LAW & ORDER
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) The law
i) 17 “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. 18 For truly I tell you, 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. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-20 NIV)
1. The fulfillment of the law
a) If Jesus did not come to destroy the law, does that mean all the Old Testament laws still apply to us today? In the Old Testament, there were 3 categories of law:
i) Ceremonial
@1. The cremonial law related specifically to Israel's worship (for example, see Leviticus 1:2-3 NIV). It primary purpose was to point forward to Jesus Christ; these laws, therefore, were no longer necessary after Jesus' death and resurrection. While we are no longer bound by ceremonial laws, the principles behind them - to worship and love a holy God - still apply. Jesus was often accused by the Pharisees of violating ceremonial law.
#1) 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the Lord, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.
3 “‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that it will be acceptable to the Lord. (Leviticus 1:2-3 NIV)
ii) Civil
@1. The civil law applied to daily living in Israel (for example, see Deuteronomy 24:10-11 NIV). Because modern society and culture are so radically different from that time and setting, all these guidelines cannot be followed specifically. But the principles behind the commands are timeless and should guide our conduct. Jesus demonstrated these principles by example.
#1) 10 When you make a loan of any kind to your neighbor, do not go into their house to get what is offered to you as a pledge. 11 Stay outside and let the neighbor to whom you are making the loan bring the pledge out to you. (Deuteronomy 24:10-11 NIV)
iii) Moral
@1. The moral law (such as the 10 Commandments) is the direct command of God, and it requires strict obedience (for example, see Exodus 20:13 NIV). The moral law reveals the nature and will of God, and it still applies today. Jesus obeyed the moral law completely.
#1) 13 “You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13 NIV)
2. Quality of our goodness
a) The Pharisees were exacting and scrupulous in their attempts to follow their laws. So how could Jesus reasonably call us to a greater righteousness than theirs? The Pharisees' weakness was that they were content to obey the laws outwardly without allowing God to change their hearts (attitudes). Jesus was saying, therefore, that the quality of our goodness should be greater than that of the Pharisees. They looked pious, but they were far from the kingdom of God. God judges our hearts as well as our works, for it is in the heart that our real allegiance lies. Be just as concerned about your attitudes that people don't see as about your actions that are seen by all.
b) Jesus was saying that his listeners needed a different kind of righteousness altogether (love and obedience), not just a moral intense version of the Pharisees' righteousness (legal compliance). Our righteousness must:
i) comes from what God does in us,
ii) be God-centered, not self-centered,
iii) be based on reverence for God, not approval from people,
iv) go beyond keeping the law to living by the principles behind the law.
3. Prayer focus
a) Pray that we read the Bible everyday and live by the principles behind the law.
b) Pray to allow the Holy Spirit help us to fulfill the principles behind the law.
The End ...
0. Introductiona) The law
i) 17 “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. 18 For truly I tell you, 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. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-20 NIV)
1. The fulfillment of the law
a) If Jesus did not come to destroy the law, does that mean all the Old Testament laws still apply to us today? In the Old Testament, there were 3 categories of law:
i) Ceremonial
@1. The cremonial law related specifically to Israel's worship (for example, see Leviticus 1:2-3 NIV). It primary purpose was to point forward to Jesus Christ; these laws, therefore, were no longer necessary after Jesus' death and resurrection. While we are no longer bound by ceremonial laws, the principles behind them - to worship and love a holy God - still apply. Jesus was often accused by the Pharisees of violating ceremonial law.
#1) 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the Lord, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.
3 “‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that it will be acceptable to the Lord. (Leviticus 1:2-3 NIV)
ii) Civil
@1. The civil law applied to daily living in Israel (for example, see Deuteronomy 24:10-11 NIV). Because modern society and culture are so radically different from that time and setting, all these guidelines cannot be followed specifically. But the principles behind the commands are timeless and should guide our conduct. Jesus demonstrated these principles by example.
#1) 10 When you make a loan of any kind to your neighbor, do not go into their house to get what is offered to you as a pledge. 11 Stay outside and let the neighbor to whom you are making the loan bring the pledge out to you. (Deuteronomy 24:10-11 NIV)
iii) Moral
@1. The moral law (such as the 10 Commandments) is the direct command of God, and it requires strict obedience (for example, see Exodus 20:13 NIV). The moral law reveals the nature and will of God, and it still applies today. Jesus obeyed the moral law completely.
#1) 13 “You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13 NIV)
2. Quality of our goodness
a) The Pharisees were exacting and scrupulous in their attempts to follow their laws. So how could Jesus reasonably call us to a greater righteousness than theirs? The Pharisees' weakness was that they were content to obey the laws outwardly without allowing God to change their hearts (attitudes). Jesus was saying, therefore, that the quality of our goodness should be greater than that of the Pharisees. They looked pious, but they were far from the kingdom of God. God judges our hearts as well as our works, for it is in the heart that our real allegiance lies. Be just as concerned about your attitudes that people don't see as about your actions that are seen by all.
b) Jesus was saying that his listeners needed a different kind of righteousness altogether (love and obedience), not just a moral intense version of the Pharisees' righteousness (legal compliance). Our righteousness must:
i) comes from what God does in us,
ii) be God-centered, not self-centered,
iii) be based on reverence for God, not approval from people,
iv) go beyond keeping the law to living by the principles behind the law.
3. Prayer focus
a) Pray that we read the Bible everyday and live by the principles behind the law.
b) Pray to allow the Holy Spirit help us to fulfill the principles behind the law.
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