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When Jesus saw the multitudes of people coming to Him for healing, he went up a mountain and taught them.

Jesus said that he came to fulfill the law, meaning that He came to enhance and enforce, not to cancel it, or make it non-applicable. By reading further in this chapter you can clearly see that Jesus is magnifying the laws, not abolishing them:

5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
5:18 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.

Jesus stated that we are to do and teach the commandments:

5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Here Jesus clearly magnifies the commandments, making them more severe than at first glance, not only is it the act that makes you guilty, but the thought.

First He compares anger to murder:

5:21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Then Jesus compares fantasies of the mind to adultery:

5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Divorce and re-marriage is comparable to adultery:

5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Do not make oaths or promises. We may not be able to keep them, they come from evil:

5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:

Do not do evil things, even if evil is done to us. We should take Jesus’ suffering as an example, He prayed for those who prosecuted Him, and He did not fight back, knowing that ultimately God wins and that love is the only way to fight evil:

5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Here Jesus tells us to love our enemies. Again we can take Him as an example:

5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Obviously we are not perfect, and we are all sinners, but if we accept Jesus sacrifice we are a new creature and our past sins are wiped away. Meaning that if we then follow His commandments we are perfect… old sins no longer count and following His Word will keep you from sin. It is a difficult task in this world we live in, but I don’t think it is impossible.

Continue reading ‘Under Law or Grace - Matthew 5′