Sermons on Matthew 5:17
The various sermons below interpret Matthew 5:17 with a shared emphasis on the concept of fulfillment, highlighting Jesus as the one who completes the Old Testament narrative. They collectively underscore that Jesus fulfills both the law and the prophets, not by abolishing them but by embodying their ultimate purpose. A common theme is the integration of heart and action, where Jesus' teachings connect internal transformation with external obedience. The sermons also stress the authority of Scripture, suggesting that true righteousness involves aligning one's life with biblical standards. Additionally, they highlight Jesus' unique role as both fully human and fully divine, enabling Him to live a sinless life and fulfill the law's demands. The analogy of Jesus as the "light of the world" is used to contrast His relational approach with other religions focused on rule-keeping.
While these sermons share common themes, they also present distinct nuances in their interpretations. One sermon emphasizes the authority of Scripture, warning against the modern tendency to reinterpret biblical standards, while another focuses on the relational aspect of following Jesus, contrasting it with mere rule adherence. A different sermon introduces the concept of liberty in Christ, highlighting the freedom from sin's bondage, whereas another sermon explores the radical forgiveness and restoration associated with the year of Jubilee, linking it to Jesus' fulfillment of the law. Additionally, one sermon contrasts the Pharisees' focus on outward appearance with Jesus' emphasis on internal transformation, presenting Him as the eschatological goal of the Old Testament.
Matthew 5:17 Interpretation:
Fulfillment, Righteousness, and the Kingdom of Heaven (Granville Chapel) interprets Matthew 5:17 by emphasizing the concept of fulfillment as Jesus completing the story of the Old Testament. The sermon highlights that Jesus fulfills both the law and the prophets, which is a shorthand for the entire Old Testament. The speaker uses the analogy of a sports team finally winning a championship to illustrate the idea of fulfillment, suggesting that Jesus' coming makes sense of the entire biblical narrative. The sermon also discusses how Jesus fulfills the law by connecting it to the ultimate purpose of transforming hearts, not just actions.
Exceeding Righteousness: Embracing Scripture's Authority (River of Life Church Virginia) interprets Matthew 5:17 by focusing on the authority of Scripture and the necessity of fulfilling the law through Jesus. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it, meaning to complete and embody it. The speaker uses the Greek term for "fulfill" to explain that Jesus came to fill up the law, embodying both its promises and demands. This interpretation stresses the importance of accepting the authority of Scripture as a standard for righteousness.
Embracing Our Mission: The Gospel's Urgent Call (Refuge Cleveland) interprets Matthew 5:17 by emphasizing that Jesus came to fulfill the law, not abolish it. The sermon highlights that Jesus fulfilled the law by living a sinless life and satisfying the wrath of God through His crucifixion. This interpretation underscores the dual nature of Jesus as fully human and fully God, which allowed Him to resist temptation and fulfill the law. The sermon uses the analogy of Jesus as the "light of the world," contrasting Him with other religions that focus on rule-keeping, and emphasizes the relational aspect of following Jesus rather than adhering to a set of rules.
Fulfilling the Law: Heart Over Ritual (Mountain Vista Baptist Church) interprets Matthew 5:17 as Jesus emphasizing the fulfillment of the law rather than its abolition. The sermon highlights the Greek term for "abolish," which is the same word used for the destruction of the temple, indicating a complete overthrow. The sermon suggests that Jesus did not come to subvert the law but to fulfill it, both in action and in heart. The analogy of fulfilling a mortgage or car payment is used to explain that once something is fulfilled, it is no longer binding, yet it remains significant. The sermon also emphasizes that Jesus, as the author of the law, is the only one who can rightly interpret and apply it.
Matthew 5:17 Theological Themes:
Fulfillment, Righteousness, and the Kingdom of Heaven (Granville Chapel) presents the theme of the integration of heart and action as the ultimate goal of the law. The sermon suggests that Jesus' teaching connects the internal state of the heart with external actions, emphasizing maturity and wholeness rather than mere rule-following.
Exceeding Righteousness: Embracing Scripture's Authority (River of Life Church Virginia) introduces the theme of the authority of Scripture as essential for understanding righteousness. The sermon argues against the modern tendency to reinterpret or dismiss biblical standards, emphasizing that true righteousness involves both belief and action in accordance with Scripture.
Embracing Our Mission: The Gospel's Urgent Call (Refuge Cleveland) presents the theme of Jesus as the fulfillment of the law, emphasizing His role as the sinless lamb who satisfies God's wrath. The sermon also explores the concept of liberty in Christ, contrasting it with licentiousness and highlighting the freedom believers have in Christ to live without the bondage of sin.
Embracing the Year of Jubilee: Forgiveness and Renewal (Alliance International Church Hong Kong) introduces the theme of the year of Jubilee as a radical concept of forgiveness and restoration, linking it to Jesus' fulfillment of the law. The sermon emphasizes the theological implication that God is the true owner of all land and resources, and the Jubilee year serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and provision.
Fulfilling the Law: Heart Over Ritual (Mountain Vista Baptist Church) presents the theme that Jesus' fulfillment of the law is not about rote adherence but about the heart's intent. The sermon contrasts the Pharisees' focus on outward appearance with Jesus' focus on internal transformation. It also introduces the idea that Jesus is the eschatological goal of the Old Testament, as stated by D.A. Carson, making Him the sole authoritative interpreter of the law.
Matthew 5:17 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Fulfillment, Righteousness, and the Kingdom of Heaven (Granville Chapel) provides historical context by explaining that the terms "law and the prophets" were used in the ancient Jewish world to refer to the entire Old Testament. This insight helps clarify Jesus' statement about fulfilling the law and the prophets as encompassing the whole biblical narrative up to that point.
Embracing the Year of Jubilee: Forgiveness and Renewal (Alliance International Church Hong Kong) provides historical context about the year of Jubilee, explaining its significance in the agrarian society of ancient Israel. The sermon describes how the Jubilee year involved the return of land to original owners and the freeing of slaves, highlighting its role in preventing permanent economic disparity and ensuring equitable distribution of resources.
Fulfilling the Law: Heart Over Ritual (Mountain Vista Baptist Church) provides historical context by explaining the Jewish expectation that the Messiah would abolish the law. It also discusses the shift in Jewish practice post-Babylonian captivity, where they became strictly monotheistic and created additional laws to protect the Sabbath, illustrating the cultural norms and religious practices of the time.
Matthew 5:17 Cross-References in the Bible:
Fulfillment, Righteousness, and the Kingdom of Heaven (Granville Chapel) references 1 Corinthians 15, where Paul discusses the fulfillment of the scriptures through Jesus' death and resurrection. This passage is used to support the idea that Jesus' life and work are in accordance with the entire biblical narrative, fulfilling God's plan.
Exceeding Righteousness: Embracing Scripture's Authority (River of Life Church Virginia) references Jeremiah 31:33 and Ezekiel 36:27 to illustrate the concept of God's law being written on the heart and the role of the Holy Spirit in enabling believers to live according to God's statutes. These references support the sermon’s emphasis on internal transformation as part of fulfilling the law.
Embracing Our Mission: The Gospel's Urgent Call (Refuge Cleveland) references John 8:12, where Jesus declares Himself as the "light of the world," to support the interpretation of Matthew 5:17. This cross-reference is used to emphasize Jesus' unique role in providing spiritual illumination and guidance, contrasting with other religious systems focused on rule-keeping.
Embracing the Year of Jubilee: Forgiveness and Renewal (Alliance International Church Hong Kong) references Leviticus 25 to explain the concept of the Jubilee year and its implications for forgiveness and restoration. The sermon also connects this to the Lord's Prayer in Matthew, highlighting the conditional nature of forgiveness as taught by Jesus.
Fulfilling the Law: Heart Over Ritual (Mountain Vista Baptist Church) references Romans 10:4, which states that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes, and Luke 16, where Jesus emphasizes the enduring nature of the law. Jeremiah 31 is also cited, prophesying a new covenant where the law is written on hearts, indicating the transition from the old covenant to the new through Jesus.
Matthew 5:17 Christian References outside the Bible:
Exceeding Righteousness: Embracing Scripture's Authority (River of Life Church Virginia) mentions historical figures like Marcion and Thomas Jefferson, who attempted to alter or reinterpret Scripture. The sermon uses these examples to caution against modern tendencies to dismiss biblical authority and to emphasize the importance of adhering to the original teachings of Jesus and the apostles.
Embracing Community and Transformation in Christ (Harmony Church) references Paul Ellis and his website "Escape to Reality" as a resource for understanding New Covenant Christianity. The sermon suggests using this resource to gain insights into biblical passages and their context, emphasizing the importance of proper interpretation and understanding of scripture.
Fulfilling the Law: Heart Over Ritual (Mountain Vista Baptist Church) references Warren Wiersbe, who stated that the Pharisees destroyed the law by their traditions and hypocritical lives, and D.A. Carson, who described Jesus as the eschatological goal of the Old Testament and its sole authoritative interpreter.
Matthew 5:17 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Fulfillment, Righteousness, and the Kingdom of Heaven (Granville Chapel) uses the analogy of the Vancouver Canucks potentially winning the Stanley Cup to illustrate the concept of fulfillment. The speaker compares the anticipation and potential fulfillment of a sports team's long-awaited victory to the fulfillment of the biblical narrative through Jesus, suggesting that such fulfillment brings coherence and meaning to the entire story.
Embracing Our Mission: The Gospel's Urgent Call (Refuge Cleveland) uses the analogy of a football game between the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers to illustrate the concept of two distinct groups of people: the lost and the saved. This analogy is used to emphasize the binary nature of spiritual identity and the importance of choosing to follow Christ.
Fulfilling the Law: Heart Over Ritual (Mountain Vista Baptist Church) uses the analogy of fulfilling a mortgage or car payment to explain the concept of fulfillment in Matthew 5:17. Once a debt is fulfilled, it is no longer binding, yet the object (house or car) remains, illustrating how Jesus fulfilled the law without abolishing it.