Sermons on Matthew 5:17-20
The various sermons below interpret Matthew 5:17-20 by emphasizing the concept of fulfillment, with a shared focus on Jesus' role in completing the law rather than abolishing it. They collectively highlight the importance of understanding the law's ultimate purpose, which is to align human conduct with the heart's intentions. A common thread is the use of Greek terms to deepen understanding, such as "teleos" to convey maturity or completeness, and the distinction between "destroy" and "fulfill" to clarify Jesus' mission. The sermons also stress the necessity of reading the Old Testament through a Christ-centered lens, recognizing Jesus as the embodiment of the law's promises and demands. Additionally, they emphasize the heart's role in fulfilling the law, suggesting that true righteousness integrates internal attitudes with external actions, surpassing mere rule-following.
In contrast, the sermons diverge in their thematic emphases and illustrative analogies. One sermon uses the analogy of a mortgage to explain fulfillment, suggesting that once a debt is paid, it is no longer binding, while another sermon uses a sports analogy to illustrate the danger of misunderstanding God's standards. The themes also vary, with some sermons focusing on the authority of Scripture as the standard for righteousness, while others highlight the heart's intent over ritualistic adherence. One sermon presents the law as a schoolmaster guiding people until the coming of grace through Jesus, emphasizing that righteousness comes from God rather than adherence to the law. Another sermon warns against antinomianism and legalism, advocating for a balanced view of the law fulfilled by Jesus and stressing that love fulfills the law.
Matthew 5:17-20 Interpretation:
Fulfillment, Righteousness, and the Kingdom of Heaven (Granville Chapel) interprets Matthew 5:17-20 by emphasizing the concept of fulfillment. The sermon suggests that Jesus fulfills both the scriptures and the law, connecting the Old Testament narrative to His mission. The preacher highlights that Jesus' fulfillment of the law is not about abolishing it but about revealing its ultimate purpose, which is to integrate human conduct with the heart's intentions. The sermon uses the Greek word "teleos" to explain that perfection in this context means maturity or completeness, rather than flawlessness.
Exceeding Righteousness: Embracing Scripture's Authority (River of Life Church Virginia) interprets Matthew 5:17-20 by emphasizing the importance of understanding the standard of righteousness set by God. The sermon uses the analogy of aiming for the wrong goal in sports to illustrate the danger of misunderstanding God's standards. It highlights the Greek term 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 "fulfill" as Jesus embodying both the promise and the demand of Scripture.
Fulfilling the Law: Heart Over Ritual (Mountain Vista Baptist Church) interprets Matthew 5:17-20 by focusing on the heart's role in fulfilling the law. The sermon explains that Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it, meaning to complete it. It uses the analogy of fulfilling a mortgage to explain that once something is fulfilled, it is no longer binding. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus is the only one who can properly interpret and apply the law because he is the fulfillment of it.
Fulfillment of the Law: Righteousness Through Christ (Mountain Vista Baptist Church) interprets Matthew 5:17-20 by emphasizing the distinction between abolishing and fulfilling the law. The sermon uses the analogy of a mortgage to explain fulfillment: once a debt is paid, it is fulfilled, not destroyed. This interpretation highlights that Jesus fulfilled the law by completing its requirements, similar to paying off a debt, thus making it no longer binding. The sermon also discusses the Greek term for "fulfill" as meaning to fill to individual capacity, suggesting that Jesus filled the law to its full measure.
Embodying Kingdom Ethics: The Heart of the Law (City Church Garland) interprets Matthew 5:17-20 by focusing on Jesus as the fulfillment of the law in multiple senses: predictive, ceremonial, ethical, exemplary, and explanatory. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus fulfills the law by being the ultimate sacrifice and by exemplifying perfect obedience. It also highlights the importance of reading the Old Testament with a Christ-centered lens, as all scriptures point to Jesus.
Matthew 5:17-20 Theological Themes:
Fulfillment, Righteousness, and the Kingdom of Heaven (Granville Chapel) presents the theme of righteousness as an integration of heart and action, rather than mere rule-following. The sermon emphasizes that true righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees by aligning one's internal attitudes with external behaviors, reflecting a mature and complete faith.
Exceeding Righteousness: Embracing Scripture's Authority (River of Life Church Virginia) presents the theme of the authority of Scripture as the standard for righteousness. It emphasizes that the righteousness required to enter the kingdom of heaven is not based on human standards but on God's standards as revealed in Scripture. The sermon also discusses the concept of grace and how it does not nullify the law but works in partnership with it.
Fulfilling the Law: Heart Over Ritual (Mountain Vista Baptist Church) introduces the theme of the heart's role in fulfilling the law. It emphasizes that the law is not just about external actions but about the heart's intent. The sermon highlights that Jesus fulfilled the law by addressing the heart issues behind the commandments.
Fulfillment of the Law: Righteousness Through Christ (Mountain Vista Baptist Church) presents the theme that the law serves as a schoolmaster, guiding people until the coming of grace through Jesus Christ. The sermon emphasizes that righteousness comes from God, not from adherence to the law, and that Jesus' fulfillment of the law points to the necessity of grace.
Embodying Kingdom Ethics: The Heart of the Law (City Church Garland) introduces the theme of avoiding antinomianism and legalism, advocating for a balanced view of the law as fulfilled by Jesus. The sermon stresses that love fulfills the law and that Christians are empowered by the Spirit to live in accordance with God's righteous standards.
Matthew 5:17-20 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 shorthand for the entire Old Testament in Jewish culture. This insight helps clarify that Jesus' mission was to fulfill the entire narrative of the Old Testament, not just specific laws.
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 discusses the shift in Jewish practice after the Babylonian captivity, where they became strict monotheists and created additional laws to protect the original law. The sermon also explains the Pharisees' practice of creating extra laws to ensure adherence to the Sabbath.
Fulfillment of the Law: Righteousness Through Christ (Mountain Vista Baptist Church) provides historical context by explaining the Jewish expectation that the Messiah would abolish the law and establish a new system. The sermon also discusses the cultural practice of creating additional laws to protect the Mosaic Law, which led to a focus on external adherence rather than heart intent.
Embodying Kingdom Ethics: The Heart of the Law (City Church Garland) offers insights into the first-century Jewish context, where religious leaders debated interpretations of the law, such as divorce regulations. The sermon highlights the cultural norms of the time, including the practice of animal sacrifices and the Pharisees' emphasis on external righteousness.
Matthew 5:17-20 Cross-References in the Bible:
Fulfillment, Righteousness, and the Kingdom of Heaven (Granville Chapel) references 1 Corinthians 15 to support the idea that Jesus' life and mission were in accordance with the scriptures, emphasizing the continuity between the Old Testament and the New Testament narrative.
Exceeding Righteousness: Embracing Scripture's Authority (River of Life Church Virginia) references Proverbs 22:28 to discuss the importance of not moving ancient boundary markers, relating it to the authority of Scripture. It also references Philippians 3:7-11 to illustrate the Apostle Paul's understanding of righteousness through faith in Christ rather than the law.
Fulfilling the Law: Heart Over Ritual (Mountain Vista Baptist Church) references Romans 10:4 and Luke 16 to explain that Christ is the fulfillment of the law and that the law and the prophets were until John. It also references Jeremiah 31:31-33 to discuss the prophecy of a new covenant where God's law would be written on people's hearts.
Fulfillment of the Law: Righteousness Through Christ (Mountain Vista Baptist Church) references Jeremiah 31:31-34, which speaks of a new covenant, and Romans 7:6, which discusses being released from the law. These passages are used to support the idea that Jesus' fulfillment of the law establishes a new covenant written on believers' hearts.
Embodying Kingdom Ethics: The Heart of the Law (City Church Garland) references Deuteronomy 18, Isaiah 53, and John 1:29 to illustrate how the law and prophets point to Jesus. The sermon also cites Romans 8:2-4 to explain how the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in believers who walk according to the Spirit.
Matthew 5:17-20 Christian References outside the Bible:
Embracing Torah: A Journey of Faith and Obedience (Granville Chapel) references Martin Luther's interpretation of law and gospel, explaining how Luther's context influenced his view of the law as opposed to the gospel. The sermon critiques this dichotomy, suggesting that law and gospel are not meant to be antagonistic but rather complementary in understanding God's relationship with humanity.
Exceeding Righteousness: Embracing Scripture's Authority (River of Life Church Virginia) references Marcion and the doctrine of antinomianism to discuss the historical context of rejecting the law in favor of grace. It also mentions Thomas Jefferson's editing of the Bible and the Jesus Seminar's attempts to determine the historical accuracy of Jesus' words.
Fulfillment of the Law: Righteousness Through Christ (Mountain Vista Baptist Church) references Warren Wiersbe, who explains that Jesus fulfilled the law through his death and resurrection, setting aside the old covenant and establishing the new.
Embodying Kingdom Ethics: The Heart of the Law (City Church Garland) cites John Newton, who states that ignorance of the nature and design of God's law leads to religious mistakes. The sermon also references Sinclair Ferguson, who discusses the fulfillment of the law in believers through the Spirit.
Matthew 5:17-20 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Fulfillment, Righteousness, and the Kingdom of Heaven (Granville Chapel) uses the analogy of the Vancouver Canucks' quest for the Stanley Cup to illustrate the concept of fulfillment. The preacher compares the anticipation and potential fulfillment of a sports team's victory to the fulfillment of the law and the prophets in Jesus, suggesting that just as a championship win would make past struggles worthwhile, Jesus' fulfillment of the law brings coherence to the biblical narrative.
Exceeding Righteousness: Embracing Scripture's Authority (River of Life Church Virginia) uses the analogy of NHL players scoring on their own goal and football players running to the wrong end zone to illustrate the danger of aiming for the wrong goal in life. It also references the fallacy of presentism and the cultural resistance to authority and tradition, using examples like the Jesus Seminar and Thomas Jefferson's Bible to illustrate the tendency to edit or reinterpret Scripture to fit modern views.
Fulfillment of the Law: Righteousness Through Christ (Mountain Vista Baptist Church) uses the analogy of an acorn being destroyed by either smashing it or planting it to illustrate how Jesus fulfilled the law by allowing it to grow into its intended purpose, rather than abolishing it.
Embodying Kingdom Ethics: The Heart of the Law (City Church Garland) uses the metaphor of a mirror to describe the law's function in revealing sin, emphasizing that the law itself does not cleanse but points to the need for Christ's righteousness.