The Law&TheProphets pt1

In Matthew 5, Jesus calls his disciples to a radically different way of living—one that goes far beyond outward obedience to the law and reaches deep into the heart. The commands he gives are not simply a list of rules to follow, but a revelation of God’s own character, written not just on stone but on the hearts of his people. The law was never meant to be a set of loopholes or technicalities to navigate, but a call to become like the Father—perfect in love, justice, and mercy. Jesus fulfills the law, not by abolishing it, but by embodying it perfectly and then inviting us, by the power of his Spirit, to walk in that same life.

The kingdom of heaven is not a distant hope, but a present reality that Jesus brings to earth. As citizens of this kingdom, we are called to live under a new dominion—the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. This means our lives will look different from the world around us. We are not to hide away in fear or bunker down, but to go into the world as light, bringing the presence and reign of Jesus wherever we go. Our words, actions, and even our inner attitudes are to reflect the heart of God.

Jesus exposes the tendency to minimize God’s commands or justify ourselves by comparing to others. He makes it clear that true righteousness is not about external compliance, but about a transformed heart. Anger, contempt, and careless words are as serious as outward acts of violence, because they reveal what is truly within us. The call is not just to avoid murder, but to be reconciled, to speak words that build up, and to love even those who have wronged us.

This is not a burden too heavy to bear, because Jesus himself gives the power to live this way. The Spirit writes God’s law on our hearts, enabling us to obey from the inside out. When we fall short, we come to Jesus for forgiveness and cleansing, and we extend that same grace to others. The goal is not religious status or outward achievement, but to belong to Jesus, to manifest heaven on earth, and to walk as true sons and daughters of the Father.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Law Fulfilled in Christ and Written on Our Hearts Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it and reveal its true intent—a life transformed from the inside out. The new covenant promise is that God himself will write his law on our hearts, giving us both the desire and the power to walk in his ways. Outward obedience is meaningless without inward transformation, and the Spirit enables us to live in genuine righteousness that reflects God’s character. [09:30]
• 2. The Kingdom of Heaven: A Present Reality, Not a Future Escape The kingdom of heaven is not just a future hope, but a present reality that breaks into our world through Jesus and his people. We are called to live as ambassadors of this kingdom, under a new law and a new identity, bringing the reign of Christ into every sphere of life. This means we do not retreat from the world, but engage it as light, carrying the presence and authority of Jesus wherever we go. [18:32]
• 3. True Righteousness Exceeds Religious Performance Jesus makes it clear that the righteousness required for the kingdom is not the external, performative righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, but a deeper, authentic righteousness that comes from union with him. Our actions and our advice—what we do and what we teach—matter deeply, but only as they flow from a heart aligned with God. We must let go of self-made righteousness and cling to the righteousness that comes by faith in Christ. [30:07]
• 4. The Heart Behind the Command: Anger, Words, and Reconciliation God’s commands are not just about external actions, but about the heart. Jesus equates unrighteous anger and contemptuous words with murder, showing that our inner attitudes and the way we speak to others are of eternal significance. We are called to be people whose words build up, who seek reconciliation, and who refuse to harbor bitterness or contempt, knowing that our words reveal the true state of our hearts. [41:51]
• 5. Grace for Failure and the Call to Forgive All have fallen short, and none of us can claim perfection in our words or actions. Yet Jesus offers forgiveness, cleansing, and a new heart to all who come to him. As we receive his grace, we are called to extend forgiveness to others, letting go of past hurts and seeking reconciliation, so that the love and freedom of Christ can flow through us to those around us. [51:14]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:14] - Introduction and Prayer
• [01:17] - Reading Matthew 5:17 and Context
• [02:00] - Jesus’ Commands and the Law
• [03:10] - Heart Issues: Anger and Reconciliation
• [04:14] - Adultery, Lust, and Radical Obedience
• [04:54] - Oaths, Truthfulness, and Integrity
• [05:36] - Retaliation and Loving Enemies
• [06:56] - The Call to Perfection
• [08:20] - Loopholes, Law, and Heart Obedience
• [10:07] - Ezekiel 36: The New Covenant Promise
• [14:57] - The Power to Obey: Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
• [16:04] - The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth
• [18:32] - Ambassadors and a New Identity
• [23:41] - Jesus Fulfills the Law
• [28:41] - Greatness in the Kingdom: Doing and Teaching
• [30:07] - Righteousness Beyond the Pharisees
• [37:13] - The Six Controversial Topics
• [41:51] - Anger, Words, and the Heart
• [49:14] - Forgiveness, Repentance, and Reconciliation
• [55:12] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Matthew 5:17-26 (NKJV) — 17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Ezekiel 36:25-27 (NKJV) — 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

Observation Questions

1. According to Jesus in Matthew 5, what is his relationship to the Law and the Prophets? What does he say about their ongoing importance? ([02:00])
2. What does Jesus say is the real danger behind anger and contemptuous words, not just the act of murder? ([41:51])
3. In Ezekiel 36, what does God promise to do for his people regarding their hearts and his law? ([10:45])
4. What does Jesus say about the kind of righteousness required to enter the kingdom of heaven? How does it compare to the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees? ([30:07])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus insists that the law is not abolished but fulfilled in him? What does it mean for the law to be “written on our hearts” instead of just followed outwardly? ([09:30])
2. How does Jesus’ teaching about anger and words challenge the way people typically think about sin and righteousness? ([41:51])
3. What does it look like for the kingdom of heaven to be a present reality in the life of a believer, rather than just a future hope? ([18:32])
4. Why is it important that our actions and our advice (what we do and what we teach) both align with Jesus’ commands? ([28:41])

Application Questions

1. Jesus says that true obedience starts in the heart, not just in outward actions. Are there areas in your life where you are “sitting down on the outside but standing up on the inside”? What would it look like to let God change your heart in those areas? ([12:35])
2. The sermon warns against looking for loopholes or technicalities to avoid God’s commands. Can you think of a time when you tried to justify your actions instead of facing what God was really asking of you? What would it look like to respond differently? ([08:20])
3. Jesus calls us to be light in the world, not to hide away in fear. Are there places or situations where you tend to “bunker down” instead of bringing the presence of Jesus? What is one step you could take this week to engage as light in a dark place? ([21:26])
4. The teaching on anger and words is very practical. Is there someone you need to seek reconciliation with, or words you need to apologize for? What is stopping you from taking that step? ([50:27])
5. The promise of Ezekiel 36 is that God gives a new heart and a new spirit. Are there areas where you feel stuck in old patterns? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to help you walk in God’s ways from the inside out? ([11:26])
6. The sermon emphasizes extending forgiveness to others, even when they don’t apologize. Is there someone you need to forgive, not because they deserve it, but because Jesus has forgiven you? What would it look like to let go of that hurt? ([51:14])
7. Jesus says our words should build up and not tear down. Think about your speech this past week—were your words more often building up or tearing down? What is one practical change you can make in how you speak to others? ([44:57])