Mathew chapter 5 continues…

Mathew chapter 5 continues…………….

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.”

Before Jesus continued his teaching he had to make clear some points and convince his disciples about his teaching. Till that date the scripture was the matter of what the people doing. Means what should have done and what shouldn't have done. The state of mind and heart behind the actions was not questioned or that was not considered along with actions. But according to Jesus the kingdom was ‘internal affair’ personally so the state of mind and heart had the utmost importance. So he had to redefine the laws considering the other side, internal, as well along with deeds. When redefining them revealing the subjective side, there might be some misunderstanding that Jesus might be replacing or abolishing the existing laws. To remove such misunderstanding he made the statement that he had not come to abolish the laws and prophets but to fulfill them. Otherwise it was not possible to fulfill laws by simply observing them by deeds. Means the deeds without proper attitude is like body without spirit.

He declared that anybody who tried to amend the laws would be considered as the least but those who practised and taught them as it was considered as greats. The Pharisees were very pious in all their deeds but they never possessed a spiritual mind and heart accordingly. Their righteousness was in deeds to be seen by people or theirs were ‘ostentatious spirituality’. Jesus warned his disciples about such state informing that such people were not in the kingdom Jesus preached about.

From verse twenty one onwards he explains the attitude each and every deed must posses and how to obey them.