Sermon on the Mount – I Came to Fulfill the Law • FOUNDED IN TRUTH

We are delving into a significant portion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, specifically Matthew chapter 5, verses 17 through 20. Pastor Matthew Vander Els introduced David Wilber, a scholar with a BA in biblical studies, a recipient of the Zonderman Award for biblical Greek, and the valedictorian of his class, to provide deeper insights into this passage. David Wilber, who has also authored several books including “How Jesus Fulfilled the Law,” “A Christian’s Guide to the Biblical Feast,” and “Remember the Sabbath, What the New Testament Says About the Sabbath Observance for Christians,” begins by emphasizing the crucial nature of the Sermon on the Mount. He quotes Pastor Matthew Vander Els‘s description of it as “the constitution of the kingdom of heaven.” If one desires to understand how to live as a member of Messiah’s kingdom, the Sermon on the Mount serves as the foundational guide. The initial sixteen verses of Matthew 5, covering the Beatitudes and the metaphor of salt and light, have already been discussed in previous teachings.

Wilber posits that Matthew 5:17-20 serves as the bedrock upon which the entirety of Jesus’ subsequent teachings in the Sermon on the Mount are built. New Testament scholar Dr. Craig Keener refers to this passage as Jesus’ thesis statement, encapsulating his central argument that he will then elaborate on throughout the sermon. This foundational passage, however, is also notably controversial because it offers critical insight into Jesus’ perspective on the enduring relevance of the Law of Moses and his expectations for his followers’ relationship with it. This perspective often clashes with contemporary religious doctrines that suggest the Law’s diminished or non-existent importance. Wilber references a former prominent megachurch pastor, Andy Stanley, who controversially asserted that Christians should “unhitch” themselves from the Old Testament and that the Law of Moses has “no say in the life of a believer.” While Stanley faced widespread criticism, Wilber notes that a significant number of modern Christians, perhaps using different terminology, hold a similar view, believing the Old Testament and its commandments to be obsolete, having been fulfilled by Jesus.

However, Wilber argues that Matthew 5:17-20 directly confronts such antinomian or anti-law sentiments in the strongest possible terms, with Jesus affirming the continuing relevance of the Law of Moses in the lives of his followers. He cautions against using the Bible merely as a tool to validate pre-existing beliefs, urging listeners to remain open to what God’s Word is personally communicating. Wilber intends to dissect each verse of this pivotal passage, exploring its meaning and its implications for Christians and Messianics today.

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Application for Everyday Life

• Examine Your Heart: Regularly assess your inner motivations and intentions behind your religious practices. Are you seeking to genuinely obey God, or are you primarily concerned with outward appearances?
• Strive for Genuine Obedience: Don’t just focus on the letter of the law; seek to understand and live out its spirit as taught by Jesus. Avoid creating loopholes or finding excuses to disregard commandments.
• Recognize the Ongoing Relevance of Scripture: Understand that the Old Testament Law and Prophets are not obsolete but continue to hold significance in the life of a believer, as affirmed by Jesus himself.
• Go Beyond the Minimum: Don’t aim for the bare minimum of obedience. Strive for greatness in the kingdom by diligently doing and teaching God’s commandments.
• Be Aware of Hypocrisy: Guard against hypocrisy in your own life. Ensure that your outward actions align with your inner beliefs and that you are not neglecting weightier matters of the law while focusing on lesser ones.
• Embrace Jesus’ Interpretation: Study the Sermon on the Mount and other teachings of Jesus to understand the intended meaning and application of God’s Law.
• Take God’s Word Seriously: Engage with Scripture not just to confirm your own views but to allow it to challenge and transform you. Be open to areas where you may be falling short of God’s standards.
• Pursue Kingdom Living: Make a conscious decision to live according to the values and principles of God’s kingdom in all aspects of your life.

References

Bible Verses:

• Matthew 5:17
• Matthew 12:2
• Matthew 2:23
• Romans 6
• Matthew 5:16
• Matthew 5:19
• Matthew 5:12
• Matthew 18:4
• Matthew 20:26
• Matthew 5:20
• Matthew 6
• Deuteronomy 6:25
• Matthew 15
• Matthew 23
• 2 Peter 3:7
• 2 Peter 3:13
• Revelation 21:1

Books and Resources:

• How Jesus Fulfilled the Law by David Wilber
• A Christian’s Guide to the Biblical Feast by David Wilber
• Remember the Sabbath by David Wilber