NOTES: God is Near, Part 5
Sermon: God is Near: Love Rules
Date: Sunday, September 29, 2024
Text: Matthew 5:17-20
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Let’s Connect:
Ever just wanted to break something?
How about this false paradigm: “God’s ‘rules for life’ are not relevant for today, they are unloving, and unrealistic”
Text Explained:
Vs. 17-20: Jesus breaks the false paradigm with regard to the Law:
Old Testament Scripture is not abolished and can never be disregard or considered irrelevant.
What is the law and it’s purpose?
“Law”- ceremonial - dietary - moral
The nature of God is revealed in all the law.
‘Keeping the law’ revealed God’s nature through right behavior.
When was Jesus asked about the greatest commandment, he draws from the heart of the Old Testament:
“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Deut. 6:4) This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.(Lev.19) On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”” Matthew 22:37-40 ESV
The heart of the law is love.
Jesus is the fullness of God, and He fulfills the love requirement!
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Unrealistic?
6 examples of what it looks like to be perfected in Christ and obey his law through love.
anger: to end someone
lust: to use someone
divorce: to discard a sacred relationship
oaths: using words to get your way and be controlling
retaliation: to punish someone by getting even
love your enemies: to exclude someone and discriminate
vs. 48: “You therefore must be perfect (teleios), as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Not about behaviors but pointing to our new nature in Christ.
Philippians 1:6, “6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion (epiteleo) at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Gods rules for life are relevant because we are being perfected and becoming like Him,
they are loving because God is love,
and they are realistic because the work of Christ transforms our heart.
The Take Out:
Love rules!
Our Challenge:
Break the false paradigms— Let the Spirit shape you into the life and love of Christ