1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Thank you everyone for your prayers, concerns, texts, cuddles, kisses, hugs and all of that 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:08,000 concerning Hayley. 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:09,800 We really, really appreciate it. 4 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:16,960 You might see me putting some kilos on because the people who are cooking for us are cooking 5 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:17,960 really good meals. 6 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:22,360 So yeah, if they give us a tray, I'll get into that. 7 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:27,120 So thank you very much for the church's love and concern for us. 8 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:32,360 But yes, and Hayley, we've got some more stuff to do with the doctors this week and we'll 9 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:35,800 see what the path will be forward. 10 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:37,640 But please keep praying for us. 11 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:44,600 And in saying that, let us pray to our God this morning who has given us these wonderful, 12 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:45,600 precious words. 13 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:53,280 Would you join me in prayer? 14 00:00:53,280 --> 00:01:04,200 Father God, these are indeed words given by inspiration of your Holy Spirit, not written 15 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:09,080 by men, but given by you to us. 16 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:17,560 We ask this morning as we peer into these words of eternal life, that Lord, they won't 17 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:26,120 stay in our minds, but by your Spirit would be plunged into our hearts. 18 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:33,640 Father, we ask that we wouldn't be like the crowds listening to the words of Jesus and 19 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:41,760 walking away unaffected, but indeed like the disciples sitting at the feet of you, Lord 20 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:48,200 Jesus, listening to you and taking these words to be what they are. 21 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,920 We know that this can only happen by your Spirit working among us this morning. 22 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:56,560 We ask that this would happen in Jesus' name. 23 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:57,560 Amen. 24 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:04,840 There's been a great gift given to Australian parents in the past few years, and that is 25 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:09,800 a little TV show on the ABC called Bluey. 26 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:14,160 Now for those of you who may not have heard of this, Bluey, where have you been? 27 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:20,920 But it is simply a show about a family of cartoon dogs called the Healers. 28 00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:27,000 Now I say that this show is a gift to parents because in each episode there are fantastic 29 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:34,560 little lessons about life that the parents teach their children by way of games. 30 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:41,280 And some of the games are hilarious, really helping parents like me communicate little 31 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:45,080 life lessons in a really fun way. 32 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:52,760 However, one of my daughter's favourite episodes is when Bluey's dad, Striker, tries to teach 33 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:59,040 her chess, which in turn got my little girl Bethany interested in the whole thing as well, 34 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:02,800 which led her to wanting me to teach her chess. 35 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:10,880 So thanks to Bluey, me and Bethany have come to loving playing chess most weekends. 36 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:14,400 And I've got to say she's picked up the game pretty quickly, it's great. 37 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:21,240 However, as I've been teaching her the rules and as we've been playing, I've noticed how 38 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:29,960 she wants to get rid of the rules altogether or make up new ones to make chess more interesting. 39 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:34,160 And that is the thing about human nature, right? 40 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:42,840 We don't like rules and we want to get rid of them, looking for any excuse to make life 41 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:44,560 more interesting. 42 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:51,400 It's like the heart says, rules are there and they're meant to be broken. 43 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:56,640 And I mention this because this seems to be the thing that Jesus is addressing with his 44 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:00,120 disciples here on the Sermon of the Mount. 45 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:06,240 He's teaching them about the kingdom of heaven and we read here in verse 17, do not think 46 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:11,240 that I have come to abolish the law or prophets. 47 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:15,840 We might ask here, why would he even have to address this? 48 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:22,400 Why did he need to say clearly to his audience that he had no intention of abolishing God's 49 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,760 rules that have been given to them? 50 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:32,080 Well, this question might be answered within the context of where we have been in the book 51 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:33,720 of Matthew so far. 52 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:40,640 See, up until this point, we've seen that there was an internal cultural paradox that 53 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:45,720 was alive and well in the nation of Israel. 54 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:51,680 On the one hand, they were a people who were under the crushing foot of the Roman Empire, 55 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:57,600 but on the other hand, they were also a people that knew that they were in covenant with 56 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:01,760 the living God, the creator of the universe. 57 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:08,520 And he had promised that through the family of David, he was going to raise up a king 58 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:16,520 and this king was going to come to them and set them free from all their enemies. 59 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:24,200 So they were a defeated people in a way, but at the same time, they were also an expecting 60 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:30,520 people, looking forward in hope to what God had promised to do for them. 61 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:36,000 And there must have been great hope for those who believe God's promises through the prophets, 62 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:42,120 as throughout their Bible, our Old Testament, they were given wonderful pictures of what 63 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:47,200 God's king would be like and what he would do for his people. 64 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:55,960 However, in this great expectation, they also knew that before their king would come on 65 00:05:55,960 --> 00:06:01,960 the scene, God would make it really obvious to them. 66 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:09,000 We read in one of the prophets, particularly Malachi chapter four, verses one to six, these 67 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:14,040 are the words of God, surely the day is coming, it will burn like a furnace. 68 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:19,920 All the arrogant and evildoers will be stubble and the day that is coming will set them on 69 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,120 fire says the Lord Almighty. 70 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:26,960 Not a root or branch will be left to them, but for you who revere my name, the son of 71 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:33,080 righteousness will rise with healing in its rays and you will go out and frolic like well 72 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:34,760 fed calves. 73 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:38,400 Then you will trample on the wicked, there will be ashes under the soles of your feet 74 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,240 on the day that I access the Lord. 75 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:46,640 Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees laws and I gave him a hareb for all 76 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:47,640 Israel. 77 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:55,920 See, I will send the prophet Elijah before you, before that great and dreadful day of 78 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:57,400 the Lord comes. 79 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:02,020 He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the hearts of the children 80 00:07:02,020 --> 00:07:12,000 to their parents or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction. 81 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:16,800 I want us to notice something said in that prophecy by Malachi. 82 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:23,560 He says, see, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the great and dreadful day that 83 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:24,560 the Lord comes. 84 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:29,800 Now for the people who believe their Bibles and who were expecting and looking for God's 85 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:37,160 coming messenger, John was the obvious guy that Malachi was speaking about. 86 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:40,280 We know that they didn't believe in reincarnation. 87 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:45,440 I mean not only did he preach like Elijah telling the rebellious people of Israel to 88 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:51,080 turn back to their God, he even dressed and we can assume probably even smelt like him 89 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:53,000 as well. 90 00:07:53,000 --> 00:08:00,160 And how did John get the people of Israel ready to meet their coming Messiah? 91 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:05,000 Well we looked at this a few weeks ago when we were looking into chapter 3. 92 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:12,280 John baptised them but more than that he came with a burning message in his heart saying 93 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:18,160 I baptise you with water for repentance but after me comes one who is more powerful than 94 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,880 I, whose sandals I'm not worthy to carry. 95 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:27,560 He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 96 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:32,860 His winnowing fork is in his hand and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat 97 00:08:32,860 --> 00:08:39,760 into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire. 98 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:45,320 All this to say for those who believed the preaching of John and who were expecting God 99 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:49,900 to keep his promises and send them a king. 100 00:08:49,900 --> 00:08:57,840 John was the obvious application to Malachi's announcement and Jesus was the obvious king 101 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:03,720 that John's ministry was getting people ready to meet. 102 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:09,080 So once Jesus was publicly coronated by John he got straight to work preaching all over 103 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:15,360 the place about God's wonderful kingdom or the kingdom of heaven as Matthew puts it. 104 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:22,320 And it was as he was doing this that news not only spread about his message on the kingdom 105 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:26,440 but also about the amazing miracles he was performing. 106 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:33,360 In fact Matthew tells us that he was becoming so famous in Israel that people from all over 107 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:36,840 the place were coming to see him. 108 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:45,400 He was a huge deal and someone worth the time and effort to go out and see. 109 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:50,800 For the past couple of weeks we've been exploring one of Jesus' most famous sermons that he 110 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:54,320 gave in the region of Galilee. 111 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:59,320 It's come to be known as the Sermon on the Mount. 112 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:04,760 It's a brilliant amazing sermon that we're going to be working our way through over the 113 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:05,760 coming weeks. 114 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:14,040 Not only because you have Jesus who is the greatest theologian of all time clearly expanding 115 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:20,120 great themes of the Bible but he really goes into some great practical detail about what 116 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:24,480 it is to be his disciple in this world. 117 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:31,220 On how to not be part of this world but how to be as we saw last week salt and light. 118 00:10:31,220 --> 00:10:37,600 How to be an element of preservation and truth in a decaying and rotting world that rejects 119 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:41,040 God. 120 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:47,120 So when Jesus turns his attention to the law saying I haven't come to abolish it. 121 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:53,200 I think he's saying that because our context shows us that his disciples came from a world 122 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:59,240 where they would have had so much confusion about the role of the law and the prophets 123 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:01,920 in Israel. 124 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:07,640 So we have to remember in the face of all these wonderful promises and hopes that their 125 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,960 Bibles held out about a coming king. 126 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:17,400 We know that not everyone was on board with John's message. 127 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:21,680 Not everyone was on board with John's ministry and application. 128 00:11:21,680 --> 00:11:26,880 In fact the theologians and teachers of the law in Israel were not happy with John's ministry 129 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:27,880 at all. 130 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:33,000 They went out to challenge him regularly on what he was preaching. 131 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:39,000 And it was in these challenges that we see that John warned Israel's teachers that they 132 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:45,480 were nothing more than a brood of vipers without proper understanding or true followers of 133 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:46,480 the law themselves. 134 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:52,840 In fact he said that they were in great need of repentance before God destroyed them. 135 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,440 Matthew 3, 7 through to 10. 136 00:11:55,440 --> 00:12:02,440 So you can imagine that when Jesus came along and went about preaching in the synagogues 137 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:08,040 his message on the kingdom of heaven and its application would have been revolutionary 138 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:15,160 and nothing like that of the teachers of the day who thought that they were the great keepers 139 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:22,760 and experts of God's moral rules and its application. 140 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:25,000 I mean we can imagine it right. 141 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:31,600 He would have challenged much of his disciples theological understanding about what they 142 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:37,240 had been taught about the law as Jesus would have dismantled the theological norms of the 143 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:43,160 day and applied the law in what they would have thought as such a different way. 144 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:50,600 Which it seems in turn must have got his disciples wondering if he was opposed to these rules 145 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:53,200 that were given by God. 146 00:12:53,200 --> 00:13:00,640 So Jesus makes it crystal clear in this text that we have before us this morning. 147 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:09,080 Jesus says I've not come to abolish the law and prophets. 148 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:16,040 What's interesting about this is that Jesus is saying that he is all for obedience to 149 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:17,040 God's law. 150 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:20,320 He's saying don't misunderstand what I've come to do. 151 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:26,440 I've not come to say that God's rules and standards don't matter anymore or that he's 152 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:29,920 just happened to change his mind on what's good and bad. 153 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:36,000 No by Jesus saying that he has not come to abolish the law he's saying that God's moral 154 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:43,520 standard for life continues to be the measuring stick the measuring rod of righteousness for 155 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:44,520 his creatures. 156 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:51,360 In other words it continues to reveal God's perfect character which means on the flip 157 00:13:51,360 --> 00:14:00,420 side it continues to show humanity's depravity whenever we're measured by it. 158 00:14:00,420 --> 00:14:04,220 This is why the law was given in the first place right? 159 00:14:04,220 --> 00:14:10,240 It was given to show the nature of salvation. 160 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:14,600 It was given to show that we're broken and we can't keep the law in and of ourselves 161 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:18,840 no matter how hard we try to do it. 162 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:24,840 So either we'll ignore and suppress that truth pretending either there's no God or that he 163 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:31,480 doesn't care about the way we act in this world either towards him or others or we will 164 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:38,940 try and self justify our actions making up our own rules and laws our own many religions 165 00:14:38,940 --> 00:14:47,920 that define good and bad all to try and twist God's arm into finally accepting us. 166 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:53,560 This is all wrapped up in what Jesus is saying here. 167 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:58,320 He's saying to his disciples this moral standard of God these rules for life that have been 168 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:06,240 revealed in the law and given to you and continually preached through the prophets well it continues 169 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:10,400 to show God's character that hasn't changed. 170 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:16,400 It continues to show that God is perfect and that there is something wrong drastically 171 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:20,040 wrong with humanity. 172 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:27,000 It continues to show brokenness and inability so don't misunderstand me here. 173 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:32,980 Jesus says I have come I have not come to change the law for you. 174 00:15:32,980 --> 00:15:40,640 The law continues to be the perfect rule of righteousness the perfect revelation of God's 175 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:44,520 character. 176 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:49,000 This is the thing about the law that we have to come to grips with church. 177 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:57,460 It does show us that we have broken our creators rules in every which way. 178 00:15:57,460 --> 00:16:03,440 It does show us that we cannot measure up to what he has created us to be. 179 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:10,080 It does show us that there is something drastically wrong with the human experience and once we 180 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:16,040 understand that once we come to grips with the fact that we are cosmic rebels and that 181 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:20,100 we cannot save ourselves by keeping the law. 182 00:16:20,100 --> 00:16:27,200 Once we come to grips with the fact that all we deserve is actually the wrath of the creator 183 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:36,440 well then you are able to then understand what salvation by grace is all about and why 184 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:45,640 what Jesus says next is absolutely astounding. 185 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:52,140 See Jesus doesn't just say I have come to abolish the law and prophets not to come and 186 00:16:52,140 --> 00:16:54,840 to abolish the law and prophets. 187 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:58,600 He's also said that he's come to fulfill them. 188 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:08,560 As church as I've been reading through this text this week and its context it seems obvious 189 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:14,240 to me that all those who would have heard these words would have been blown away by 190 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:17,360 what Jesus is saying here. 191 00:17:17,360 --> 00:17:22,760 I've not come to abolish the law of prophets. 192 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:29,000 I've not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 193 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:34,800 Matthew goes on later to even say that the crowds were amazed at his teaching because 194 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:40,040 he taught as one who had authority not like their teachers of the law. 195 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:45,280 That's because Jesus is saying here I haven't come to get rid of what God has given to you 196 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:54,840 previously but have come to show you how to truly understand what's been given because 197 00:17:54,840 --> 00:18:02,440 their plan and their purpose was to point to me. 198 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:07,040 Astounding so let's slow down here a bit. 199 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:12,720 Jesus is saying that all that God has given through Moses and the prophets all that God 200 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:18,680 has given in the Bible all the blessings and promises that he held out to Israel were in 201 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:24,520 fact pointing in one direction pointing to a time and a place. 202 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:32,200 He's saying that all that had been revealed was in fact pointing to the man that is standing 203 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:35,960 before them right there. 204 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:41,640 Jesus is saying it was all given so he might fulfill it. 205 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:43,240 What exactly does that mean? 206 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:46,040 What does fulfill mean? 207 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:54,240 I find this quote by a pastor in the ancient church very helpful John Chrysostom and I 208 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:57,800 probably haven't said that right I do apologize. 209 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:04,400 Simply put fulfill we're meant to think of something like a glass of water. 210 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:11,400 In other words Christ's ministry was about giving the law and the prophets their full 211 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:20,500 expression and I think Jesus uses this phrase to express a couple of things for us to fulfill 212 00:19:20,500 --> 00:19:21,500 to fill up. 213 00:19:21,500 --> 00:19:27,280 First he means that if we really want to know how the law is to shape us in this life then 214 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:35,520 his doctrine and application are the lens which we should understand the law through. 215 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:41,920 Jesus had come to give God's revelation its full meaning therefore he's saying that it's 216 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:48,960 through his teaching that he will reveal to us how to love God with all that you are and 217 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:52,320 others as yourself. 218 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:59,200 This means that it's his doctrine and application that are the correct way to see the law and 219 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:01,440 the prophets. 220 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:05,000 And that's what Israel's teachers had missed. 221 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:10,040 They didn't get what the law was doing or where it was pointing. 222 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:12,120 That's what Jesus is saying here. 223 00:20:12,120 --> 00:20:18,240 He's saying it's only in his teaching and application that we can really understand 224 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:22,380 what the Old Testament truly means. 225 00:20:22,380 --> 00:20:28,480 And second if we're to really understand the law if we really want to know what the promises 226 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:35,440 of the prophets are pointing to then we must not look just to the doctrine of Jesus but 227 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:39,280 also to his very life. 228 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:46,200 Because as we know he fulfilled the law and the prophets not only in all he said but also 229 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:49,120 in all he did. 230 00:20:49,120 --> 00:20:54,360 This is why Matthew as we've seen through the weeks wrote this account. 231 00:20:54,360 --> 00:21:01,840 He wrote this gospel to testify about the person of Jesus and Jesus fulfilled all that 232 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:07,920 the law required and all that the prophets promised in his very person. 233 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:13,760 I want to give an example of this so we're not lost this morning. 234 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:20,840 The ceremonies of the law testified of Jesus in the shadows and in types says the author 235 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:28,040 to the Hebrews meaning the temple sacrifices gave Israel vivid and graphic pictures of 236 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:36,420 what it would take to deal with sin which was the basis of Christ's own atoning sacrifice 237 00:21:36,420 --> 00:21:45,280 on the cross meaning Jesus gave the full expression of what the law was pointing to in his death. 238 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:52,040 The laws demands for holiness are costly and it's in Jesus's death that we see what we 239 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:58,020 deserve which he took upon himself. 240 00:21:58,020 --> 00:22:04,520 When Jesus cried from the cross father why have you forsaken me that's the laws penalty 241 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:14,280 being poured out and Jesus took that on himself on our behalf as our atoning sacrifice. 242 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:23,880 He is totally and utterly sinless yet as the innocent lamb he took the place of his people. 243 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:30,320 Martin Luther calls it the great exchange and we see all of this in the law and the 244 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:38,640 prophets but we understand it in its fullness in the life and death of Jesus. 245 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:46,460 Jesus makes it clear he is in no way come to abolish what's come before no he's come 246 00:22:46,460 --> 00:22:52,760 to fulfill it to give it its fullest meaning this is why he goes on to say in verse 18 247 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:57,880 for truly I tell you until heaven and earth disappear not the smallest letter not the 248 00:22:57,880 --> 00:23:06,480 least stroke of a pen will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished. 249 00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:10,880 Jesus is saying in as many words that the law is authoritative and you want to know 250 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:16,480 what I think about the law well it's God's moral standard I haven't come to change that 251 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:24,680 it stands I've come to reveal to you what it's been given to do to point to me. 252 00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:29,880 It's little wonder Jesus goes on to say in verse 19 of our text this morning therefore 253 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:36,600 anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly 254 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:45,120 will be called least in the kingdom of heaven but whoever practices and teaches these commands 255 00:23:45,120 --> 00:23:50,360 will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 256 00:23:50,360 --> 00:23:57,120 Simply put Jesus expects his disciples his followers to view the law in the same way 257 00:23:57,120 --> 00:24:05,000 he does to not cast it aside not to cast aside the moral principles of God's revelation 258 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:10,900 but to want to live by them to want to be obedient to them to want to do them to want 259 00:24:10,900 --> 00:24:17,160 to be shaped by them to want to tell others about them. 260 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:22,800 You might be here this morning and you might be thinking to yourself hey Michael I didn't 261 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:28,600 think we were under the law but under grace that's certainly a phrase that I hear said 262 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:34,960 a lot and at first it's completely reasonable I mean it's a direct quotation from the Apostle 263 00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:43,000 Paul it's indeed the case but in saying that we also know that God never contradicts himself 264 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:51,400 Jesus didn't say one thing and then Paul another when we read both Jesus and Paul in context 265 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:59,080 we quickly see that they weren't at loggerheads over this issue of the law in any sense but 266 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:08,680 actually addressing the very same thing with their audience and that's the problem of legalism. 267 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:13,920 You might be here this morning and thinking I've never heard of that word legalism what 268 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:15,720 on earth is that? 269 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:23,520 That's a great question and yet not a simple question to answer as it comes in so many 270 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:29,920 different forms but I'll give you three examples that are shown particularly in the book of 271 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:32,800 Matthew. 272 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:37,920 First legalism is when someone thinks that they can save themselves by the things that 273 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:38,920 they do. 274 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:46,920 That's going to be a major issue in the book of Matthew when it comes to the Pharisees. 275 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:56,560 They thought and taught the people of Israel there is an air of this you can save yourself 276 00:25:56,560 --> 00:26:02,680 as you work your way into God's kingdom by the things you do so as to put God in a place 277 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:08,280 where he would have to save you and this is closely tied with Jesus's second issue with 278 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:13,920 legalism with the teachers of Israel and that was that they were adding man-made rules and 279 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:22,400 traditions to the law and placing them on people as authoritative as God given law. 280 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:28,080 In doing this they were actually taking people away from God's rules and making them followers 281 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:37,080 of their own made-up traditions and the burden was driving people away from following God 282 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:38,560 and to following men. 283 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:49,400 Third and we're going to see this a lot more in chapter 6 legalists happily serve God externally 284 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:54,480 but they're internally not interested in God at all. 285 00:26:54,480 --> 00:27:00,680 They do all their religious deeds to be seen by others to get their approval yet internally 286 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:09,280 they're in no way with in love with God as their father in a nutshell legalism is an 287 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:16,720 external religion to please others in front of them. 288 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:21,560 So let's not misunderstand what's happening here in our text this morning brothers and 289 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:28,240 sisters Jesus isn't saying to his disciples that the Pharisees were so in love with God 290 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:33,120 and just a little bit too enthusiastic when it came to serving him. 291 00:27:33,120 --> 00:27:43,960 No he's clear verse 20 Jesus says for I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses 292 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:49,340 that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law you will certainly not enter the kingdom 293 00:27:49,340 --> 00:27:51,400 of heaven. 294 00:27:51,400 --> 00:28:00,160 In other words Jesus is dead serious about the law and about his disciples obedience 295 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:01,160 to it. 296 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:07,680 It isn't something in the eyes of Jesus to be disregarded or thought about here and there 297 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:13,800 nor is it to be something that we just use so that we can be self justified trusting 298 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:20,400 in our own law keeping abilities to merit salvation like the error that the Pharisees 299 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:22,640 had walked straight into. 300 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:30,560 Now the law was given by God it stands as his eternal moral standard that people must 301 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:35,960 live up to because if you don't and this is the warning you will never enter the kingdom 302 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:40,760 of heaven says Jesus. 303 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:43,960 Seems pretty straightforward right? 304 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:53,760 Yet there is a tremendous glaring problem staring us right in the face this morning 305 00:28:53,760 --> 00:29:00,000 and it would have been staring Jesus's first disciples in the face as well. 306 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:06,400 This is the problem when we look at the law when we measure ourselves by its standard 307 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:14,120 which is clearly laid out in the Ten Commandments if we're honest with ourselves we all all 308 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:21,600 of us stand utterly guilty and condemned because we've not just broken but smashed the law 309 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:28,200 in every which way and I have confidence in saying that to you this morning because the 310 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:33,680 way that we're going to see Jesus apply the law in the rest of his sermon is actually 311 00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:42,160 to the thoughts and the intentions of the heart not just the external actions. 312 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:47,440 And it's as we apply the law in this way that we quickly see that we are in desperate need 313 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:50,880 of God's mercy and grace. 314 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:55,080 But this is the thing right? 315 00:29:55,080 --> 00:30:00,800 This is how Jesus started his whole sermon on the mount. 316 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:08,120 How he started his whole sermon he said those who are blessed are not those who work externally 317 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:14,160 to twist God's arm into blessing them or who add little rules and regulations to impress 318 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:15,520 God and others. 319 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:23,280 No those who are blessed of God says Jesus are those who are poor in spirit, who mourn, 320 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:29,520 who are meek, who are humble meaning those who God blesses are not the people who work 321 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:37,360 hard at religion to build up self-trust but those who see their great need for God and 322 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:39,160 his mercy. 323 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:51,000 Church we see that because we see ourselves in the light of God's perfect character. 324 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:56,400 Brothers and sisters that's why God gave the law and that's why Jesus didn't come to abolish 325 00:30:56,400 --> 00:31:03,160 it because it continues to expose our cosmic rebellion yet it drives us to cry out for 326 00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:04,160 mercy. 327 00:31:04,160 --> 00:31:09,480 And this is the most incredible news of all and if you don't take anything from this listen 328 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:10,480 to this. 329 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:16,600 God through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus through his perfect obedience and 330 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:24,880 fulfilment of the law not just in all he did all he said not just externally but internally 331 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:32,560 well he's made a way for the penalty of our lawless deeds to be washed away completely 332 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:40,400 so that we might enter the kingdom of heaven through Christ's perfect obedience. 333 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:47,500 It might be said like this it's by putting your trust in Jesus alone that his perfect 334 00:31:47,500 --> 00:31:54,040 law keeping is given to those who come to him in faith and that's the one who does that 335 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:59,360 is made a true law keeper in Christ. 336 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:06,720 This means that there is only one way to enter God's kingdom one way it's by trusting in 337 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:12,320 Jesus's fulfilling of all that the law demanded of us. 338 00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:20,300 That is the only way that we can be in total and utter peace with our creator for all eternity. 339 00:32:20,300 --> 00:32:27,560 How we can be changed from his enemies into his beloved children it's by trusting in the 340 00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:34,480 king that he promised to send to us. 341 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:39,960 Incredibly there is more not only did Jesus fulfill and take the curse of the law for 342 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:45,520 his people so that we can be made completely and totally right with our father in heaven 343 00:32:45,520 --> 00:32:52,920 God has also blessed us with his Holy Spirit who in turn Jeremiah says circumcises our 344 00:32:52,920 --> 00:32:59,040 heart, writes the law on our hearts meaning that Christ's high call for obedience to the 345 00:32:59,040 --> 00:33:04,600 law in our lives becomes our internal delight. 346 00:33:04,600 --> 00:33:09,200 Our desire for our heavenly father's way is our delight. 347 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:15,800 That's why we might say we're not under law but under grace because the curse has been 348 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:23,880 taken for us the work has been done on our behalf but the desire for obedience is amplified 349 00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:27,160 because of God's gracious work on our behalf. 350 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:33,520 It's the Holy Spirit who gives us a willing heart for obedience a want to obey and live 351 00:33:33,520 --> 00:33:41,480 out the law of God in our lives in all we do not with resentment but with a great desire 352 00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:48,920 to please our heavenly father because we love him so much. 353 00:33:48,920 --> 00:33:56,240 Church as we come to the end of our time here in the word this morning might I say that 354 00:33:56,240 --> 00:34:02,200 though we will not obey the law perfectly on this side of eternity we mustn't just 355 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:10,080 disregard it nor trust that it is our obedience to it which makes us right in the eyes of 356 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:12,000 God. 357 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:15,320 We must avoid the legalist trap. 358 00:34:15,320 --> 00:34:22,040 It's not our obedience to the law but our continued trust in the one that God sent on 359 00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:29,640 behalf of his people in the one who kept the whole law and was righteous on our behalf 360 00:34:29,640 --> 00:34:34,040 in all he said and in all he did. 361 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:39,800 It's by being in union with the risen Jesus through the Holy Spirit that our hearts will 362 00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:45,920 greatly desire to obey our father in heaven and live in accordance with his will for our 363 00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:54,240 lives so we can say a hearty amen with the psalmist oh how I love your law your truths 364 00:34:54,240 --> 00:34:55,640 and your way. 365 00:34:55,640 --> 00:35:02,840 That's the tremendous work of God done on our behalf. 366 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:09,600 So I might ask you here today are you wishing that there were no rules that God had given 367 00:35:09,600 --> 00:35:12,560 or wanting to get rid of them altogether? 368 00:35:12,560 --> 00:35:18,240 Are you wishing that you could do things your own way suppressing what God has revealed 369 00:35:18,240 --> 00:35:25,920 or you trusting in your own religious works to be right with God? 370 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:30,600 And friend hear what has been said this morning loud and clear. 371 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:39,960 There are tragic tragic ramifications eternal ramifications for disregarding our creator. 372 00:35:39,960 --> 00:35:43,360 That doesn't need to be your story. 373 00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:50,440 That's because there is one who has kept the demands of the law perfectly who gives all 374 00:35:50,440 --> 00:35:56,080 that is his to those who trust in him. 375 00:35:56,080 --> 00:36:03,500 The words of Jesus himself is that he turns no one away no one no matter how rebellious 376 00:36:03,500 --> 00:36:13,560 you might have been no matter how rebellious you feel he turns no one away who calls on 377 00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:14,560 him. 378 00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:18,360 The invitation is open to all. 379 00:36:18,360 --> 00:36:25,000 Might I ask this to you church if you are here this morning and you would say yes Michael 380 00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:29,960 I have called on the name of the Lord and you'd say I do look to Jesus who has kept 381 00:36:29,960 --> 00:36:34,400 the law and taken the punishment for my sin. 382 00:36:34,400 --> 00:36:40,480 And I'd ask are you delighting in the law of our God and wanting more than anything 383 00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:47,720 else to be conformed to that wonderful image of our Lord Jesus Christ in this life? 384 00:36:47,720 --> 00:36:55,800 Do you have a great desire for Jesus to be exalted in all that you are and do even when 385 00:36:55,800 --> 00:37:01,320 no one is looking? 386 00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:11,040 Do you have a desire for his righteousness and sanctifying work in your life to bring 387 00:37:11,040 --> 00:37:13,520 God glory alone? 388 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:22,360 If you were here this morning and you would say yes to these things or if you would say 389 00:37:22,360 --> 00:37:30,160 I want that desire then let's pray together let's pray right now and ask our Father to 390 00:37:30,160 --> 00:37:38,640 do this tremendous work in us. 391 00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:44,040 Father it's been said from this pulpit this morning that we are not just speaking to the 392 00:37:44,040 --> 00:37:55,080 air but speaking to you and this is all because of your work on our behalf. 393 00:37:55,080 --> 00:38:00,180 Because of Jesus we are able to come to the throne of grace not just individually but 394 00:38:00,180 --> 00:38:12,320 as your people as your children as your blood purchased beloved children. 395 00:38:12,320 --> 00:38:19,720 Father we know where we fall short but we would ask by the work of your Holy Spirit 396 00:38:19,720 --> 00:38:26,680 that you would point our eyes heavenward that we would look to Jesus that you would draw 397 00:38:26,680 --> 00:38:34,880 us to Jesus that you would show us more of Jesus. 398 00:38:34,880 --> 00:38:42,840 Father we are a desperate people relying on your mercy and grace alone and we thank you 399 00:38:42,840 --> 00:38:49,760 that you have sent the perfect one to be perfect on our behalf and that is your continued work 400 00:38:49,760 --> 00:38:52,880 that is conforming us to his image. 401 00:38:52,880 --> 00:39:00,640 Father please give us a great desire to walk in your ways not just by ourselves but as 402 00:39:00,640 --> 00:39:07,680 a church we ask for this wonderful work of the Spirit among us we ask for it in Jesus 403 00:39:07,680 --> 00:39:08,680 name. 404 00:39:08,680 --> 00:39:31,040 Amen.