Matthew 5:17-20

[17] Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. [18] For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. [19] Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [20] For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Background

• Each of the four gospels in the NT was written with a specific audience in mind. They were all intended to be faithful accounts of the ministry of Jesus, but each gospel was written at a particular point in time, for a particular community of faith and with a particular set of concerns in mind.
• Matthew’s gospel was probably based on the gospel of Mark, with additional material added (as was Luke). This is the view of most scholars.
• Matthew is usually seen as the most Jewish of the gospels, and was probably written for Jewish believers in Jesus, for whom the Law (Torah) of Moses was of central importance.
• When Jesus spoke the Sermon on the Mount, he was laying out the values of the KIngdom of God, and setting the standard for his disciples.
• Some interpreters see the Sermon on the Mount as a parallel to Moses on Mount Sinai, and Jesus as the new Moses, giving the authoritative teachings and instructions (commandments) that would be binding on His disciples.
• The Hebrew word Torah, which refers to the five Books of Moses, actually includes the concepts of teaching (guidance, instruction) as well as law

Discussion

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law [Torah] and the Prophets

• Why might Jesus have felt the need to state that he did not intend to abolish the Law [Torah] and the Prophets?
• Why might Matthew have felt the need to include this statement in his gospel?

I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them

• The Greek word pleroo (fuifill) literally means to make full or to complete.
• What are some of the ways in which Jesus fulfils the Law and the Prophets?

For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

The iota and the dot probably refer to the smallest strokes (accents) of the Hebrew scriptures. Here Jesus is emphasizing the reliability and authoritative nature of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament).

• Why might Jesus have chosen to emphasize this point?
• This emphasis in Jesus’ teaching is not unique to the Gospel of Matthew. See John 10:35
• Why might Matthew have chosen to emphasize it for a Jewish audience?

Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

• which commandments do you think Jesus had in mind when he said this – the ones in the Law of Moses, or the ones that he was about to give (which he said fulfilled the Law of Moses)?   

For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

• See Matthew 12;1-14, Matthew 23;5-7, Matthew 23:23-28
• In what ways does the righteousness of a disciple of Jesus need to exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees?

Concluding Question

See Galatians 3:10-14,  Romans 8:1-4. How do you reconcile this with Jesus’ teaching on the Law in Matthew 5:17-20?