“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.”
– Yahushua – Matthew 7:24-25
In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5 presents one of the most foundational portions of Yahushua’s teaching, known as the Sermon on the Mount. Among the many radical statements that Yahushua makes during this sermon, Matthew 5:17-20 stands out as particularly important for understanding His relationship to the law, righteousness, and how His followers should live. This passage is crucial for Believers to understand because it clarifies the nature of Yahushua’s mission and what it means to be a faithful disciple of Yahuah in light of His Torah.
The Passage: Matthew 5:17-20
Here is the text of Matthew 5:17-20 (NIV):
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 tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
1. “I Have Not Come to Abolish, but to Fulfill” (Matthew 5:17)
One of the first things Yahushua addresses in this passage is a potential misconception that His audience might have had. The people of Yahushua’s time, particularly the religious leaders, were concerned with His teachings and actions, which at times seemed to challenge traditional interpretations of the law. Therefore, Yahushua begins by clarifying that He has not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. This statement is crucial because it helps us understand that Yahushua’s mission was not to discard or diminish Yahuah’s law, but rather to bring it to its ultimate and complete fulfillment.
The Law and the Prophets:
The phrase “the Law and the Prophets” refers to the entirety of the Old Testament scriptures, which consisted of the Law (Torah) and the writings of the prophets. Yahushua acknowledges the enduring authority and importance of these sacred texts. He does not present a new teaching that negates the Old Testament but insists that His coming is part of Yahuah’s larger plan to fulfill what the Scriptures have pointed to all along.
Fulfillment of the Law:
To “fulfill” the law means to bring it to its intended purpose. Yahushua did not abolish the law by disregarding its ethical demands, but He fulfilled it by living a perfect life in complete obedience to the law and by embodying its deeper spiritual truths. Yahushua also fulfilled the law’s prophetic promises, particularly concerning the Messiah, who would bring salvation to both Jews and Gentiles. His life, death, and resurrection ultimately fulfilled the law’s demands for atonement and righteousness.
2. The Enduring Nature of the Law (Matthew 5:18)
In verse 18, Yahushua emphasizes the permanence and enduring authority of the law. He says, “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
This statement underscores the unchanging nature of Yahuah’s Word. Yahushua assures His listeners that the law, in its entirety, will remain valid until all is fulfilled. The “smallest letter” (yodh) and the “least stroke of a pen” (a tiny mark distinguishing certain Hebrew letters) represent the minutiae of the law, implying that no part of Yahuah’s Word is insignificant. Every detail of the law holds divine importance and will be fulfilled according to Yahuah’s plan.
However, while the law is permanent in its authority, Yahushua’s coming marks the completion of its redemptive purpose. He accomplished the righteousness that the law required and provided the means by which humanity could be reconciled to Yahuah. The law now points to Yahushua, and its demands are fulfilled in Him, making way for the new covenant of grace.
3. The Responsibility of the Followers of Yahushua (Matthew 5:19)
In verse 19, Yahushua warns about the importance of how His followers engage with the commands of Yahuah. He says:
“Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Here, Yahushua stresses that the commands of Yahuah must be taken seriously, both in practice and in teaching. To “set aside” even the smallest command is to risk disobedience to Yahuah, and those who do so will be called “least in the kingdom of heaven.” This reinforces that the teachings of Yahushua are not a free pass to ignore Yahuah’s commands, but rather, they deepen the call to righteousness.
The Importance of Practice and Teaching:
Yahushua does not merely call for outward compliance to the law; He calls for a heart transformation that leads to genuine practice and the teaching of Yahuah’s commands. The person who both practices the law and teaches others to do so will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven. This reflects the importance of living out the truth of Yahuah’s Word and sharing it with others.
A Call to a Higher Standard of Righteousness:
Yahushua challenges His followers to go beyond a mere external adherence to the law, as seen in His criticism of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, who were often focused on legalistic observance. The righteousness that Yahushua calls for involves a deeper, more heart-centered obedience to Yahuah’s will, one that transforms the inner life and leads to genuine love for Yahuah and neighbor.
4. A Righteousness That Surpasses the Pharisees (Matthew 5:20)
Finally, in verse 20, Yahushua makes a remarkable statement about the righteousness required to enter the kingdom of heaven:
“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
The Pharisees and teachers of the law were known for their rigorous adherence to the law, but their righteousness was often external and legalistic. Yahushua is calling His followers to a higher standard—one that surpasses mere outward observance and focuses on the transformation of the heart. The righteousness that Yahushua speaks of is not one that can be achieved through human effort alone, but one that comes through faith in Him, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
This righteousness involves humility, repentance, and a deep love for Yahuah and others. It is a righteousness that is rooted in the grace and mercy of Yahuah, not in self-righteousness or legalistic rule-keeping. For Yahushua’s followers, it is not enough to simply follow the letter of the law; they must embody the spirit of the law, which is love, mercy, and justice.
Conclusion: Yahushua and the Law
Matthew 5:17-20 presents a clear and balanced understanding of Yahushua’s relationship to the law. He does not come to abolish it, but to fulfill it. The law remains in force, pointing toward its fulfillment in Yahushua. However, Yahushua calls His followers to a deeper righteousness, one that goes beyond legalistic observance and involves the transformation of the heart. The kingdom of heaven requires a righteousness that is not external but internal, driven by love and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
For Believers today, this passage challenges us to embrace the full meaning of Yahuah’s commands—not as burdens to be endured, but as pathways to a deeper relationship with Yahuah. As followers of Yahushua, we are called not just to obey the letter of the law, but to live out its spirit in the way we love, serve, and share the gospel with others.
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Scrippture: Matthew 5:17-20
