Read Matthew 5.Beginning in Matthew 5, and extending through Matthew 7, we find Jesus' longest recorded sermon, otherwise known as the Sermon on the Mount. Having just spent a considerable amount of time in our youth Christian Education class (see previous blog posts) discussing the Beatitudes, today I'd encourage you to take a closer look at verses 17-20. This also comes at a good time as Matthew is a book written specifically to the Jews, and today's Online Missions Trip entry had to do with witnessing to Jews.
The "Law" Jesus refers to here is the first five books of the Old Testament. The "Prophets" part refers to other books of the Old Testament. Together, "the Law of the Prophets" encompasses the whole Old Testament - which outlines God's means of maintaining a relationship with mankind before he sent Christ to fulfill his ultimate plan of Salvation. Consider the following:
- The law that Christ's FOLLOWERS are obliged to keep consists of the moral and ethical prncipals of the Old Testament, AS WELL AS the teachings of Christ and the apostles (i.e. the pioneers and leaders of the early church who wrote many of the New Testament books.)
- Christ's FOLLOWERS must not view the law as a system of legal commands and rules by which we can earn forgiveness and spiritual salvation.
- Faith in Christ is the starting point of fulfilling God's law.
- Because of their faith in and love for Christ, His FOLLOWERS want to live by His laws and standards.
- Having been freed from slavery to sin, Christ's FOLLOWERS willingly choose to submit to God's control.
- Jesus emphatically taught that, as an ongoing condition of entering the kingdom of heaven, we must do His Father's will (i.e. what God desires, intends and purposes for us.) In other words, we must truly FOLLOW Him.
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