THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
The Sermon on the Mount
Fulfilling the Law: Mt 5,17-20
Verse 17 speaks of law or prophets - in 7,12 Jesus speaks of law and prophets. Together they refer to the teachings of the Old Testament as a whole.
The prophets of the Old Testament constantly pointed out what it meant to live the law. Thus a prophetic understanding of the law is not about externals, it is written on the heart (Jer 34,33). All the verses I mentioned from Psalm 119 link the law with teaching (see verse 19).
Yet this is a more flexible understanding of the law than it is for us. The Hebrew word Torah which is usually translated Law could well be better translated as "teaching".
Therefore the solemn statement of verse 18 follows. Jesus could take a firm prophetic stand on the law without compromise. We have mentioned already how different the ten commandments are in style to the beatitudes. Jesus is looking for values, attitudes, the law on the heart, righteousness (5,20).
In this way, fulfillment in verse 17 can have the same meaning it already has in the stories of the childhood of Jesus and in the words of Jesus in 3,15 "fulfiling all righteousness". Jesus', Emmanuel or God with us, is in himself the fulfilment of the law and prophets of the Old Testament.
This is followed by verse 19 with its double use of "least" as well as the stress on teaching others to do the same. Following Jesus' teaching is the way to be great in the kingdom of heaven.
The consequence of this, what it means to be great in the kingdom of heaven, is made clear in verse 20 : Jesus who fulfils the law demands a righteousness which goes well beyond that of the scribes and Pharisees. Their understanding of the law will be harshly criticised in chapter 23. The "woes" of that chapter are the opposite to "blesseds" we have just read. The three references to "kingdom of heaven" in verses 19 and 20 recall the promise which brackets the beatitudes (5,3.10).
Jesus has now provided the foundation and the six statements which follow will draw out the meaning of this solemn introduction.
So now return to the main page.