The Law and the Christian: Finding the Spiritual Measuring Stick
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:17-20(NIV)
Why would Jesus' Listeners have thought that He had come to abolish the Law? How are we (the Church) sometimes guilty of following only the letter of the Law? What does Jesus mean when He says that our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees? Continuing their study on Matthew 5, the Intentional Faith Team looks at how Christ fulfils the Law.