Matthew 5.17-20 [Obedience is Required...]

R&R Devotional Bible Study
Matthew 5.17-20

'Obedience is Required...'

'17-Do not think that I have come to abolish The Law or the prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18-For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from The Law until all is accomplished. 19-Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20-For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.'

First and foremost, how does this tie into the overarching passage that we are looking at:
-First we are given what is means to be in the kingdom via the Beatitudes...
-Then we are told that if we are truly of God, we are actually salt and light in the world [which actually ties in with being a 'peacemaker']...
-Now The Lord Christ Jesus is telling us that the Law is not abolished, but fulfilled; and that our righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees...

Why?

If we remember, in the Beatitudes, we are told 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...'
-This shows that there is a Law that is out there and must be obeyed...and that apart from Yahweh working in us, we cannot even hunger and thirst for it...

Romans 2.14-15 tells us:
'14-For when Gentiles who do not have the Law naturally do the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a Law unto themselves, 15-in that they demonstrate the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them...'

Mankind is created, and in being created we are subservient to the purpose in which are created for...
-What is this purpose that we are created for?
-We are created in the image of Yahweh, which means that we are supposed to glorify Yahweh in everything that we do...
-Or as The Lord Christ Jesus sums up the Law: Love Yahweh with all your heart, with all your soul, with all, your might, and with all your strength...
-There is to be no thought of self at all, we are supposed to fully focus on God with every fiber of our being...
-What this also means is that we are to obey...How are we supposed to glorify Yahweh if we are not being obedient to Him?

Philippians 2 tells us:
'Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you both to will and work for His good pleasure...'

Responsibility vs ability...

As we look at our passage at hand, let us also consider a couple other passages that parallel this passage:

John 1.17 tells us:
'For The Law was given to us through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.'

Galatians 3.21-22
'21-Is The Law then contrary to the promise of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed be by law. 22-But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.'

The Law is quite important, so much so that The Lord Christ Jesus says tells us in no uncertain terms that He did not come to abolish The Law...

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