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Gospel of Matthew- Chapter 5 - Law and Prophets

by Paul George  
3/23/2008 / Bible Studies

Matthew 5:1-17

The subject matter of Matthew chapter five is attitudes and motivation, the Law of Moses, the law of murder, reconciliation, adultery, divorce, oaths, nonresistance, and love. In verses one to sixteen Jesus identifies who the blessed are in the world, (see Promises to the Blessed posted on this site) who are the blessed, (see Who are the Blessed, posted on this site) and why the blessed are persecuted (see The Persecuted posted on this site). In verse seventeen Jesus states His purpose for coming to earth. He told the disciples "Don't think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfill" (WEB). Did Jesus fulfill the Law and Prophets? Since this is a closed end question the answer is no. If He did not fulfill the Law and Prophets, will He fulfill the Law and Prophets? Since this is a closed end question the answer is yes. How can we be sure Jesus will fulfill the Law and Prophets; the angels told the disciple, "This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky" (Acts 1:11 WEB).

Questions pertaining to verse seventeen are easy to answer until you ask the questions what was Jesus referring to when He said He did not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill the Law and Prophets and why He told the disciples do not think He came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. These are open questions and require more than a yes or no answer. When Jesus said He did not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets, He was referring to something more than the Mosaic Law; He was referring to the first five books of the Bible, also referred to as the Law of Moses, the Torah in Hebrew and the Pentateuch in Greek. He was directing or at least trying to direct the disciples attention to what was written about Him in the Law and in the Prophets; the former prophets, Joshua, Judges, First and Second Samuel, and First and Second Kings, and the latter prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

Why did Jesus tell the disciples He did not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets? The disciples were doing something we are often guilty of doing. They were building their faith on inadequate evidence, signs and wonders and the teachings of the rabbis, the scribes, and the Pharisees. The signs and wonders were evidence that Jesus was the Messiah but they were not evidence to be used to prove He was the Messiah. The signs and wonders were evidence of His compassion and authority. If the signs and wonders, the teachings of the rabbis, scribes, and Pharisees were the evidence necessary to prove Jesus was the Messiah it would require the destroying of the Law and Prophets.

In His preaching and teaching Jesus challenged the traditional teachings of the rabbis, scribes, and Pharisees; He did not challenge the writings of Moses and the Prophets. In His preaching and teaching Jesus called for immediate and sweeping changes in the attitude and practices of the religious leaders and the people; He repudiated the teachings of the rabbis, scribes, and Pharisees. He told the Pharisees and scribes they make the word of God ineffective for the sake of their tradition (Matthew 15:3); holding to the tradition of men they neglect the commandment of God (Mark 7:8); they were experts in setting aside the commandment of God to keep their tradition.

The scribes and Pharisees claimed Jesus was repudiating the writings of Moses, He was disobeying the Law God gave to Moses. Jesus wanted the disciples to understand He was not repudiating the writings of Moses or disobeying the Law God gave to Moses. He was not adding to or taking away from the word of God. He clearly states this in verse 18 when according to Matthew Jesus said, "For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished" (WEB).

In this statement Jesus is claiming He came to fulfill all that was written about Him in the Law. He is the Prophet Moses claimed God would rise up. The sufferings and death of Jesus are foreshadowed in the Law.

We can follow and adhere to the traditional teachings of this verse or we can hold fast to what Jesus will tell the disciples on the day of His resurrection. Note Jesus said, "until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished." Was the smallest letter or tiny pen stroke accomplished on the day of the resurrection of Jesus; another closed end question, no? What was accomplished; an open end question? Doctor Luke will answer the question (Luke 24:13 48).

"Behold, two of them" disciples of Jesus, "were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia" (seven miles,) "from Jerusalem. They talked with each other about all of these things which had happened. It happened, while they talked and questioned together, that Jesus himself came near, and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. He said to them, 'What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?' One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, 'Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things which have happened there in these days?' He said to them, 'What things?' They said to him, 'The things concerning Jesus, the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Also, certain women of our company amazed us, having arrived early at the tomb; and when they didn't find his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of us went to the tomb, and found it just like the women had said, but they didn't see him.' He said to them, 'Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Didn't the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?' Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. They drew near to the village, where they were going, and he acted like he would go further. They urged him, saying, 'Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is almost over.' He went in to stay with them. It happened, that when he had sat down at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks. Breaking it, he gave to them. Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished out of their sight. They said one to another, 'Weren't our hearts burning within us, while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?' They rose up that very hour, returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them, saying, 'The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!' They related the things that happened along the way, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, 'Peace be to you.' But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 'He said to them, "Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn't have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.' When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they still didn't believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, 'Do you have anything here to eat?' They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. He took them, and ate in front of them. He said to them, 'This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled' Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures. He said to them, 'Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send forth the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.'"

On the day of Jesus' resurrection all that was written in the Law concerning the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ was accomplished. On the day of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ the scepter departed from Judah and the ruler's staff from between his feet (Genesis 49:10). On the day of our Lord Jesus' birth, God raised up the prophet just like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15). On the day the enemies of our Lord Jesus nailed Him on a cross the head of the serpent was bruised and the serpent bruised the heel of the Seed of the woman. On the day His enemies nailed our Lord Jesus Christ the Lamb of God was offered up as a sacrifice for the sin of the world (John 1:29). On the day of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ the promised blessing to all the families of the earth and all nations was fulfilled (Genesis 12:3).

Before our Lord Jesus ascended into heaven all that was written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and Psalms pertaining to His suffering was accomplished, He no longer hangs on a cross, He is no longer in a tomb, He is our High Priest interceding for us.

On the day our Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected was all that was written about Him in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and Psalms fulfilled; another closed end question, no?

However, there is good news, this Jesus, who ascended into heaven, is coming back in the same way He ascended into heaven. He will complete all He began to do and teach (Acts 1:1).

Are you ready for His return?

Retired pastor,Church of the Nazarene

Author of web site Exploring God's Word

www.thewordofgodonline.net

New American Standard Bible

King James Version

The World English Bible

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