Question about Matthew 5:17-19

[jayzee]

This was the gospel reading from 2/27, and I’ve been wondering about it ever since…

Matt 5:17:
Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teachese these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.

I’m not sure exactly which law is being referred to here. I thought that St. Paul said later that Christians weren’t bound by all the multitude of laws that the Jews were supposed to live by (circumcision being the main one that is normally referred to), so when I read the above passage, I was confused.

Can someone help me understand this better?

Thanks…
Jen

 

[NotWorthy]

Read the rest of the chapter. When Jesus says, “You have heard it said…” Jesus is showing that these commandments are not complete. Jesus fulfills them.

For instance, “Thou shalt not kill” is replaced with removing anger from your heart, for it is anger that grows to the point of killing.

“Thou shalt not commit adultery” is replaced with removing lust from the heart, for lust is what leads to adultery.

My two cents worth.

 

[geekborj]

This was the gospel reading from 2/27, and I’ve been wondering about it ever since…

Matt 5:17:
Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teachese these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.

I’m not sure exactly which law is being referred to here. I thought that St. Paul said later that Christians weren’t bound by all the multitude of laws that the Jews were supposed to live by (circumcision being the main one that is normally referred to), so when I read the above passage, I was confused.

Can someone help me understand this better?

Thanks…
Jen

Try looking at the purpose of having the Law and the Prophets. Jesus made them Perfect and explained them way beyond the understanding of the Jews then. Indeed, as posted somewhere else above, Jesus cleared it up when the Law says “adultery” it is adultery in all senses, etc.

 

[ryanoneil]

The New Covenant includes and concludes the Old Covenant, by perfecting and transforming it. The moral laws were fulfilled thus refined, and the sacrificial laws were replaced with the sacrifice of Jesus.

Peace,

Ryan

 

[eternalrest]

Why were these concepts too challenging for earlier Jews to understand but not the Jews of Jesus’ time?