Preschool
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. Isaiah 55:6
Christ’s Kingdom Fulfills the Ten Commandments
Memory Verses
Primary
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6
Junior
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6
Background Scripture: Matthew 5
Lesson Scripture: Matthew 5:17–19,
Introduction
Our lesson title makes a profound statement. In the lesson scripture, Jesus said He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. As followers of Jesus, we have the responsibility and opportunity to live what He taught. True faith is evidenced by obedience to God. That obedience to law that springs from faith in God is acceptable to Him.
Key Verse
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (Rom. 13:10).
Lesson Scripture
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberst that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy,
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
Studying the Lesson
The setting of Jesus’s sermon was a hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Jesus’s clear voice was carried to the crowd sitting in rapt attention. This was a crowd well acquainted with the law that God had given to Moses. The Levites and the prophets had been faithful in teaching and establishing this law. Throughout the centuries, many had transgressed it, and judgment had been executed. Giving one’s life for his transgression did not save his soul, but looking in faith to the Redeemer had saving power. The Ten Commandments directed the Jewish nation for many years. Now the time was ripe for further enlightenment. Graciously, Jesus expounded the gospel doctrine to them. Knowing their tendency to feel that this doctrine threatened their age-old law, Jesus told them at the beginning of his ministry that He had not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. This truth was evident in His life and later in the life of His followers.
The Ten Commandments had been the foundation for righteous living—now Jesus pointed them to the motives of their heart. The thoroughness of Jesus’s teachings made them feel guilty. He taught them that to fulfill the law their heart must be filled with God’s love. Jesus was ready to help them accomplish this if they would allow Him to guide them.
Notice that Jesus referred to the Ten Commandments as the law He came to fulfill. The Pharisees had added many man-made rules, some of which Jesus ignored, and others He condemned. For example, the Pharisees had added thirty-nine amendments to the fourth commandment.1 We must take care to not mix good traditions, conservative culture, and personal opinions with God’s holy law.
Practical Truths for Today
The Ten Commandments are the foundation for moral law. Through the ages, they have been the basis for the laws of many nations. In our time, many people resist laws and resent binding rules. The modern antinomian attitude is “live and let live,” or “I’ll do my own thing.” As Christians in the world yet not of the world, we are called to live “in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free” (Gal. 5:1); however, we must not use “liberty for an occasion to the flesh” (v. 13).
God gave the law; therefore, it is holy. It shows us that all unrighteousness is sin. When we find we are unable to keep the law, we realize we need a Savior. The apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Gal. 3:24).
Keeping a set of rules will not earn salvation. We can only be saved because God loves us, and love earned is not truly love. “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities . . . he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isa. 53:11–12). If Jesus had not suffered the punishment for our transgression and shed His blood to wash our sins away, we could never be forgiven. Jesus Christ fulfilled, or satisfied, the law, and a repentant sinner is saved through the death of Jesus Christ. Through the new birth we enter into Christ’s kingdom.
Though a transgressor is pardoned, the law is not abolished. After we become a child of God, He gives us grace to keep His commandments. We receive the Holy Spirit upon conversion, and with His presence in our heart, we have a divine nature. This divine nature adheres to the law of the Spirit; however, it conflicts with our human nature. Turning the other cheek is not possible without God’s love in our heart. Love puts a different perspective on the law. With the “new man” we see the law as redemptive instead of mere rules for daily living. Jesus teaches us to reach out to our fellowmen with love so they will feel drawn to God. People can feel the difference between an act of duty and an act of love.
We live in an adulterous generation. Matthew 5:28 makes us realize that we need God’s help to be victorious. Evil is present all around us, but the Holy Spirit is also present to give us power to overcome the world. As fellow pilgrims in the faith, we encourage and support each other in the war against our soul. All things are possible with God, and He will make a way for His disciples. The commandments stand, and there will be sustaining grace for us and those following after.
Perhaps the thief on the cross was the first to realize the fulfillment of the law. He admitted that he was guilty of transgressing the law, and he was resigned to his judgment and punishment. He knew that sorrow and accepting his fate would not save his soul, but in faith he turned to Jesus for salvation. Jesus forgave him and promised him a home in paradise. Therein the law was fulfilled for him.
As those who have sinned and broken the law, we can be forgiven and, together with Christ, we can fulfill the law. When we experience God’s great love, we have a vital message for our fellowmen. We are willing to leave our gift at the altar and be reconciled to our brother, to go the second mile, and to bless those that hate us. If we do these things because we love God and our fellowmen, we are fulfilling the law. “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law” (Rom. 13:8).
Questions
- How can Christian parents teach their children both law and grace?
- What are ways to help young Christians see church guidelines as being based on gospel principles?
- Does disregard for civil laws affect our respect for God’s laws?
- 1 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, s.v. “Sabbath”
- Unsubscribe
Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).