sermon on the mount

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timemeddler

timemeddler

Active member
#1
Jul 13, 2023
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#1
We're going over it again, so I though I'd read ahead this time something stuck with me that hasnt before.

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 say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

The first part makes sense, notice both people make it to heaven but in different standing. Also of note is that they were both teachers in Jesus's scenario. This should come as no surprise to us given later parts of the bible on being under grace vs law. However, then Jesus puts it into a whole other level, seeming to say that next it's virtually impossible to enter the kingdom of heaven without being better than the best.

It's a recurring theme, Jesus really raises the bar in the message to much higher standards. Any thoughts?
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#2
Jul 3, 2015
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#2
How righteous were the scribes and Pharisees? Jesus called them hypocrites.
 
timemeddler

timemeddler

Active member
#3
Jul 13, 2023
393
169
43
#3
Magenta said:
How righteous were the scribes and Pharisees? Jesus called them hypocrites.
Click to expand...
well, yeah most of them seem to be, but I'm assuming he's using it as a figure of speech to demonstrate that no one really is truly righteous enough, jewish audience and all.
 
timemeddler

timemeddler

Active member
#4
Jul 13, 2023
393
169
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#4
Magenta said:
How righteous were the scribes and Pharisees? Jesus called them hypocrites.
Click to expand...
though that does seem a bit more fun, another slight against the pharisees, they weren't even at heaven level.:cool:
 
Nehemiah6

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
#5
Jul 18, 2017
25,152
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#5
timemeddler said:
However, then Jesus puts it into a whole other level, seeming to say that next it's virtually impossible to enter the kingdom of heaven without being better than the best.
Click to expand...
That is exactly what Christ was teaching.

This meant that without (a) the imputed righteousness of Christ --given to those who believe on Him -- no one can enter Heaven. To be DEEMED to be as righteous as Christ is only something which God can do.

But there is much more. This person is
(b) born again (and Jesus said that you MUST be born again in order to enter and see the Kingdom of God),
(c) washed in the blood of the Lamb,
(d) made a child of God,
(e) made an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ,
(f) made a king and priest,
(g) given the gift of the Holy Spirit,
(h) given the gift of eternal life,
(i) given the gift of Christ Himself, and
(j) given the gift of God Himself.

Therefore this righteousness far exceeds that of the Torah observant scribes and Pharisees doing the works of the Law for their salvation.

But notice that everything listed above is a PURE GIFT of God's grace, without any merit on the part of the receiver. How can this be? Because the Lord Jesus Christ is the one who has all the merit, and He is the one who died for our sins, and rose again for our justification. It is GOD who was manifest in the flesh as Jesus of Nazareth.

Therefore only God and Christ receive all the glory, honor, and praise.
 
Pilgrimshope

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
#8
Sep 2, 2020
13,193
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#8
timemeddler said:
We're going over it again, so I though I'd read ahead this time something stuck with me that hasnt before.

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 say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

The first part makes sense, notice both people make it to heaven but in different standing. Also of note is that they were both teachers in Jesus's scenario. This should come as no surprise to us given later parts of the bible on being under grace vs law. However, then Jesus puts it into a whole other level, seeming to say that next it's virtually impossible to enter the kingdom of heaven without being better than the best.

It's a recurring theme, Jesus really raises the bar in the message to much higher standards. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
jesus told those of israel this before he died and rose

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:17-18‬ ‭

after he rose he told them this

“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, ( law and prophets ) and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:44-47‬ ‭KJV‬‬

In other words

“But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

…..one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

“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.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭7:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬
 
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