The above extract is a paragraph from Matthew’s first-century eye-witness biography of Jesus. It’s a record of part of the Sermon on the Mount spoken by Jesus at the very beginning of his public ministry around AD 27.
Does it speak into the latest legislative changes in Jersey? That’s worth thinking about. Let’s divide what he said above into three parts.
(A) “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.” At that time in Jerusalem there were religious leaders who were very strongly focussed on God’s Law as given to Moses to the Jews and as published in what is now the Old Testament in the Christian Bible. Their legalism had analysed everything in so much detail that the extended “laws” (when codified in the third century AD) ran to 800 pages. Jesus didn’t endorse these details – but he did endorse “the Law and the Prophets” – the Scriptures. “I have not come to abolish but to fulfill.” |
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Jesus did indeed fulfil all of the Law and the Prophets. He was the only human being who has ever done that. After he came and gave himself to death on the cross (AD 30) some parts of the Mosaic Law were truly fulfilled and no longer applied. For instance, the Mosaic animal sacrifices were fulfilled by Jesus’ supreme, final sacrifice of himself on the cross. And he fulfilled for ever many of the ancient ceremonial laws.
But what about the remainder of God’s Law given through Moses – like the Ten Commandments which are best known by us? In this same sermon, Jesus spoke about several of these commandments. On murder, he said that I kill when I am angry with another. On adultery, he said that I commit that when I look at a woman lustfully. On retaliation for harm done to me, he said that the “eye for an eye” principle must be enormously reduced so that, if I suffer loss of an eye, I mustn’t instead bless and only repay with tangible good. And those who are my enemies, I am not to hate but to love-in-action.
Maybe, like me, you are beginning to realise that you’re not able to do this? But Jesus did achieve it – fully and completely. He was human like us – but every iota and dot of the Law – even as extended by him - was fulfilled by him. In fact, he even allowed himself to be murdered, rather than be angry with – and retaliate against – those who planned and brought about his death. He did not hate his enemies but loved them – in action – in doing and in teaching. The Mosaic Law given by Almighty God, in his absolute holiness, required the death sentence for every murderer or adulterer or liar who through lies tried to have someone sentenced to death. Jesus was no murderer or adulterer or liar– but he went under death to take the place of those who could never achieve such self-giving holiness.
Richard Syvret needs him terribly to take his place and pay the price of his sin.
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(B) “Accordingly, if anyone may dissolve one of the smallest of these commandments and may thus teach mankind will be called smallest in the kingdom of the skies, but anyone who may do and teach will be called great in the kingdom of the skies.” No surprise then that Jesus taught his followers (a.k.a. “Christians”) that what they actually did on earth – and what they actually taught on earth – had an effect in heaven – an effect for them personally. Would they do harm or teach harm? If so….
Richard Syvret needs to listen to him. No consequences are visited upon those who don’t do the actual evil or teach that it should be done.
(C) “I state to you all that if your righteousness may not exceed greatly that of the scribes and Pharisees, you may never enter the kingdom of the skies.” If this is true (which it is) Richard Syvret needs to be holier than the most religious Jews (God’s people) of Jesus’ day. He can’t enter the kingdom of the skies without that level of righteousness. How can he achieve it himself? He can’t. Is there someone who can do it for him? And for others whom he loves?
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