Jesus, the Old Jesus, the Old Testament, Testament,

and Youand You

The Sermon On The MountThe Sermon On The MountMatthew 5:17-20Matthew 5:17-20

100% Revelation100% Revelation• How is a Christian to understand and obey How is a Christian to understand and obey

the Old Testament?the Old Testament?

• The OT = 75% of the BibleThe OT = 75% of the Bible• All Scripture is inspired by God and All Scripture is inspired by God and

profitable for teaching, for reproof, for profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

The Authority of the Old The Authority of the Old TestamentTestament

17 17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 18 For For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. until all is accomplished. 19 19 Whoever then annuls one Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. heaven. 20 20 For I say to you that unless your For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-20 )(Matthew 5:17-20 )

The Authority of the Old The Authority of the Old TestamentTestament

• Now these things happened to them as an Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. have come. (1 Corinthians 10:11) (1 Corinthians 10:11)

• For whatever was written in earlier times was For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)(Romans 15:4)

Obeying the Law?Obeying the Law?

““You are to keep My statutes. You shall not You are to keep My statutes. You shall not breed together two kinds of your cattle; you breed together two kinds of your cattle; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor wear a garment upon you of two seed, nor wear a garment upon you of two kinds of material mixed together.” kinds of material mixed together.” (Leviticus 19:19) (Leviticus 19:19)

Obeying the Law?Obeying the Law?4 4 “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! LORD is one! 5 5 You shall love the LORD your You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” soul and with all your might.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)(Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

Obeying the Law?Obeying the Law?36 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” in the Law?” 37 37 And He said to him, “ ‘YOU And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 38 This is the This is the great and foremost commandment.” great and foremost commandment.” (Matthew 22:36-38) (Matthew 22:36-38)

Obeying the Law?Obeying the Law?

““You shall not charge interest to your You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest.” anything that may be loaned at interest.” (Deuteronomy 23:19) (Deuteronomy 23:19)

Obeying the Law?Obeying the Law?

““When you build a new house, you shall When you build a new house, you shall make a railing on your roof, so that you will make a railing on your roof, so that you will not bring bloodguilt on your house if not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone falls from it.” anyone falls from it.” (Deuteronomy 22:8)(Deuteronomy 22:8)

““You shall make yourself tassels on the four You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners of your garment with which you corners of your garment with which you cover yourself.” cover yourself.” (Deuteronomy 22:12)(Deuteronomy 22:12)

Obeying the Law?Obeying the Law?

• Some try to divide the Law into 3 Some try to divide the Law into 3 categories:categories:

Moral, Civil, & Ceremonial (saying thatMoral, Civil, & Ceremonial (saying thatonly the moral remains for Christians)only the moral remains for Christians)

Obeying the Law?Obeying the Law?

• ““You shall not commit adultery.”You shall not commit adultery.”(Exodus 20:14)(Exodus 20:14)

• Leviticus 20:10 Leviticus 20:10 calls for stoning the calls for stoning the adulterer adulterer

• The Lord said to Moses: “Do not cut the hair The Lord said to Moses: “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.” edges of your beard.” (Leviticus 19:27) (Leviticus 19:27)

Obeying the Law?Obeying the Law?

• The Law is a complete systemThe Law is a complete system

• You cannot separate the commandments You cannot separate the commandments from the Aaronic priesthood, the sacrificial from the Aaronic priesthood, the sacrificial system, or the Tabernacle servicesystem, or the Tabernacle service

• All of the Law is “moral”All of the Law is “moral”• Any division (moral, civil, ceremonial) is Any division (moral, civil, ceremonial) is

completely artificial and arbitrary completely artificial and arbitrary

Interpreting the LawInterpreting the Law17 17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 18 For For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. until all is accomplished. 19 19 Whoever then annuls one Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. heaven. 20 20 For I say to you that unless your For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-20 )(Matthew 5:17-20 )

Interpreting the LawInterpreting the Law

““You shall not lie with a male as one lies You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.” with a female; it is an abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22) (Leviticus 18:22)

• Mixed fabric shirt – Mixed fabric shirt – Leviticus 19:19Leviticus 19:19• Inconsistent, hypocritesInconsistent, hypocrites

The Pervasive LawThe Pervasive Law

• The Law is only 25% of the Old TestamentThe Law is only 25% of the Old Testament• All of the other 75% of the OT is based on All of the other 75% of the OT is based on

the Law!the Law!

• The prophets are the enforcers of the LawThe prophets are the enforcers of the Law

The Pervasive LawThe Pervasive Law

• Various views on this (covenantal, Various views on this (covenantal, dispensational, etc.)dispensational, etc.)

• Good resource: Good resource: Five Views on the Gospel Five Views on the Gospel and Law and Law edited by Gundryedited by Gundry

Brace YourselfBrace Yourself

• NONE of the Old Testament is legally NONE of the Old Testament is legally binding on Christiansbinding on Christians

• ALL of the OT authoritatively applies to ALL of the OT authoritatively applies to Christians Christians

Reconcile the Tension?Reconcile the Tension?

• When God said, “A new covenant,” He has When God said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. made the first obsolete. (Hebrews 8:13)(Hebrews 8:13)

• Jesus says in Matt. 5:17-20 that we must Jesus says in Matt. 5:17-20 that we must teach and obey all of the OT, down to the teach and obey all of the OT, down to the smallest lettersmallest letter

OverviewOverview

• The beatitudes: The character of ChristiansThe beatitudes: The character of Christians

• Salt and light: The function of ChristiansSalt and light: The function of Christians

• Jesus’ and our relation to the Old TestamentJesus’ and our relation to the Old Testament

Another TensionAnother Tension18 18 And He said to them, “Are you so lacking And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, man from outside cannot defile him, 19 19

because it does not go into his heart, but because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” into his stomach, and is eliminated?” Thus He declared all foods clean.Thus He declared all foods clean.(Mark 7:18-19)(Mark 7:18-19)

Another TensionAnother Tension

• To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law under the Law though not being myself under though not being myself under the Lawthe Law, so that I might win those who are , so that I might win those who are under the Law. under the Law. (1 Corinthians 9:20)(1 Corinthians 9:20)

• Therefore the Law has become our tutor to Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. no longer under a tutor. (Galatians 3:24-25) (Galatians 3:24-25)

Another TensionAnother Tension

• But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. under the Law. (Galatians 5:18)(Galatians 5:18)

• For sin shall not be master over you, for you For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:14)(Romans 6:14)

• Do we then nullify the Law through faith? Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law. establish the Law. (Romans 3:31)(Romans 3:31)

Another TensionAnother Tension1 1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 2 For the law of For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. from the law of sin and of death. 3 3 For what the For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 4 so that the so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)(Romans 8:1-4)

A RoadmapA Roadmap

5:1-16 – Character of Kingdom citizens5:1-16 – Character of Kingdom citizens5:17-7:12 – True righteousness (5:17-7:12 – True righteousness (inclusioinclusio))7:13-29 – Entering Christ’s Kingdom7:13-29 – Entering Christ’s Kingdom• ““Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or

the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17) (Matthew 5:17)

• ““In everything, therefore, treat people the same In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)(Matthew 7:12)

A RoadmapA Roadmap

• Chapter 5:21-48, Jesus will address 6 areas: Chapter 5:21-48, Jesus will address 6 areas: murder/anger, adultery/lust, divorce, vows, murder/anger, adultery/lust, divorce, vows, retaliation, and our response to our enemiesretaliation, and our response to our enemies

• Chapter 6, Jesus will address 6 areas: Chapter 6, Jesus will address 6 areas: giving, prayer, forgiveness, fasting, money, giving, prayer, forgiveness, fasting, money, and worryand worry

• Chapter 5 – how to be rightly related to other Chapter 5 – how to be rightly related to other peoplepeople

• Chapter 6 – how to be rightly related to GodChapter 6 – how to be rightly related to God

A RoadmapA Roadmap

• Key Verse: “For I say to you that unless your Key Verse: “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the righteousness surpasses that of the scribesscribes and and PhariseesPharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of , you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)(Matthew 5:20)

• Chapter 5 is Jesus’ correction of the Chapter 5 is Jesus’ correction of the Scribes’Scribes’ teachingsteachings

• Chapter 6 is Jesus’ correction of the Chapter 6 is Jesus’ correction of the Pharisees’Pharisees’ practicespractices

Jesus, the Old Jesus, the Old Testament, Testament,

and Youand You

Matthew 5:17-20Matthew 5:17-20