Sermons on Matthew 5:17-18
The various sermons below interpret Matthew 5:17-18 by emphasizing the continuity and fulfillment of the law through Jesus Christ. They collectively highlight that Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it, underscoring the importance of adhering to God's standards of righteousness. A common analogy used is that of a legal system or a set of requirements, illustrating how Jesus' life and sacrificial death satisfy the law's demands. The sermons also address the misconception of antinomianism, clarifying that grace does not render the law obsolete but rather upholds its significance. Additionally, the sermons emphasize the transformative power of the law, portraying it as a source of wisdom and guidance that reveals our need for Jesus and revives the soul.
While the sermons share common themes, they also present distinct nuances in their interpretations. One sermon emphasizes the authority of scripture as essential for entering the kingdom of heaven, warning against creating personal standards and stressing the need to align with God's word. Another sermon highlights the law as a reflection of God's character and love, focusing on its role in revealing our need for Jesus rather than condemning us. A different sermon underscores the centrality of Christ's fulfillment of the law in the Christian gospel, emphasizing that salvation is achieved through Christ's work rather than the abolishment of the law. Lastly, a sermon argues that the gospel confirms the law's validity by demonstrating God's holiness and justice, highlighting the seriousness of sin and the necessity of Christ's sacrifice in upholding the law's moral demands.
Matthew 5:17-18 Interpretation:
Exceeding Righteousness: Embracing Scripture's Authority (River of Life Church Virginia) interprets Matthew 5:17-18 by emphasizing the importance of understanding the standard of righteousness set by God. The sermon uses the analogy of writing a paper with the wrong requirements to illustrate how aiming for the wrong standard can lead to missing the kingdom of heaven. The preacher highlights the Greek word for "destroy" as meaning to annul or invalidate, emphasizing that Jesus did not come to invalidate the Old Testament but to fulfill it. The sermon also discusses the concept of antinomianism, which suggests that grace makes the law unimportant, and contrasts this with Jesus' teaching that the law remains significant.
The Transformative Power of God's Perfect Law (The Orchard Church) interprets Matthew 5:17-18 by connecting the law of the Lord with the person of Jesus, who fulfills the law. The sermon uses the analogy of a lunchbox packed with everything needed for the journey to illustrate how God's word provides all the wisdom and guidance we need. The preacher emphasizes that Jesus is the embodiment of the law and that the law is a gift that reveals our need for Jesus. The sermon highlights the active nature of the law in reviving the soul and making wise the simple.
Christ: The Fulfillment of the Law and Salvation (MLJTrust) interprets Matthew 5:17-18 by emphasizing that Christ is the fulfillment of the law, not its abolishment. The sermon highlights that Jesus fulfilled the law through his life and sacrificial death, satisfying all its demands. The sermon uses the Greek term "telos" (end) to explain that Christ is the culmination or goal of the law, meaning that he brings it to its intended purpose. This interpretation underscores that the law's demands are met in Christ, who embodies perfect righteousness.
Establishing the Law Through Christ's Sacrifice (MLJTrust) also interprets Matthew 5:17-18 by asserting that the gospel establishes the law rather than nullifying it. The sermon explains that Christ's life and sacrificial death uphold the law's demands, demonstrating God's holiness and justice. The sermon uses the analogy of a legal system where Christ's sacrifice satisfies the law's requirements, thus establishing its validity and purpose.
Matthew 5:17-18 Theological Themes:
Exceeding Righteousness: Embracing Scripture's Authority (River of Life Church Virginia) presents the theme of accepting the authority of scripture as essential for entering the kingdom of heaven. The sermon emphasizes that the Bible offers a standard of righteousness and that we must accept and apply it to our lives. The preacher warns against creating our own standards and highlights the importance of aligning our lives with God's word.
The Transformative Power of God's Perfect Law (The Orchard Church) introduces the theme of the law as a reflection of God's character and a demonstration of His love. The sermon emphasizes that the law is not meant to condemn but to reveal our need for Jesus. The preacher highlights the law's role in reviving the soul and providing wisdom, illustrating the transformative power of God's perfect law.
Christ: The Fulfillment of the Law and Salvation (MLJTrust) presents the theme that Christ's fulfillment of the law is central to the Christian gospel. The sermon emphasizes that salvation is not about abolishing the law but about Christ fulfilling it on behalf of believers. This theme highlights the necessity of Christ's work for salvation and the continuity of God's moral standards.
Establishing the Law Through Christ's Sacrifice (MLJTrust) introduces the theme that the gospel confirms the law's validity by demonstrating God's holiness and justice. The sermon argues that Christ's sacrifice reveals the seriousness of sin and God's wrath against it, thus upholding the law's moral demands. This theme underscores the idea that the gospel does not negate the law but rather affirms its purpose and necessity.
Matthew 5:17-18 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Exceeding Righteousness: Embracing Scripture's Authority (River of Life Church Virginia) provides historical context by discussing the Pharisees and scribes as examples of those who adhered strictly to the law. The sermon explains that the Pharisees were known for their legalism and memorization of the Old Testament, and Jesus' statement about exceeding their righteousness would have been shocking to His audience. The preacher also references the historical figure Marcion and his doctrine of antinomianism, which rejected the Old Testament law.
Christ: The Fulfillment of the Law and Salvation (MLJTrust) provides historical context by discussing the Jewish understanding of the law and its importance in their religious life. The sermon explains that the Jews misunderstood the law's purpose, thinking they could achieve righteousness through it, while its true purpose was to point to Christ as the ultimate fulfillment.
Establishing the Law Through Christ's Sacrifice (MLJTrust) offers insights into the cultural context of the law in Jewish society, explaining how the law functioned as a covenant between God and Israel. The sermon highlights the ceremonial aspects of the law, such as sacrifices, which pointed to the need for atonement and were fulfilled in Christ's sacrifice.
Matthew 5:17-18 Cross-References in the Bible:
Exceeding Righteousness: Embracing Scripture's Authority (River of Life Church Virginia) references Proverbs 22:28, which warns against moving ancient boundary markers, to illustrate the importance of adhering to the standards set by previous generations. The sermon also references Jeremiah 31:33 and Ezekiel 36:27, which speak of God writing His law on our hearts and putting His Spirit within us, emphasizing the internalization of God's law.
The Transformative Power of God's Perfect Law (The Orchard Church) references Psalm 19 to highlight the perfection of God's law and its role in reviving the soul. The sermon also references John 1, which speaks of Jesus as the Word, connecting the law with the person of Jesus. The preacher uses these cross-references to emphasize the active and transformative nature of God's law.
Christ: The Fulfillment of the Law and Salvation (MLJTrust) references Romans 10:4, which states that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. This passage is used to support the idea that Christ fulfills the law's demands, providing righteousness to believers through faith. The sermon also references Romans 3:25-26, which speaks of Christ as a propitiation, emphasizing the satisfaction of God's justice through Christ's sacrifice.
Establishing the Law Through Christ's Sacrifice (MLJTrust) references Romans 3:31, which asserts that faith establishes the law. This passage is used to argue that the gospel upholds the law's validity by demonstrating God's justice and holiness. The sermon also references Hebrews 9:22, which states that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins, highlighting the necessity of Christ's sacrificial death.
Matthew 5:17-18 Christian References outside the Bible:
Exceeding Righteousness: Embracing Scripture's Authority (River of Life Church Virginia) references the historical figure Marcion, who created the doctrine of antinomianism, rejecting the Old Testament law. The sermon also mentions Thomas Jefferson's editing of the Bible to fit his views, illustrating the danger of altering scripture to suit personal preferences.
Christ: The Fulfillment of the Law and Salvation (MLJTrust) references historical Christian figures such as Augustine, Luther, and Calvin, emphasizing their understanding of the law's fulfillment in Christ. The sermon argues against modern reinterpretations of the atonement that downplay the law's demands, asserting the importance of traditional theological perspectives.
Establishing the Law Through Christ's Sacrifice (MLJTrust) references Dr. C.H. Dodd, critiquing his interpretation of the atonement as lacking emphasis on the law's demands. The sermon defends the traditional view of the atonement as satisfying the law's requirements, aligning with historical Christian teachings.
Matthew 5:17-18 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Exceeding Righteousness: Embracing Scripture's Authority (River of Life Church Virginia) uses the illustration of NHL players scoring on their own goal to emphasize the importance of aiming for the right standard. The sermon also references the 1996 Olympics, where the USA team was disqualified for stepping on a line, to illustrate the consequences of not meeting the standard. The preacher uses these secular examples to highlight the importance of understanding and adhering to God's standard of righteousness.
Christ: The Fulfillment of the Law and Salvation (MLJTrust) uses the analogy of a legal system to illustrate how Christ's fulfillment of the law satisfies its demands. The sermon compares Christ's work to a legal advocate who meets all the requirements of the law on behalf of the accused, thus securing their acquittal. This analogy helps convey the idea that Christ's sacrifice upholds the law's validity while providing salvation to believers.