A Higher Standard

Matthew 5:17-20

Introduction.

  1. The Old Testament Law contains 613 individual laws and statutes to obey.

  2. Only one Man was able to keep them all perfectly, that is Jesus.

  3. What hope do we have to be great in the kingdom of heaven?

  4. Christ fulfills the Law and is the only way we can be great in the kingdom of heaven.

Body.

  1. Christ Fulfills the Law (vs. 17-18).

    1. This passage is often used to support continuing to follow the OT Law.

      1. Such people ignore the greater context.

      2. Instead of destroying the Law, He holds people to a higher standard.

        1. The Law stated not to murder – Christ says not to have hatred in your heart.

        2. The Law commanded not to commit adultery – Christ says do not lust in your heart.

        3. The Law says one may divorce for any cause – Christ says only one cause for divorce.

        4. The Law says not to swear falsely – Christ says why swear at all?

        5. The Law demands retribution – Christ says to turn the other cheek.

        6. The Law says to love your neighbor, hate your enemy – Christ says to love your enemies.

    2. Instead of destroying the Law, Christ came to fulfill it.

      1. Jesus said the Law will not be removed until all is fulfilled.

      2. This happens when heaven and earth passes away.

      3. “This hasn’t happened yet,” they will argue.

    3. Jesus went into more details on some of these things elsewhere (e.g. 5:31-32; 19:1-10).

      1. In Matt. 24, Jesus talks about heaven and earth passing away (vs. 4-35).

      2. This is said to be at the abomination of desolation (vs. 15).

      3. Luke, in a parallel passage, informs us this is when Jerusalem is surrounded by armies (Luke 21:20).

      4. This occurred in a.d. 70 when Jerusalem was besieged and sacked.

      5. Jesus describes this as heaven and earth passing away (Matt. 24:35a).

        1. This is apocalyptic language.

        2. Heaven refers to the religious system of Judaism.

        3. Earth refers to the political system of Israel.

        4. These have passed away as far as God is concerned.

      6. But what remains? The words of Jesus (Matt. 24:35b).

    4. All this has been fulfilled, now the Law has passed away and what remains are the words of Christ—the higher standard.

  2. Exceeding Righteousness (vs. 19-20).

    1. Jesus gives us a list of things the Law states, while He gives the higher standard.

    2. Jesus is still under the Law, as are His disciples (Gal. 4:4).

      1. They must still keep the Law at this time.

      2. They must not teach others to abandon the Law at this time.

    3. Instead their righteousness must “exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees.”

      1. They sat in Moses’ seat (Matt. 23:2).

      2. But they were hypocrites, not practicing what they preached (Matt. 23:3ff).

      3. They frequently questioned Jesus to trick Him.

      4. They had no interest in the truth (i.e. when Jesus asked them about John the Baptist – Matt. 21:23-27).

      5. They favored their traditions over the Law (Matt. 15).

      6. They even conspired to put the Son of God to death.

      7. The Pharisees had an appearance of righteousness, but it was superficial.

    4. In order to have a righteousness that exceeds theirs, our attitudes must match our actions—this is the higher standard.

    5. We do not have to keep the “least of these commandments” any longer because all has been fulfilled in Christ.

      1. John the Baptist was called the greatest—but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he! (Matt. 11:11).

      2. Even if the Law were still in effect, and we taught men not to follow it—we, being the least in the kingdom, would still be greater than John the Baptist.

Conclusion.

  1. The OT Law is no longer in effect today.

  2. All has been fulfilled in Christ.

  3. We are, therefore, called to a higher standard—the words of Christ!

  4. Let us meet that challenge that Christ gives us—have our attitudes match our actions!

    1. If we train our attitudes, our actions naturally follow.

    2. Obedience to Christ becomes much easier.

  5. Let us obey Him today.