>SM Study Notes on Matthew 5:17-20
Introduction
Matthew 5:17-20 marks a pivotal section of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus addresses His relationship to the Law and the Prophets, reassuring His listeners that He has come not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. In this passage, Jesus clarifies the enduring authority of Scripture while confronting the shallow, external righteousness promoted by religious leaders. By calling His followers to a deeper, heart-level obedience that surpasses that of the Pharisees, Jesus sets the stage for a new understanding of righteousness rooted in God’s transformative work. This teaching reveals the need for internal change, pointing ultimately to Christ as the fulfillment of the law and the source of true righteousness.
The King’s Relationship with the Law and Prophets (5:17-18)
5:17 In this verse, Jesus addressed a significant concern regarding his relationship to the Law and the Prophets, a phrase encompassing the entirety of the Hebrew Scriptures (what we refer to today as the Old Testament). By stating that he came not to abolish but to fulfill the law, Jesus reassured his Jewish audience that his teachings were not an attack on their sacred texts.
The religious leaders, especially the Pharisees, viewed Jesus’ teachings as potentially subversive. To them, his insistence that the law could not grant salvation seemed radical and antithetical to their understanding. However, Jesus clarified that his mission was not to oppose the law but to complete it—both by perfectly adhering to it and by revealing its full, original intent. Over the centuries, the core purpose of the law had been distorted by legalistic interpretations and additional oral traditions. Jesus aimed to correct these misunderstandings.
The term “fulfill” here is often debated. The Greek word implies a sense of filling out or expanding upon something, not terminating it. Jesus did not abolish the law; rather, he expanded its meaning and clarified its true purpose. His life and teachings demonstrated what the law intended to achieve—internal transformation leading to outward righteousness.
5:18 When Jesus began a statement with the phrase “I tell you the truth,” it signaled a critical declaration. His reference to the smallest letter, the yod, and the tiniest pen stroke emphasized the enduring authority of Scripture. The yod is the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet, comparable to an apostrophe, and the “smallest stroke” refers to tiny marks that differentiate certain Hebrew letters.
By asserting that not even the smallest part of the law would disappear until all was accomplished, Jesus affirmed the inerrancy and permanence of God’s Word. He upheld the Scriptures’ absolute trustworthiness and warned against tampering with its content. His statement countered accusations that he was dismantling the law, highlighting instead its eternal relevance.
The King’s Servants and their Relationship with the Law (5:19)
5:19 Jesus then shifted his focus to those who manipulate the law’s meaning. He warned against altering even the least of the commandments and emphasized the responsibility of religious leaders to teach the law accurately.
The phrase “least of these commandments” does not target any specific command but reinforces the importance of the entirety of God’s Word. Jesus used this expression to emphasize that all aspects of the law are significant and should not be dismissed or misinterpreted.
His teaching revealed a contrast between true righteousness and the flawed approach of the Pharisees, who often twisted the law to fit their traditions. Those who diminish the law’s importance and lead others astray will be considered least in the kingdom, while those who uphold and teach the law’s true meaning will be honored.
Our Need for the King’s Righteousness (5:20)
5:20 This verse is pivotal in understanding the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus declared that unless one’s righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, entrance into the kingdom of heaven is impossible. This statement would have shocked his listeners, as the Pharisees were viewed as shining examples of religious devotion.
The Pharisees meticulously adhered to the law’s external requirements. However, Jesus pointed out that true righteousness goes beyond superficial compliance. It involves a transformation of the heart and alignment with God’s original intentions behind the commandments.
Jesus’ audience would have interpreted this as a radical and unsettling message. To them, the Pharisees represented the supreme example of holiness. Yet, Jesus revealed that their righteousness was insufficient because it focused solely on external actions rather than internal purity. No human effort could achieve the kind of righteousness God requires.
The Deeper Meaning of the Law
Throughout his teaching, Jesus contrasted the legalistic righteousness of the Pharisees with the true righteousness God desires—a righteousness that originates in the heart. The Pharisees’ interpretation of the law often missed its deeper purpose. They reduced commandments to a checklist of behaviors without addressing the underlying attitudes and motivations.
Jesus explained that he was fulfilling the law in several key ways:
- By living in perfect obedience to it – Jesus kept the law flawlessly, embodying the kind of righteousness the law aimed to produce.
- By fulfilling messianic prophecies – Jesus’ life and ministry fulfilled numerous Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.
- By providing a way of salvation – Jesus met the law’s righteous requirements and offered salvation through his death and resurrection.
Internal Transformation Under the New Covenant
Passages like Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Ezekiel 36:26-27 foreshadowed the internal transformation that would come under the new covenant. The same law, reflecting God’s character, would no longer be an external standard but would be written on the hearts of God’s people. This internal change would be possible only through a transformed heart, made new by the Holy Spirit (Romans 2: ).
Jesus’ teaching on internal obedience highlighted the limitations of human efforts to achieve righteousness. It underscored humanity’s need for a Savior and the promise of new life through the Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:21; Titus 3:3-7).
Conclusion
Matthew 5:17-20 forms a crucial part of Jesus’ message in the Sermon on the Mount. His words clarified misconceptions about his relationship to the law and exposed the inadequacy of legalistic righteousness. He revealed that true righteousness is a matter of the heart, reflecting God’s character and intentions.
Jesus’ declaration that no one could enter heaven based on their own righteousness dismantled the Pharisees’ false sense of security and pointed to the necessity of a Savior. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus fulfilled the law and made possible the internal transformation God desires in his people. This transformation enables believers to live out the kind of righteousness that exceeds that of the Pharisees—a righteousness rooted in a heart aligned with God’s will.
Build your Bible Study Library with us! Subscribe today and never miss a new set of Study Notes.
Are you finding More Than Sunday Morning Resources helpful? If so will you share us with others?
Leave a Reply