Christ & the Old Testament

 

FILING INFORMATION:

2001045

Subject: Sermon on the Mount

Preached Originally: 08/19/01 – Rapid City, SD

 

Introduction:

A.    Jesus expects us to live a life of righteousness.

1.    earlier in Mt. 5 – he told us what a Christian must be.

2.    importance of our influence.

B.    His expectation of our living righteous are expressed throughout the rest of Matthew 5-6-7.  5:17-20 are somewhat of an introduction to this.

1.    His teachings demanded a far greater righteousness than the Scribes/Pharisees.

2.    He wanted to get across that He was not out to destroy the OT Scriptures.

3.    But that he wanted to teach a message that was far better that the Law/Prophets could ever be.

C.   Jesus wanted to explain the relationship between He & the Moses.  His message & the law and the prophets.  This is why he says what he does in 5:17.

 

I.  A definition of terms:

A.    “The Law.”

1.    Specifically would refer to the Pentateuch.

2.    consisted of moral; judicial (legislative laws for Jews); ceremonial law (sacrifices/offerings for the Jews).

B.    “The Prophets”

1.    Contained in the prophetic books of the OT.

2.    prophets taught/explained the law.

3.    predicted things to come – through the instruction of God.

C.   Fulfill.

1.    Webster: “to carry out a promise; to do; a duty; to satisfy; to bring to an end; complete.”

2.    enter into contract – when both parties meet terms of agreement or accomplish the purpose – contract fulfilled.

3.    Not destroyed – but because it fulfilled – it is no longer active or binding.

D.   Law/prophets comprise the entire OT.

1.    Jesus indicates His respect for the OT – see 5:18.  Jesus quoted nearly every book of OT. 

2.    It has it’s place in our learning today!  Need OT to understand NT.

 

 

II.  Jesus fulfilled the Law/Prophets.

A.    Jhn. 5:39 – they proved that He = the Messiah.

1.    Peter used OT to prove Jesus – Messiah – 2 Pet. 1:16-19

B.    Jesus fulfilled prophecies concerning Him.

1.    Birth in Bethlehem – Micah 5:2/Mt. 2:1

2.    Time of His Birth – Dan. 9:25/Lk. 2:1-2

3.    Flight into Egypt/killing of infants – Hos. 11:1/Mt. 2:14

4.    Type of life He lived – Isa. 42

5.    Sufferings He endured – Psa. 16/ 22; Isa. 53/Mt. 27:38-4; Jhn. 19:34.

6.    Resurrection – Psa. 16:10; Mt. 28:9

C.   He fulfilled the law.

1.    How?  He kept it perfectly.

a)    lived under it – obeyed it.  Gal. 4:4; Jhn. 8:46; Heb. 5:8-9

2.    He was the completion of it’s purpose.

a)    Gal. 3:19-25 – law lead/pointed the way to Jesus.

b)    Law added to regulate things until Jesus came.

3.    He carried out its penalty for sin

a)    not a case of martyrdom.

b)    Made sin manifest; condemned sin; pronounced its penalty.  Ezek 18:20

4.    Because Jesus was sinless – he b/c the sacrifice for others.

a)    1 Pet .2:22; 1:19

b)    This was the gospel preached by Paul.  2 Cor. 5:21

 

Conclusion:

A.    We = under NT not OT.

1.    B/c of what discussed tonight…law spoken of as:

a)    dead – Rom. 7:4

b)    broken down – Eph. 2:14

c)    taken away/nailed to the cross – Col. 2:14

2.    Jer. 31:31

B.    Have you brought yourself under the law of Christ?

C.   I N V I T A T I O N