Fulfilled: Understanding God’s law and its eternal purpose

 

 

 

Sermon on the Mount- 10

 

TITLE: Fulfilled: Understanding God’s law and its eternal purpose.

TEXT: Matthew 5:17-20

TONE: Warning

TARGET: Both believer and unbeliever

TASK: To help my listeners understand the need for internal transformation before external obedience.

TEACH: Imagine a small town named Graceville, where the inhabitants follow strict traffic laws to ensure safety, such as stopping at red lights and driving the speed limits. These laws are essential to maintain order and prevent accidents.  Enter John, an enthusiastic recent convert who moved to Graceville. John had a transformation experience and came to believe deeply in the grace and love offered by the town’s mayor, John sees himself as under the unwavering favor of the mayor and therefore, believes he is exempt from adhering to ordinary traffic regulations.

 

Convinced that his actions are already forgiven and that he is beyond reproach, John begins driving through red lights, ignoring speed limits and generally disregarding traffic laws. When confronted by concerned fellow citizens, John confidently responds, “I live under the grace of the mayor, and these laws no longer apply to me.” Unfortunately, John’s behavior leads to a series of near-misses and even accidents, causing harm and chaos within the town. His actions, justified in his own mind by his understanding of grace, contradicts the laws that were put in place to protect everyone, including himself.  John’s story illustrates a practical and problematic application of antinomian thinking.

 

Antinomianism means literally “anti-law-ism.” It is the belief that the OT law has no claim on the NT Christian because it was supplanted by the gospel. Yet, the law and Gospel are not at odds with one another. They belong together.

 

TRUTH: The Jews were almost universally expecting a temporary political Messiah. Hence, when our Lord appeared in such circumstances with doctrine opposite to their carnal expectations, the people thought either Jesus was an imposter who deceived them, or that He came to subvert and destroy all that had been delivered to them by their forefathers.

 

I.                             Jesus Upholds the Enduring Authority of Scripture.

Explanation: “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” (v.17). Jesus clarifies a potential misunderstanding among the people. Instead of denying the Old Testament Law, He completes its purpose.

 

The Purpose of the Law: The Law reveals sin by setting God’s standard for righteousness. Paul stated in Romans 3:20, “Therefore no one will be decaled righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin”. The Bible teaches that we have the complete inability to justify ourselves. Paul wrote in Galatians 2:16 “Know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.”

 

The moral law proclaimed, “do this and live.” But it was never the intent of the moral law to put men upon working out their salvation by their obedience to its commands. The law could never give life to a man since the fall. It could only show him his duty, and thunder out its curses against him for his manifold transgressions. It required perfect and perpetual obedience, if not, doomed to everlasting destruction. –(Charles Simeon, Expository Outlines: Matthew, pg. 90). 

 

Fulfillment through Christ: The Gospel teaches that Jesus fulfills the Law’s requirements on our behalf. This is exactly what the passage before us states, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

 

Salvation by Grace through Faith: Salvation and justification are obtained through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of the Law. Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”

 

Obedience the Fruit of Faith: While we are saved by grace through faith and not by works of the Law, believers are called to obey God’s moral Law as a response to salvation. It is the work of the Spirit in us. This obedience does not come from a place of earning salvation, but out of love and gratitude for what Christ has done. James wrote, “In same way, faith by itself, it not accompanied by action, is dead” -James 2:17. Paul wrote, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to walk in” -Ephesians 2:10. Furthermore, Paul wrote, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another…love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.”

 

Illustration: Imagine a beautiful garden with a fountain in its center. The fountain is supposed to provide crystal-clear water for the entire garden. However, over time, the pump inside the fountain, which is hidden from view, becomes clogged and dirty, resulting in murky, unclean water being pumped out. Despite this, the gardener, determined to have a beautiful garden, focuses only on maintain the exterior and adding decorative features.

 

From a distance, the fountain looks gorgeous, but when you get close, the water remains murky and unappealing. The plants around it begin to wither; no matter how much the gardener works on the outside, the life-giving water remain tainted and the garden suffers.

 

 

 

 

One day, a wise friend visits and observes the situation. He suggests to the gardener, “Have you checked the pump? The source of the water might need cleaning.” Although reluctant at first, the gardener finally agrees and cleanse the pump and internal components of the fountain. Once cleaned, the fountain starts pumping out clear, pure water. The garden begins to grow and thrive as the plants receive the nourishment they need, and now, both the fountain and the garden are truly beautiful. In the same, inward transformation must proceed pure devotion unto God.

 

Application: See Christ as the lens through which we understand the Law and Prophets. He embodied all they pointed towards. When you read the law -see Christ. When you read the Prophets -see Christ. When you read the Bible -see Christ and all the love He has for you.

 

II.                         Jesus Warns Against Relaxing any of His Commands.

Explanation: Jesus said, “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, nor a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (v.18). Every part of the Scripture holds significance and authority until its complete fulfillment as purposed by God. The commandments continue to guide moral living and teach God’s expectations. Jesus also stated, “Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven…” (v.19). Misinterpreting and minimizing God’s commands carries serious consequences. 

 

Importance of Obedience: John 14:21, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” He went on to say, “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love.”

 

Building on the Rock: Matthew 7:24-27, “therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds bless and beast against hat house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

 

Summary of the Law: In Matthew 22:37-40, “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second it like it; ‘love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 

The Commandments and love: Paul in Romans 13:8-10, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except continuing love for one another, for whoever loves others had the fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor and yourself.”

 

Jesus’ emphasis is clear, living out the commandments genuinely and from the heart demonstrates true righteousness and love for God and others. Christians are urged not only to obey His teachings but also to help others understand and live by them.

 

Illustration: An acclaimed maestro spent months composing a masterpiece, perfectly weaving harmonies and melodies. The orchestra assembled; each musician tasked with playing their part precisely. As the rehearsals progressed, the lead violinist made small personal modifications, believing her flourishes would enhance the performance. Encouraged by her example, other musicians began adding their own tweaks.

 

On the might of the grand performance, something was amiss. The harmony was off, the narrative disjointed. The small changes had rippled through the piece, transforming the intended masterpiece into a confused medley of individual interpretations. Afterward, the maestro reflected. The musicians’ well-intentioned deviations had compromised the integrity of the music. The symphony’s beauty depended on each musician faithfully following the score. In this illustration, Christ is the maestro, and we are the musicians tasked with being faithful to all His commands.

 

Application: Strive to live in obedience to God’s Word, acknowledging its unwavering authority and relevance for all of life.

 

III.                      Jesus Calls for a Righteousness that Surpasses Legalism.

Explanation: In contrast with the Pharisees, Jesus stated, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (v.20). Here, Jesus criticizes superficial adherence to the Law without internal transformation.

 

Jesus highlights the necessity of inner transformation and genuine righteousness that goes beyond mere outward compliance with the Law. This statement, ‘unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven,” is quite profound and challenges common perceptions of law and morality prevalent at the time.

 

Context and background: The scribes and Pharisees were known for their meticulous observance of the Mosaic Law and additional oral traditions. They were often seen as paragons of religious piety and adherence to Jewish law. However, Jesus frequently criticized them for their hypocrisy and for prioritizing external compliance over internal transformation.

 

Hypocrisy and Legalism: Matthew 23:23-28, In His woes to the Pharisees and scribes, Jesus accuses them of focusing on minor aspect of the law (such as tithing) while neglecting more significant matters like justice, mercy, and faithfulness. He calls them “whitewashed tombs,” beautiful on the outside but full of death within, signifying their external show of righteousness without genuine inner purity.

 

Performance vs. Heart: Matthew 15:8-9 “These people honor me with their lips. But their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” This critique highlights the difference between perfunctory religious practices and heartfelt devotion. Jesus is offering a call to receive Him as Israel Messiah and the Gentile Redeemer.

 

Kingdom of Heaven: Entering the kingdom of heaven isn’t about following rules, but experiencing and embodying the transformative power of God’s grace and love, which produces obedience in the transformed heart. Jesus told Nicodemus that one must be “born again” to see the kingdom of God.

 

Illustration: Let’s get back to the garden illustration, yet with a different emphasis. In the beautiful garden, two paths emerge through the beds of vibrant flowers. At the entrance of each path stood a guide. The first guide, representing righteousness in Christ, welcomed visitors warmly and encouraged them to enjoy the beauty by walking freely, respectfully, among the flowers. He provided gentle reminders to stay on the path and appreciate the garden’s design.

 

The second guide, embodying legalism, handed each visitor a lengthy rule book before allowing them to enter. The book contained detailed instructions on how to walk, where to step, and even the pace they should maintain. Visitors who veered even slightly off the prescribed path were subject to stern reprimands and sometimes told to start over.

 

As the days passed, the effect of each guide’s approach became clear. Visitors on the first path, walking with gratitude and awe of the garden, marveled at the intricate beauty and felt a profound connection to the place. They treaded carefully but with joy, embodying respect for the garden’s intent without a sense of oppression. Their experience was enriched by the freedom to explore within the bounds of respect. Conversely, those on the second path, burdened by the endless rules and fear of misstepping, were unable to enjoy the beauty around them. Their focus was entirely on compliance, stifling any joy or appreciation for the garden’s splendor. Instead of a journey of wonder and amazement, their walk transformed into an anxious march.

 

Application: Seek heart transformation through the Holy Spirit. Only He can produce righteous living that stems from genuine faith and love for Christ.

 

  

TAKE-AWAY:

 

1.  See Christ as the lens through which you interpret Scripture.

2. Strive to obey all Christ commands, relaxing none.

3.  Seek heart transformation out of love for Christ, rather than outward conformity to rules.