WHAT JESUS SAYS ABOUT THE LAW

The Lord began the Sermon on the Mount by showing us what He is and what we ought to be. The beatitudes show us the nature of Christ which He desires to work out in us and the rewards of having these attitudes developed in us. He continues the Sermon by then speaking on the Law.

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This flows beautifully with the beatitudes as the beatitudes show one the vision of being Christ-like while the succeeding passages let us understand the purpose for Christ-likeness.

Matthew 5:13-16

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Lord Jesus declared that the Christian is the salt of the earth. Salt is used to give taste to food and preserve it. In the Bible, it connotes sincerity and truth. When salt is in the food, you can taste it. The same goes with the Christian, our lives must be a witness to others. The world must see our sincerity and our faithfulness to the truth. We cannot simply profess our Christianity. We must live it and let others experience it. The world ought to see the distinction of a Christian. Also, like salt, our presence is intended to preserve the world from corruption. We are to preserve the truth by walking in it and showing others the ancient paths (Caram: 39).

Then the Lord likened the believer to a light. While the world is dark, the Christian being distinct from the world, is called to illuminate it. As shown by Philippians 2:15-16, the Christian is to be the light by being blameless and harmless, carrying forth the Word of God in a darkened world. The thought of being made distinct from the world by living out our faith is brought up once more (Caram:40).

Philippians 2:15-16

That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

Then the Lord Jesus shows us to whom we are to be salt and light. He says that the lamp gives light to a house. This is primarily where we should shine first, in our homes. We must share Christ first to our families and friends. While it is often more difficult to do this, there is truth in the adage, “Charity begins at home.” Even when the Lord delivered the man with the gathering demoniac, His instruction to the man was to go home and witness to his friends (Caram: 40-41).

Afterwards, Jesus says that our light must shine before men. Beyond the home, when we are among others, in the workplace, community, or with total strangers, we must shine our light through our good works. Good here relates to character and virtue. Our lifestyle, our unpremeditated actions should be consistent with the faith we profess (Caram: 41).

Matthew 5:17-20

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 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. 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. 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.

The Lord Jesus then began to speak in more detail about the truth or the Law that the Christian must live out. He begins this discussion by declaring that He did not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill it. The word fulfill in this context means to supply the deficiency. The law was deficient because it was simply written on tablets of stones. Quoting Rev. Daniel Caram, “Jesus was transcribing the law from the exterior to the interior, from the physical to the spiritual - from the act to the thought of the act.” There are those who have misconstrued this statement to “fulfill the law” to mean that Jesus was going to eliminate the law. But this is certainly not the case. Isaiah 42:21 says, that the Lord will magnify the law (Caram: 44). Jesus fulfilled the law by taking it beyond the outward fulfillment of the law to having the right heart in living out the law. While man looks at the outward, truly the Lord looks at the heart.

According to Romans 13:9-10, the commandments pertaining to our relationship with our fellowmen are summed up in loving our neighbor as ourselves. Love is the fulfilling of the law (Caram: 44). Therefore to truly walk in the law, it must be born out of love.

Romans 13:9-10
For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

All the laws can be summed up to these two, to love God with all our hearts, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. So clearly, it takes more than actions to fulfill the law, it takes love.

To help us understand the discussion better, we must look into the three divisions of the law. There are the moral laws composed of the Ten Commandments and all the others related to them; ceremonial laws, which are the religious ordinances, instructions on washings, regulations on Holy Days, circumcision, etc.; and the civil law which covers responsibility between neighbors, civil judgments, lawsuits, etc. (Caram:45)

Now there are those who have thought that when Jesus was nailed to the cross that He removed the full law. However, if one looks at Colossians 2:14, it spoke of the crucifixion as having nailed the ordinances, which refers to the ceremonial laws that the Gentiles are not under. This is affirmed by Ephesians 2:14-15 which speaks of how Jesus broke the wall of partition between the Jews and the Gentiles by abolishing even the law of commandments contained in ordinances. Moral and civil laws did not separate the Jews from the Gentiles. Only the ceremonial laws did. This is very important to understand even as teachings are rising today that undermine the whole Law. Those who will walk in the Spirit will not disregard the law but actually fulfill the higher law of the New Testament! (Caram: 45-46)

Colossians 2:14 

Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Ephesians 2:14-15
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

The Lord Jesus warns against breaking the law and tells us that he who is truly great in the kingdom is not only one who teaches the law but actually does it. He says that our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees and scribes. These were the religious leaders of that time who were very careful in keeping the law to the letter but neglected the spirit of the law. For instance, in keeping the Sabbath, they limited their physical exertion, food preparation and their walk. However, if they saw a man cripple on a Sabbath they will not help him lest they broke the Sabbath. They did not mind though breaking the higher law of benevolence and mercy. They were faithful to tithe their herbs but would not give to the poor. Yet, the Prophet Hosea said that the Lord desired mercy and not sacrifice. The Lord Jesus condemned their hypocrisy. The Pharisees’ righteousness were all for show so they will enjoy good reputation among the people (Caram: 49). What are our motives in the things we do? Are we fulfilling some of the law yet breaking the weightier parts of the law?

The Lord Jesus further showed how the New Covenant is more superior than the old as He spoke on various laws and elevated them by showing us that a law can be violated not only by our actions but by our thoughts. The Lord Jesus brings the issue to the heart. Each of these sections begin with “You have heard it” to establish that these were laws He was speaking of. However, He also follows them up with “But I say unto you.” Each time He elevated the standards for each law and brought them from outward adherence to heart adherence.

Matthew 5:21-26
"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.’ 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. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 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. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

While the law says one must not murder, the Lord Jesus says we ought not to be angry with our brethren without a cause. Murder is a premeditated crime. It is something that was planned out in someone’s heart borne out of hatred. Jesus therefore addresses the heart of the matter. He says it is not enough one does not act on his anger. Simply being angry at someone for no just cause is already equal to murder (Caram: 52). Envy, jealousy, and offense are some reasons that can cause a man to hate others. Are we getting angry or spiteful of others in our thoughts? Let us allow the Lord to deal with this immediately. Let us not allow bitterness to brew in us because it only grows into anger, then hatred, and later on it can lead us to unrighteous acts and a hard heart. Each time we utter a slur against another, our hearts are hardened. Jesus was challenging not only the actions but the heart motives and intents (Caram: 53). How we need to have God search our hearts always and submit evil thoughts against others. Also, we need to cry out for a forgiving and forgetful heart and a heart that easily overlooks offenses.

1 John 3:15
Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

Then the Lord declares how reconciliation is more important to God than receiving gifts. Reconciliation is part of restitution. If we have done something wrong to our neighbor or brethren, we must make things right (Caram: 53-54). We must apologize and do what we can to rectify the wrong. Let us not simply wish that the wrong will be forgotten and that the relationship will move on eventually. We must be willing to humble ourselves and admit our wrong. We are also to do it quickly. Do not sit on an offense. You would surely prefer having dealt with the sin before it is exposed in the light. For all shall come unto the light. Nothing can be hidden and all will be judged on Judgment Day. All our actions, words, thoughts, motives, and intents will be exposed.

Matthew 5:27-28
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Afterwards, the Lord dealt with the sins of the spirit and the sins of the flesh. The act of committing adultery was differentiated from the thought of committing adultery. However, in the New Covenant, Jesus declares in the Sermon on the Mount that the thought of committing adultery is also a sin. The Lord is really showing in the Sermon on the Mount how being part of the New Covenant, greater righteousness is required of us. He makes it very clear that He looks at the heart. A person may not have literally murdered anyone or committed adultery with anyone, but by having it in his thought it is saying, he had it in his heart to do so. These are what you call sins in the spirit. The actual commission of the sin on the other hand is the sin of the flesh (Caram: 57).

Job, one of the most righteous men on earth, made a covenant with his eyes (Job 31:1). The Apostle Peter also brings forth this thought in 2 Peter 2:14, having eyes full of adultery. When a man or woman looks contemplatively and lustfully at another, the Lord calls such adultery of the heart. For women, it is also a sin to dress lewdly or seductively as it provokes others to sin. As Christians we must, by the grace of God, go against the stream and be different in our actions and conduct. We must be vigilant to fight for purity (Caram: 59).

Matthew 5:29-30
If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

This passage tells us the seriousness of moral conduct. The Lord is not telling us to cut parts of our body but He is saying how it would have been better to cut those parts that have caused us to sin. The Lord Jesus says “if your right eye causes you to sin”. This emphasizes how our senses, are entry ways for sin. Thus we must be careful to keep them away from sin. Then the Lord says “if your hands causes you to sin." Here, there is a deliberate action to commit sin. If a person clicks on a website that is impure knowingly or if he gets his hands on impure magazines or DVDs that is a deliberate act of sin (Caram: 59-61).

Matthew 5:31-32
“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’  But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery."

Here the Lord brought back the original intent for marriage, a lifelong commitment. The exception clause is only reserved for fornication, which takes place in Jewish custom. Among the Jews, those who were betrothed were considered married.

Matthew 5: 33-37
“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

While Moses warned against making an oath that will not be kept, Jesus gave greater caution by saying that one must not make an oath that is outside the realm of what is actually possible. He then proceeds to say let your yes be yes and your no, no. There should be no turning away from commitments. He who shall abide in the holy hill of the Lord is one who swears to his own hurt.

The central thought of this message is that God seeks that we live out our faith inside and out. The Lord will not only weigh the outward appearance of our lives, He will gauge every motive, intent, and thought. The true fulfillment of the New Covenant comes from a heart of love. It will be natural for a man to obey the laws of God if he does so out of love. And he will also recognize which laws apply for every circumstance he is in. 


Sources:
Daniel G. Caram. The Sermon on the Mount-An Introduction to the New Covenant, Zion Christian Publishers, 2002.