Hi WS!
I like a lot of what you said,
I am glad we can agree on some things that's always a good start.
but I think we should realize what is meant by "till all be fulfilled"! Jesus is teaching the law to Jews who were under the law. No other nationality will ever be under the law, not even the new law which will be in their next new covenant later, beginning with the Millennial Kingdom.
Mat 5:20 is probably one of the passages that demonstrates the law most. The righteousness of Christians far exceeds the law because theirs is Christ's righteousness.
Lets actually look at these verses a little closer. I think this is a very important teaching of Jesus.
Mat 5:17 “
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to
fulfill.
What was prophesied on the law that Jesus is fulfilling?
Isa 42:21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake;
he will magnify the law, and make
it honourable.
The Greek word here for magnify means to make larger or greater. Jesus just said plainly He did not come to destroy the law or prophets but to fulfill.
18 For assuredly, I say to you
, till heaven and earth pass away, one [b]jot or one [c]tittle will by no means pass from the law till
all is fulfilled.
There is nothing here that says "Jesus is teaching the law to Jews who were under the law." and I am a big believer of not adding to His Word but allowing Him to explain, especially when its Jesus speaking directly.
Jesus said plainly He did not come to destroy the law but was predicted He would make His laws greater, not smaller and not a jot or tittle shall pass from the law until ALL is fulfilled.
1. Heaven and earth have to pass (which has not happened)
2. Not all is fulfilled like these prophecies that Jesus plainly said He did not come to destroy
Isa 25:8
he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace
from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
So not all is fulfilled until heaven and earth pass, Jesus comes in the clouds, judgement is served John12:48 Jesus makes a New Heaven and New Earth Isa66:22-23
So therefore:
19
Whoever (not just Jews- everyone) therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches
them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 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.
Were the Pharisees keeping the commandments of God? No Jesus condemned them because they laid aside the commandments of God in lieu of man-made commandments and traditions and Jesus said in doing so they made the word of God of no effect by their traditions Mat 15:3-14 Mark7:7-13 so following in their footsteps Jesus said by no means will one enter into heaven
And if you keep reading in this passage you will see Jesus magnifying His laws using two of the Ten Commandments as examples but they apply to all of them- not breaking the least of these commandments Mat5:19 and relates anger in our heart is what leads up to sin and if our heart is changed, the outward part would be changed and thou shalt not murder would be kept Mat5:19-30
Jesus only taught the Jews because He was sent only to the Jews (
Mat 15:24);
This is a misunderstanding of what Israel means. It means God's sons. Exo4:22 Are we not all called to be sons and daughters of God? It was never meant to be only literal. God shows no partiality Acts 10:34 Romans 2:11
Jesus is everyone's example to follow, not just Jews 1 John2:6 1 Peter 2:21-22 and Jesus is the way John14:6 and I understand how convenient it would be not to have to follow His teachings, but its an error in human teaching, not coming from God's Word.
His Apostles and disciples, esp. Paul, taught the Gentiles concerning Christianity.
Eph 2:15 shows how the Lord Jesus has made Jews and Gentiles as one people in Christ. This involves the Jews who, with the Gentiles believe in Christ.
Amen. There is only one people in Christ and God's people keep God's commandments Rev14:12 His version because no one can change a jot or tittle of the Testimony of God Exo31:18 Psa89:34 Deut4:13
The Jews that love and believe in God but not yet in Christ inherit the New Earth; and the Christians inherit the New Heaven!
No Scripture says this. There are only two groups, the saved and the lost. Rev 20 Rev22:14-15
