17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. 31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. —Matthew 5:17-48
Introduction: In Matthew 5:17-48, Jesus delivers some of the most radical teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. He clarifies His relationship to the Law, intensifies its moral demands, and calls His followers to a standard of righteousness that is impossible apart from divine grace. Jesus came not to abolish the Law, but to demonstrate that we could never fulfill it on our own. He fulfills it for us and transforms us from the inside out.
Big Idea: Because Jesus
1. Christ Fulfills the Law (5:17-20)
- a. The Greek word “plēroō” (πληρόω) for “fulfill” means to bring to completion or to fully realize something’s intended purpose.
- b. Jesus fulfills the Law (v.17) by:
- Perfectly obeying it.
- Fulfilling its prophecies.
- Bringing its moral and ceremonial aspects to their climax in Himself.
- c. He came to finish the Old Covenant and establish the New. (v.18-19)
The righteousness of the Law was never meant to be an
Christ embodies what we could
2. Christ Internalizes Righteousness (5:21-47)
- a. Jesus uses six “You have heard…but I say” statements building off the “I say” statements in 5:18 & 20, contrasting external righteousness with internal heart transformation.
- b. Each contrast begins with “You have heard it said,” and follows with “but I say to you.” This structure, unique to rabbinic teaching, signifies divine authority—Jesus is not just commenting on the Law; He is defining its deepest meaning.
Unlike the Pharisees, Jesus emphasizes that righteousness involves more than simply
- c. The Pharisees focused on external obedience. Jesus demonstrates that the Law was always about the heart. He addresses six areas:
- Anger & Murder (5:21-26) – Kingdom citizens avoid hatred, not just murder.
- Lust & Adultery (5:27-30) – Kingdom citizens know righteousness includes purity of thought.
- Divorce & Marriage (5:31-32) – Kingdom citizens value and keep their covenants.
- Oaths & Integrity (5:33-37) – Kingdom citizens view truthfulness as a lifestyle, not a performance.
- Retaliation & Mercy (5:38-42) – Kingdom citizens forgive instead of avenging.
- Love for Enemies (5:43-47) – Kingdom citizens extend love, even to enemies.
- d. How can I honor Christ in my thoughts and motives?
- e. Jesus’ life and sacrifice empowers us to forgive when wronged, remain pure when tempted, and love when hated.
3. Christ Perfects Love (5:48)
- a. The Greek word for “perfect” (teleios - τέλειος) in this context doesn’t mean flawless or sinlessness but maturity, wholeness, or completion. The verb “be perfect” is in the future imperative, which implies an ongoing process rather than an instant achievement. We are called to grow into the maturity of God’s love.
The goal that no sinful human can achieve is
- b. Jesus fulfills the Father’s expectation of perfection (v.48)
- We don’t abolish the Law; we see it fulfilled in Jesus.
- We don’t settle for external righteousness; we pursue heart transformation.
- We don’t love selectively; we love as God loves.
The Gospel tells us that we are more
than we ever dared believe, yet more in Christ than we ever dared hope. —Tim Keller
- c. Love fulfills the law:
- Romans 13:8-10 “for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law…therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
- Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
- Jesus fulfilled the Law, transforms our hearts, and calls us to perfect love. The question is—
Will we live as
Small Group Questions
What did God teach you through this passage and message? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.
Jesus says we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. When you hear those declarations, what does that make you feel? Are you confident in yourself? Do you feel inadequate or unworthy?
How has Jesus’ fulfillment of the law given you self-awareness of sin and
empowered your ability to pursue righteousness?Where is Christ calling you to a deeper obedience as a Kingdom citizen-from the
inside out list in Matthew 5:21-47?What is one way you can plan to extend God’s perfect love to those around you
this week?