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Matthew Chapter Five

 
Introduction To The Sermon On The Mount (5:1-2)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. In Matthew 5-7, we have recorded the most famous sermon that has
 ever been preached...
 a. Commonly referred to as "The Sermon On The Mount"
 b. It has touched more hearts, and in turn has sparked more sermons
 than any other
 
2. In Mt 5:1-2, the setting for the sermon is given...
 a. He saw the multitudes that were following Him - Mt 4:25
 b. He therefore ascended a mountain
 1) Many believe this refers to a natural amphitheater between the
 "Horns of Hattin", on a slope that arises above Capernaum
 (Believers' Study Bible)
 2) This may be the same occasion as "The Sermon On The Plain" 
 - cf. Lk 6:17-49
 c. When His disciples came to Him, He sat down and began to speak
 1) It was common to speak while sitting, rather than standing as
  we do today
 2) Cf. Mt 13:1-2; Jn 8:2
 
3. What is Jesus talking about in this sermon?
 a. What is the main "THEME?"
 b. What is the "CONTENT" of this sermon?
 
[In this study we shall introduce "The Sermon On The Mount" by seeking
to answer these two questions. To begin, let's determine...]
 
I. THE "THEME" OF THE SERMON
 
 A. NOTE THE "SETTING" LEADING UP TO THE SERMON...
 1. In Mt 3:1-3, we read of the preaching of John the Baptist
 a. Who was sent to prepare the way of the Lord
 b. The theme of his preaching concerned "the kingdom of 
 heaven"
 2. In Mt 4, we read of the beginning of Jesus' ministry
 a. After His temptation, Jesus preaches a message similar to
 John's - Mt 4:17
  b. His preaching in Galilee pertained to the "gospel of the
 kingdom" - Mt 4:23
 -- Could Jesus' theme be "the kingdom of heaven"?
 
 B. NOTE A "PHRASE" USED THROUGHOUT THE SERMON...
 1. "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" - Mt 5:3
 2. "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" - Mt 5:10
 3. "...shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven" - Mt 5:19
 4. "...shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" - Mt 5:19
 5. "...will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" - Mt 5:20
 6. "Your kingdom come" - Mt 6:10
 7. "But seek first the kingdom of God" - Mt 6:33
 8. ". . . shall enter the kingdom of heaven" - Mt 7:21
 -- Isn't Jesus talking about "the kingdom of heaven"?
 
[Both the setting and His repeated use a particular phrase should lead
us to conclude that the "theme" of Jesus' sermon on the mount is:
 
 "THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN"
 
With this in mind, let's briefly consider the "content" of the sermon
as I offer the following outline...]
 
II. THE "CONTENT" OF THE SERMON
 
 A. THE "CITIZENS" OF THE KINGDOM...
 1. Their character and blessedness - Mt 5:3-12
 a. Qualities to be found in those who will be citizens of this
 kingdom
 b. The blessings enjoyed by these citizens
 2. Their relation to the world - Mt 5:13-16
 a. They are the salt of the earth
 b. They are the light of the world
 
 B. THE "RIGHTEOUSNESS" OF THE KINGDOM...
 1. In contrast to the "traditional interpretations and
 applications" of the Law - Mt 5:17-48
 a. Jesus has not come to destroy or show disrespect to the Law
 1) It will not pass away until it is fulfilled
 2) Those who violate it teach contrary to it (while it
 exists) will be least in the kingdom
 b. Jesus does require that the righteousness of those in the
 kingdom exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and 
 Pharisees
 c. He illustrates by a series of contrasts concerning:
 1) Murder and anger
 2) Adultery
 3) Divorce
 4) The swearing of oaths
 5) The taking of revenge
 6) The treatment of enemies
 -- In each case His teaching is consistent with the Law,
 but not the traditional interpretations and applications
 of the Law
 2. With respect to man's relation to God - Mt 6:1-33
 a. Charitable deeds
 b. Prayer
 c. Fasting
 d. Materialism
 e. Anxiety
 3. With respect to man's relation to man - Mt 7:1-12
 a. Judging others
 b. Asking, seeking, knocking
 c. The golden rule
 
 C. THE "EXHORTATION TO ENTER" THE KINGDOM...
 1. The "beginning" of the way - Mt 7:13-14
 a. It will be narrow and difficult
 b. Not many will find it
 2. The "progress" along the way - Mt 7:15-20
 a. Beware of false prophets who are wolves in sheep's clothing
 b. You will know them by their fruits
 3. The "end" of the way - Mt 7:21-27
 a. In which "sayers" will be contrasted with "doers"
 b. In which "hearers" will be contrasted with "doers"
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. In view of its content, we can appreciate why this sermon has been
 called...
 a. The Magna Carta of His Kingdom
 b. The Manifesto of the King
 
2. Our next study will begin a look at the sermon in closer detail...
 a. With the first of two lessons on "The Beatitudes" - Mt 5:3-12
 b. In which we examine the character and blessedness of those who
 are citizens of the kingdom of heaven
 
Have you responded to the exhortation to enter the kingdom? Remember
the words of our Lord to Nicodemus...
 
 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you,
 unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
 
 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old?
 Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
 
 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is 
 born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
 
 (Jn 3:3-5)
 
Have you been born again of water and the Spirit? - cf. Mk 16:16; Ac
2:38

The Beatitudes - I (5:3-12)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. As we begin to take a closer look at "The Sermon On The Mount," we
 notice first that section known as "The Beatitudes" - Mt 3:3-12
 a. The word "beatitude" means "supreme blessedness or happiness"
 b. We find Jesus discussing the blessedness of those who possess
 certain qualities
 
2. It is as though Jesus was answering two questions people might have
 been asking:
 a. Who will be the citizens of "the kingdom of heaven"?
 b. What benefits do they receive?
 
3. My treatment of this passage will be somewhat different than normal
 a. Most examine each beatitude in detail before going on to the next
 b. But I will look at the entire section in an overall fashion twice
 1) Looking at it from two different perspectives
 2) Taking two lessons to do so
 
4. In this lesson, let's consider "The Beatitudes" from the viewpoint
 of the question:
 
 "Who will be the citizens of the kingdom?"
 
[In other words, what is the character required of the citizens of the
kingdom?]
 
I. THEIR CHARACTER INVOLVES INTER-RELATED QUALITIES
 
 A. THEY WILL POSSESS ALL OF THESE GRACES...
 1. Only those who have all of the qualities described will truly
 be citizens of the kingdom
 2. For it should be evident that some may be...
 a. "Poor in spirit," but do not "hunger and thirst after 
 righteousness"
 b. "Mournful," but are not "pure in heart"
 c. "Meek," but are not "peacemakers"
 d. "Persecuted," but not "for righteousness' sake"
 
 B. THESE GRACES ARE INTER-RELATED...
 1. It takes all of these qualities, working in conjunction with
 one another
 2. In this the passage is similar to 2 Pe 1:5-11
 a. Where various qualities are also listed
 b. Where each are needed in conjunction to one another ("add
 to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge...")
 3. Only then can one have "an entrance will be supplied to you
 abundantly into the everlasting kingdom"
 
[How the qualities are inter-related becomes apparent as we consider 
that...]
 
II. THEIR CHARACTER INCLUDES EIGHT QUALITIES
 
 A. THEY ARE "POOR IN SPIRIT"...
 1. "To be poor in spirit is to have a humble opinion of
 ourselves; to be sensible that we are sinners, and have no
 righteousness of our own; to be willing to be saved only by
 the rich grace and mercy of God" (Barnes)
 2. I.e., convicted of one's own spiritual poverty
 a. Exemplified by the tax collector in Lk 18:13
 b. Such people God will accept into His good favor - Isa 57:
 15; 66:1-2
 3. The opposite of "poor in spirit" would be "proud of heart,"
 and those who are such are more like:
 a. The Pharisee in Lk 18:9-14
 b. The Laodiceans in Re 3:17-19
 
 B. THEY "MOURN"...
 1. But do so in a specific sense: over one's own spiritual 
 poverty, one' sinfulness
 2. Like David did after his adultery with Bathsheba - Psa 51:3-4
 3. Note the relationship between these first two characteristics
 a. Unless one is first "poor in spirit"
 b. They will not "mourn" over their spiritual poverty
 
 C. THEY ARE "MEEK"...
 1. This means gentle, easy to be entreated
 a. They would rather suffer injury than inflict it
 b. Not out of weakness, but out of humility, realizing one's
 own poverty of spirit, one's own sinfulness
 2. A good example of meekness is Moses
 a. He was certainly not a weak or timid man - Exo 32:19-20;
 30-34
 b. But when personally attacked, he was very humble - Num
 12:1-3
 
 D. THEY "HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS"...
 1. They look for the righteousness which will meet:
 a. Their spiritual poverty
 b. Their mourning over the same
 2. To "hunger and thirst" suggests not a half-hearted search, but
 one exemplified by:
 a. David in Psa 42:1-2; 19:12-14
 b. Paul in Ph 3:7-15a
 
 E. THEY ARE "MERCIFUL"...
 1. Loving towards those in misery (e.g., the "Good Samaritan")
 2. Possessing a forgiving spirit toward those who sin against
 them (Hendricksen)
 a. As Jesus had toward those crucifying Him - Lk 23:34
 b. As Stephen had toward those stoning him - Ac 7:60
 3. Jesus stressed this characteristic on several occasions...
 a. Later in this sermon, in teaching on prayer - Mt 6:14-15
 b. In His parable of "The Unforgiving Servant" - Mt 18:21-35
  4. This virtue grows "out of our personal experience of the mercy
 of God." (Lenski)
 
 F. THEY ARE "PURE IN HEART"...
 1. Defined as "singleness of heart, the honesty which has no
 hidden motive, no selfish interest, and is true and open in
 all things." (Lenski)
 2. Refers to one who is sincere, honest, without hypocrisy
 3. That such a quality is necessary to see God, see Psa 24:3-4
 
 G. THEY ARE "PEACEMAKERS"...
 1. They devote their lives to making peace by following the
 Prince of Peace
 a. Making effort to be at peace with all men - Ro 12:18-21
 b. Helping others to be at peace with God by proclaiming the
 gospel of peace - cf. Ro 5:1; Ep 6:15
 2. "At peace with God and thus themselves filled with sweet
 peace, they live in peace, if possible, with all men and work
 to keep and to make peace where peace is threatened or lost.
 Theirs is the work of true Christians who follow in the
  footsteps of the Prince of Peace." (Lenski)
 
 H. THEY ARE "PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE"...
 1. "The tense and voice of the verb (passive perfect) may be
 regarded as permissive:
 a. "Who have allowed themselves to be persecuted, or have
 endured persecution"
 b. "The idea is that they did not flee from it but willingly
 submitted to when it came to them." (LENSKI)
 2. In what way, is explained in verse 11, and includes being:
 a. Reviled or reproached
 b. Persecuted
 c. Slandered falsely
 -- All for Jesus' sake
 3. That such persecution would often afflict those who are
 citizens of the kingdom, see Ac 14:21-22; Ph 1:29-30; 2 Ti 
 3:12
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. Such are the characteristics of those who will be citizens of the
 kingdom of heaven:
 a. They are poor in spirit (realizing their sinfulness)
 b. Thus they mourn (for their sins)
 c. Thus they are meek (gentle toward God and others)
 d. Thus they hunger and thirst for righteousness (which they 
 desperately need)
 e. Thus they are merciful (for they know they need mercy)
 f. Thus they are pure in heart (seeking to please God with 
 singleness of heart)
 g. Thus they are peacemakers (making peace with others, having found
 peace with God)
 h. Thus they are persecuted for the kingdom of heaven (misunderstood
 by the proud and arrogant who are still in their sins)
 -- Eight graces, all inter-related and working together to produce
 the right kind of character
 
2. Such is the character of the citizens of the kingdom of heaven...
 a. Involving eight graces, all inter-related
 b. Working together to produce the right kind of character
 
3. Is the kingdom of heaven worth whatever effort might be involved in
 developing this kind of character?
 a. We shall see the answer to this question in our next study.
 b. As we view "The Beatitudes" from the viewpoint of another
 question:
 
 "What benefits do the citizens of the kingdom receive?"
 
But if you are poor in spirit, mourning for your sins, hungering for
the righteousness that God provides only in Christ, what are you 
waiting for? As Ananias told Saul of Tarsus:
 
 "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash
 away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Ac 22:16)

The Beatitudes - II (5:3-12)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. At the beginning of "The Sermon On The Mount," we find that section
 of Scripture commonly referred to as "The Beatitudes" - Mt 3:3-12
 a. The word "beatitude" means "supreme blessedness or happiness"
 b. We find Jesus discussing the blessedness of those who possess
 certain qualities
 
2. As suggested in the previously lesson, it is as though Jesus was
 answering two questions people might have been asking:
 a. Who will be the citizens of "the kingdom of heaven"?
 b. What benefits do they receive?
 
3. In our previous study, we looked at the "The Beatitudes" from the
 viewpoint of the question: "Who will be the citizens of the
 kingdom?"
 a. We saw that their character would involve eight inter-related
 qualities
 b. We saw that they would be poor in spirit, mourning for their 
 sins, meek, hungering for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart,
 peacemakers, and willing to suffer persecution
 
4. In this study, we shall look at "The Beatitudes" from the viewpoint
 of the question: "What benefits do they receive?"
 a. Is the kingdom of heaven worth the effort to develop such 
 qualities of character?
 b. Is the kingdom of heaven worth whatever persecution we might
 endure?
 
[I believe the answer is a resounding "Yes!" This becomes apparent as
we take time to consider the blessedness of the citizens of the 
kingdom...]
 
I. THEIR BENEFITS SUMMARIZED IN ONE WORD
 
 A. THAT WORD IS "BLESSED"...
 1. It is the first word of the sermon
 a. Just as it is the first word of the Psalms - Psa 1:1
 b. Just as it is found in the beginning words of Revelation 
 - Re 1:3
 2. It is used nine times in nine verses (which is why this 
 section is called "The Beatitudes")
 
 B. THIS WORD INVOLVES GREAT JOY AND GLADNESS...
 1. It can literally mean, "how very happy!" is the one described
 2. We can also infer this from Mt 5:12
 a. "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad..."
 b. Or as found in Luke: "Rejoice in that day and leap for
 joy!" - Lk 6:23
 
[The benefit of being in the kingdom of heaven is the condition of 
blessedness, a state of true happiness! To understand why, let's now
look at...]
 
II. THEIR BENEFITS ARE BOTH PRESENT AND FUTURE
 
 A. "THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN"...
 1. As defined in a previous lesson (cf. Mt 4:17), those who 
 receive the kingdom...
 a. Are under the kingly rule of God
 b. Are in a spiritual kingdom
 1) Which today involves being in the "church," the present
 manifestation of the "kingdom of heaven" - Mt 16:18;
 Co 1:13; Re 1:9
 2) Which will involve the "new heavens and new earth" in 
 the kingdom's future and eternal manifestation - Mt 25:
 34; 2 Pe 1:10,11; 3:13; Re 21-22
 2. Note that the first (5:3) and last (5:10) beatitudes include
 this expression...
 a. Which I take to imply that the blessings in between 
 likewise apply to those in the kingdom
 b. Just as the kingdom is both present and future, we shall
  observe that the blessings described involve both present
 and future
 
 B. "THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED"...
 1. This is in reference to those who mourn over their sins and
 spiritual poverty
 2. They are comforted even now - 2 Co 1:3-5
 3. They shall be comforted in the future - Re 21:1-4
 
 C. "THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH"...
 1. In one sense, they inherit it now
 a. As a result of putting the kingdom of God first - Mt 6:33;
 Mk 10:29-30
  b. Though they may have less than some who are wicked, God
 enables them to enjoy it more! - Ecc 5:19-6:2
 c. This explanation seems to be consistent with the context of
 Psalms 37, from which the phrase was taken - Psa 37:1-11,
 16-29
 2. But in another sense, there yet remains a promise concerning a
 "new earth" for those in the kingdom now - 2 Pe 3:10-13
 
 D. "THEY SHALL BE FILLED"...
 1. That is, with the righteousness which we so desperately need,
 found only in Christ - Ph 3:8-9
 2. Received presently, through the precious blood of Christ 
 - Ro 5:9
 3. Received in fullness when adorned in the white linen of 
 righteousness in preparation for the marriage of the Lamb 
 - Re 19:5-9
 
 E. "THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY"...
 1. Those in the kingdom enjoy the forgiveness of sins now through
 the blood of Jesus - Re 1:5-6
 2. They shall also be shown mercy in the future by escaping the
  righteous wrath of God in the Day of Judgment - Ro 5:9
 
 F. "THEY SHALL SEE GOD"...
 1. Presently, citizens of the kingdom can see God through their
 Lord Jesus Christ - Jn 14:6-7
 2. But in the future, we shall see him face to face - Re 21:3;
 22:3-4
 
 G. "THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF GOD"...
 1. Even now we are called the sons of God - 1 Jn 3:1-2
 2. How much more so, in the future! - Re 21:5-7
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. Perhaps we can better understand why those in "the kingdom of 
 heaven" are truly called "Blessed", for while...
 a. Poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
 b. Mourning for their sins, they shall be comforted!
 c. Meek in their relation to God and man, they shall inherit the
 earth!
 d. Hungering and thirsting for righteousness, they shall be filled!
 e. Merciful to others, they shall obtain mercy!
 f. Pure in heart, they shall see God!
 g. Makers of peace, they shall be called sons of God!
 h. Persecuted for righteousness' sake, theirs is the kingdom of
 heaven!
 
2. Certainly the benefits of the kingdom outweigh anything this world
 has to offer, or any persecution it might inflict!
 a. For there are blessings now "in this life"
 b. And there are blessings "in the age to come" - Mk 10:28-30
 
2. But the "blessedness" of the citizens is only for those who have the
 "characteristics" of the citizens in ever-increasing measure...
 a. Do we have the qualities described in "The Beatitudes"?
 b. If not, do not the blessings described in "The Beatitudes"
 encourage us to develop such qualities?
 
May this sermon of Jesus motivate us to examine our attitudes, to see
if there is not room for improvement in our relationships with both God
and our fellow man!

The Influence Of The Kingdom (5:13-16)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. In "The Beatitudes" (Mt 5:3-12), we saw...
 a. The character of those who would be citizens of the kingdom
 b. The blessedness of the citizens described
 
2. In the final beatitude, Jesus implied the attitude the world would
 often display towards the citizens of the kingdom - Mt 5:10-12
 a. The world would revile and persecute those in the kingdom
 b. The world would say all kinds of evil against them falsely for
 His sake
 c. The world would persecute them just as it persecuted the prophets
 before them
 -- Thus the influence of the world upon the kingdom would often be
 one of persecution
 
3. Jesus then proceeded to describe the opposite...
 a. The influence of the kingdom upon the world
 b. The impact the kingdom was designed to have upon those in the
 world
 
[He uses two metaphors in doing so. The first, in Mt 5:13, involves the
figure of salt...]
 
I. "YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH"
 
 A. SALT HAS SEVERAL CHARACTERISTICS...
 1. It is white, enhances flavor, preserves, etc.
 2. Based on the context, it is probably salt's ability to enhance
 flavor to which Jesus refers in his illustration
 a. Notice: "...but if the salt loses its flavor..."
  b. Salt has the ability to give flavor to that which is 
 otherwise bland
 c. Job mentioned this ability in Job 6:6
 
 B. THROUGH THE METAPHOR OF "SALT"...
 1. Jesus depicts the relationship of the citizens of the kingdom
  to the world as one of:
 a. Making the world palatable (bearable) to God, and possibly
 to others as well
 b. Perhaps making it possible for God to continue to bear with
 this world and its "distasteful" wickedness
 2. The idea that the "righteous few" can make it is easier for
 God to forbear the many wicked is illustrated:
 a. In Abraham's conversation with God over Sodom - Gen 18:
 20-32
 b. In God's dealing with Jerusalem - Jer 5:1
 -- So from God's point of view, the citizens of the kingdom give
 the world what good "flavor" it has!
 
 C. JESUS WARNS AGAINST LOSING OUR FLAVORING ABILITY!
 1. With pure salt...
 a. It actually never loses its flavor
 b. But when mixed with impurities salt can lose its ability to
 enhance flavor
 2. We too might lose our ability to be a "flavoring agent" for 
 the world...
 a. By allowing "impurities" into our lives - 1 Co 15:33
 b. Therefore, we need to keep ourselves from sin - Ep 5:3-7
 
 D. IF WE LOSE OUR "FLAVOR"...
 1. How are we going to be "seasoned"? (impurities prevent us from
 being useful)
 2. We will be thrown out!
 a. Is Jesus teaching the possibility of losing our salvation?
 b. He certainly does elsewhere! - Mt 13:40-43; Re 3:15-16
 
[First of all, then, we are told of the relationship of the kingdom to
the world FROM GOD'S POINT OF VIEW: "You are the salt of the earth."
 
In Mt 5:14-16, we find Jesus teaching concerning those in the kingdom
as to their PRIMARY FUNCTION in the world...]
 
II. "YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD"
 
 A. USED BY GOD TO TRANSMIT HIS GLORY TO THE WORLD...
 1. They are "lights" in a dark world - Ph 2:14-15
 2. Their purpose: to proclaim the praises of God! - 1 Pe 2:9;
 Ep 5:8b-9
 
 B. THEY ARE NOT A "LIGHT" IN AND OF THEMSELVES...
 1. Only in the Lord - Ep 5:8a
 2. Christ is the "true" or "original" light - Jn 8:12
  3. Citizens of the kingdom are simply "luminaries" reflecting The
 One True Light, just as the moon reflects the sun - 2 Co 4:6
 
 C. THEIR TWOFOLD RESPONSIBILITY AS "THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD"...
 1. They must be visible
 a. Implied by Jesus in His use of a "city" and a "lampstand"
 as metaphors
 b. Jesus therefore expects His followers to be seen by the
 world - e.g., Jn 13:35; 17:21
 2. They must radiate (give light)
 a. This principle conveyed by the idea of the lamp
 1) Designed to shine on a lampstand
 2) Not put under a basket
 b. This principle explicitly stated in "let your light SO
 SHINE before men"
 -- The purpose of such visible radiation: so men may glorify the
 Father in heaven - e.g., 1 Pe 2:11-12; 2 Co 9:12-13
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. The influence and impact that the citizens of the kingdom are to
 have on the world can be simply stated...
 a. "You are the salt of the earth"
 b. "You are the light of the world"
 
2. Why make the effort to be salt and light? Because of He who is 
 described as "your Father who is in heaven"!
 a. An expression which should remind us that God is both:
 1) Tender (He is our "Father"; a term of tenderness)
 2) Majestic (He is "in heaven")
 b. Such a Majestic Being, willing to be our Father, makes Him:
 1) Worthy to be pleased!
 2) And worthy to be praised!
 
3. We who claim to be the children of God, citizens of the kingdom, are
 we:
 a. Pleasing to our Father (by being "the salt of the earth")?
 b. Praising Him (by being "the light of the world")?
 
If not, then may the prayer of David in Psa 51:10-15 become our own:
 
 Create in me a clean heart, O God, 
 And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
 
 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
 And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
 
 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
 And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
 
 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
 And sinners shall be converted to You.
 
 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed,
 O God, The God of my salvation,
 And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
 
 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

Jesus And The Law (5:17-19)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Up to this point, Jesus has been describing the "citizens" of the
 kingdom...
 a. Their character and blessedness - Mt 5:3-12
 b. Their influence on the world - Mt 5:13-16
 
2. The next section details the "righteousness" of the kingdom...
 a. The righteousness conduct Jesus would expect of His disciples
 b. In contrast with the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees
 
3. He begins by correcting any false impression some may have had about
 His relationship with the Law of Moses and the Prophets...
 a. Had He come to destroy the Law and the Prophets?
 b. Are His teachings contradictory to the Law and the Prophets?
 
[In Mt 5:17-19, we find His answer to such questions. Our first
observation is that...]
 
I. HE CAME NOT TO DESTROY, BUT TO FULFILL
 
 A. SOME MAY HAVE THOUGHT JESUS INTENDED TO TOTALLY DISREGARD THE
 LAW...
 1. That His coming and teaching would regard the Old Law in a
 negative light
 2. For the expression "to destroy" means literally to "to destroy
 utterly, to overthrow completely" (VINE)
 
 B. ON THE CONTRARY, HIS PURPOSE WAS TO "FULFILL" THE LAW AND THE
 PROPHETS...
 1. For they foretold the coming of the Messiah (Christ)
 a. There are approximately 330 prophecies concerning the
 Christ found in the Law and the Prophets
 b. For example, Deu 18:15,18-19; Isa 53:1-12
 2. For they foretold the coming of the kingdom of God
 a. One example is Dan 2:44
 b. Jesus proclaimed the fulfillment of that prophecy was now
 at hand - Mk 1:14-15
 3. For they also foretold the establishment of a new and 
 different covenant for the people of God
 a. See Jer 31:31-34
 b. That Jesus brought in this new covenant is confirmed in 
 He 8:6-13
 
 C. THEREFORE, UNTIL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS WERE FULFILLED, JESUS
 TAUGHT THAT...
 1. The Law would be as permanent as the heavens and the earth 
 - Mt 5:18
 a. As He said in Lk 16:17, "It is easier for heaven and earth
 to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail."
 b. There would be no change at all, until it was fulfilled
 c. Not even a "jot" or a "tittle" (Hebrew grammatical 
 markings, similar to the dotting of an "i" or the crossing
 of a "t")
 2. A person's treatment of the Law (while still in force) would
 affect their standing in the kingdom - Mt 5:19 How so...?
  a. Remember that the kingdom has a future aspect - Mt 7:21-23