Dock Resource Kit
Sunday sermon, 20 October 2024
Summary
This week, Gareth spoke to us about The Fulfilment of the Law from Matthew 5:17-20. He explored how Jesus didn’t come to abolish the Old Testament Law but to fulfil it completely. Jesus invites us to take His words seriously, warning that nothing in God’s Word is meaningless and that true righteousness comes from a transformed heart, not just outward appearances. We were reminded that to be well, our foundation must be built on Jesus’ teachings and that God promises to give us new hearts, capable of living in alignment with His commands.
Dock Discussion Questions
What does Jesus’ fulfilment of the Law mean for how we live out our faith today?
How can we build our lives on Jesus’ words and be well in our spiritual walk?
What are the signs of a heart that has been transformed by God, and how can we pursue this kind of change in our own lives?
In what areas of your life are you being challenged to take God's Word more seriously?
Long-form, editted transcript
Welcome, everyone. We are in the third week of our new series called Be Well. Now, I’ve been invited back to speak on this topic because, believe it or not, I hold an official Be Well membership card! You can get one too from all good Tower Hamlets Leisure Centres for the low cost of £23.99 a month. It promises health, wellness, and fun—although I think I’m still waiting to experience some of that! But here’s the thing, you don’t actually need that card, because you can join us here at St Paul’s for free and discover what it truly means to be well.
Today, we’ll continue our journey through the Sermon on the Mount, found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5 through 7, by diving into the main body of the text, where we explore one of its more challenging sections: The Fulfilment of the Law, found in Matthew 5:17-20. These are often considered some of the more difficult verses in this sermon. So, firstly, thank you to Brigid for giving me this one! I’ll be sure to remember that when you visit Poplar. And secondly, I apologise in advance if I make this a bit more complicated than it needs to be! But these verses contain a wealth of information, and I encourage you to read them for yourself and see what you take away from them.
Let’s read the passage together:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practises and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-20)
Jesus and the Law: A Call to Listen
Matthew 5:1 tells us that when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up onto a mountainside, sat down, and began to teach His disciples—not just the Twelve, but many others who had gathered around Him. Despite having this great mission to complete—the journey to the cross—Jesus always took time to stop and talk to people. He would spot the crowds and make time for them. Even when He was on the cross, He found time to speak to the man next to Him who was being crucified. If there was ever a time to take a break, that was it! But no, Jesus continued to engage, to teach, and to share the good news of God’s kingdom.
In this passage, Jesus invites us to listen carefully. He says in verse 17, "Do not think…". These are the kinds of words I used to hear from my teachers: "Don’t think, just listen!" Jesus was correcting a misunderstanding about what people thought He had come to do. He hadn’t come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfil them. He was asking His listeners to pause their assumptions and consider His words afresh.
Fulfilling the Law, Not Abolishing It
Many of the people listening to Jesus hoped that the Messiah would come and radically change everything. They thought He would start something completely new, abolishing the old ways. But Jesus says clearly, "I have not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come to fulfil them."
The "Law and the Prophets" refers to the Old Testament—the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures, known as the Law, and the prophets who were chosen by God to speak on His behalf. These scriptures were meant to guide people in living according to God’s desires, to be a light to the nations around them. But, as we know, the Israelites often struggled to follow God’s commands. Eventually, they went into exile, and when they returned, there was a 400-year period of silence before the New Testament begins.
During this time, a group called the Pharisees rose up. Now, they often get a bad reputation, but they meant well. They recommitted themselves to following the Law of Moses and the Ten Commandments. However, they quickly began adding extra rules on top of the original laws to define what was acceptable behaviour. These additional rules became a heavy burden on people. For example, one rule said you couldn’t walk through a field on the Sabbath in case your sandal clipped a grain of wheat, which would be considered harvesting—a sin. It got out of hand very quickly.
So, the people listening to Jesus might have hoped He would do away with these burdensome rules. But instead, Jesus says, "I have not come to abolish the law, but to fulfil it." He wasn’t starting something new; He was completing what had already been set in motion through the Old Testament.
Jesus Fulfils the Law in Every Way
When Jesus says He came to "fulfil" the Law, He means He is the completion of everything the Old Testament points towards. His life, His teachings, His death, and His resurrection all bring the Law and the Prophets to fulfilment. There are over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament about the Messiah, and Jesus fulfilled every single one of them. He perfectly obeyed the Torah and kept every law.
The cross itself is the fulfilment of the Old Testament sacrifices. In verse 18, Jesus says, "Until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished." This assures us that God’s Word will outlast the universe. His promises are eternal, and nothing in His Word is meaningless. Every detail, even the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet, matters.
Taking God's Word Seriously
Jesus emphasises the importance of taking God’s Word seriously. In verse 19, He warns against reducing or disregarding any part of God’s commands. Those who devalue His Word will be considered least in the kingdom of heaven, but those who practise and teach His commands will be considered great.
John MacArthur once said, "Greatness is defined by a believer's understanding of Scripture as it is reflected in their life and teachings, not by talents, accomplishment, popularity, or reputation." We must hold onto God's Word with reverence, allowing it to shape our lives and influence the way we teach and encourage one another.
Surpassing the Righteousness of the Pharisees
Finally, Jesus concludes this section with a challenging statement: "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."
This would have shocked His listeners. The Pharisees were seen as the most righteous people, experts in following the Law. But their righteousness was superficial—it focused on outward appearances rather than a transformed heart. Jesus says we must go beyond that. We need a righteousness that comes from the heart, and that can only come from God.
God promises to give us new hearts: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26). This transformation enables us to obey God’s commands, not out of obligation, but out of love and gratitude. Only through faith in Jesus can we be made truly righteous.
Building Our Lives on a Firm Foundation
Over the next few weeks, we’ll continue exploring what it means to obey God’s commands. We’ll look at topics like resentment, revenge, and how we handle our enemies. As we do, I encourage you to keep asking Jesus to shape your heart and to build your life on His words.
At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus asks us what we will build our lives on—His words or the shifting sands of the world? That’s the question for all of us today: What are you building your foundation on? Will you build your life on Jesus, the rock, or on the fleeting words of others?
Concluding Prayer
Father, we thank You for Your Word, which will last forever. Thank You for Your promises and the hope we find in Scripture. Help us to build our lives on Your foundation. Change our hearts, Lord—replace any hardness with hearts of flesh that are open to Your guidance. Lead us in Your ways and may we stand firm in the knowledge that You are our rock and our refuge. We ask this in Your name, Amen.