MATTHEW 5:19
So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Law
MATTHEW 5:17–20
“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least
in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!”
REFLECTION
In this passage, Jesus makes a bold statement—he is the fulfillment of the entire law. He is clear that the Old Testament Scriptures are not being thrown out, but that every verse actually points back to Jesus. It can be tempting to think that the Old Testament is irrelevant or not as interesting as the New Testament, but that could not be further from the truth! The arch of the Old Testament points to Jesus through every story, every law.
The Pharisees were the religious leaders during Jesus’ time, and they seemed to be the most righteous people around, following every single law and adding more rules on top just to be safe. So when Jesus says we should be more righteous than the Pharisees, it seems impossible. Jesus is making the point that we cannot achieve righteousness in our own strength. The Pharisees, with all of their outward righteousness, were not following God with their hearts. And Jesus is concerned not just with the purity of our actions, but with the purity of our hearts.
What do you think is the connection between being a Christian and keeping the rules of the Bible? What does Jesus say about the rules?