Matthew 5:17-20 King James Version (KJV)
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
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: 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.
_______________________________________________________
The topic of the Old Covenant leaves many Christians in confusion. Do we follow the laws of the Old Covenant or not? This is a question many of us have, and God provides a clear answer in the Book of Matthew. First, it is important to look at with whom Jesus was speaking while He was teaching on the Law in Matthew 5. At the beginning of Matthew 5 it says that Jesus went up on a mountain where His disciples came to Him, and there He began to teach them. Jesus, here, was teaching His disciples, His fellow Jews.
Jesus’ disciples lived under the Old Covenant, which was a bond that God made with the nation of Israel through Moses who was the mediator. This covenant was made between God and the nation of Israel, which the Israelites chose to follow when they declared “All the words which the Lord has said we will do” (Exodus 24:3). The Law consisted of the Ten Commandments and 603 other laws, making altogether 613 laws that the nation of Israel had to obey. The Law was an illustration to the Israelites that they, in their own strength, could never keep all of the Law no matter how holy they were attempting to live. In order for the Israelites to gain right standing (righteousness) in God’s eyes, a sacrifice was constantly needed to show their repentance. The Law pointed to their need of a Messiah – one sacrifice to fulfill all of the Law.
In Matthew 5:17 Jesus clearly identified himself as that Messiah when He said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” Here Jesus not only identifies himself as the Messiah, but He also declares that He did not come to attack the Law given by God but came to fulfill the Law. In verse 18 Jesus taught that not one iota of the Law would pass “till all be fulfilled.” Jesus was teaching His disciples that the Law, which they had been living under for so long, was purposeful and that it needed to be followed completely until it was fulfilled, until Jesus’ work was accomplished. In the original Greek Jesus says that the Law must be followed until “everything should happen,” which means come into being or emerge. Jesus, obeying His Father’s will, followed the Law perfectly in order to fulfill the Law fully, and what came into being as a result was the New Covenant. Jesus himself declared the accomplishment of His purpose right before His death when He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
The Pharisees attempted outwardly to follow the Law and were seeking righteousness through the Law. In Matthew 5:20 Jesus added to His teaching on the Law when He said that a righteousness was needed that exceeded what the Law could provide in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus was teaching His disciples, who were born under the Law, that they must continue to follow the Law until all was fulfilled. When the Old Covenant had been fulfilled, a new and better covenant came into being. On the cross Jesus bore all of humanity’s sins that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (II Corinthians 5:21). This righteousness comes from believing in Jesus, not from any works we can do or any number of laws we can keep. This righteousness is above and beyond that which could come from the Law.
The Truth in Action – The Law was created for a purpose, and although Jesus fulfilled the Law and we are free from it, it is still important to understand. Jesus demonstrated the principles set forth in the Law and when we follow Jesus and adhere to His teachings, we are naturally following the same principles established by the Law. Make a commitment to follow Jesus’ teachings. Choose a principle to follow that Jesus taught about in Matthew chapters 4-7. Ask God to reveal to you how you can follow this teaching in your everyday life. Each week choose a new principle and try to apply it to your life.
Meditate on Scripture: Romans 5:20-21 (NKJV) – Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Further Study – Read Matthew 5-7. In these chapters Jesus is teaching about many different principles. He demonstrated these principles and lived what He taught. We need to follow His example.