GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY
MODULE 62
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
THE ETERNAL LAW
JESUS TOLD THE CROWDS, "DO NOT THINK THAT I HAVE COME TO ABOLISH THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS; I HAVE NOT COME TO ABOLISH THEM BUT TO FULFIL THEM. 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. 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 practises and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven", (Matthew 5:17). With this statement Jesus affirmed the eternal character of the Law.
Interpretation of the law
In the time of Jesus, the Law was interpreted through thousands of prescriptive rules and regulations. An example of the interpretation of the command of the Law is that regarding the Sabbath. The Sabbath day is to be kept holy, and no work to be done. God clearly envisaged that people should be given the opportunity to reconnect with Him in relationship. Furthermore, the human body requires rest after strenuous thought and work, in order to maintain healthy body, spirit and mind. However, interpretation of this command developed from Divine directive that we ensure our human spirits receive needed spiritual sustenance, and our human bodies receive required rest, to a plethora of detail. In essence, religious thought of the time argued: what is work?
The development of thought around this command of God was that the carrying of a burden in work was not allowed. This interpretation became so finely interpreted that individual freedom ran the risk of being curtailed. Controversy could arise if a tailor inadvertently went out with a needle in his robe; religious argument could ensue as to whether or not he had committed a sin.
According to the regulations of Scribal law, to heal was to work on the Sabbath. However, healing was allowed when there was danger to life, but steps could only be taken to prevent the patient worsening - not to cure the individual. A bandage could be placed on a wound, but no healing ointment. Jesus bypassed the religious regulations of the time, and healed on the Sabbath, leading to confrontation with keepers of the Law who held to such close interpretation.
Fulfilment of the Law
Jesus came to fulfil the Law. In other words, He came to bring out the real meaning of the Law as originally intended by God. The whole meaning of the Ten Commandments can be summed up in two words: respect and reverence. We are to have reverence for God and His Holy Name, reverence for God's Day, respect for parents, respect for life, respect for prophets, respect for diverse personalities, respect for the truth and another person's good name, respect for oneself so that wrongful desires may never master us. [1]
Reverence and respect does not stem from enforced small rules and regulations. Reverence and respect consist in seeing within the Life of Jesus how the largeness, vision and mutual respect enshrined within God's Law enable us to take our place as true heirs of the Father in His kingdom. Jesus came to show us that the heart of the Law is mercy, love and forgiveness. The way that Christ lived clarified that tenets of the Law are intended as signposts towards God on life's road; not as manifold regulational burdens.
The authority of Christ
The crowds were astonished at the authority with which Jesus taught. He taught as the Son of God. "And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at His teaching for He taught them as one who had authority and not as their scribes" [Matthew 7:28,29].
[1] Barclay, William. Daily Study Bible; Gospel of Matthew, p. 130
In the time of Jesus, the Law was interpreted through thousands of prescriptive rules and regulations. An example of the interpretation of the command of the Law is that regarding the Sabbath. The Sabbath day is to be kept holy, and no work to be done. God clearly envisaged that people should be given the opportunity to reconnect with Him in relationship. Furthermore, the human body requires rest after strenuous thought and work, in order to maintain healthy body, spirit and mind. However, interpretation of this command developed from Divine directive that we ensure our human spirits receive needed spiritual sustenance, and our human bodies receive required rest, to a plethora of detail. In essence, religious thought of the time argued: what is work?
The development of thought around this command of God was that the carrying of a burden in work was not allowed. This interpretation became so finely interpreted that individual freedom ran the risk of being curtailed. Controversy could arise if a tailor inadvertently went out with a needle in his robe; religious argument could ensue as to whether or not he had committed a sin.
According to the regulations of Scribal law, to heal was to work on the Sabbath. However, healing was allowed when there was danger to life, but steps could only be taken to prevent the patient worsening - not to cure the individual. A bandage could be placed on a wound, but no healing ointment. Jesus bypassed the religious regulations of the time, and healed on the Sabbath, leading to confrontation with keepers of the Law who held to such close interpretation.
Heart of the Law
Jesus declined to be bound to minor ritualistic aspects of the Law, preferring instead to live the heart of the Law. The Saviour did not consider prescribed handwashing to be of the same importance as the healing of a suffering individual. So He healed on every day of the week, including the Sabbath - the day of rest.
A further issue arose regarding the role of the House of God in the lives of worshipper. The Saviour considered that the Temple as the House of God should be a place of prayer and peace. Jesus caused disruption within the Temple by overturning the tables of the moneylenders and those selling animals for sacrifice in public protest.
By virtue of this action, He protested commercialization and usury of humanity's relationship with God as well as needless killing of animals in sacrifice. He was returning the understanding of humanity to the original prescription of the Law: "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings", (Hosea 6:6).
The Saviour considered that if the Pharisees knew God and understood what mattered to Him, they would not put such overemphasis on rules about issues regarding ritual cleanliness and restrictive Sabbath observance. In Matthew chapter 9 verse 13 Jesus proclaimed, "But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice'. For I have come not to call the righteous, but sinners". He was alluding to Hosea 6:6. (The mercy of which Christ speaks is compassion towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm).
The Ten Commandments
Jesus spoke with utmost respect and reverence of the Law as laid down by God. God's Ten Commandments act as guide to harmonious life and godly relationships. These great principles, when followed, afford each individual the golden template to find their own rules for life. These rules - applied in personal familial, societal and employment contexts - will always prove blessed, because they are according to the logical principles of God.
Fulfilment of the Law
Jesus came to fulfil the Law. In other words, He came to bring out the real meaning of the Law as originally intended by God. The whole meaning of the Ten Commandments can be summed up in two words: respect and reverence. We are to have reverence for God and His Holy Name, reverence for God's Day, respect for parents, respect for life, respect for prophets, respect for diverse personalities, respect for the truth and another person's good name, respect for oneself so that wrongful desires may never master us. [1]
Reverence and respect does not stem from enforced small rules and regulations. Reverence and respect consist in seeing within the Life of Jesus how the largeness, vision and mutual respect enshrined within God's Law enable us to take our place as true heirs of the Father in His kingdom. Jesus came to show us that the heart of the Law is mercy, love and forgiveness. The way that Christ lived clarified that tenets of the Law are intended as signposts towards God on life's road; not as manifold regulational burdens.
The authority of Christ
The crowds were astonished at the authority with which Jesus taught. He taught as the Son of God. "And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at His teaching for He taught them as one who had authority and not as their scribes" [Matthew 7:28,29].
[1] Barclay, William. Daily Study Bible; Gospel of Matthew, p. 130
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