Matthew 5:17–20
17“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19“Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20“For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Focused Thinking:
What prompted Jesus to make this statement?
What were people thinking?
What questions were people asking prompted this respond?
17“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Jesus wasn’t minimizing the law; in fact, He was maximizing the law by focusing internally instead of externally.
Jesus was interpreting the law dynamically instead of literally.
Jesus fulfilled the law in His life.
Jesus fulfilled the law in His death and resurrection.
- Jesus had to fulfill the law in order for His death and resurrection to be redemptive.
- The sinless had to die for the sinner.
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
The righteous had to die for the unrighteous.
2 Cor 5:21
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
The just had to die for the unjust.
1 Pt 3:18
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
Jesus isn’t removing the foundation; He is building on the foundation.
Every action of Jesus will be consistent with the Word.
Every teaching of Jesus will be consistent with the Word.
Every vision of Jesus will be a fulfillment of the Word.
Jesus isn’t a new prophet with a new teaching; He is the fulfillment of every prophet and teaching.
Personal Application:
I need to see all of God’s truth through the truth of Jesus.
I need to see all of God’s truth through the fulfillment of Jesus.
Jesus is the full revelation of God.
Jesus explains the Father to us (John 1:18).
Focused Thinking:
18“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Notice the authority in this verse.
Jesus is the incarnation of the Word of God.
- No one knows the law better.
- No one cares about the law more than Jesus.
Jesus is protecting and promoting the law internally instead of externally.
- The law is true yesterday, today and tomorrow.
- The law is trustworthy.
- The law is authoritative.
The law will fulfill its purpose.
The law will serve it purpose.
The law will accomplish its purpose.
Personal Application:
I need to study the Ten Commandments and compare and contrast them with the Sermon on the Mount.
In the realm of focusing on “yes,” instead of “no” I need to study the “Yes’s” of the law.
Interactive Prayer:
Father, the need is so great in our church and in our city. I pray that our church can be a living representation of the Word of God to lost and disenfranchised. I pray that we can embody the Word of God and live it before the un-churched and de-churched. Father, give us the ability to be the Word in the flesh. I pray that our disciples will be people who do the Word first and learn the depths of it through their obedience.
Help me to fully understand the shift we need to make in discipleship. Help us go from teaching, coaching and doing TO doing, coaching and teaching. Help us unleash the Spirit of God in people. Help us unleash the gifts of God in people. Help us empower people to live according to their strengths and gifts. Give us the vision and ability to fully mobilize our people to truly love people and serve people. Help us commit this transition biblically and historically. Show us how to implement this in phases. Show us how to employ 80% of the church instead of 20%.
Father, give us the wisdom and courage to improve our vision and values as well as redesign our strategy. Give us the courage to dream big dreams. Help us to believe the visions You give us. Father, give us the ability to have successful pilot programs over the next two years. Give us the ability to celebrate what You’ve done in the first 10 years of Highpoint, but give us Your vision for the next years. Give us ability to become a true movement of God. We’ve started one church, but I pray that You will give us the ability to start an unlimited number of churches as well as other creative outposts.
Father, do something above and beyond to give us the Shea property and BCS. Give us the vision and courage to “go for it.” Give us the faithfulness of the body to be givers. Give us believers who have the financial means to give difference-making gifts. Father, give us favor with BCS and give us the ability to reach a deal that allows us to start attacking this thing in waves. Father, go before me to the Shea’s. If that dream was from You, I pray that You will prepare their hearts and make it possible.
Father, I pray for Chuck and Michelle and their children. Give them courage and strength. Give them the ability to see life from Your perspective. Give them the ability to see You in all of this. Give Michelle the ability to use this time to heal, recover and grow stronger. Father, give them a peace that does pass all understanding. I pray that You will do far more abundantly beyond all than we can ask or think in and through the lives of Chuck and Michelle.
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