Matthew 5

Matthew 5-7 records the famous sermon by Jesus called the Sermon on the Mount. It contains many of Jesus’ famous sayings some of us would say that this sermon contains some of our favorite passages. There is one thing in chapter 5 that I want to point out to you to help you understand Jesus teaching on the Law. Chapter 5 is mostly about refuting the Pharisees’ teachings and interpretations of the Law.  Verse 17 says that Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (see also Romans 8:3-4 if you care to).  In 5:21 he starts using the repeated phrase “you have heard that it was said . . .  but I say to you.”  The “you have heard” part is Jesus repeating the distorted teachings of the Law by the Pharisee, while the “but I say to you” is Jesus’correct interpretation and application of the Law (he can do this since he is the author of it).   In verse 20 Jesus drops the bombshell on his disciples that assuredly would tick off the Pharisees if they were listening.

Matt. 5:20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceedsthat of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Imagine what the disciples were thinking at this moment: “What is Jesus saying to us, aren’t the Pharisee’s the most righteous people in Israel.  Don’t they keep the Law down to the nth degree? How can we be more righteous than they are?”   After explaining how these charlatan leaders have misinterpreted God’s good Law, Jesus drops another bombshell on his listeners. 

Matt. 5:48You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Jesus really ups the ante with these words.  To summarize, Jesus is saying “It is not the Pharisee’s righteousness that should be your standard, it is God’s”  How is that possible, how can we be perfect as God is perfect?  I believe that Jesus is referring to the OT maxim, “You shall be holy for I am holy” (see Lev. 11:45-46 and it is repeated in the NT in 1 Peter 1:16).   This is the standard by which we live; God’s righteousness, not man’s.  But here is the good news, Christ did it for us. That is what he meant in Matthew 5:17-20 (not one thing will pass from the Law until all is fulfilled). Now you must read Romans 8:1-4.  Christ has fulfilled the Law for you.  He has been righteous for you; and He has given you His righteousness.  We read that in the book of Romans; that is what it means to be justified by faith.  Now the goal is to honor God by living the righteous life that He died and rose again to give us.