Verse of the Day 2/8
Matthew 5:17-18 "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. English Standard Version (ESV)
Our men's Bible study group is currently going through the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5-7 and this morning the verses above were part of today's discussion. We've recently gone through a presidential election here in the United States and under our governmental rules, the new President has power and authority to make "executive orders", laws that are put into effect while he is president. Recently, our new president has written many executive orders that with "the stroke of a pen" and his signature have cancelled out orders that were written by the previous president. The way to make measures more permanent in our governmental structure is to have laws passed through legislation in Congress. These are not so easily changed.
Jesus had just completed the Beatitudes earlier in the chapter and many felt that by His teachings, He would be re-writing the Hebrew laws that had been in place and had been added to for over 2 thousand years. Jesus here is giving assurance that this is not the case but pointing out that the persons who seeks to be in right standing before God in God's power and not in himself will fulfill the weightier requirements of the law.
John MacArthur notes that an "iota" is "the smallest Hebrew letter, the "yohd", which is a meager stroke of the pen, like an accent or apostrophe. The "dot" is a tiny extension on a Hebrew letter." God's Word, His laws don't change, no matter what changes take place in government or in the church for that matter. The passage goes on to warn against anyone who tries to add to; modify or change His laws will be "least in the kingdom".
Jesus had spelled out the following in the Beatitudes:
Matthew 5:7-9 God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
9 God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God. New Living Translation (NLT)
In following these with a heart after God you will fulfill His laws. Sinclair Ferguson pointed out that the statement "Jesus came to fulfill the law" could be stated that he "filled full" the law. Those that follow Him and seek to be in right standing before Him, will show kindness and mercy with pure hearts that seek His will and will be filled full" of the grace required to do as we are called to do. For a good example of this in scripture you might read the account of "the good Samaritan" in Lule 10:30-37. The one who fulfilled the law was not the Pharisee who crossed the street to avoid the man in need but the Samaritan who showed mercy and offered help in time of need.
-- In Christ, Mike Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
Matthew 5:17-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Christ Fulfills the Law
17 "Don't assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter[a] or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches people to do so 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, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
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