Monday, June 27, 2016

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. I tell you the truth, 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 5:17-18

Doesn’t this strike you as a rather odd thing for Jesus to say? Why would he be concerned about people thinking he was going to abolish or do away with the law & the prophets?

The Jewish people believed deeply in the law (Torah). An important aspect of this OT was law was the concept of retributive theology. In other words, God punishes the wicked and rewards the righteous. According to retributive theology, it was unjust that God’s chosen people (the Jews), were governed and oppressed by foreign pagan rulers (Rome). Jesus comes along and tells them that what they viewed as the problem was in actuality the natural outpouring of a holy life and was a blessing to them. Throughout the beatitudes Jesus telling them that persecution results in blessing and if you are persecuted, it is not really a problem, but rather a sign that they were on the right track. Jesus even compares those who are persecuted for righteousness sake to the Holy Prophets! 

Jesus is really deconstructing their understanding of the law, which was really the entire worldview for a faithful Jew. Jesus wants to make the point clear that He is not interested in destroying the OT law and starting over, but He is actually fulfilling the law the way that God always intended!

This was not immediately apparent to Jesus’ first century audience. In fact his own disciples would not fully grasp his message until after his death & resurrection. I think perhaps we are at times a little too quick to “understand” what we think Jesus is saying. Many, if not most, of those original first century listeners considered the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount harsh and even strange. 

When was the last time the words of Jesus caused you to ponder and reflect deeply on what he really means for you?

When was the last time you were surprised or shocked by anything Jesus said or did?

When was the last time you were confused or troubled by anything Jesus said or did?

In other words, the moment you think you have Jesus “all figured out” you should think again!

(If you would like to read a wonderful little book on this idea, read Philip Yancey’s book, The Jesus I Never Knew)


Lord Jesus, help us to hear your words afresh. Keep us from becoming comfortable and complacent in our minds and teach us how to live in and for your kingdom – Amen. 

Jeff Frazier