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Text:Matthew 5:17-20
Representatives of the righteousness from heaven (vs 17)
- Scriptures
- Righteousness of the kingdom of heaven was revealed in and represented by the scriptures (law and prophets) and by the person Jesus Christ.
- Remember we talked about the light of the world found in the scriptures first. It is light from heaven like the Sun is light from heaven to earth.
- Matthew 11:9-15 – law and prophets are the Old Testament up until John the Baptist. Kingdom of heaven is represented on earth by the law and the prophets in writing, and Jesus Christ in person.
- Savior
- Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of the righteousness in the law and prophets.
- Romans 3:21-26 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
- Sin’s response
- Now, a religious sinner’s response to Jesus Christ fulfilling righteousness in the law and prophets is “good, I’m glad that’s done,” now on with my life. It’s vocalized like this when the bondage of sin surfaces in that sinner’s life, “I’m not under the law, I’m under grace now.” Just like a Roman Catholic indulgence.
- Romans 6:14-15 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. People love to quote “not under the law, but under grace,” but that is about having victory over sin, not indulging in sin. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
- What folks are saying here is not that Jesus Christ is their righteousness, but the opposite. These religious sinners are saying Jesus Christ is their unrighteousness; he is their ticket to sin.
- God’s grace is God’s provision. You say I’m under grace. But you haven’t relied on God’s provision of righteousness a day in your life. You just said you were under grace in order to remain in bondage to sin.
- Galatians 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
- Jesus Christ came to fulfil the law and the prophets in verse 17. Then in verses 21, 27, 33, 38, 43 and chapter 6 and 7 he’s going to those listening how much deeper the law goes. He doesn’t loosen the grip, he tightens it.
Righteousness of the law is still in effect (vss 18-19)
- Passing of heaven and earth is after the White Throne Judgment in Revelation 21:1.
- Righteousness is how you gain entrance into the kingdom of heaven
- Kingdom of heaven will physically be the promised land during the 1000 year reign of the Lord Jesus Christ: from the Nile River to the Euphrates River. Entrance into that kingdom is based on righteousness.
- Psalms 118:19-20 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: 20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
- Isaiah 26:1-2, 60:1-11
- Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
- Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Righteousness inwardly (vs 20)
- Note the exceeding righteousness in verses 21, 27, 33, 38, and 43.
- Pharisees had an outward righteousness which was for MEN to see
- Before you think “I’m so glad I’m not like those Pharisees”, which would make you a Pharisee,
- Here’s an example of keeping the letter while destroying the spirit. Mom says quit touching your brother! And what do you do? You get as close as you can to him with your finger, but you don’t touch him.
- Sanctification of the spirit
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
- 1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
- 2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
- Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
A little recap. The beatitudes are blessings on heavenly minded people. These are people whose disposition is toward heaven, and in response to revelation that has come from heaven. Here is a poor and contrite spirit. An earthly minded person would ask, what is wrong with them, they look fine? The contrite spirit isn’t a response to earthly things, it is a response to revelation from God in heaven. How about blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake? The one being persecuted for righteousness makes no sense to an earthly minded person. So when the Lord says theirs is the kingdom of heaven, while it may be a statement of inheritance, it is just as much a statement of their disposition. Their hearts, their lives, aren’t here and so they behave much differently than a person whose life is here.
