Why Study The Whole Bible?
You’ve probably heard this question before: If you were to die tonight and stand before God and he said to you, “Why should I let you into heaven?” What would you say to him?
When some people are asked that question, many times the answer given is, “I would tell him that I think I’ve lived a pretty good life. Hopefully the good I’ve done will outweigh whatever bad I’ve done.”
Maybe some of you feel the same way. Here’s the problem: Just how good is good enough? How good do you need to be to get into heaven?
What exactly is the cut off point?
It is not just a question that we ask today. It was also a question that people in Jesus’ day were very interested in. Knowing that, he answered it very clearly. Today, we’re going to look at his answer.
This lesson is part of the Sermon on the Mount, a lesson that Jesus taught to his followers. It’s a kind of handbook for the kingdom of God. Jesus stated previously, that his followers should let the world see their goodness and that will have a profound effect on the people of the world. Jesus now goes on to describe what goodness looks like. Exactly what did Jesus mean? What kind of goodness was he looking for? And exactly how good was good enough?
Jesus begins in this lesson by saying that he’s not starting all over from a blank slate.
Matthew 5:17-20 KJV " Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
“Law and Prophets” was typical way of referring to the Scriptures, what we call “The Old Testament”. Jesus is trying to head off any misunderstanding.
Someone might think that if the spiritually bankrupt belong to the kingdom of God, then Jesus must be saying that it doesn’t matter if you’re good—that it doesn’t matter if you obey the law. But Jesus is saying, “I am not doing away with it, I am fulfilling it.”
It means that the OT points to Him and by His life, His teachings, His death, His resurrection, and His return; He completes the OT—He makes it happen, He brings it into reality. Jesus is not setting it aside and starting over with something different. He’s finishing the incomplete masterpiece that was begun in the Old Testament.
Several things in the Old Testament are radically changed by the coming of Jesus Christ. In the completed masterpiece, there are temporary measures that are no longer needed, like sacrifices. But that is like removing the scaffolding. It is far different than erasing the masterpiece.
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.,
The smallest Hebrew letter is yod. The least stroke is probably talking about the small differences between some Hebrew letters. he, hait, tov; vav, zion, dalet, resh; are examples.
Basically, he’s using two expressions to say that no part of the Old Testament, no matter how small, no part can be set aside without being fulfilled, as it is being fulfilled right now in the life and teachings of Christ. Since that is true, it is important that we keep to God’s commandments. The commandments are to be practiced and taught.
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.
Better translation for “breaks” is “relaxes”.
The one who is really fulfilling his role as a citizen of God’s kingdom is one who follows God’s commands and teaches others to do so too. They will be recognized as the great ones in the kingdom. The commandments require perfection.
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.
The Pharisees were theological conservatives. They believed God. They believed his word. They wanted to live lives that demonstrated their devotion to God. So they were very careful about their behavior. They went to great extremes to make sure they were not disobeying God’s law. To the people of the day, there was no one more righteous than the Pharisees. But Jesus says,
“If you aren’t better than them—the most righteous people you know—then you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
In essence what that means is that no one is good enough to enter the kingdom of heaven. How good is good enough? Perfect. 100%. Better than you are. More righteousness than you have. Even the most righteous people are not qualified to enter the kingdom.
If you’re thinking that when you’re standing at the entrance to heaven, you’ll be hoping that you’ve been good enough to get in, then Jesus says here in these verses that you’re in for a big disappointment. No matter how good you are, it’s not good enough. That leaves us all in a tough spot. It means that no one is qualified to enter God’s kingdom.
So…where does that leave us?
After reading these verses,
I realize that I need…
It means that we need something. These verses tell us four things that we need when it comes to being good.
…righteousness
I’m not righteous enough to enter the kingdom. Correct. You need someone else’s righteousness.
Romans 3:20-22 No one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law. … But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. When we put our trust in Jesus, he gives us his righteousness. In God’s eyes, he makes us completely righteous.
Romans 8:3-4 What the law was powerless to do …God did by sending his own Son …to be a sin offering …in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us.
The law has not been abolished. It’s still there and it still reveals God’s will. But through Jesus, I have met all its requirements.
There’s a second thing from these verses that we know we need.
…the Old Testament
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
This is speaking of the Old Testament. It is still God’s guide for us. It is still a revelation of his righteous character.
A third thing Jesus says that we need.
…to do right
We don’t need to do the right thing in order to win God’s love and acceptance. We already have that. God’s love and acceptance are based not on what we do, but on what Jesus did for us.
We don’t need to do the right thing in order to look good to others. It doesn’t matter what other people think of us. There are three good reasons why we need to do the right thing:
1st, the best reason to do the right thing is because it is good for us.
We often think of sin as a restriction from something good. “Keep away from that!” But sin is not a candy; it’s a poison. The reason God tells us to keep away is because it will kill us. So doing right is good for us.
Second, doing right is what we were made for. Good is what we were meant to be. He gave us righteousness (that means he forgave us and declared us righteous) so that his righteousness would change who we are, effecting every area of our lives. Christ saved us so we could become like him, not just in right behavior, but also in right thinking and believing.
Third, and perhaps most important, when we do right, we are preparing a gift to bring pleasure to the most important person in our life, Jesus. If you have been forgiven and you understand what Jesus has done for you, how can you not love him and want to show him that love? We often show love to people by giving them gifts. Do you know how we show our love for God?
1 John 5:3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 So we make it our goal to please him, … 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Reading this verse, it’s easy to think of this judgment as a trial. We immediately feel guilty (like getting called into the principal’s office). But that’s not what this judgment seat of Christ is like. Think of it instead as Dad’s birthday party. The family’s all sitting around. Now it’s time to open the presents. Everyone’s a little curious to see what each person got Dad for his birthday. As the presents are opened, they reveal each person’s creativity, thoughtfulness and affection for Dad.
One day we are going to stand before God at a celebration in his honor. By the way we live our lives we are preparing a gift for him, the one who created us, forgave us, rescued us, cared for us and brought us back to life forever. On that day, the gifts will be opened and the contents revealed. What will you be giving the King at his celebration?
Other supporting passages: Genesis 3:15; The way to the cross. Here begins the judgment. Sentence is pronounced upon the serpent (Satan).
Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12; Luke 24:27; John 5:39; John 8:37-43; Romans 10:1-4
Did Jesus Baptize
Fellowshipping
Five
God Is Love
How Courage Triumphs
Humble - Gentle
Lesson On Matthew
One Day As A Thousand
Order of Authority
The Seven Judgments
The Ten Commandments of God
The Vineyard
Click On Back To Return To Bible Lessons
Our Mission