matthew 5

Read Matthew 5 at Bible Gateway.

Mat 5 outline:

Mat 5:1-2, He went up on a mountain to teach the multitudes
Mat 5:3-12, The Beatitudes
Mat 5:13-16, You are salt and light
Mat 5:17-20, I did not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets but I am the fulfillment of them
Mat 5:21-48, Fulfilling the Law from the heart

Mat 5:10-48 chiastic structure:

1a.1) Mat 5:10-12, Blessed are you when you are persecuted for righteousness’ sake;

1a) Mat 5:10a, Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake;
1b) Mat 5:10b, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven;
central axis) Mat 5:11, “Blessed are you when they revile + persecute you + say evil against you falsely for My sake;
2b) Mat 5:12a, Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven;
2a) Mat 5:12b, For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you;

1a.2) Mat 5:13-16, You are salt + light/ let men see your good works + glorify your Father in heaven;

1b) Mat 5:17, Jesus did not destroy the Law or Prophets but is the fulfillment of them;

1c) Mat 5:18, Not one jot or tittle will pass from the Law until all is fulfilled;

1a) Mat 5:18a, For assuredly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away;
central axis) Mat 5:18b, One jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Law;
2a) Mat 5:18c, Until all is fulfilled;

central axis) Mat 5:19-20a, “Whoever 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;”

2c) Mat 5:20b, Unless your righteousness exceeds the scribes + Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven;

2b) Mat 5:21-43, You have heard it said thus of the Law, however you must fulfill it from your heart;

2a.1) Mat 5:44, Love your enemies/ bless + pray for those who hate + persecute you;
2a.2) Mat 5:45-48, That you may be sons of your Father in heaven/ you shall be perfect as He is perfect.

How many of you have heard it said that since Jesus came to fulfill the Law, that means the rest of us can now ignore it? *raises hand*

However, that cannot be the meaning of Mat 5:17, because if it was, it would directly contradict Mat 5:19: “Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven.” And we know that truth does not contradict. If there is a contradiction, then our understanding or application is off, not the word of God.

Many of the the Law’s commandments foreshadow and prophesy of the coming, circumstances, and ministry of Messiah. Likewise the Prophets prophesied of Him. So when Jesus said, “I came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets,” He is saying, “I am He whom the Law and the Prophets declare!”

But the teaching of Jesus here at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount lays to rest forever the false claims of those who have taught men so that God approves of their commandment- breaking. He is teaching, Do not merely obey the Law outwardly as the scribes and Pharisees, but obey it from the heart – then your obedience will look like Mat 5:21-48.

For further reading:

matthew 5, the law and prophets fulfilled (2011)
matthew 5, obeying from the heart (2009)