The Pulpit Commentary on Matthew 5:17-20

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

The gospel of the Law.

The Jews of our Lord's day expected that Messiah would dignify the Law and verify the prophets. In this they were correct, but they were utterly mistaken as to the manner in which these things were to take effect. The scribes and Pharisees, therefore, disputed the claims of Jesus to be the Christ because he reprobated the traditions of the elders, which they had strangely confounded with the Law; and because he did not establish a secular kingdom according to their misinterpretation of the prophets. Christ here vindicates himself against these errors. But—

I. HOW DID JESUS FULFIL THE LAW IN ITS ORDINANCES?

1. Has he not released us from these?

2. He has released us by fuelling them.

II. HOW DID JESUS FULFIL THE LAW IN ITS MORALS?

1. By personal obedience to its requirements.

2. By vindicating it in his teaching

3. By enabling his servants to fulfil it.

III. HOW DID JESUS FULFIL THE PROPHETS?

1. The prophets were expositions of the Law.

2. Jesus vindicated the prophets from the scribes.

3. Jesus vindicated the prophets from the Pharisees.

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