fulfill”: By fulfilling the prophecies – Lk By keeping it perfectly -- Heb 4.15 By bringing its teachings into clearer focus, giving it its full meaning.

God’s Law Matters – vs.17 “Did not come to abolish…” “…but to fulfill” –Our purpose: 1 Sam 15:22 “Samuel said, ‘Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.’”

God’s Law Matters – vs.17 “Did not come to abolish…” “…but to fulfill” –Our purpose: Eccl 12:13 “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.”

God’s Law Matters – vs.17 “Did not come to abolish…” “…but to fulfill” –Our purpose: 2 Cor 10:5 “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ”

God’s Law Matters – vs.17 “Did not come to abolish…” “…but to fulfill” –Our purpose: Heb 8:8-10 “FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”

God’s Law is Eternal -- vs.18 Mt 5:18 “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”

God’s Law is Eternal -- vs.18 Unchanging, ever-relevant, dependable –Never out-of-date Jer 6:16 “Thus says the LORD, ‘Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.’”

God’s Law is Eternal -- vs.18 Unchanging, ever-relevant, dependable –Never out-of-date Jer 18:15 “For My people have forgotten Me, They burn incense to worthless gods And they have stumbled from their ways, From the ancient paths, To walk in bypaths, Not on a highway”

God’s Law is Eternal -- vs.18 Unchanging, forever-relevant –Never out-of-date 2 Tim 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

God’s Law is Eternal -- vs.18 Unchanging, forever-relevant –Never out-of-date Jude 3 “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”

God’s Law is Eternal -- vs.18 Unchanging, forever-relevant –Never out-of-date

God’s Law is Absolute – vs.19 Mt 5:19 “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

God’s Law is Absolute – vs.19 Even the “least” of his commands: Mt 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.”

God’s Law Matters God’s Law is Eternal God’s Law is Absolute The Authority of the Word of God Mt