THE TRUE PURPOSE OF THE LAW

Pastor James J. Barker

Text: MATTHEW 5:17-30




INTRODUCTION:


  1. One of the biggest problems in our churches is that many Christians cannot distinguish between law and grace. This is one of the marks of the cults (e.g. SDA, Armstrongism), and even many Baptists get confused.
  2. Usually when the Bible refers to the law, it is referring to the law of Moses. The apostle Paul wrote in Rom.6:14 that Christians "are not under the law, but under grace."
  3. But this does not mean that we are lawless. What it means is that we are not under the law as a rule of life. The OT Jew was under the law in the sense that every aspect of his life was dominated by the law. This does not apply today.
  4. There certainly is an application for us in the civil law (Lev.11:44-47) and the ceremonial law (Lev.6:8-13). But we are not obligated to keep these laws. And of course, we are to obey God’s moral laws.
  5. I tried to point out several weeks ago that our Lord did not come to abrogate or even amend the law, but to interpret it properly and to fulfil it (5:17; cf. Scofield notes).
  6. God gave Moses the law in order to establish the kingdom of Israel. Jesus gave us the Sermon on the Mount, not for any earthly kingdom, but for the kingdom of heaven.
  7. Some would object here and say that the Sermon on the Mount is in fact for an earthly kingdom, and that the kingdom of heaven will be established when our Lord returns to earth. While this is true, it must be emphasized that it is certainly in effect today for those who have received Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
  8. However, it is not in effect for the unsaved, and as we study the Sermon on the Mount it becomes obvious that the unregenerate could never live by it.
  1. OUR LORD CAME TO FULFIL THE LAW
    1. We need to understand that our Lord’s teachings were in no wise inconsistent with that of the law or the prophets (5:17).
    2. Many misguided people, those who have a shallow, superficial understanding of the Bible, somehow believe that they can ignore the OT, or disregard the OT. This is unwise and unscriptural (cf. II Tim.3:16). A believer will never grow properly if he does not take heed to the whole counsel of God.
    3. Our Lord did not come to make the law easier for us. In fact, as we shall see in a few minutes, His interpretations were far more stricter than the religious leaders of His day (and ours as well).
    4. Christ did not require less than the law but demanded all the law required. The law demanded absolute, perfect obedience (James 2:10). Only the Lord Jesus Christ could perfectly keep the law.
    5. This was one of the reasons the religious leaders hated our Lord so much. Before the law, they stood condemned and guilty whereas our Lord was perfect and sinless. They were looking for an easy way out but there was none.
    6. There are many people today just like the Pharisees – they want an easy way out. They want an easy-going religion that does not ask too much from them. Roman Catholicism immediately comes to mind: just go to mass, and light a few candles, and say the rosary, etc. and there will be a place in heaven for you.
    7. Even many Baptists are like that: slip into church (usually late), and sit in the back, and don’t get involved, don’t give, don’t join, etc.

II. THE LAW DEALS WITH THE INSIDE AS WELL AS THE OUTSIDE

    1. The Pharisees put all their emphasis on the outside appearance (cf. Matt.23:5-12,25-28). But inwardly they were "full of dead men’s bones" (23:27).
    2. It is rather easy to put on a good front, but it is what is inside is oftentimes a different story altogether (cf. 5:3-8; Luke 16:14,15).
    3. Here in 5:20 our Lord says that external righteousness without internal righteousness will do us no good. In fact, He says: "Ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
    4. In the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord contrasts mere external observance with a sincere heart that is humble and obedient to God’s will.
  1. OUR LORD GAVE THE PROPER INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW
    1. The Pharisees knew that they could not attain unto God’s standard, as revealed in the law. So they went about setting up their own standards. This is still practiced today in religious circles, Christian, Jewish, RC, cults, whatever. Before, I referred to the RC system. They have established their own standards and their own traditions, but most of these are foreign to the Bible.
    2. Before we move ahead, let me point something out. Our Lord was not correcting the law. He was correcting the false Pharisaical interpretation of the law. Jesus said, "Ye have heard that it was said…" (5:21,27,31,33,38,43). He did not say, "It is written," or "The Scripture says…"
    3. The sixth commandment is, "Thou shalt not kill" (Ex.20:13). The Pharisees were proud of themselves; they never killed a man. But our Lord got to the heart of the problem: hatred (5:21,22).
    4. Remember, this hatred eventually led them to murder our Lord.
    5. It is not always a sin to be angry. Our Lord Himself was angry at the money-changers and chased them out of the temple. The Bible says, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil" (Eph.4:26,27).
    6. It is wrong however, to be angry with your brother "without a cause" (5:22).
    7. "The judgment" here (5:21,22) refers to the local court; and "the council" refers to the Sanhedrin.
    8. We need to look closely at this warning. Calling a brother (or sister) in Christ "Raca" (literally, Aramaic for "numbskull") is not right. When a person insults someone in this manner, he is assuming a position of superiority over them. This is nothing but pride and arrogance.
    9. People defend themselves by saying, "Oh, I was only kidding!" Or, "That’s just my way of talking." But the Bible forbids it.
    10. As bad as that is, calling him a "fool" could send you to hell (5:22b; I John 3:15). The Pharisees reduced and restricted the penalty to mere punishment at the hands of the civil authorities, but they left out the judgment of God. Our Lord equated hatred with murder and reminds us that all murderers shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone (Rev.21:8).
    11. Reconciliation must always be attempted. It does not matter who was right or wrong, we should always take the first step (5:23-26).
    12. Another law that the Pharisees had twisted was the seventh, "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Ex.20:14). They had no problem lusting after women as long as they did not actually engage in adultery (5:28-30).
    13. Our Lord is not advocating that sinners mutilate themselves (5:29,30). He is emphasizing that immoral lusts should be dealt with quickly and decisively. Sometimes, drastic, radical changes must be made.
    14. In the case of a Christian, this means rigid discipline. For the unsaved, it means sincere repentance and conversion. There have been millions of lost souls "cast into hell" because of procrastination (5:29,30).

CONCLUSION:

  1. The Sermon on the Mount demonstrates to us that we fall short of God’s standard. Only the Lord Jesus Christ could keep God’s perfect standard and that is because He Himself was God.
  2. You and I can never hope to attain God’s standards in our own strength. We need a Saviour, and when we come to Christ He imputes His righteousness to our account.
  3. Have you done this? Have you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour? If not, you are on your way to hell (5:29,30).
  4. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36).


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