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Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 5 - The Law

by Paul George  
3/25/2008 / Bible Studies

Matthew 5:18-22

"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. For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." (NASB).

"For truly I say" and "truly, truly I say" are unique expressions used by Jesus throughout His preaching and teachings to draw attention to the authority of His message. When He uses the expression "truly" He is emphasizing the need to pay very close attention to what He is about to say. When He uses the expression "truly, truly" He is emphasizing the need to stop whatever you are doing or thinking and focus all your attention on what I am about to say.

The expressions "truly" and "truly, truly" are used to alert those who are listening to what He has to say. He is going to make a comparison between His teaching and the teachings of the rabbis, scribes, and Pharisees.

In verse eighteen Matthew told the disciples, "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." When Jesus said not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law He was emphasizing the fact that not only what was written about Him in the Law, the first five books of the Bible, shall not pass but the Law given to Moses by God on Mount Horeb shall not pass away until all that has been written about Him and about the course of history is accomplished.

In His statement "until heaven and earth passes away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished" He was emphasizing the lasting nature of the Law; He was emphasizing the original form of the Law. In regard to the Law given to Moses by God on Mount Horeb He was pointing to Leviticus.

When verse eighteen is read in this present age the first thing that comes to mind is the Ten Commandments. When Jesus referred to the Law, if He did not direct the attention of those who were listening to what He was saying to a specific commandment, as He will do in verses twenty-one, twenty-three, twenty-seven, thirty-one, thirty-three, thirty- eight, and forty-three, and other verses dealing with His preaching and teaching, He was directing the attention of the people to the entire Law as recorded by Moses in the Book of Leviticus.

Why did Matthew open his account of the beginning of Jesus' preaching and teaching as he did?

First, Matthew wants to establish the need for the chosen people of God were not ready for the coming of the kingdom. Do you believe this could be applied to many in the Christian community? If Jesus were to call His church out of the world today would there be professing believers in Christ left behind? Jesus will answer the question in His preaching and teachings.

Second, in his account of the beginning of Jesus' ministry Matthew establishes the core group of the disciples when Jesus called Simon, who is called Peter, his brother Andrew, and James and his brother John.

There is an interesting side note, the calling of Peter, Andrew, James, and John. You may have heard the same thing. When I was growing up in the church I would hear pastors and evangelist use the calling of Peter, Andrew, James, and John as an act of blind faith. Here was four men working as fishermen and here comes Jesus and He tells them if they follow Him He will make them fishers of men. What they failed to tell the congregation this was no spare of the moment incident. These men were the disciples of John the Baptizer. The account of their first encounter with Jesus is recorded in John's Gospel chapter one, beginning with verse thirty-five and ending with verse fifty-one. These men were prepared to begin their journey with Jesus before Jesus called them to follow Him. Although their leaving their occupation as fishermen and following Jesus was an act of faith it was not blind faith.

Third, in his account of the beginning of Jesus' ministry Matthew establishes why the majority of the crowds followed Jesus wherever He went in chapter four beginning with verse twenty-three and ending with verse twenty-four.

Fourth, Matthews inserts Jesus' message concerning the blessed in the world, who they are, the future of the blessed, why they are persecuted, the responsibility of not only the first century disciples of Jesus but everyone who claims to be one of His followers, why He came to earth, and the judgment that will come upon those who annuls one of the commandments of the Law and teaches others to do the same.

Fifth, in his account of the beginning of Jesus' ministry He sets a mark that seems unattainable for the entrance into the kingdom of God, "unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."

This statement by Jesus would have appeared to the disciples as an unattainable goal. Understand this, when Jesus sets a goal for His followers it is not one that is unattainable. While in the human sense it is unattainable, we need to remember in ourselves we can never obtain goals Jesus has sent for His followers. We can only obtain the goals through the strength that comes to us from the Holy Spirit; it comes from trusting and obeying.

Why did Jesus set this goal?

The scribes and Pharisees were considered to be the most religious in all Israel. Jesus told the disciples their righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees because the lives of the scribes and Pharisees revealed the fruits of self-righteousness and a seeking of self-glory. It was the responsibility of the scribes and Pharisees as the religious leaders to teach and demonstrate the outward behavior demanded by the law and the inner attitude of the heart desired by God. The goal of their teachings should reveal the glory of God. The seeking of self-glory through their teachings robbed God of the glory that belongs to Him.

Who did Jesus say was the blessed in this world?

Jesus said the blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6). Jesus placed the hungering and thirsting for righteousness before being merciful, being pure in heart, and being a peacemaker (Matthew 5:7-9). It is only those whose heart is filled with the love and righteousness that comes from God can receive the blessing that comes to the merciful. It is only those whose heart is filled with the love and righteousness that comes from God can receive the blessings of a pure heart. It is only those whose heart is filled with the love and righteousness that come from God can they become the peacemakers in this world.

How is the love and righteousness of God that enables us to be the truly blessed in the world? There is only way we can receive the love and righteousness and truly be the blessed in this world and that is through the new birth.

Does your righteousness surpass the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees of this generation?

What did Jesus tell the disciples, "unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."

There was a time when we sang a song, I know it is out dated, but it asks the question, "Is your heart right in the sight of God; "if you can answer yes you will enter the kingdom of heaven. If your answer is no or I do not know you can receive the love and righteousness that comes from God through Jesus Christ if you repent and believe the gospel.

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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