The Law is Not Abolished
The Law is not Abolished
Matthew 5:17–20 (NASB 2020)
17“Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.
18For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished!
19Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20“For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Before I begin discussing the passage, let me say this. As Gentiles, we were never under the Old Testament Law. That was a covenant between God and the Hebrew nation. Ephesians 2:12 makes that very clear. Galatians also goes into depth about how the Law was a tutor until Christ came. When we hear about the law, we are better served to think of our conscience. Even before we were in Christ, we had an innate understanding of whether what we were doing or thinking was right or wrong. Think about it, what society condones murder?
Paul speaks of this in Romans 2:14–15 (NASB 2020) “14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,”
As to Matthew 5:17-20, the first thing Jesus says in this passage is that while He was not abolishing the Law, He had come to fulfill it. We know that the Law still exists. 1 Timothy 1:8–9 (NASB 2020) tells us, "But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and worldly...".
Jesus did not abolish the Law, He fulfilled the Law. He lived a sinless life and then paid the wage of sin (death) and gave us His righteousness. (see 2 Corinthians 5:21) He demonstrated the perfect love of God and made it possible for us to meet the criteria we find in Matthew 5:20 "For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." Later in the same chapter (verse 48) He said, "Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Apart from Jesus, there is no way anyone can meet that standard. Therefore, Romans 3:20 and Galatians 2:16 tell us that no one is justified by the works of the Law.
So, what is the Law for then? It is to show those who are trying to be acceptable by doing good that it's impossible and they need the One who has done it for them. We read that in Romans 3:20, which I just referenced. The purpose of the Law (and the conscience of those not in Christ) is clarified in the final phrase in the verse. The verse reads, "because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin."
The Law shows people their sin. It shuts them up about how good they think they are as we read in Romans 3:19 That's why Paul calls it the ministry of death and condemnation. ( see 2 Corinthians 3:7 & 9)
Now those who are in Christ are dead to the Law (see Romans 7:4 & Galatians 2:19-20) and Jesus is the end of the Law for everyone who believes. (see Romans 10:4)
Galatians 5:1 (NASB 2020) “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”
You are free, saint.
