THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW

Passage: Matthew 5:17-32

Key verse: 17

NIV

The Fulfillment of the Law

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.(A) 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.(B) 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands(C) and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.(D)

Murder(E)

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a](F) and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry(G) with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment.(H) Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[d] is answerable to the court.(I) And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.(J)

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Adultery

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[e](K) 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.(L) 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble,(M) gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble,(N) cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce

31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’[f](O) 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.(P)

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 5:21 Exodus 20:13
  2. Matthew 5:22 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verse 23.
  3. Matthew 5:22 Some manuscripts brother or sister without cause
  4. Matthew 5:22 An Aramaic term of contempt
  5. Matthew 5:27 Exodus 20:14
  6. Matthew 5:31 Deut. 24:1
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Christ Came to Fulfill the Law

17 (A)“Do not think that I have come to abolish (B)the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but (C)to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, (D)until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 (E)Therefore whoever relaxes (F)one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least (G)in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great (H)in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds (I)that of the scribes and Pharisees, you (J)will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Anger

21 (K)“You have heard that it was said to those of old, (L)‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable (M)to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that (N)everyone who is angry with his brother[a] will be liable (O)to judgment; whoever insults[b] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to (P)the hell[c] of fire. 23 (Q)So if (R)you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 (S)Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, (T)you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.[d]

Lust

27 (U)“You have heard that it was said, (V)‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that (W)everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 (X)If your right eye (Y)causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into (Z)hell. 30 (AA)And if your right hand (AB)causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into (AC)hell.

Divorce

31 (AD)“It was also said, (AE)‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 (AF)But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and (AG)whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 5:22 Some manuscripts insert without cause
  2. Matthew 5:22 Greek says Raca to (a term of abuse)
  3. Matthew 5:22 Greek Gehenna; also verses 29, 30
  4. Matthew 5:26 Greek kodrantes, Roman copper coin (Latin quadrans) worth about 1/64 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The law and the prophets (17-2

)

Jesus was seen by the religious leaders of the time as someone who spurned the law and religious codes, at least in relation to the way the religious leaders taught and practiced them. Jesus wanted to make clear that he did not come to abolish, change, or set aside any of the written laws or prophetic writings. Rather, he came to fulfill them. Jesus fulfilled the Law by revealing the heart of the Law and living it out.

2. But I tell you… (21-32)

Laws and regulations can be viewed as clear boundaries which we just don't cross, but Jesus revealed that there is more to them than the literal understandings. Do not murder should lead us to reconciliation with those who have hurt us. Laws on marriage and adultery should lead us to a more sacred view of women. Marriage should not view women as objects of pleasure, nor is marriage a mere functional arrangement.

Prayer: Lord, open the eyes of my heart to see and love your word, not merely as rules and regulations, but deep treasures of wisdom that reveal your kingdom.

One Word: Fulfill the Law