Luke 16:16-17
Parallel Accounts
Matthew 5:18 parallels Luke 16:17
Context
- Luke uses the journey to Jerusalem to present different teachings of Jesus just as Matthew used the Sermon on the Mount.
Luke’s reason for recording
- The idea may have been developed that Jesus was an abolitionist, but Jesus defeats such an idea.
- Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.
The Law and the Prophets
- Both the Law and Prophets anticipated the coming Kingdom through the perfect son of God.
- John was the bridge between old and new covenants.
How did Jesus come to fulfill the Law?
- Jesus did not come to abolish the Law.
- Jesus fulfilled the law in at least two ways.
- He maintained a perfect state of righteousness and was never guilty of breaking the Law.
- Because of this he was able to satisfy the Laws requirement for a perfect substitutionary sacrifice.
Should Christians adhere to the Law?
- The Law being spoken of was the law given to the nation of Israel as part of the covenant between the nation and God.
- Jesus makes it clear that the only type of “righteousness” that will allow one to enter into heaven has to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:20)
- A new type of righteousness was made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus.
- This righteousness exceeds the righteousness of those who strictly adhere to the Law.
- This new righteousness does not depend upon works but upon faith.
- Therefore, Christians are not required to adhere to the Law in order to earn salvation.
Should Christians ignore the Law?
- Strictly speaking, the moral law is the universal law that applies to all men.
- This law should not be ignored.
- However, adhering to the moral law is now a result of salvation freely given.
- We adhere because we love God and we love our fellow man.
Transformation Expectation
- God expects our righteousness to exceed that of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day.
- God expects our righteousness to be the result of a grateful heart and not an attempt to earn anything.
- Our righteousness is a product of God’s grace and mercy and not the product of anything we have done ourselves.