“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.” — Matthew 5:17 This week we dig into Jesus’s relationship with the Law—and why He had such harsh words for the people who claimed to keep it best. The Pharisees and teachers of the law knew the 613 commandments inside and out. They built their entire identity around strict adherence. They were the religious experts. And Jesus called them snakes. Blind guides. Hypocrites who tie up heavy burdens for others but won’t lift a finger themselves. So what’s the difference between their righteousness and the righteousness Jesus requires? That’s the heart of this sermon. Jesus didn’t come to throw out the rulebook. He came to complete it—to show us what the Law was always pointing toward. And that changes everything about how we read His words in the Sermon on the Mount. Key themes explored: – Jesus as fulfillment of the Law, not abolisher – The 10 Commandments and the 613 laws of Moses – Sadducees, Pharisees, and Scribes—who they were and what they got wrong – Matthew 23: Jesus’s harshest criticism of religious leaders – Righteousness that surpasses performance Scripture References: Matthew 5:17-20 | Matthew 23:1-33 | Exodus 20:1-17 — Muscatine Church of Christ Sunday Worship | 10:30 AM Website: https://muscatinechurchofchrist.org Facebook: https://facebook.com/muscatinechurchofchrist #SundaySermon #ChurchOfChrist #SermonOnTheMount #SurrenderAll #TheLaw #Matthew5 #Discipleship
