In Matthew 5:17-20 Jesus tells us that his ministry is fulfilling the law. By saying this, Jesus forces us to look at the Old Testament Scriptures in a whole new light. He’s saying that the stories we teach in Sunday School foreshadow his reign. He’s also suggesting that the laws Israel is trying to keep are an expression of God’s heart perfectly lived out in his conduct.

Protestant believers can fall into a trap when reading this text if they think Jesus is saying that, post-Easter, the law no longer matters. Rather, Jesus is saying that if you follow him, you’ll keep the law perfectly. If being a disciple means following Jesus’ example, then Christians should follow the law too. But not in the legalistic way of the Scribes and Pharisees. They believe that rules are more important than people. Jesus, by comparison, understands that the law is meant to liberate rather than enslave.

If believers’ intent is in fulfilling the law as Jesus does, then they need to apply a Jesus-lens to their conduct. Jesus’ example in areas like inclusion and giving help believers to understand what behaviours please God.

Questions For Reflection

1. How do you normally view the Jewish law? Does Jesus challenge how you think about it?
2. How do you feel about the statement, “God cares more about people than about rules?” Does that make you uneasy, or does it seem like common sense to you?
3. Besides inclusion and power, can you think of other places where a Jesus-lens helps us understand how to be a faithful Christian?
4. Why do you think the New Testament Scriptures avoid giving people hard-and-fast rules about how much they ought to give?

More in This Series

1. The Beatitudes
2. Salt and Light