What Did Jesus Say About the Old Testament? | Matthew 5:17-20
Series: All: All Authority, All Nations, All Allegiance
Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20 (main)
Title: What Did Jesus Say about the Old Testament? (Darien Gabriel)
Heavy credit: David Platt and Douglas Sean O’Donnell (See below for bibliography)
Summary of passage: Jesus lays out the principles and rules of kingdom living.
Bottom Line: We live out the law of Christ when we love people—our enemies and best friends—like Jesus would if he were in our shoes.
Discussion questions for group and personal study.
1. Matthew 5:17 teaches that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament Scriptures. In what ways do you see Jesus fulfilling the Old Testament?
2. How does knowing that the Old Testament points to Jesus change the way you read it?
3. Why do you think it is difficult for many to trust the accuracy of the Bible? Do you think your culture influences what you trust? Why or why not?
4. Why is Jesus's authority so important for trusting the accuracy of the Bible? Where does he get his authority?
5. Jesus teaches that all of Scripture should be obeyed. What parts of Scripture do you find most difficult to obey? Why? How might we help one another to obey those parts?
6. Reread the passages listed for obedience from John and 1 John. Why is love mentioned when speaking about obedience?
7. How does our obedience affect the way we are salt and light in the world (Matt 5:13-16)?
8. What is "righteousness"? Why is it necessary to be righteous in order to enter into God's kingdom?
9. How can we tell when we are pursuing an external, legalistic righteousness and when we are pursuing an internal, spiritual righteousness? What are some examples in your past of these two?
10. Read Ezekiel 36:24-28. How does this passage affect our understanding of how we attain a surpassing righteousness?
Final Questions (optional or in place of above)
What is God saying to you right now?
What are you going to do about it?
Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast
Opening to Sermon:
What do you think about the Old Testament?
When you read the Old Testament, does it seem out of touch with reality?
Do you even read the Old Testament?
Ways Christians struggle with the OT:
Ignore it because we have the NT so therefore we don’t need it
Obey it out of context or as if it’s context is the same as the NT (i.e. after the cross vs before)
Use it to support our politics or ideology for life.
We can do better. But what do we do with the OT?
Q. What did Jesus say about the OT law?
A. That the OT law ultimately teaches us to love people like God does.
V. 17
“Do not think” — i.e. some did
“That I have come” — Immanuel, God with us—he came
“To abolish/destroy/set aside” — make irrelevant; Jesus is for the Bible and the Bible is for Jesus
“The Law and the Prophets” — refers to OT scriptures (Hebrew scriptures) but also includes all of Jesus’ words and the rest of the NT
“but to fulfill them” — some already other still to come
Examples
God told Adam and Eve about the “snake crusher” to come (Jesus)
Moses prophesied Jesus would come (he did)
God told David his son would be king forever (Jesus is)
Isaiah prophesied Jesus would be born of a virgin; that he’d be wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace
That he’d come and free the captives — Isaiah+
The new covenant — Jeremiah 31:31-34
He will
Return/come again
Defeat Satan/the dragon and his dark kingdom (Rev)
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his messiah and he will reign for ever more.” Rev 11:15
He will judge every person one day based on what they did, said and what they did with Jesus
V. 18
“For” - because
“Truly I tell you” - pay very close attention to what I’m about to say
This key phrase embodies 2 parts
I tell - Jesus’ authority
You - our ethic/our allegiance to his authority by grace through faith (character + competency)
Who is ‘I’ after all?
V. 20 + V. 48 Basic message: Don’t act like scribes and Pharisees but instead act like Jesus
God’s word will outlast the smallest letter and even the smallest pen stroke of a letter and in fact until it is fully fulfilled will last. I.e. you can count on it!
Dangers of Lawlessness—antinomianism
Scribes—highly trained experts in the interpretation and application of the law.
When walking down the street in their distinctive robes, people would stand in their honor, greeting them with “rabbi” “father” or “master” out of respect.
Pharisees were part of a movement in Judaism committed ot the meticulous obedience of the law.
Serving as a scribe was a profession.
Pharisees were a Jewish sect.
Some scribes were Pharisees and Pharisees likely chose their leaders from the scribes.
V. 19
“Therefore” - what’s the therefore there for?
“Anyone” - any person
“Who sets aside/relaxes/destroys (Gk. luo). Note v. 17 Gr. Kataluo = destroy, dissolve, overthrow, demolish
“Least of these commands” - they all matter
“In kingdom of heaven” - you’re still in; don’t obey to get in but obey because you’re in
“Teaches others accordingly” & “practices and teaches” = discipleship
Everyone is a disciple-maker: for good or evil; for light or darkness
“For” - because
“I tell you” - pay close attention
THESIS STATEMENT THAT UNIFIES SERMON ON THE MOUNT
“Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law”
righteousness = right living and right relationships i.e. love God—love people
not about legalism
248 regulations
365 prohibitions
613 total laws that were a man-made picket fence around God’s law but treated as God’s law
Not about the letter of the law alone
About the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law alone—love people by grace through faith in the One who love us so much (Rom 5:8)
“Not enter” - hellbound
“Kingdom of heaven” - kingdom of light, life, and love
Spurgeon’s prayer in light of v. 19, “Lord, make me of this your kingdom a right loyal subject, and may I both do and teach according to your word! Whether I am little or great on earth, make me great in obedience to you.”
Dangers of Legalism
V. 20
Superior righteousness focuses on: (Akin)
Spirit of the law rather than merely letter of the law
Internal matters rather than external matters (heart over hands)
More important rather than minor points of the law Ex. Justice over tithing Gross vs net
Manifesting divine character rather than merely keeping divine commands
Conclusion
Looking ahead to the rest of ch. 5 (next week), Jesus will show us how to interpret the OT commands in light of the law of Christ. Every example will be a relational command guiding us in how to love people like Jesus.
References/Bibliography:“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes“Matthew” by RC Sproul“Jesus Manifesto” sermon series, by Darien Gabriel: https://youtu.be/x65i2tqFrXk“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)“Exalting Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount” by Daniel Akin (CCE)Outline Bible, D WillmingtonNIV Study Bible (NIVSB)ESV Study BibleESV Gospel Transformation Bible (GTB)"Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes" by Kenneth E. Bailey“The Sermon on the Mount: Kingdom Life in a Fallen World” by Sinclair Ferguson