Matthew 5:17-19 Christ and the Law of Moses
Introduction: The disciples were Hebrews by race, Israelites
by nation and Jews by religion. They had
been grounded in the Law of Moses. The question
would naturally arise, “Now that we are saved, what about the Law? Had Christ come to destroy the law system of
worship?” The answer was “No”.
I. Not come to destroy, but to fulfill. Verse
17
A. The Law was
centered around ten commands, but there is much more. (Three divisions to the law).
1. The moral law.
(The Ten Commandments and related
scriptures teach what is right and wrong).
2. The
ceremonial law. (Sacrifice,
days, etc.).
3. The
civil law. (Regulated legal matters according to the moral
law).
B. Jesus kept the
Law.
1. He
kept the moral law. (Never did wrong;
always right).
2. He
kept the ceremonial law.
(Observed the
days, offered the sacrifices. He
made a sacrifice on cross.)
3. He
fulfilled the civil law. (Kept national laws).
4. He
is the only man who ever kept the Law.
C. Thus He did not
come to destroy the Law.
D. Neither did He
come to destroy the prophetic interpretation of the Law.
(Note that He did not indorse the Pharisaic
interpretations of the Law).
II. Every detail of the Law
important. Verse 18
A. Jesus went
further in supporting the Law than did the Pharisees.
B. He declared that
it would stand as long as the heaven and earth stands.
C. Every jot and tiddle important. (Yodth and twist of pen).
1. The
jot was the yodth, the smallest Hebrew letter.
2. The
tiddle was a twist of the pen on the Hebrew
letter. (Important to true meaning)
D. He criticized
those who broke the Law and taught others to break it.
1. The
Pharisees prided themselves on keeping the Law.
2. But
they actually broke it and taught others to break it. (By their interpretations).
3. He
did not say that they could not go to heaven.
E. He blessed those
who keep the Law and teach others to do so.
III. The Law to be phased out.
A. Jesus did not
explain at this time that as far as the church is concerned the Law was to be
phased out.
B. It was not
necessary for salvation.
1. Nobody
but Christ had ever kept it.
2.
Faith is the way to be saved. Galatians
3:11
C. The Jewish Christians
would continue to worship in the temple under the Law, but would also
worship in church
capacity.
D. The Gentile Christians
would not be required to worship under the Law system at all.
(Not circumcision, not the
sacrifices, not the days, etc.).
IV. Things we may learn.
A. Since Jesus
kept the Law, He could be the Savior.
B. We are not
under the Law, but we should seek to do right as taught by the Law.
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