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
Here on the Bill Rice Ranch we have many people who serve with us year-round. We have the ones who cook the meals, prepare the program, run registration, wrangle horses, fix things, and many other jobs. Working together requires a handbook, a set of guidelines that helps us work as a team. There are things I do living here on the Ranch that perhaps I would not do if I were living in a cabin in Montana on my own, but I am not living on my own. I am living in concert with a lot of other people. So, there is a handbook that gives guidelines, rules, and best practices.
Now handbooks are fine, but there is a difference between knowing the law and making sure I have the upper hand because I keep it to the very smallest detail even though I don’t have a love for my neighbor. If I have a love for my neighbor, it is going to result to deference to them at times, not taking advantage of things I could rightfully, legally do, and it is going to produce restraint in me, not doing things I might have the right before the law and even God to do but don’t for the sake of the people around me.
There are also things in the handbook that are convictions, things we believe are right so they are incorporated into our code of conduct. There is a big difference between having the law, whether it is American law or the law of some institution you are in, and having the power of Christ. I am glad there are laws that keep people from shooting me, but I would not want only a law to prevent people I work with every day from shooting me. There should be something more than that. There should be something in the attitude and love.
In Matthew 5, Jesus addresses this. Verse 17 says, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till earth and heaven pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” In Matthew 3:15, when Jesus was baptized of John, He said, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.” Jesus was not compelled to be baptized the way a believer is today because Jesus is not a believer; He is the one in whom we believe. But He is an example to us, so He is fulfilling what needs to be fulfilled.
Verse 19 says, “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: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” So, down to the end Jesus was not destroying the law, He was fulfilling it. You may drive down an interstate that is in need of repair with all these potholes that jar you all the way down the road, or you may drive down a road that is taken care of, the potholes are filled; they fulfill them, fill them to being full. Jesus was not destroying the road. He was fulfilling the road. He was leveling over those big potholes.
Verse 20 says, ““For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Pharisees knew the law and some knew every jot and tittle of the Mosaic law, but they also knew how to get their way while still technically keeping the law. Jesus spoke of very religious leaders who did not even honor their parents because they said the money that could have been used to support the aging parents was dedicated to God. So, I’m thankful for laws and people who know the laws, but at the end of the day, if your life is going to be what it ought to be, you are going to have to exceed a lawyer mentality.
There are three interesting words here. First is fulfill. Jesus did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. Second is exceed. Jesus said that unless your righteousness exceeds or goes beyond the righteousness of these religious leaders, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Third is more. In verse 47, Jesus says, “And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?” If you hate your enemies but love your brothers, that is easy. Everyone loves the people who love them and whacks the people they don’t like. How does that make you more or better?
Several times in His Sermon on the Mount Jesus says, “I say…Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time…” He follows that by giving commandments and other instruction. The bottom line is that the Christian life is the life of Christ. It is more than merely getting your way because you know all the ins and outs of the laws and can work your way around them to do what you want without worrying about Christ. You don’t need the power that comes by knowing the rules and using them to your advantage. You need the power that comes by knowing the power of Christ and submitting to His life in your actions. The Christian life is the life of Christ.