The remainder of Matthew 5 is an exposition on various portions of the Old Testament Law. Each segment contains immense amounts of information that one could dig out through diligent study. Over the next few posts, I hope to bring an overview of the entire passage, stretching from verse 17 through verse 48.
Matthew follows up his discussion of salt and light with a look at the Law. He begins this section by explaining the purpose of Jesus — why he came — in light of the Law. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus states this purpose quite clearly: “I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”
To abolish or destroy means to break something completely. To the first century mind, this conveyed images of trampling something underfoot. By contrast, to fulfill the Law is to maintain a total sinless obedience to it. Jesus did this, making him the perfect sacrifice of atonement on our behalf. But we often get caught up in our tendency towards legalism. It bears repeating: Jesus did come to perpetuate the Law. He came to complete it, to fulfill it. He was the end of the Law.
This is the whole point behind Paul’s discussion of the Law in Galatians 3. The Law was a “schoolmaster,” and its primary purpose was to illuminate Christ. But not that faith has come, we no longer need the schoolmaster. In Galatians 3:24, Paul states, “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.”
But even though the purpose of the Law has been fulfilled, it it not something to be ignored now. It still holds relevance for our lives. In this discussion of the Law, Jesus makes the statement that “not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass form the Law” (Matthew 5:18). You may have heard this passage using the words “jot” or “iota” and “tittle.” An iota was the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet, requiring very little ink or effort to create. A tittle is the stroke of the pen to distinguish different letters, such as the cross on a “t” or the difference between a “c” and “e”. Nothing — not even such small parts of the Law — would pass from the Law. God’s word will remain until “all is accomplished.”
Matthew shows us how Jesus takes the importance of the Law a step further in verse 19. Jesus places practice before preaching. To ignore isn’t what he desires; and to teach others to ignore it is even worse. First we must apply the Word to our own lives, and then we should display and demonstrate it for those around us. The scribes and Pharisees didn’t do this. They were more of the “do as I say” variety, and not the “do as I do.”
In order for our righteousness to grow beyond that, we must be doers of the Word (James 1:22). If we would have the life he offers, Jesus points us towards his Word.
Question: How much emphasis do you place on the Old Testament? When was the last time you read through it? You can leave a comment by clicking here.