Matthew 5:17–20 (ESV) — 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.
NOTE: Much has been
written about these verses, so I don't want to add too much, except to say that
the NT writers, particularly Paul made it clear that in fact the law has been
abolished, not by Jesus' life but by Jesus' death. Jesus' life fulfilled or completed
the law, not a dot or iota of the law was omitted in his life. He fully
complied with every aspect of the law, such that he had no sin at the end of
his life. And consequently, he could offer his own sinless life for our sinful
lives in order to abolish the law and the power of sin which was death. He
defeated death by completely fulfilling every aspect of the law. And he
abolished the law, nailing it to the cross (as Paul says in Colossians) by his
death. Jesus' death changes everything. Before his death, we were under the
law, after his death we live under grace. Prior to his death, Gentiles were
without hope, but now we have hope. Jesus' death changed everything about life
and the law. Now our righteousness can exceed that of the scribes and
Pharisees, because Jesus fulfilled the law for me. Thank you Lord for my
undeserved (in every sense of the word) salvation.
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