- Jan 18, 2023
- 5 min read
“Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For I assure you and most solemnly say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke [of the pen] will pass from the Law until all things [which it foreshadows] are accomplished. So whoever breaks one of the least [important] of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least [important] in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. “For I say to you that unless your righteousness (uprightness, moral essence) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:17-20 AMP
If we love God, then we need to keep His Commandments. Christ did not come to destroy or discard the Law and the Commandments, He fulfills the Law. He completes the Law. The Commandments still stand even when the Law is completed.
“If you think I’ve come to set aside the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets, you’re mistaken. I have come to bring to perfection all that has been written. Indeed, I assure you, as long as heaven and earth endure, not even the smallest detail [Or “not even one letter or even a part of the letter of the law”] of the Law will be done away with until its purpose is complete [Or “All its teachings come true”]. So whoever violates [Or “whoever loosens” (diminishes)] even the least important of the commandments, [Or “these implanted goals”] and teaches others to do so, will be called least in heaven’s kingdom. But whoever obeys them and teaches their truths to others will be called great in heaven’s kingdom. For I tell you, unless your lives are more pure and full of integrity [Or “your deeds of righteousness”] than the religious scholars [Or “scribes,” who were considered to be the expert theologians of the Scriptures] and the Pharisees, you will never enter heaven’s kingdom.”
Matthew 5:17-20 TPT
I need to be full of integrity and pure in my pursuit of knowing God. And often that means putting aside what I think and what I believe and listening to what God says rather than finding scripture to justify and confirm what I already believe. And getting my self out of the way and letting God lead is a very real obstacle in my walk with Him. Too often I half listen and half read. Too often I skim the meaning and don’t marinate in the Word. And rather than being a theologian or a scribe, I need to be an obedient servant. I need to get out of His Way and follow.
'Think not that I am come to destroy the Lawe, or the Prophets. I am not come to destroy them, but to fulfill them. For truely I say vnto you, Till heauen, and earth perish, one iote or one title of the Law shall not scape, till all things be fulfilled. Whosoeuer therefore shall breake one of these least commandements, and teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdome of heauen: but whosoeuer shall obserue and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdome of heauen. For I say vnto you, except your righteousnes exceede the righteousnes of the Scribes and Pharises, ye shall not enter into the kingdome of heauen. '
Matthew 5:17-20 GNV
The Pharisees were always looking for a loophole or a technicality. They were the lawyers of God’s law. They built their cases for why they believed what they believed and loved to argue these cases. I do not need to build a case. I do not need to argue. I just need to simply follow what the Word says. The wonderful thing about God’s Commandments is that they are easy to understand. The challenging thing about God’s Commandments is that they are easy to understand. BUT His Word to us needs to be simple because He is so complex and we are so simple. He had to explain things in the simplest of terms. And too often we try to complicate His simple lessons to us.
'At that time Yeshua [God is Salvation] said to his disciples: “Do not think that I am come to annul the Torah or the Prophets, but to fulfill”. “Truly I say to you that until heaven and earth depart, one letter or one nikkudot (which means: ‘vowel point’) shall not be abolished from the Torah or the Prophets, because all will be fulfilled”. “He who shall transgress one word of these commandments and shall teach others shall be called ‘a vain person’, in the Kingdom of heaven; but whoever upholds and teaches them shall be called ‘great’, in the Kingdom of heaven”. At that time Yeshua [God is Salvation] said to his disciples: “Truly I say to you: if your righteousness is not greater than the P’rushim (Pharisees) [separatists] and the Torah-teachers (Scribes) , you shall not enter into the Kingdom of heaven”. '
Matthew 5:17-20 NMV
I should avoid the vanity of speaking for God. I should allow God and His Word to speak for itself. I can explain what He is saying to myself and others BUT my opinion on what He is saying doesn’t matter. I don’t make the rules. HE does.
'“Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah — not until everything that must happen has happened. So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah -teachers and P’rushim , you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven!'
Mattityahu (Mat) 5:17-20
I pray that I allow the Mitzvot to direct my path. I pray that I listen and obey His Commandments to love Him and my neighbor. I pray that my vanity be set aside and that I follow His lead. You made it simple so please do not allow me to complicate it.
I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!