In the second, he shows his relation to the Law and the Prophets – that he came not to abolish but fulfill them.
This is all part of his famous Sermon on the Mount. He speaks here, first of all, to his followers, those who give ear to his teaching, and by extension, to us Christians.
Let’s take the first section first – salt and light. Two earthly things with which everyone is familiar. Two very different parts of creation – but both with something in common – they have a purpose, a function. They do something.
Salt, sprinkled through the food, both preserves and gives flavor. And light, well, it lets you see. It shows things. Jesus says Christians are both salt and light. But notice first how he speaks about it – he doesn’t say, “Be salt and light” but “you are”. That is, you already are these things, you are this way. Salt can’t help but to be salty, and light can’t help but to shine. So already in the grammar of Jesus there is a promise.
Christians will do good works. They are as natural for the new Adam within us as breathing. Good works are like the breath of faith – exhaling in the direction of our neighbor. Or another way of putting it is God does good works through us, or uses us to do the good works he has prepared for us to do. His light shines through us. In any case, however, we never crow about our good works or boast in them. As Jesus says, they are done to give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
But the Christian is not only New Creation. He is also Old Adam. He is a saint, but he is also a sinner. He isn’t always as salty or shiny as he wants to be. And so we also need the law. If all we ever did was believe and trust, we’d not need the law’s direction, curbing and guidance. But because we are also still plagued by this sinful flesh, this body of death, we also need the threats and condemnations of the law.
So, Jesus also says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come to fulfill them”. Jesus seems to mean here both the Holy Scriptures, and also the law – as in that category of teaching – like law and gospel.
There is a tendency in some Christian circles to abolish the law. Whether purposely or unknowingly, some Christians would disregard or dismiss the Old Testament. “We are a New Testament Church” some would say. But this seems based on a false idea that the Old Testament is irrelevant to Christians.
There is also a tendency in some circles to disregard or dismiss the law – as in the commands, the statues, the rules that God has set forth. The 10 commandments, which have been degraded into suggestions, if that. The old and antiquated and not so important to know and to live by. In a way, any time we sin we turn our back on the law, we “abolish the law”, or at least we act as if it doesn’t apply to us.
But rather than relaxing the law, Jesus raises the bar. Rather than diminish its demands, he amplifies the law. He emphasizes it all the more. He says not an iota or a dot – the smallest of markings – will pass from it until all is accomplished. If you break even the least of these commandments you will be least in his kingdom. And he draws attention the most righteous men around, at least in earthly terms or in most people’s minds, and he says even their righteousness isn’t enough. You need to follow the law, more closely, more righteous-ly. Yes, even down to the last little mark of it.
Why so extreme, Jesus? Would some call him a legalist? Who can live up to such a standard? It’s unreasonable. How can Jesus make these demands that we can never live up to? Shouldn’t we relax the law a little bit and make it more attainable? How about instead of following the commandments perfectly, I just follow them for the most part? Let’s make the law like horseshoes and hand grenades, where close enough is good enough. Wouldn’t that be better, Jesus?
But no. There is no slacking on the law, with Jesus, or his Father. There is no loosening of standards or winking at sins, grading on a spiritual curve. He says be holy as I am holy. Unless your righteousness exceeds the Pharisees you will never – never – enter the kingdom of heaven!
That never would be for you and for me and for all people – if this was his only word on the matter. If Jesus’ teaching on the law was all he taught, he would be a terrible savior, a peddler of despair, a prophet of doom and gloom. But Jesus speaks another word.
He says, “I have come to fulfill the law”. He has come to fulfill the Old Testament. And he has come to fulfill the commandments. And this is very good news indeed.
He has come to fulfill all the Old Testament promises and pictures, for these are the scriptures that testify of him.
He’s the seed of the woman that crushes the serpent – that’s Jesus.
He’s the bronze serpent raised up by Moses that we might look to him and live.
The Son of David that would reign over his house forever – that’s Jesus.
The Suffering Servant in Isaiah – Jesus.
He is the one forsaken by God (Psalm 22), encircled by dogs, hands and feet pierced, crying out in thirst.
The Jonah that comes back after three days in the belly of death – Jesus.
The one born of a virgin, born in Bethlehem, the Savior of the Nations, the Glory of Israel – Jesus.
He is the Joshua that conquers our enemies.
He is the Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
He is Yahweh of the burning bush.
The Lamb of the Passover who saves by his blood.
He is the Lord of Hosts and Ancient of Days.
He’s the faithful husband that Hosea patterns himself after.
He is the very Word of Creation now made flesh.
He fulfills the Law and the Prophets by his incarnation, as true God and true man, by his words and his works. He does it all, every detail, and does it well – even perfectly.
He also fulfills the Law and Prophets in the sense of perfect righteousness. He fulfills the commandments – and he does it for us. He loves God perfectly, with all his heart, soul, strength and mind. He loves his fellow man with a love greater than all – a love that would even lay down his life for friends and enemies alike. He had no other gods. He honored God’s name. He remembered the Sabbath and kept it holy. He honored father and mother. He never murdered, committed adultery, stole or lied. He was content with whatever God gave him, including even his cup of suffering. Jesus never broke the law, but always fulfilled the law with perfect love for God and man.
But he did this not as an example for us – or at least not primarily so. If that’s all he was but a super-model of morality, that would only make it worse for us. We’d look even worse in comparison. But he fulfills the law for us. He is perfectly righteous for us. Yes, he died for us – but he also lived for us – to earn for us the credit of all his good works.
So while your righteousness doesn’t exceed the Pharisees, or qualify you for the kingdom – Jesus’ righteousness does. And the good news is that he gives you his righteousness. He takes your sin to the cross, and he gives his perfect, spotless record of righteousness to you. And with the righteousness of Christ – the kingdom of heaven is yours.
So be the salt that you are and the light in the world. Let the light of your faith shine in the good works God sets before, to give him glory and in love for your neighbor. Rest secure in the righteousness of Christ, which far exceeds any other righteousness, and is yours by grace through faith in him. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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