Who's In Charge Here? A Series on Authority
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
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My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Jesus’ standards for my life are perfection, as You are perfect. I confess that I have not lived up to that standard, and ask You to restore me to Your presence through the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that all that I am, and all that I do today will advance Your Kingdom. I pray for courage not to add anything to Your word, or to take anything from it in my living out of this day, but only that I may be faithful to You. This I pray in the strong name of Jesus Christ my risen Savior and Lord. Amen.
Bible Verses
Matthew 5:17-20 NIV
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. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Anyone who breaks 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 practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Reflecting on God's Word
What do you think will be one of your greatest joys when you one day experience the fullness of God’s kingdom?
What does Jesus say about the authority of the Scriptures in today’s Scripture?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
Why does Jesus say that He came to earth in today’s Scripture? (5:17)
What does Jesus say about the duration of the Scriptures? (18)
What is the reward/punishment for those who teach or fail to teach God’s Law in this life? (19-20)
Understanding God's Purpose for Us
What does it mean that Jesus came to fulfill the “Law and the Prophets”?
What does it mean for our righteousness to surpass that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law?
Applying God's Word to Our Purpose
What do you need to do today to teach others God’s word?
Thoughts
As Jesus taught His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount, He made it clear that He had not come to supercede the “Law and the Prophets,” which were the Scriptures in His day, or to destroy them, but rather to FULFILL them. As we read on in the Sermon on the Mount, we find that Jesus took a number of teachings fro the Law and the Prophets and made them more stringent and specific. For example, while the Old Testament Scripture stated, “You shall not murder,” Jesus told us that God judges us for making insulting comments about our brothers and sisters! Jesus’ words must have shocked His hearers, for He told them that their righteousness had to exceed that of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, who the people thought were the “best” people alive. Jesus’ point is simply this: outward adherence to God’s word is not necessarily righteousness. Righteousness comes when we submit our hearts to God’s authority, and live out His Word as a response of faith and gratitude! Our lives may serve as testimonies of God’s grace, but only if that grace is alive in us!