Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish, but to fulfil.
For assuredly I say to you, until heaven and earth may pass away, one iota or one tittle shall by no means pass away from the law until all things are fulfilled.
Whoever therefore shall break one of the least of these commandments, and shall teach men thus, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:17-20 English Majority Text.
Before this, Christ had several negative run-ins with the Pharisees and, to avert any false accusations about Him trying to turn the teachings of Moses on their head, He said do not be so rash as to think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets.
When the Jews spoke of The Law they were not referring only to the "Thou Shalt's" and "Thou Shalt Not's", they meant all The Pentateuch (the first five books of our Bible). Likewise, the phrase, the prophets, meant all the writings of the prophets of our Old Testament, not just some favourite predictions of the future. From His statement, it seems reasonable to assume that He might have meant everything between and including the first section and the last section both of which He named.
For assuredly I say to you, until heaven and earth may pass away, one iota or one tittle shall by no means pass away from the law until all things are fulfilled.
Whoever therefore shall break one of the least of these commandments, and shall teach men thus, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:17-20 English Majority Text.
The Validity of the Old Testament
Before this, Christ had several negative run-ins with the Pharisees and, to avert any false accusations about Him trying to turn the teachings of Moses on their head, He said do not be so rash as to think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets.
When the Jews spoke of The Law they were not referring only to the "Thou Shalt's" and "Thou Shalt Not's", they meant all The Pentateuch (the first five books of our Bible). Likewise, the phrase, the prophets, meant all the writings of the prophets of our Old Testament, not just some favourite predictions of the future. From His statement, it seems reasonable to assume that He might have meant everything between and including the first section and the last section both of which He named.
I did not come to abolish (to set aside), but to fulfil (one of the meanings is to finish a task. Strong).
The Book of Hebrews goes into, step by step, detail to show us that The Law did not fulfil all the requirements but that Christ did finish the task of making reconciliation with God possible.
For the law having a shadow of the good things to come ... can never with the same sacrifices, ... make those approaching perfect. Heb.10:1.
For the law made nothing perfect; but there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. Heb.7:19.
assuredly I say to you - I tell you, you can count on this
until heaven and earth may pass away - as long as time exists
one iota or one tittle - the smallest parts of the Hebrew Alphabet as found in sacred text
shall by no means pass away -
until all things are fulfilled - the words of Jehovah will not pass away until His plan on earth is finished.
Least in the Kingdom of Heaven
Whoever therefore shall break one of the least of these commandments, and shall teach men thus, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.
Are there lesser and greater laws. It seems that Christ is here calling out the Pharisees and their obsession with bigger sins and lesser sins. The Pharisees were remarkable for making a distinction between weightier and lighter matters in the law, and between what has been called, in a corrupt part of the Christian Church, mortal and venial sins. Clarke.
By having religious leaders teach that there are mortal and venial sins the general public has come to accept that committing "small sins" is irrelevant. OK, we all agree that we should not murder or steal but surely, but wrongly we think that lying is a small sin and God won't mind so much.
Christ has a different approach to that idea, He said, Whoever ... shall break even one of the things you call little commandments and teach that it was just a little sin ... will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.
Christ has a different approach to that idea, He said, Whoever ... shall break even one of the things you call little commandments and teach that it was just a little sin ... will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.
whoever does them (keeps even the little laws which you say are not important) and teaches (others to also keep) them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Regarding the phrase, kingdom of heaven, Barnes has this to say, The meaning of this passage seems to be this: in the kingdom of heaven, that is, in the kingdom of the Messiah, or in the church which he is about to establish.
unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. This is setting the standard very high. They were well known and highly regarded for keeping their version of the law. Christ says That is not nearly good enough! You must be more righteous than that.
unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. This is setting the standard very high. They were well known and highly regarded for keeping their version of the law. Christ says That is not nearly good enough! You must be more righteous than that.
The Pharisees wore their righteousness on their sleeves; Christ continuously taught that true righteousness starts in the heart, not in outward appearances. Going to church on Sunday to fool your neighbours just does not cut it.
Because Christianity starts on the inside and works its way out it is real. When Christ enters a person's life He changes the person's heart - "basic inclinations". Facade and pretended righteousness must fall by the wayside.
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