1. Jesus, the Old Testament, and You
The Sermon On The Mount
Matthew 5:17-20

2. 100% Revelation
How is a Christian to understand and obey the Old Testament?
The OT = 75% of the Bible
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

3. The Authority of the Old Testament
17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then annuls 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 surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-20 )

4. The Authority of the Old Testament
Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (1 Corinthians 10:11)
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

5. Obeying the Law?
“You are to keep My statutes. You shall not breed together two kinds of your cattle; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor wear a garment upon you of two kinds of material mixed together.” (Leviticus 19:19)

6. Obeying the Law?
4 “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

7. Obeying the Law?
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment.” (Matthew 22:36-38)

8. Obeying the Law?
“You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest.” (Deuteronomy 23:19)

9. Obeying the Law?
“When you build a new house, you shall make a railing on your roof, so that you will not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone falls from it.” (Deuteronomy 22:8) “You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners of your garment with which you cover yourself.” (Deuteronomy 22:12)

10. Obeying the Law? Some try to divide the Law into 3 categories:
Moral, Civil, & Ceremonial (saying that only the moral remains for Christians)

11. Obeying the Law? “You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14)
Leviticus 20:10 calls for stoning the adulterer
The Lord said to Moses: “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.” (Leviticus 19:27)

12. Obeying the Law? The Law is a complete system
You cannot separate the commandments from the Aaronic priesthood, the sacrificial system, or the Tabernacle service
All of the Law is “moral”
Any division (moral, civil, ceremonial) is completely artificial and arbitrary

13. Interpreting the Law
17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then annuls 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 surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-20 )

14. Interpreting the Law
“You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22)
Mixed fabric shirt – Leviticus 19:19
Inconsistent, hypocrites

15. The Pervasive Law The Law is only 25% of the Old Testament
All of the other 75% of the OT is based on the Law!
The prophets are the enforcers of the Law

16. The Pervasive Law
Various views on this (covenantal, dispensational, etc.)
Good resource: Five Views on the Gospel and Law edited by Gundry

17. Brace Yourself
NONE of the Old Testament is legally binding on Christians
ALL of the OT authoritatively applies to Christians

18. Reconcile the Tension?
When God said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. (Hebrews 8:13)
Jesus says in Matt. 5:17-20 that we must teach and obey all of the OT, down to the smallest letter

19. Overview The beatitudes: The character of Christians
Salt and light: The function of Christians
Jesus’ and our relation to the Old Testament

20. Another Tension
18 And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” Thus He declared all foods clean. (Mark 7:18-19)

21. Another Tension
To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law. (1 Corinthians 9:20)
Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. (Galatians 3:24-25)

22. Another Tension
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. (Galatians 5:18)
For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:14)
Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law. (Romans 3:31)

23. Another Tension
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)

24. A Roadmap 5:1-16 – Character of Kingdom citizens
5:17-7:12 – True righteousness (inclusio)
7:13-29 – Entering Christ’s Kingdom
“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17)
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

25. A Roadmap
Chapter 5:21-48, Jesus will address 6 areas: murder/anger, adultery/lust, divorce, vows, retaliation, and our response to our enemies
Chapter 6, Jesus will address 6 areas: giving, prayer, forgiveness, fasting, money, and worry
Chapter 5 – how to be rightly related to other people
Chapter 6 – how to be rightly related to God

26. A Roadmap
Key Verse: “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)
Chapter 5 is Jesus’ correction of the Scribes’ teachings
Chapter 6 is Jesus’ correction of the Pharisees’ practices

27. Jesus, the Old Testament, and You
Matthew 5:17-20