Christ Fulfills the Law

Matthew 5:17-20

17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18  For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20  For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus Perspective – He didn’t identify with Pharisees or Sadducees, so He had the attention of many people since He wasn’t like the others.

V.17 – Both the Mosaic law and the prophets spoke of Jesus. He came to fulfill the law, to complete it.

Mosaic Law:

1) Moral Law – 10 Commandments
2) Judicial Law – Set Israelites apart from the rest of the world (for example dietary restrictions, purification rituals, etc.)
3) Ceremonial Law – governed God’s people when worshipping (such as ceremonial feasts, Passover, etc.)

Jesus is claimed to be the theme of the Old Testament:
Luke 24:27- And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself 

and

Luke 24:44- Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me

John 5:39-  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me,

Hebrews 10:7- Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.

We, today, aren’t under the Old Law but under the New Covenant. There are laws in the New Testament, the law of faith, the law of liberty, the law of Christ – all the same.

The Bible doesn’t say we’re to be lawless. We’re under the law of Jesus Christ. He emphasizes obedience to God’s law. We must obey God’s law to be righteous:

Romans 10:2-3  2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

God’s laws teach us how to be saved and live right.