Jesus Fulfills the Law Matthew 5:17-20

On Wednesday May 15, 2019 Kay Ivey governor of Alabama signed into law legislation that restricts almost all abortions. Women that are pregnant by rape or incest are not permitted to end their pregnancy. Under the law the only reason that a woman can end her pregnancy is that her own life is at risk. The law makes abortion a felony in the state of Alabama. Doctors that perform abortions will serve ninety-nine years in prison. The law was passed with a political agenda. It is hoped that the law will be taken to the United States Supreme Court in hopes that it will result in the overturn of Roe v. Wade which makes abortion legal in the United States of America. Further, Roe v. Wade gives a woman authority to make her own decision about her body. Many of those that oppose Roe v. Wade base their position on moral grounds. They see abortion as murder of the unborn that are unable to make decisions and speak for themselves.

What will be the effects of this law and similar laws passed in other states? Will laws that prohibit legal abortions prevent abortions altogether? History shows us that before Roe v. Wade abortions were performed in back alleys by quack doctors. These abortions were performed using non sterile surgical instruments in contaminated environments. Many of these abortions led to sterility of the woman making it impossible for the woman to conceive a child later in her life. Many of the unborn fetuses were delivered with trauma to their bodies that led to lifelong disabilities, both physical and mental. In some cases the mother or the child died and in some cases both died. It was the hope of Roe v. Wade that women would be able to have an abortion under safe medical practices and procedures.

In this article I want to address the role that Jesus played in relation to the Law. In the text Jesus is inviting people into the kingdom of Heaven. In the Beatitudes (Matt. 5: 3-11) tell people that have been rejected by the Pharisees that there are blessings waiting for them in the kingdom of heaven. Those who enter the kingdom of heaven will not be well thought of and accepted by the religious rulers in particular and people in general (Matt. 5:10-11). However, they must not be dissuaded. Jesus says, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (5:12, NASB).

Jesus stands in opposition to the scribes and Pharisees. They believe that they are the rightful interpreters and enforcers of the law. They claim the right to succeed the prophets. Jesus opposes the scribes and the Pharisees; not because of their position in society, but because of their misunderstanding of the law and the prophets. They had their own motivations and rules that served their own ends instead of the mission of God. Jesus comes to correct the errors of the religious rulers in their interpretations and use of the law.

Jesus tells His audience that those that enter into the kingdom of heaven are the salt of the earth (v. 13) and the light of the world (v. 14). Jesus says, “‘Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven’” (v. 16, NASB). Now, Jesus knows that the things that He will be teaching will be different from that of the Pharisees and scribes. This presents a problem for the people because they believe that the scribes and the Pharisees are the keepers of the law and the prophets. Before He starts Jesus establishes His motivation and His purpose. He says, “‘Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish (destroy) but to fulfill’” (v. 17, NASB). What does Jesus mean when He says that He comes to fulfill?

The word “fulfill” means to “satisfy,” ‘to make complete in its purpose,” “to supply what is needed,” and “to make effective.” The Law has a purpose and goal, but there is something missing. Jesus comes to make the Law satisfactory by supplying the missing ingredient. It’s like cooking; adding salt to food in order to give it flavor. It’s like giving the patient medicine that the doctor ordered but was missing in the patient’s medicine box. So, how does Jesus fulfill the law?

First, Jesus comes to validate the law. He shows that the law is holy and the requirements of the law are consistent with the nature of God. The law tells us what the law requires of us if we want to be justified by God. What must you and I do in order to be accepted by God? Jesus fulfills the law by living out the law perfectly. Jesus experiences hunger, pain, loneliness, rejection, and all human passions and desires, but He does not sin. Jesus lives the law perfectly in that He obeys the two great commandments to love God and neighbor (Matt. 22:36-40). In living out the law perfectly, Jesus becomes the suitable and sufficient sacrifice that God accepts for the sins of the people. Jesus becomes the sinless high priest. He is able to speak to the people the words of God, and He is able to speak to God on behalf of His people—those that have faith in Him.

Secondly, Jesus shows us that only a sinless person can live out the Law successfully and thus qualify to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus says these words. “‘For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven’” (5:20, NASB). The people think of the religious leaders as persons that are righteous before God above all other people. Jesus teaches us that the Pharisees teach what a person must do or not do in their behaviors. The Pharisees teach that if one’s behavior is right that will make them righteous before God. On the other hand, Jesus teaches that the law must be in the heart. For example Jesus says, “‘You have heard that it was said, ‘you shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart’” (vv. 27-28, NASB). God does not judge us based on what we do only. God knows our hearts and our minds. This is the reason that the Lord destroyed the earth by a flood. “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5, NASB). Thus, we ask if a written law can change a man’s heart. This brings us to a third way that Jesus fulfills the Law.

Jesus comes to do what the Law could not do. “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirements of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:3-4, NASB). The Law cannot free us from the desires of the flesh. The Law cannot change our hearts. The Law cannot free us from our sin nature. Why? Sin holds us in bondage. Sin keeps us separated from God, and separation from God is death. However, Jesus dies on the cross to make it possible for us to be reunited with God. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, ‘cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” (Gal. 3:13, NASB).

Those who are saved by faith are saved because of the sacrificial death of Jesus. When a person is saved from their sins, they are given the Holy Spirit. Paul writes that those who are in Christ Jesus are given the Spirit so that instead of living according to the flesh, they are to live by the Spirit. The Law could not change a man’s heart. Man can be what God intended that mankind be from the beginning only if he lives according to the Spirit. The Spirit gives us a new heart. The Spirit gives us a new mind. The results of the new heart and new mind are new behaviors. You and I have both the sin nature and the Spirit living in us. We must decide if we will live according to the flesh or if we will live according to the Spirit. In Romans 7 Paul describes the battle between the flesh and the Spirit.

Those who believe in Jesus are justified by faith. Paul writes, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1, NASB). The word “justify” is a legal term. It means to be made right according to the law. Christ dies on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. His death does not eliminate the fact that we have sinned. Rather, His death is a vicarious death. Jesus dies in our place. His death is sufficient payment for our sin. Our justification with God ends all hostilities and divisions between God and the believer; making peace with God and us.

The Prophets told of a Messiah that would save us from our sins. They proclaimed that the Lord would provide for Himself a sacrifice pleasing to God. The Pharisees based righteousness on one’s ability to keep the Law. Jesus dies on the cross and saves us from sin. Thus, Jesus fulfilled the words of the prophets.

Jesus fulfilled the Law. He lived out the requirements for righteousness. He corrected errors and made known what was first intended in the Law. He died so that the curse of the Law could no longer hold the believer in slavery to sin. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death” (Rom. 8:1).