Christ’s View of Scripture | Matthew 5:17-20

Scripture

• Matthew 5:17–20

About this sermon

Introduction: What kind of righteousness characterizes those who will enter heaven? What kind of righteousness characterizes those who know heaven’s King? This is the issue being raised throughout the sermon on the mount. Who will inherit the kingdom of heaven (vs.3, 10)? Who will receive a great reward in heaven (vs.11)? Who will be least in the kingdom of heaven and who will be greatest (vs.19)? Who will enter the kingdom of heaven (vs.20)? Who desires the will of God on earth as it is in heaven and therefore prays for it (6:10)? Who lays up treasure in heaven (6:20)? Who calls Jesus Lord in truth, is known by the Son of God, and will enter the kingdom of heaven (7:21)? From beginning to end the Lord is describing and explaining what characterizes the lives of redeemed people. And in that way, this is a sermon that evangelizes. It evangelizes because it presents a great contrast. It is a contrast between what the people were familiar with versus what God was the author of. It is a contrast between a people who have heard about God, and talk about God, and do things in the name of God, versus a people who are known by God. JESUS WANTS TO BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR. THE CONTRAST IS NOT WITH THE LAW OR THE PROPHETS. Jesus is not annulling, invalidating, the Old Testament Scriptures. HE IS EXPOSING, HOWEVER, THE FALSE RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE DISTORTED, DECEIVING, DAMNING, RIGHTEOUSNESS, OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES. He is talking about a righteousness that surpasses theirs (vs.20). ESV Matthew 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. His coming exposes what has been distorted, both in doctrine and by example. AND AS JESUS EXPLAINS THIS, SOMETHING IS MADE PLAIN IN THE PROCESS. The Messiah’s view of Scripture is made plain. Verses 17-20 set the standard by which everything else in the sermon is understood. Jesus has come to FULFILL THE SCRIPTURES. The altogether righteous God has given us altogether righteous words. The Messiah’s coming is in complete harmony with Scripture. His coming represents the telos, the end, the outcome, the necessary fulfillment of what was written in the law and the prophets. So that everything else He says in this sermon is a statement about a right understanding of what God had given them in His Word, and therefore, a right understanding OF HIM. Last Sunday evening we began considering what Jesus said about the Scriptures. We made the point, and I repeat the point, that you cannot be a disciple of Jesus Christ and have a view of Scripture at odds with His. The Son of God come to earth — the author of Scripture — gives us a perfect assessment of Scripture. We see four truths from the Son of God about the Word of God. • THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF CHRIST (vs.17) We dealt with this Sunday night. We considered the meaning of His statement that He fulfills Scripture. Every part of the Old Testament is a revelation of God’s glory, and when you know who Jesus Christ is, you behold God’s glory in Him. Apart from the knowledge of Christ the Bible is a closed book. You cannot reject the Son and know the Father. Every part of Scripture can be and should be related to the person and the mission of Christ. The Divine Nature is seen in Christ ESV Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. The Creation is explained by Christ ESV Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things were created through him and for him. The Angels are in subjection to Christ ESV Hebrews 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. God’s self-revelation reaches its high point in Christ ESV Hebrews 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. The salvation of mankind is accomplished in the last Adam — who is Christ

Topics

• Bible Study
• Jesus Christ