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Deutsche Version | Wiki Start | Topics Collection vi
Sermon on the Mount IV: Keep the Commandments ...
Tuesday, Nov 25, 2014. Jesus was not an easy person - with respect to his teaching. Often today people see him as a kind of nice figure. But he got into a lot of conflicts, just by his words, his teaching, by what he told people to do or not to do. In particular the Sermon on the Mount contains his deep and far reaching ethical teaching.
The Law and the Prophets …
Right at the beginning of his sermon Jesus talks about the law and the prophets, about the Old Testament. Listen to it here:
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. (Matth. 5, 17-20)
Jesus makes it very clear: the law and the prophets are important. They are a key part of God's teaching. They cannot and will not be abolished or diminished. They stand until the heaven and the earth pass away. Are we clear what that means? We should not think that God has changed since the beginning of creation - he did not!
Law and Grace …
So what is the role of the law? What is it for our life today? Jesus makes clear that the law still reflects the will of God. He makes clear that God still today is full of justice, he is the creator, the only God. He loves truth and justice. There is no way around this!
But we will also learn shortly after these passages that Jesus satisfies the law. He is the one who fulfils the law. He is the one who becomes the eternal sacrifice, he offers his life for the life of all those who cannot fulfil this law by themselves. The law stands, and so does his life and his justice. God confirms the law, in Jesus. And at the same time, he shows his deep love and mercy with all of us, who cannot live according to the law, who are not as just and truthful as we would need to be to enter the kingdom of heaven.
The cross of Jesus brings together God's justice and God's love. This cross is needed, for each and everyone. We need it to enter a new life, the eternal reality, the kingdom of heaven. In this cross, we satisfy the law, through Christ Jesus. Without the cross, we are there with the scribes and the Pharisees, lacking the justice we need to face God. Take time to sort it out for yourself! Law and grace come together with the cross, with the death of Jesus. New life is there in his resurrection. Sort it out for yourself. (RWEP) ... more texts