For the Jew, 2,000 years ago, when they heard Jesus declare that he was fulfilling the Law and the Prophets, they understood exactly what Jesus was claiming. To fulfill the Law meant two very important and very connected things:
- Jesus was interpreting the Scriptures rightly. Jesus’ theology and understanding of Torah was correct.
- Jesus, with his correct understanding, was also living out what the Scriptures were saying perfectly, as they were meant to be lived out!
When Jesus speaks about fulfilling the Law, He is blowing open the doors to what God has wanted for humanity from the very beginning. All the way back at Sinai, when God wrote His words on stone tablets, the goal was never external conformity. The goal was always a transformed heart. God wanted a people so saturated in His goodness that their collective life would draw a dark, searching world into His peace.
This morning, if you find yourself wanting to be part of God’s kingdom but feel as if you’ve lost your way like the Scribes and Matthew 5:13-20 Fulfilling the Law Page 7 of 9
Pharisees Jesus rebuked. Or if you feel you’ve done too many bad things, or maybe you have too much shame and guilt, or you fear that you’ve disappointed God or made Him angry. Or maybe this sermon resonates with you, and you hunger and thirst for more of what Jesus has to offer. I want to close my time up here with the first line of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Remember, you don’t have to take your next steps alone.
