“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. 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. 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.” (Matthew 5:17–19 NIV)
As a little boy in Sunday School, I learned the chorus, “The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the book for me / I stand alone on the word of God, the B-I-B-L-E.” As a Jewish teacher and rabbi, Jesus would have echoed the meaning of this little children’s song. Jesus was committed to stand on the Word of God.
I humbly pose the question: Would the religious leaders and teachers of the day have agreed with this? Jesus was, after all, very different than them. To be a religious leader and teacher was a position of status, influence, and power. The religious leaders and teachers would have considered themselves better than ordinary people.
Jesus did not make a show of his faith, and he did not parade his keeping of the law. Instead of looking down on the outcasts and sinners of the day, Jesus spent time with them and showed love and care for them. Luke 7:39 and 15:2 tell us these very religious leaders and teachers were suspicious of Jesus because he did these things. Jesus walked his faith in God in a way that was different. He had many critics and detractors because he did not practice his faith in God as other teachers of the law did.
In one of the greatest sermons ever spoken, Jesus answers these critics and points to what is to come. Jesus announces that he has come to not abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them. To fulfill here means to carry out the message and the intentions of God’s Word and God’s message. The reality is that we can be a law- or rule-keeper of God’s Word at the same time that we miss the message and the intention of that word.
Throughout human history, God has been drawing women and men to himself. The intention is for people to be drawn into a life-giving and life-transforming relationship with God. It is a relationship of intimacy and obedience to God and an embracing of all God wants to do in and through mankind. This relationship is accessible by a surrender of our lives and our will to Jesus. In Matthew 1:21, we read of an angel announcing to Joseph what to call the child Mary, his betrothed, will give birth to. He was to be given the name of Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. Then Matthew tells us that Jesus will be Immanuel – God with us. Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s salvation plan.
In today’s passage, Jesus affirms that not even the smallest letter or the least stroke of the pen, which the King James Version refers to as a jot or tittle, will be discarded or seen as expendable. God’s salvation plan through Jesus will be accomplished. That brings me great comfort and joy as I face the challenges of living in a world where power and influence can be used to hurt and abuse. Jesus declares that the commands of God – the plans and will of God – must be the commitment of those who have found life and transformation in Jesus.
The word great jumps out at me in Matthew 5:19. Being great was the focus of the religious leaders and teachers. The greatness Jesus calls all women and men to is a greatness found in seeking the will of God and seeking to live as a follower of Jesus. It is not in position or status or being served; it is in being a servant and teaching and practicing the message of God in Jesus.
Dr. Harry Kelm is the executive director of the North American Baptist Conference.
