02.24.08
Christ’s Authority to Interpret the Law - The Subjects of the Kingdom (Matt 5:1-2; Luke 6:17-19)
Christ’s Authority to Interpret the Law
The Subjects of the Kingdom (Matt 5:1-2; Luke 6:17-19)
Currently Jesus is enjoying great popularity in His ministry. As He comes down from the mountain where He had appointed the twelve, He again faces a great crowd. These folks came from Jew and Gentile areas to hear His word and to see His works. Matthew seems to indicate He withdrew from crowds to appoint the twelve, Luke makes it clear that Jesus found a level place to address the great multitude of disciples. So, there were more than the appointed twelve, multitudes were there.
The message had been substantiated by the miracles performed. These folks wanted to see and hear for themselves what others had told them about Christ. Many in this crowd were ‘outside’ the kingdom and were looking in – to catch a glimpse of what could be. As we look towards getting into the teaching Christ gave (’Sermon on the Mount’), He will warn them against trusting in the teachings of the Pharisees (sand) and urge them to build on His word (rock). John the Baptist demanded righteousness as a prerequisite for entrance into the kingdom (the same demands the OT had made). Christ – in offering Himself as King, made the same demands. He said only the righteous could enter Messiah’s kingdom. The concept was never challenged by the Pharisees, the Sadducees, or by the people themselves.
The question that did come up was – what kind of righteousness was necessary for entrance into Messiah’s kingdom? Because of Christ’s preaching, the nation faced two different concepts of righteousness.
- Righteousness of organized Judaism. This taught that a man was righteous if he attended the feasts, observed the rituals of sacrifice, and observed the traditions of the Pharisees.
- Christ preached righteousness that came as a result of faith in His person. This could not be earned by the people, instead it had to be received as a gift from God.
Here’s the start of another in the line of conflicts between Christ and the Pharisees. Folks coming to hear the teaching of Jesus didn’t need to be told that righteousness was necessary for entrance into the kingdom – they would readily acknowledge that. The question was turned into ‘what is righteousness’. So Jesus spoke to these concerns to the curious who were debating the issue of His person.
The theme of this discourse is found in Matthew 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Christ will be repudiating the Pharisaic righteousness as a basis for acceptance by the Messiah. Christ will offer Himself as the only basis for righteousness that admits one to into His kingdom.
And us – is that argument still being fought internally? Is it hard to accept that we don’t have this huge check list of do’s and don’ts that we must follow? Or is it harder to accept the grace and mercy from Christ who gave His all for my sin, and all I need to do is accept His offer?
