Day Thirteen
Matthew 5: 17-20 17“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. 19“Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.
This is a difficult section. First Jesus describes who he is and what his mission is. He condemns those that alter the Law for their own benefit. He praises those who teach and keeps the Law. He then points to the people listening… and unless your righteousness is beyond those who know and teach the law…you will not enter heaven.
There are probably spies following Jesus to find a way to discredit him. The closer it gets to his arrest the more they will try. Jesus knows this, and has to be honest and direct with how he addresses pivotal themes, and the Law is one of the most critical ones that He will address.
He begins by saying, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.” He tells those listening that he is not here to tell them the Law which is from God was wrong. He is saying the Law is correct. He is saying I am here before you telling you that I respect and obey the Law.
Jesus continues, “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished.” He is telling them, and He is telling us that the Law will remain until heaven and earth as they are now will pass away. This will not happen until all is accomplished” Jesus is relating to them that He is the Messiah without saying it. He is speaking a prophecy to those who are listening that when all is accomplished then heaven and earth and the Law will end but not until then. What is to be accomplished? I think Jesus is speaking of the end times when the final battle is between good and evil, and good finally wins. That battle is still out there, but the outcome of that battle has already been decided
. Jesus then says to the people there, (and I suspect they have grown quiet because when Jesus spoke, He spoke with authority), “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
This is where Jesus’s is warning them back then as well as now that the Word of God is be followed as it is. It is not to be rewrote to fit into how people want it to be, but instead as God intended it to be. There is a good note… that teachers of the Word and the Law will all be in the kingdom of God but their standing in that kingdom will be on who do they serve. Do they serve God or do they serve others.
Lastly Jesus says, “Listen to me, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.” I think Jesus is looking towards those who are spies to say, “Just knowing the Law to twist it for your own needs or to control others WILL NOT get you into the kingdom of heaven.
But what is righteousness? Let’s go back to what I wrote earlier in the Beatitudes. “Righteousness is living in the right way with our Lord. But what does this actually mean… It means prayer, fasting, study. It also means living justly, honestly and faithfully. Basically, walking with Jesus. It means taking care of those who are poor. It means being fair to others. It means forgiving others. It means being respectful of others. It means we have to trust God.”
The most difficult one for me to do is “trusting God”. I fail daily on this. I know others have their own weaknesses.
Today’s Question:
Where is your weakness when it comes to being righteous?
Ever In God’s Love,
Mary Elizabeth Todd
November 26, 2024
Ruhamah United Methodist Church Bible Verses 