“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”
—Matthew 5:17      

Reflection

Jesus did not just reveal God’s grace. He took it to another level.

Before Yeshua came, Israel had already been pulled out of the barbaric standards of the time. Through the Law of Moses, God elevated them into a new system of justice that reflected God’s righteousness and His grace. When Jesus began to teach, however, He revealed God’s ultimate plan – one that shook up the entire system.

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not murder.’” But Yeshua went deeper, addressing anger in the heart. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’” But He went deeper again, speaking about lust within the heart.

Then He said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’” But Yeshua raised the bar: turn the other cheek. Go the second mile.

And where people had heard, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy,” Jesus said, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

To His Jewish listeners, who knew the Law well enough to recognize the Torah verses He quoted, these were radical words. So why would Jesus teach this way?

We need to pay attention to the context.

Before Yeshua launched into this series, He made something very clear: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”

Not only did Jesus come to fulfill the Law, but He came to fulfill it to the highest degree, so much so that every dot and mark would be completed. He first elevated the Law, and then from this position He revealed a higher expression of it.

This is the “grace upon grace” version.

The Law had already restrained vengeance by establishing that the punishment should fit the crime. But Jesus raised the bar even higher. Extend more grace. Turn the other cheek even when you are not at fault. Go farther than what is required. Love those who oppose you. Pray for those who mistreat you.

Yeshua did not lower God’s standard.

He revealed its fullness.

Application

• Ask Yeshua to show you where He is calling you beyond simply doing what is required into a greater expression of grace.
• Examine your heart, not only your outward behavior. Jesus desires righteousness that reaches into our anger, desires, relationships, and responses to those who wrong us.

Prayer

Father, thank You that Yeshua came not to abolish Your Law, but to fulfill it. Help me understand the fullness of Your righteousness and grace. Jesus, raise the standard within my own heart and teach me to extend grace even when I have been wronged. Give me strength to love my enemies, pray for those who mistreat me, and go beyond what is merely required. Let Your righteousness reach deeply into my thoughts, desires, and responses. In Messiah Jesus’ name, amen.