jesus simplifies the law

He warns us: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'LORD, LORD,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. One of the reasons for some of Jesus' statements in the Sermon on the Mount is that—because His preaching was so different from that of the Pharisees and Sadducees—some people believed His intention was to subvert the authority of God's Word and substitute His own in its place. Jesus used an example from Scripture to show that the spirit and intent of the law were not broken and that God's law allowed for mercy (Mark 2:23-26 Mark 2:23-26 [23] And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. [25] And he said to them, Have you never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungered, he, and they that were with him? In living a perfect life, Jesus fulfilled the moral laws; in His sacrificial death, Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial laws. He met the law's requirements by obeying it perfectly in thought and deed, both in the letter and in the intent of the heart. "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20 Matthew 5:20For I say to you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.American King James Version×). Christ said, “If you want to enter into [eternal] life, keep the commandments.” He made sure everyone knew He meant the 10 Commandments by naming several of them in this passage of Scripture (Matthew 19:16-19). He revealed its spiritual purpose and intent. While the scribes were the experts, the Pharisees professed the purest practice of righteousness. Yet they were so spiritually blind that they hated Him for exposing their distortions of God's commands (Mark 3:6 Mark 3:6And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.American King James Version×). In light of Jesus' clear teaching on the permanence of God's laws, what do we find when it comes to His attitude toward the Sabbath day? This is inconsistent with His own words. The Pharisees, a related group, were commonly viewed as the most exemplary models of Judaism. What hope, then, did others have? They appeared to obey the law to those who observed them, but broke God's law inwardly, where it couldn't be seen by others. In this chapter we have demonstrated that both many Jews and most of Christianity are incorrect in their assessment of Jesus' teachings. American King James Version×). American King James Version×). Through the remainder of the chapter, He showed that the spiritual application of the law made it even more difficult to keep, not that it was annulled or no longer necessary. He is saying that we cannot diminish from the law of God by even a jot or tittle—the equivalent of the crossing of a "t" or dotting of an "i.". Jesus then claimed to have authority to say how the Sabbath should be observed: "Therefore, the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:28 Mark 2:28Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.American King James Version×). God's original intent for His law was that people would observe it from their hearts (Deuteronomy 5:29 Deuteronomy 5:29O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!American King James Version×). The real Jesus kept the law and expected His disciples to do the same. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, said the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed. The "by those" is added for clarification, since, as explained in other passages, those who persist in lawbreaking and teach others to break God's law will not themselves be in the Kingdom at all. xii). [5] But you say, Whoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatever you might be profited by me; So immediately we see that Jesus had no intention of destroying the law. American King James Version×; Luke 14:1-6 Luke 14:1-6 [1] And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. Jesus explains His view of the law very quickly after giving the beatitudes: "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. These are examples of the "righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees" that Jesus characterized as making the outside of the cup and dish clean, while on the inside remaining "full of greed and self-indulgence" (Matthew 23:25 Matthew 23:25Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! In some situations they actually elevated their traditions above the clear commands of God (Matthew 15:1-9 Matthew 15:1-9 [1] Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, His meaning is clear from the remainder of the chapter, where He showed the spiritual intent of specific commandments. Instead of doing away with or replacing God’s laws, Jesus affirmed the law, stated His commitment to it and built His sermon on that foundation. American King James Version×; Matthew 12:10-14 Matthew 12:10-14 [10] And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. What truly matters is what He really said, and whether we're going to believe what He said. Used by permission. [14] Then shall you delight yourself in the LORD; and I will cause you to ride on the high places of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it. What He was doing was refuting the wrong interpretations perpetuated by the scribes and Pharisees. Thus it is foolish to argue that Jesus would abolish or annul something that He had personally created for the benefit of every human being! The value He places on the commandments of God is also unmistakable —as well as the high esteem toward the law that He requires from all those who teach in His name. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; [4] How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the show bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Jesus never abrogated His own law! And what does the Sermon on the Mount tell us about Jesus and the law? "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled" (Matthew 5:18 Matthew 5:18For truly I say to you, Till heaven and earth pass, one stroke or one pronunciation mark shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.American King James Version×).