"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."
Let's stop and think a minute...
abolish- 1 : to end the observance or effect of : annul <abolish a law> <abolish slavery> 2 : destroy
And Jesus/Yeshua said he did NOT come to abolish.
fulfill- 1 archaic : to make full : fill <her subtle, warm, and golden breath…fulfills him with beatitude — Alfred Tennyson> 2 a : to put into effect : execute b : to meet the requirements of (a business order) c : to bring to an end d : to measure up to : satisfy 3 a : to convert into reality b : to develop the full potentialities of
Pick and choose carefully which definition you use. Jesus obviously wasn't using a synonym for abolish when he said fulfill. If we continue on through Chapter 5 in Matthew it seems that 3b would be an appropriate choice.
Matthew 5:18
"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."
Some like to say that after Yeshua died that it was all completely fulfilled. Quick break: Go take a look outside and report back with your observations *we'll wait* First let me guess... umm was it possibly the heavens and earth? So we can safely rule out that ALL has NOT been accomplished.
Matthew 5:19
"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;"
Now let's back up a minute, did you know that this passage of scripture we're going over here was taught right after the Beatitudes? Are the Beatitudes still in affect? Yeah. And what about the rest of what Jesus says after Matthew 5:21 to the end of Matthew- is all of that still in affect today? Yeah. So why would we think these verses, in particular this one (vs 19), are not affect for you and me today? That doesn't make any sense. I'll take the explanation of Jesus over the explanation of a man!
Let's get back to the verse at hand: whoever annuls one of the LEAST of these commandments... what commandments? If we stay in context with the passage then we know it is the commandments from the Law and the Prophets... and TEACHES others to do the SAME... they are going to be called LEAST in the kingdom. These are the words of Jesus. It's not my judgment on you or anyone else, it's His.
Matthew 5:19 (the rest of it)
"but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Did you get that? KEEPS and TEACHES them... keeps and teaches what? The Law. These are the words of Jesus.
Matthew 5:20
"For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."
The scribes and Pharisees where the most knowledgeable people when it came to the Torah. We need to be studying the instructions on righteousness that was left for us in the Law and Prophets. Why? Because we are to keep them and teach them... well that is if you don't want to be least in the kingdom of God.
What do you think about the words of Jesus/Yeshua?
Do they carry the same weight as Paul's words in Galatians?
Do Yeshua's words mean less or more than Paul's words?
Do you think that Paul would contradict the words of his Master?
Always remember that keeping God's laws does not mean that you are justified by it. No one is justified by giving money to the poor, showing up regularly to church meetings or whatever else maybe valued in the denomination of your preference as a good work. But that doesn't mean that we aren't called to do good deeds! I agree with Paul. I actually have NO problem reconciling this passage of Matthew with Galatians in it's entirety. We should study and keep God's laws because of our faith in Him not because we think it makes us better than others or that it is a system of merit to make you righteous without faith. God's laws and His words through the Prophets show us how to be obedient, how to love Him more than anything and love our neighbor as our self.
Faith in God is our salvation and there is no righteousness without it. Obedience to His commands is our faith in action.
The theme of the Law and Prophets is not salvation through works... which of them was accounted righteous because of his works? No one, they were all accounted righteous by their faith and their faith produced obedience to His words.
The theme is the same from Genesis to Revelation.
God doesn't change... people do.
2 Timothy 3:14-17
You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
They didn't have Bibles with a New Testament back then.... so what was the scripture being referred to in the above verse?
Comments (1)
Amen!