Your Righteousness is Fulfilled in Christ :: Matthew 5:17-26

By

 I came ... to fulfill.

It’s no wonder that anyone who’s ever wanted to follow Jesus, to get close to Jesus, to be like Jesus, to know Jesus, to understand Jesus, to come to Jesus ... that they have looked to words like those in our Gospel reading today. 

Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew Chapter Five comes from the midst of the Sermon on the Mount. There are no words of Jesus that are as revered as these words. Even the world that doesn’t believe in Jesus thinks these words are golden. These words ... all 2,380 or so ... comprise the first and longest discourse of Jesus. More books and articles have been written about these words than any other in the Bible. More sermons have been written on these words than I could imagine. But I promise to give you just one today. Jesus has already done all the heavy lifting. 

Jesus has fulfilled them. 

In the verses preceding our reading, you can find the beloved Beatitudes. In the words following you can find our beloved Lord’s Prayer. Along the way, Jesus calls us and teaches us about love and marriage, giving and receiving. He calls on us not to hate, divorce, live in adultery, or take revenge. He blesses us with the Beatitudes, and he teaches us to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. He unpacks for us the original intention of the Torah ... you know, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. More importantly, he reminds us of his promises. 

He does this all in fulfillment of all these words for us, in us and through us ... all so that he can bless us and keep us and to make his face shine upon us. 


We all have longtime friends who often call these words of Jesus just “simple” words. But that isn’t true. Jesus’ words ... especially those from the Sermon on the Mount ... are not something simple like what you might read in the Appleton City Journal ... pithy sayings for everyday living ... one-liners to hang on the wall ... so that whenever we feel down in the dumps, we can look to these words for inspiration ... to make us feel better. 

If you’ve been in my office, and looked at my walls, you might have guessed that I am drawn to the art of words, beautiful words that find their fulfillment in Christ. One of those pieces of art (Isa 40:11) reminds me of our Introit: The Lord is the strength of his people.

The problem with one liners, even when they make beautiful art, is they often lead us to the wrong understanding of the Law and the Prophets. God’s word isn’t meant to simply be reduced in simple ways for simple purposes. God’s word isn’t meant to be boiled down, ripped out of context to give us golden rules for golden living. Jesus’ words and his teachings are not simply “simple.” They are not simply inspiring. His words are, in fact, living and active (Heb 12:4). ... They are doing something ... now ... in your active hearing. He is fulfilling all of them ... proclaiming them so that all who hear his word and see his sacraments will believe in Jesus Christ and be saved. 

Do not think that I came to abolish the law and the prophets. I came not to abolish but to fulfill. Oh, how we wish, though, he came to abolish the Law. Did you know there are actually churches today that teach this idea ... that there is no law? You can be whoever you are, they say. You can live however you want. Just be like Jesus. All Law and no Gospel. It’s a terrible curse. 


Instead, rejoice that that isn’t what Jesus came to do. I came to fulfill, Jesus says. 

And this is just astonishing news, isn’t it?

Today, our Lord has looked out upon the crowd ... like all the Lutherans gathering here today at Trinity Lutheran Church ... climbed a mountain and sat down. There he opens his mouth and begins unpacking some of the fullness of the Law and Prophets. 

You have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, You fool! will be liable to the hell of fire. 

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 

Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.


Brothers and sisters in Christ, if that little snippet of law doesn’t strike fear into your heart, I don’t know what will. This Law must be preached to you without subtraction, so that it will fulfill what it was created to do, to show you your sin and your need for a savior ... to bring you to your knees in recognition that you do in fact get angry with your brother and thus murder him ... that you do in fact insult your brother, calling him a Μωρέ, the Greek word we neuter to mean you fool or even knucklehead ... that you do in fact come to the altar without reconciling with your brother. These sins, like so many others, are the source of pain, anxiety, fear ... and are literally killing you.

So, in the name of Jesus, repent everyone of you ... not only of these ... but all your sins spoken and unspoken, done and undone, thought and not thought. Recognize your sin, and your need for a savior. Mourn your sin and turn away from it. Recognize you will not achieve righteousness through the Law. Do not think that I came to abolish ... to do away with ... to negate the revelation ... of the law and the prophets. I came not to abolish ... to do away with ... to negate ... but to fulfill.

And that is exactly what Jesus has done ... all so that your righteousness will exceed the scribes and Pharisees.

Jesus didn’t replace even one jot or tittle of the law. Nor did he give us even one new law. 

He fulfilled it.

Jesus, the sinless one, embodies the Law and the Prophets ... fully in the flesh. He is the fulfillment of it. He is this word made flesh. He was born to do what you can’t do ... live it and love it ... because that is exactly who he is. He is not just a good man with a good word about good living ... a golden rule from the Sermon. He is Immanuel, literally God with us, in the flesh.

Saint Matthew details some of that truth in at least six passages preceding our Gospel reading. Our Lord Jesus Christ was born of a virgin (1:22; Isa 7:14), perfect God and perfect man, at the same time. He came out of Egypt ... to lead us out of slavery (2:14-15; Hos 11:1). He survived the slaughter of the innocents (2:18; Jer 31:15) to be called a Nazarene from Nazareth, set apart for God’s purposes, holy and righteous (2:23; Num 6:1-21; Isa 11:1). He then united himself with us in baptism, taking on a sinner’s death (3:15). And began his ministry in Galilee to proclaim this life-giving Gospel (4:12; Isa 9:1) to you. 


And that’s why he has brought you here ... so he could fulfill his promises.

Every time you return to the mountaintop experience we call the Divine Service ... God’s service to you ... we find the fulfillment of all of his promises to you. Here in this sanctuary, our Lord faithfully proclaims the Gospel and administers his sacraments to you ... baptism, absolution, and the Lord’s Supper ... enabling you to embrace the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation that he has secured for you on the mountain called Calvary. 

He who knew no sin became sin for you on the cross. Though perfect in every way, he died the sinner’s death for you. He didn’t hate those who insulted him as he was sentenced to death and was flogged for you. He didn’t insult his brothers who called him a Μωρέ. He didn’t pass judgment. He instead paid the redemption price to set you free.

The Lamb of God foretold in Leviticus silently bore all the sins of all the people so that death will pass over you. Jesus was sacrificed for you, and he took your sin to the grave with him so that your sin will never be heard from again. And then triumphantly, he was raised for your justification to demonstrate that death has no power over you who are baptized any longer.

These are the truths Jesus fulfills. 

And all of you who are baptized into Christ Jesus now see it, hear it and believe it, fulfilling Paul’s word from our epistle. You can now see how you who are baptized have been buried with Christ and raised into eternal life ... so that we too might walk in newness of life to the Lord’s Supper, where our risen savior continues to deliver to you his life-giving body and blood in the marriage feast of the Lamb that has no end. You should be hearing the call now to come with the confidence to the chancel knowing that you will receive not the cup of wrath that Jesus drank for you, but the cup of life and salvation.

It is finished. The entire Law and the Prophets have found their fulfillment in Christ. It’s comforting, isn’t it knowing now that you will indeed inherit the earth; your hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied; you will receive mercy; you will see God; you will be called sons (and yes, daughters) of God ... all on account of Christ. 

So rejoice and be glad ... because Jesus has fulfilled it all for you.

Popular posts from this blog

The Good Shepherd Comes to Rescue and Restore - Ezekiel 34:11-16

By
  For thus says the Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I myself will search diligently for my sheep and I will seek them. As a shepherd seeks out to care for His flock in the day he is among His scattered sheep, so I will seek out to care for my sheep, and I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on the day of cloud and thick darkness. 500 years ago today, Martin Luther answered the Roman Catholic Church and the Roman Emperor who questioned his teachings. If he were to recant and take it all back, the Diet of Worms would barely be a blip in history. If he did not recant, he would be putting his own life in absolute, mortal danger. Being held captive by the clear Word of God as found in Holy Scripture, Luther stood up before the authorities of the church and the of world and gave his famous “Here I Stand” confession. He rested his case on Jesus as his only Shepherd - not the leaders of the Church or the Government. He relied solely on the Good Shepherd who promised neve...
Read more

Don’t Be Discouraged: Salvation Is Yours :: Ephesians 3:13-21

By
Saint Paul writes: Therefore, I ask [you] not to be discouraged in my tribulation on behalf of you, which is your glory (v 13).  [Prayer] Lord, we know that everyone in heaven and earth will bow before you, and that those who confess your name will receive eternal life. Grant us courage to be faithful to you in the face of any opposition from a world hostile to the Gospel. Help us to remember those who have gone before us and who sacrificed much, even their very lives, rather than dishonoring your name by denying the faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.  [Introduction] It’s easy to become discouraged as a Christian ... Isn’t it? It’s easy to lose heart ... that is, to give up in the face of tribulation ... to say you want nothing more to do with the church and those YOU think are Christian in name only ... Isn’t it? It’s easy to feel persecuted for the faith that God gave you ... Isn’t it?  Whenever you feel this way, I think from now on, I will commend to you Saint Paul’s epist...
Read more

Faithful Stewardship of God's Gifts :: Luke 16:1-13

By
How much do you owe? What is your total debt? Or as you just sang, What is the world to me? If you’re an average guy or gal, it’s probably staggering. The national debt this week was $30.6 trillion and rising ... in other words, $92,002 per citizen or $243,797 per taxpayer. Our households aren’t much better. We have $23.5 trillion in personal debt ... or $70K per citizen ... and only $8,500 in family savings. We are terrible stewards. Can we ever repay that? Of course, that’s all a pittance in comparison with what we owe the Lord. We can’t even begin to count the debt we have with him. We can’t begin to give an account for all the ways we’ve squandered his gifts. Even if we could enumerate our debt to him, we’d quickly recognize that all we have is his and become ashamed. Our Lord is the one who gives us food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods ... and all that we have. We owe him everything. How can we ever repay him?  Fortunately for us, on account o...
Read more

God Is Always With Us :: Acts 6:8-7:2a, 51-60

By
If I were to ask you to describe the message of Christmas in just one word, what would you choose? Just one word. Jesus is a good one. But I don’t think you can find a better word than Immanuel. Immanuel is the name God ascribed through the prophet Isaiah to the infant who would be born of the virgin (Isa 7:14). This single Hebrew word means “God is with us” or quite literally, “With Us is God.”  Immanuel is the message of Christmas: In Christ, God is with us in the flesh. God manifested himself in this way so that we can be with God. The Word, who was with the Father in the beginning, became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Father, full of grace and truth. God in Christ is Jesus, he is Immanuel. God came to us to be with us because we couldn’t go to him. We couldn’t find him. We couldn’t hear him. We couldn’t see him. So God came to us. He came to do what we couldn’t do, living in righteousness, dying on a cross, rising from the dead, asce...
Read more

The Mind of Christ :: Philippians 2:5-11

By
The next day, the large crowd that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming into Jerusalem, took the branches of palms and went out to meet him and began crying out: Hosanna! Blessed is the one coming in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel (Jn 12:12-13). No story has ever had a bigger buildup to a greater letdown than this one. The Jews were all of the same mind: They had been looking forward to this day for more than a millennia. And here he came! Jesus of Nazareth in Galilee (Mi 5:2)! The prophet like Moses (Dt 18:15)! The son of David (2 Sm 7:12)! Our Messiah (Is 61:1) ... Here he came, riding into Jerusalem on a donkey (Zec 9:9), fulfilling the scriptures. Zechariah, Micah, Isaiah, Deuteronomy, Samuel, the Psalms. This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it (Ps 118:24). ... These things are written so that you will believe Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God and that by believing you will have life in his name (Jn 20:31...
Read more

Joy of a Living Hope :: 1 Peter 1:3-9

By
Can you imagine what life would be like without hope?  It’s good to have hope. We all need more hope.  Researchers have discovered that you are three times more likely to live LONGER THAN eight years after a heart attack if you consider yourself to be a HOPEFUL person. If you’re a pessimist ... I should warn you that 21 of 25 of the hopeless died within eight years of their first heart attack.  It’s good to have hope. We all need more hope. According to one psychologist, hope reduces feelings of helplessness, boosts happiness, reduces stress, and improves our quality of life. Students with high levels of hope are more likely to succeed at school, more likely to have high-quality friendships, and less likely to suffer anxiety and depression. Hope improves your immune system, reduces stress, reduces joint pain. Hope is the voice inside that says, “Yes, I can.”  It’s good to have hope. We all need more hope.  So ... what is hope?  Technically, hope is an optim...
Read more

The Eyes Have It :: Luke 10:23-24

By
What do you see? What do you hear? These are the questions of the day on this Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity. What do you see? And what do you hear?  Before we get ahead of ourselves by jumping to conclusions and declaring you can see and hear just fine ... you need to know ... not everybody sees what you see or hears what you hear. Every week your pastor gives three sermons: the one I write, the one I preach, and the one you hear. And each of you might be hearing a different sermon than the person next to you. More than that, some of you may be seeing one thing and others may be seeing something completely different. And some of us will just fall asleep not seeing or hearing anything at all.  As Jesus tells the disciples ... For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to witness what y’all see and they didn’t witness it, and to hear what y’all hear and they didn’t hear it (v. 23-24). That is to say they longed to see Jesus, living, dying, rising, ascending. They long...
Read more