Jesus and the Law Matthew 5:17-20

Jesus and the Law Matthew 5:17-20

Rules, laws and ethics are all the rage in the news. Russian involvement, which email server did you use, who had sex with who and who paid for it, who was in whose motel room and what drugs did you take? Who gave you money and what for. Accusations, denials, inappropriate behavior, careers over before there is ever a trial. One Christian leader has been investigated by 3 different and independent committees none of which found evidence of wrong doing, yet the people keep taking their discredited accusations to the news who keep reprinting it. How far under the microscope do you want to go?

If I never said anything or did anything inappropriate or wrong, I would not need Jesus. But I am a sinner, don’t expect to look at my life and anything but that. Don’t you dare ask me to look at your life and expect me to not find a sinner.

This is what Jesus is all about.

The woman in the elevator at the library.

To the Pharisees the law was the big thing not God.

They looked for clever work-arounds and loopholes. The wire between houses.

People wanted Jesus to get ride of the Law as they understood it.

Personal holiness is the goal, but grace is the end.

We think people should follow the rules, but when the rules get in the way.

Sexual harassment, Woman want to not be treated in ways that make them feel threatened or uncomfortable. Yet they want to dress in was that threaten and make men uncomfortable.

We want to load our cupboard with booze but not want our teenager to drink it.

We want to over eat but we want to not gin weight or have high Cholesterol.

The Pharisees looked for ways to soften the law. Many Christians want to soften the law. Particularly with regards to sex.

1 Cor 5:2 “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.”

1 cor 6:9-11 “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

Romans 1:18-32

Jesus does not change what is right and what is wrong.

Jesus does not change the penalty for our wrong doing.

Jesus, changes who pays the bill.

Jesus changes why we try to live a holy life.

Don’t change the rules to fit how you want to live, change your life to please God.

Live to show honor and respect for the sacrifice and gifts of God.