This is one of the more contested issues in churches today. Did Jesus really abolish the Law? Is Grace enough? Does obedience mean salvation by works? Let us begin.
Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
5:18 "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.
What was Jesus telling them during His great sermon on the mount? What is He telling us? He began by giving a subtle warning. Don’t even think that the Law is going away! Why did He start in this manner?
Certainly, the religious leaders had made their interpretation a real burden to obey. So their law was religiously obeyed. Perhaps, He was appealing to their fear of these man-made laws and even hoping this prophet would lessen their burden.
But, here we find the beginning of the understanding of the two laws in Judah at the time, God’s Law and the law of the Pharisees. Secondly, Jesus clearly stated that God’s Law was not going away, not until heaven and earth pass away. We all know that this has not happened yet. Jesus said none of His Law will pass away or has passed away. Jesus was not then or now changing His Law. God never changes and neither does His Law.
5:19 "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.
Now we read what could be confusing and misinterpreted, but is it? Can you teach against the Law of God and still enter into His Kingdom? God has repeatedly warned all false teachers, those who teach another law, another gospel, and lead others to another god, that they will not enter into His Kingdom.
Deuteronomy 13:1 "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 13:2 and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,'
13:3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
13:4 "You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.
13:5 "But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to seduce you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from among you.
God warned the entire nation of Israel of His absolute requirements in the form of blessings and curses. Here we read that even if a false teacher gives a sign or wonder that comes true, they should not listen to him. So clearly, this was a real possibility. But even more revealing was that this a test by God, even as it was a scheme of Satan. The penalty for all false teachers? Death by stoning.
So what did Jesus mean by Matthew 5:19? All teachers need be very careful to not add or subtract from the Word of God, even in the smallest of areas. We don’t modify God’s Word for a ‘younger generation’ or skip over sections that may alienate some of the ‘audience or congregation’. There is no room for any changes, however small or unimportant they may seem.
The Law of God is not only not going away, it has not and will not change, even down to the smallest letter.
More next Saturday.