Follow the Law!
06/08/22 Gospel Reflection
Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abilish but to fulfull. Amen, I say to you, unil heaven and earth pass away, not the samllest letter or the smalles part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of the commandets and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandemtnas will be callled greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:17-19).
Brothers and Sisters as we tread through the murky waters of life let us look to the Lord with comfort. He has shown us the path to eternal life.
In preparation for writing this reflection I was praying over the verse "I have come not to abolish but to fulfill." Within this same time, I was confronted by a few people who, in a short time, told me "That is in the Old Testament" or "In my opinion, the old law is old news." Mind you these statements were random to me we had no previous conversation or recognization of the article and verse I was pondering. Christ's words to his followers on the mount were to clarify that He was not creating a new Law but fulfilling it. The Old law was not to be dismissed but to be refined by Christ. He guides us as we read through Matthew the ways upon which we can act to achieve eternal greatness. In verse 19 Christ says, "whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven." So let us brothers and sisters become great and preach the commandments of God. Do not fear those who say “That is old news” because God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
I would suggest that from an exegesis standpoint of interpreting scripture one needs to familiar with the Old Testament covenant theology and it’s fulfillment. It would also help for Bible readers to familiarize themselves with both prophetic and wisdom literature of ancient Israel.
The context of Matthew whose authorial audience are Jewish people becomes more clear for understanding what Jesus means regarding the law and fulfillment.