Matthew 5 v 17 – 20
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 say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (ESV)
Are you a legalist or a Law keeper?
- The Legalist.
The Jews used the term ‘the Law and the Prophets’. The Scribes and Pharisees also adhered to ‘the Oral Law’ and ‘the Scribal Law’, but this is not what Jesus meant by the term ‘Law’.
For the Scribes the keeping of their laws were all that mattered for salvation, which is why they tried to fulfil all its details.
The problem with legalism is that it produces Law breakers.
As evangelical believers we want to be Law keepers. - The Law keeper.
Jesus was a Law keeper. He came to fulfil the principles in the given Law of God.
He understood that the Law was not a means to salvation, but a reflection of God’s heart.
The Law itself is righteous, but cannot make you righteous. If you have been made righteous you will love the Law of God.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is both the Law Giver and the Law Keeper. By His death He paid the penalty for our sin against the Law of God. Through His resurrected life He imparts His righteousness to those who believe in Him as their only hope of salvation.