Matthew 5:17-30 > Jesus Fulfills the Law - by Jeff Byerley
Matthew 5:17-30 Jesus Fulfills the Law
Outline:
5:17 – 20 Christ Fulfills the Law.
5:21 – 26 Murder begins in the heart.
5:27 - 30 Adultery begins in the heart.
Our Reflections
1. What was meant by “the Law” (v.17)?
2. In what ways does Jesus fulfill the Law (V.17)?
3. How can our righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees (V.20)?
4. What did Jesus mean when He said “You have heard that it was said” (v.21 & 27)?
5. What was meant by calling someone “Raca” and why was this so shocking (v.22)?
6. Are we really to pluck out our eyes for a wayward glance (V.29)?
1. What was meant by “the Law” (v.17)?
In Jesus' day “the Law” could refer to (1) The Ten Commandments, (2) The Pentateuch, (3) “The Law and the Prophets” meaning the whole OT, or (4) the Scribes man-made Oral Law; the most common meaning. A summary of this oral law was eventually written in about 250AD and was known as the Mishnah and in English took up 800 pages. A Jewish commentary was called the Talmud. The Jerusalem Talmud occupied 12 printed volumes and the Babylonian Talmud occupied 60 volumes. Both Jesus and Paul condemned this oral law, which twisted the intention of the law. It is the intention of the law that Jesus was referring to. It was a positive law of love as set in the two great commandments for which there was no limit.
2. In what ways does Jesus fulfill the Law (V.17)?
Jesus fulfilled the Law in every way. He perfectly obeyed the law of God, (but not every aspect of the man-made Scribal oral law, which caused controversy.) Jesus permanently met the Law's requirement for a perfect sacrifice for the sins of humankind. So all of the New and Old Testaments point to Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of the Law's requirements. Because Jesus did this on our behalf, we are free from the Law's curse and penalty. We are enabled by the Holy Spirit to worship and serve God in our hearts and lives. Jesus perfectly interpreted the meaning of God's laws so that we can understand them, again with the help of the Holy Spirit.
3. How can our righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees (V.20)?
The Scribes and Pharisees tried to attain righteousness but perfect obedience to thousands of made up oral laws. It was a foolish attempt to achieve inner cleanliness of the heart by outside observances of many human petty purification precepts. But they ought to have known that it is only God who can purify the heart (Psalm 51). Likewise, no amount of human works will achieve perfection; “since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We rely on Christ's righteousness to cover us, not our own. This is the work of the Holy Spirit converting our inner hearts and souls, manifesting in outside acts of love and worship. It is “inside out”, not “outside in”. Thus Jesus later declares “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matt.23:27).
4. What did Jesus mean when He said “You have heard that it was said” (v.21 & 27)?
The teaching of the scribes was based on earlier Rabbi's (mis)interpretations and coloured by their petty misconstrued oral law. Jesus' teaching did not follow this. He spoke by his own authority, which amazed the people.
5. What was meant by calling someone “Racal” and why was this so shocking (v.22)?
“Raca” literally meant “empty-headed” and was a great offense. So too was calling someone a “fool” (V.22), literally meaning a “moron”. Jesus taught that by doing these things, one was commiting murder in one's heart as humankind was made in the image of God. How could anyone say they loved God, yet hate their neighbour, made in the image of God, whom they have been commanded by God to love (Lev. 19:18).
6. Are we really to pluck out our eyes for a wayward glance (V.29)?
Jesus' teaching has been against taking violent actions, so how then do we interpret this particular teaching? Here, as elsewhere, Jesus is using hyperbola, extreme language to make a point. We are not literally to take violent actions against ourselves or anybody. However, we are to take other extreme measures, if necessary, to ensure we do not commit adultery. Joseph chose to run out into the street naked, rather than stay in a situation where he could be seduced by Potiphar's wife (Gen. 39:11-12). Jesus' teaching about how God judges the motivation of one's heart is not new. Consider, here the related 10th Commandment from Exodus 20:17. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”