"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all is accomplished."
Gospel of Matthew
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? This is a somewhat strange question to ask a group of faith filled people. But it is a good question to "frame" an understanding of the above Gospel reading from Matthew.
Jesus says: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all is accomplished." And then He goes on to say that whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus does not leave much room for doubt on this matter. However, if you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the Word made Life, then we must also agree that the Old Testament, with all of its laws and prophetic teachings must all be referenced to Jesus and the role that He played. In other words, Jesus came to reveal the true meaning of the Old Testament laws, to express what the laws and the prophets wished to convey, and to bring them to fulfillment.
The law is eternal. Jesus becomes the authoritative interpreter of the Jewish tradition found in the Old Testament, the One who is able to bring light to its most profound aspects. When you examine Jesus' teachings and His life, you find a man who did not get too caught up in externals. If you read on in the Gospel of Matthew, you discover His main objections are voiced against the Scribes and the Pharisees who are constantly getting caught up in external practices and details. "For I tell you, Jesus says, unless your righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven."
Jesus is always much more interested and concerned with that which lies at the heart of things, the underlining motivation and reason for doing things. Where rigidity in following certain external rules or practices lead to a self-justification, (look at me and what I do) an examination of what lies at the heart of things leads to a humility and surrender.
"Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God." This leads to a serving of those less fortunate than ourselves versus a laying of heavy burdens on others.
When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well, He did not trumpet her failings before her, but by invitation, challenged her to raise her awareness. "If only you knew of God's gift, and who it is who is asking you for a drink; then you would ask Him, and He would give you living water." It is this same living water that He offers us, despite our failings.
In many other instances, Jesus pushes the existing precepts or rules in order to get at the root disposition that lies behind the forbidden action. Jesus' followers cannot be satisfied with merely avoiding the acts of stealing or doing harm to others. We must also curb and deal with the underlining disposition that gives rise to the offence; anger, insults, greed or whatever else, that gives rise to wrongful action. It is in dealing with the underlining causes and overcoming them that the Kingdom of God is revealed to those who believe.
When we allow Jesus to be the fulfillment of the laws of the Old Testament, then we allow Him to be the way, truth, and the life in our own life's journey. Although it is a narrow road, it is the safe sure road that leads us to the revelation of God's Kingdom in the here and now.
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