Sermon on the Mount Part 2: Pursuing Righteousness

Sermon on the Mount

Part 2: Pursuing Righteousness

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 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. 19 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 practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 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

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40

Four Truths Related to the Pursuit of Righteousness

1.Jesus didn’t come to the Old Testament; He came to it!

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. Matthew 5:17

27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” Mark 1:27

“Jesus had come neither to abolish the law and the prophets, setting them aside or abrogating them, nor even just to endorse them in a dead and literalistic way, but to fulfill them.” — John Stott

2. Jesus expects the utmost respect and obedience of .

18 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. Matthew 5:18

• The Old Testament could be broken into three primary categories: teaching, prophecy and principles; and Jesus fulfills them all!

4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Romans 10:4.

• To be clear, we are not righteous because of our ; we are righteous because of our in Jesus.

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Romans 3:21-22

• It is also true that our righteousness will be made by our to His Word.

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. John 5:19-20

3. Jesus defines as and His Word.

19 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 practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:19

The Old Testament has 3 categories of law:

• law – Related specifically to Israel’s worship… 3 “‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. Leviticus 1:3a
• law – Related specifically to daily living in Israel… 6 Do not take a pair of millstones—not even the upper one—as security for a debt, because that would be taking a person’s livelihood as security. Deuteronomy 24:6
• law – Related to the direct commands of God, like the 10 Commandments.

4. Jesus is ultimately concerned with the .

20 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 5:20

Christian righteousness is greater than Pharisaic righteousness in that it is ; that is, it is a righteousness of the .

15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. Luke 16:15

39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 41 “I do not accept glory from human beings, John 5:39-41

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6.