MATTHEW 5:17-20

GOD'S WORD AND ME

#11 - SERMON ON THE MOUNT

 

One of the most dramatic examples of the Bible’s divine ability to transform men and women involved the famous mutiny on the “Bounty.” Following their rebellion against the notorious Captain Bligh, nine mutineers, along with the Tahatian men and women who accompanied them, found their way to Pitcairn Island, a tiny dot in the South Pacific only two miles long and a mile wide. Ten years later, drink and fighting had left only one man alive—John Adams. Eleven women and 23 children made up the rest of the Island’s population.

 

So far this is the familiar story made famous in the book and motion picture. But the rest of the story is even more remarkable. About this time, Adams came across the “Bounty’s” Bible in the bottom of an old chest.

 

He began to read it, and the divine power of God’s Word reached into the heart of that hardened murderer on a tiny volcanic speck in the vast Pacific Ocean—and changed his life forever. The peace and love that Adams found in the Bible entirely replaced the old life of quarreling, brawling, and liquor. He began to teach the children from the Bible until every person on the island had experienced the same amazing change that he had found. Today, with a population of slightly less than 100, nearly every person on Pitcairn Island is a Christian.

From Signs of the Times, August, 1988, p. 5. http://www.bible.org/illus/b/b-42.htm#TopOfPage

 

This morning you are sitting in Mount Union Bible Church. We are well named because we try to preach and teach out of the Bible.  We try to live according to the Bible's precepts. We encourage you to read and memorize the Bible.  We try to make the Bible our sole authority in matters of faith and practice.

 

As the example of what happened on Pictarin Island shows, shows, God changes lives through His Book, the Bible.

The fact that we in this church teach and preach the Bible means very little to you, unless you accept, believe, and practice the teachings of this Book. I have borrowed a title from Child Evangelism Fellowship for this morning's message. I am calling this message "God's Word and Me", and thinking about the impact that the Word of God has on my own life and yours.

 

After a long absence, we return to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7.  We are using this major teaching of Jesus in order to learn how we might live righteously in 2003.

 

We have already studied the Beatitudes, where Jesus tells us who the blessed people are.  We have also seen that those who trust Jesus as Savior are the "Salt of the Earth" and "The Light of the World." 

 

Jesus' teaching sounded so radical and different compared to what the people had heard in the past, that He made a very important statement.

Matthew 5:17 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law,or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

 

Jesus is saying here, I did not come to replace the Old Testament Scriptures, I came to complete them! In Matthew 5:17-20 I find four principles that relate to God's Word and me.

This morning I ask that when I use the words "I" and "me", that you think of yourself.

 

I AM TO ATTEST TO THE AUTHORITY OF GOD'S WORD

 

So little Junior wants to go somewhere with his friends, and asks Mom for permission.

Mom says, "No, it's a school night. You need to go to bed early. You can't go."

 

So, Junior hunts up Dad and asks Dad if he can go with his friends. Dad says, "Yes".

 

Mom finds out and tells Dad that she had said "no" to Junior.

 

Dad says, "I have no problem, let him go."

 

What has happened? Dad has undermined Mom's authority.

 

There were those in Jesus' Day who tried to undermine God's authority in His Word.  As I have explained before, most of the Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day followed teachings from other writings that interpreted God's Word.  In reality, what these writings often did was give the Jews ways to break or undermine God's law.

 

Jesus said, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets…

Jesus did not come to undermine what God had said.

 

All through His ministry Jesus attested to the authority of God's Word. He taught and quoted God's Word.  He upheld it as true.  He lived by it.

 

We must attest to the authority of God's Word today.  The Bible is God's Word because God inspired it and has preserved it for us.

 

2 Timothy 3:16 - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Peter 1:20-21 - Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. [21] For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 

Most of you can probably say, "I'm with you Pastor. I believe in the authority of God's Word." That's Great!

 

But do you and I really attest to the authority of God's Word?

How do you react when you find something you don't like when you read God's Word or God's Word is taught to you?

If you really attest to the authority of God's Word you will do what God says no matter how you feel about it.

If you don't really attest to the authority of God's Word you will ignore it and do as you please, or you will rationalize and say, "That teaching was for Bible times, not for today."  Or you might say, "That's just the pastor's interpretation, it couldn't possibly mean that!"  

 

To me, one of the worst words in the English language is the word "but".

I know the Bible says this, but…

I know I should do this, but…

 

If you know what the Bible says, you should attest to its authority by doing as it says. There should be no "ifs, ands, or buts about it!"

 

I AM TO ATTEST TO THE AUTHORITY OF GOD'S WORD

I AM TO ACCEPT THE FULFILLMENT OF GOD'S WORD

 

Matthew 5:17-18 - READ

 

The law and the prophets refers to all of the Old Testament Scriptures, and would today of course, refer to the New Testament as well.

 

The Old Testament Law had three parts.

There was moral law. That is how people are to treat other people.   

There was ceremonial law - These were the things done in worship of God, including the sacrifices that were offered for sin.

There was the judicial law.  These laws referred to the government of Israel. Israel was to govern itself like no other nation on earth and was to influence other nations with its Godly government. (John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Matthew, Volume 1 {©1985 Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Moody Press} pages 255-259)

 

Jesus said, I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Jesus said, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 

The jot and title were tiny accent marks in the Hebrew Language.  Jesus promised that all would be fulfilled in the Word of God, down to the tiniest accent mark, and that He was that fulfillment.

 

Jesus fulfilled every detail of what was prophesied about Him in the first coming.

Jesus will fulfill every detail of what is prophesied about Him in the future.

 

Jesus fulfilled the moral law.

He is the only one who kept all of the laws of God perfectly without sin. That is why He can help us to live righteously today.

 

Hebrews 4:15 - For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 

Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial law.

The purpose of the ceremonial law was to cleanse from sin.

The animal sacrifices were mostly offered as atonement for sins.

These animals, which were to be without spot or blemish, were, in a sense, a down payment for the ultimate sacrifice.

When Christ came to earth he came as "the lamb of God".

He came as the perfect lamb that could and would atone for the sins of the world.

That's why John the Baptist cried, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

 

Not only has Jesus fulfilled the moral and ceremonial laws, He will fulfill the judicial law.   

He will return to earth and establish His earthly Kingdom through Israel. Then the judicial law will be fulfilled.  All that God wanted Israel to be as a nation will be fulfilled in Christ's reign.

 

Isaiah 11:3-5 - And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: [4] But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. [5] And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

 

Jesus is the fulfillment of God's Word.

Have you accepted Him as such?

Jesus is the fulfillment of the ceremonial law, the sacrifices.

Have you accepted Him as the sacrifice for you sins and received Him as your Savior?

 

Jesus came to do what we could not do for ourselves. He came to cleanse our sins so we could stand righteously before God.

 

2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

Jesus already died for you so that you can stand righteously before God.  All you have to do is accept what Jesus has done for you and believe on Him for righteousness, forgiveness and eternal life.   

 

Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 

The Apostle Paul once tried to enter Heaven by his good works and by His own personal attempts at righteousness.  As good as Paul was at it he fell short. Listen to his testimony.

   

Philippians 3:7-9 - But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. [8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, [9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

 

Jesus is the fulfillment of the ceremonial law. Have you accepted Him as the sacrifice for you sins and received Him as your Savior?

 

Jesus is the fulfillment of the moral law, righteous living.

Christian, have you accepted Him as such?

Through God's Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus lives inside of you.

He wants to live His righteous life through you, allowing you to fulfill the righteousness of the moral law.

 

Romans 8:3-4 - For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: [4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

 

As you accept the control of God's Holy Spirit in your life, Christ will fulfill His righteousness in you.   

 

Jesus is the fulfillment of the judicial law.

Have you accepted Him as such?

You might be thinking, "Pastor, how do I do that?"

I believe the answer is quite simple.

Look for the return of the Lord Jesus as the coming King!

 

Titus 2:11-13 - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

Jesus is the fulfillment of the whole law, the ceremonial law, the moral law, and the judicial law. Have you accepted Him as such?   

 

I AM TO ATTEST TO THE AUTHORITY OF GOD'S WORD

I AM TO ACCEPT THE FULFILLMENT OF GOD'S WORD

I AM TO AVOID THE BAD EXAMPLES IN GOD'S WORD

 

Matthew 5:19 - Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven…                          

 

Matthew 5:20 - For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 

The crowd would have been shocked to hear what Jesus said about the scribes and Pharisees. They would have been looked up to as such righteous people, that if they weren't going to make it to Heaven, who could?

 

What was the problem with the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees?

Their religion was all outward appearance.  There was no cleansing of the heart!   

 

Matthew 23:27-28 - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. [28] Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

 

Why is this a warning for us?

We can appear to be Christians on Sunday and live for ourselves during the week.

We can pretend to be righteous, but have a secret life filled with filthy habits.

Our religion can be outward appearance with nothing going on in the heart!

Our righteousness needs to be better than the bad example of the Scribes and Pharisees.    

 

I AM TO ATTEST TO THE AUTHORITY OF GOD'S WORD

I AM TO ACCEPT THE FULFILLMENT OF GOD'S WORD

I AM TO AVOID THE BAD EXAMPLES IN GOD'S WORD

 

I AM TO ACT RIGHTEOUSLY ACCORDING TO GOD'S WORD

 

Matthew 5:19-20 - …but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [20] For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 

You are to be a doer and a teacher of righteousness.

You are to be a doer and a teacher of true righteousness.   

 

It is a righteousness that begins with accepting the fulfillment of God's Word, the Lord Jesus, as Savior.

 

It is a righteousness that continues with the control of the Holy Spirit in the life. It is a righteousness of heart that leads to a righteousness of living.

 

There was once a king, who had been appointed by God to lead His people.  Sadly he turned out to be a failure because of his unrighteous.

 

One day God told the prophet that anointed the unrighteous king to anoint another king.

He was told to go to a certain city and anoint one of the sons of a local resident to be the next king.  The prophet dutifully went. 

 

There was a feast held, and the local resident and his sons were some of the guests.  The prophet looked at the oldest son and noticed how tall and handsome he was. "Surely", the prophet thought, "this is the one to be the next king."

 

God immediately gave the prophet a negative answer concening the oldest son. God told him,  …Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

(1 Samuel 16:7)

 

It wasn't until a son that wasn't even present showed up, that the prophet Samuel, was able to anoint the man who was after God's heart.  That man's name was David.   

 

My friend, God is still looking for men and women with righteous hearts, who reflect the condition of their hearts with righteous living.

 

God's Word and Me:

I AM TO ATTEST TO THE AUTHORITY OF GOD'S WORD

I AM TO ACCEPT THE FULFILLMENT OF GOD'S WORD

Christ fulfilled the ceremonial, moral, and judicial aspects of the Law

I AM TO AVOID THE BAD EXAMPLES IN GOD'S WORD

I AM TO ACT RIGHTEOUSLY ACCORDING TO GOD'S WORD