True Righteousness
1 God is a communicator. His greatest desire is that we hear -- and believe Him. For that reason He speaks in many different ways. In the Old Testament He spoke through dreams, and visions, as well as the unfolding history of the people of Israel. He also spoke to them by giving them "pictures" (or symbols and types) of the coming Messiah. The sacrifices for sin were all types (pictures) of the Christ who was coming. Even the various pieces of furniture in the temple were picture/symbols of Jesus. All of these pictures, symbols, and types were fulfilled when Jesus came. Most of these symbols were written in the "Law of Moses" -- the first five books of the Bible. When Jesus spoke of fulfilling the Law & the Prophets, He meant fulfilling all the types and symbols of the Law and the words of the Prophets, and keeping all the laws. The expression "The Law & the Prophets" referred to the entire Old Testament. Jesus was (is) the reality (the fulfillment) the Old Testament could only foreshadow. Of course the "Law of Moses" contained the LAW -- the ten commandments and the ceremonial law. Jesus kept all of the LAW perfectly and thus fulfilled the LAW also.
2 God spoke to His people through the prophets. They foretold the coming of the Messiah. What they said was very clear and so direct that no one could make a mistake. Only the Messiah could fulfill the prophecies.
3 Since Jesus was the Messiah He was the one who fulfilled the Law and the Prophets. He made that clear.
Do not think that I came to destroy (annul) the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly (amen), 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. Matthew 5:17-18
4 When Jesus spoke of the Law and the Prophets He meant the entire Old Testament. To "fulfill" something means to satisfy its requirements (to accomplish it, more than complete it, make it replete). Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets.
5 Picture an empty bowl. It is waiting to be filled with something. If it is filled to the brim, and overflowing, it is full - filled. The Old Testament spoke of God's redemptive plan. It was complete -- and yet it was waiting to be filled by the coming of the Messiah. He would accomplish everything that was written of Him, and also complete the symbols and types. In addition He would satisfy the requirements of the LAW. Thus the Old Testament would find its fulfillment in Jesus. It needs no more. Jesus accomplished God's redemptive plan, filling the Old Testament to completion with His life, death, and resurrection. In other words Jesus completed the Word of God. The Old Testament and the New Testament are complete. God's written witness (record) of Himself is complete. Jesus is the reality that satisfied the type.
5 If something is complete, it is finished. Jesus completed and finished God's redemptive plan. That is why He (and He alone -- as the Messiah) could give us the beatitudes! He is the only one who could claim that authority! The entire Sermon on the Mount rests upon the finished work of Christ anticipated in the beatitudes.
7 That is why Jesus went on to say..
Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments (sets it aside), 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. Mathew 5:19
Who would have a life changed by grace and then waste it on sin? A heart that really has been changed by grace desires to follow God as closely as possible! Why exchange God's glory for something less? Christians sin, but they do not set the commands of God aside. Rather they uphold them because they love Him, and that is the meaning of this verse.
8 That's why Jesus said,
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. Matthew 5:20
The righteousness that is of the law (the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees) never got anyone anywhere. Grace, however, is the righteousness that comes as a gift from God -- based upon Jesus' work of redemption that was finished on the cross -- fulfilling all the Law and the Prophets. And since He fulfilled the Law (understood and kept the Law perfectly) He was the perfect sacrifice that takes away all our sin. He is our righteousness.
9 There is more. The Jews believed that to fulfill the law (the Torah) meant to interpret it correctly and then apply it correctly. To destroy the law meant to do violence to it through misinterpretation and misapplication. Jesus assured the people that His interpretation was correct -- because it was based upon seeking the heart of God.. Most of the people who heard Him speak agreed. Even some of the Pharisees agreed -- but some did not.
10 Throughout the Sermon on the Mount Jesus showed spectacular ability to interpret the law. His listeners that day were enthralled. The Law (the Torah) was their life. They knew what it said. What it meant was of deepest concern to them.
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