Not destroyed, but fulfilled!

Today’s scripture:

“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:3-4)

There are times that I get filled with doubt. Even doubting for a mere second… Is there even a God? Then God reveals truth to me reminding me of His great love. And it’s times like this when I read this passage above and study through this part of the Sermon on the Mount, that I see His word couldn’t possibly be constructed by even the most intellectual minds. His word and His character and all creation fit together so well that it is perfect. So perfect, it’s impossible to explain.

Today we are looking into the second topic on the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus is teaching, which is “Law Eternal”. In Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus starts out telling the people that He has not come to destroy the law but to fulfill the law! Fulfill as in completing it. This area of God’s heart, I believe runs so deep and is so profound, I don’t understand it completely, but yet at the same time is so simple. When we went through the Ten Commandments, we saw that they really are for our protection and is filled with God’s mercy.

Now, as Jesus says He came to fulfill the law, we will start to see what He means by that. He takes His commands a bit further as we will learn in the next few days. This will show us that obeying His will starts with an attitude of our heart. If I can quote another line from the movie “Facing The Giants” from Sherwood Baptist Church, The head coach says to the team…”Your attitude is like the aroma of your heart. If your attitude stinks, that means your hearts not right.” That is so very true!

For now, lets focus on our attitude with what Jesus is talking about here in v.19, “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

You know, one of the strongest most powerful ways we teach is how we live our life. Remember what we read yesterday about being salt and light? We teach by example. If we are teaching that the law is just a bunch of rules, that doesn’t really show the full truth of God’s heart. We need to show the love that is within the law to other people.

Now, v.20, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” I love how Jesus brings it on home at the end. What He is saying here about your righteousness vs. the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees is LOVE! See, the scribes and Pharisees taught the law was just a bunch of rules, but Jesus came to teach with His words but mostly with His actions that Love is where its at! Love completes the law because without it, you still couldn’t get into heaven as it says at the end of v.20.

See how even though the law is meant for us to be protected and to give to others, Jesus completes it with perfect love. We will continue on with many of the other topics on the Sermon on the Mount showing just that…”LOVE & MERCY” and where our attitude fits with all that.

Reflection:

This fulfillment of God’s law to obedience starts with our attitude. What comes first the mind or the actions from within your heart? It’s your mind where your attitudes are formed which will lead your heart into the obedience of God’s will or away from God if we aren’t careful. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

Challenge:

What is the aroma of your heart? Does your heart reflect your attitude? Thank the Lord we have a gift from God and that is our mind that is outside of our wicked heart. You have the power to change your mind to fit the attitude that your heart needs to follow which also needs to line up with scripture. Observe your attitude today. Make a decision right now to what your heart is going to be led by…your emotions or the renewing of your mind.

-Doug McGowan