Matthew 5:17-20
Story & Lessons
The teaching of the Law and the Prophets was essential to the Jewish religion.
But the scribes and Pharisees had wrongly interpreted the Old Testament Scriptures.
They opposed Christ and thought that He was trying to destroy the Law or the Prophets.
But Jesus made it clear that He came to fulfill the Law.
He did this by His perfect life.
And the words of the prophets were fulfilled by His death and resurrection for sinners.
He solemnly declared that the Law must be fulfilled to the very jot and tittle.
He stressed the importance of all the commandments.
Reflection...
When we follow Christ we are not free to indulge in sin.
But we are free from the power of sin so that we are able to obey God.
The Lord Jesus said, “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (20).
Their religion was very shallow.
It was only concerned for outward show.
It may have impressed men, but it did not impress God.
They glorified themselves and undermined God’s word with their man-made traditions.
The scribes and Pharisees were proud and self-righteous but we must never be like that.
Christian righteousness comes from a transformed heart through the mighty power of the Holy Spirit.
It leads to humility and it glorifies God.
The remainder of the Sermon on the Mount shows just how different our righteousness must be to that of hypocrites or followers of false religion.
Do we belong to the kingdom of heaven?
If we do, we will be concerned to lead the righteous life that Jesus taught us to live!
Story & Lessons
The teaching of the Law and the Prophets was essential to the Jewish religion.
But the scribes and Pharisees had wrongly interpreted the Old Testament Scriptures.
They opposed Christ and thought that He was trying to destroy the Law or the Prophets.
But Jesus made it clear that He came to fulfill the Law.
He did this by His perfect life.
And the words of the prophets were fulfilled by His death and resurrection for sinners.
He solemnly declared that the Law must be fulfilled to the very jot and tittle.
He stressed the importance of all the commandments.
Reflection...
When we follow Christ we are not free to indulge in sin.
But we are free from the power of sin so that we are able to obey God.
The Lord Jesus said, “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (20).
Their religion was very shallow.
It was only concerned for outward show.
It may have impressed men, but it did not impress God.
They glorified themselves and undermined God’s word with their man-made traditions.
The scribes and Pharisees were proud and self-righteous but we must never be like that.
Christian righteousness comes from a transformed heart through the mighty power of the Holy Spirit.
It leads to humility and it glorifies God.
The remainder of the Sermon on the Mount shows just how different our righteousness must be to that of hypocrites or followers of false religion.
Do we belong to the kingdom of heaven?
If we do, we will be concerned to lead the righteous life that Jesus taught us to live!
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