First Discourse in Matthew: The Law & The Prophets

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever 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 does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ~ Matthew 5:17-20
He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, to love kindness; and to walk humbly with your God? ~ Micah 6:8

The Law for Jesus was the Torah, generally referring to the law found in the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures. And while we can get lost in the weeds of the 613 laws found there, there are some really great summaries of them in those Hebrew Scriptures: 

 In Deuteronomy: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your might.

 In Leviticus: Love your neighbor as yourself.

 Micah has a pretty good one as well.

 What does it mean then that Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it?

 Those who were most vehemently against Jesus were the religious leaders of the day who were more concerned with the 613 moralistic laws.

 Does that ring true still today at times?

 Jesus instead came to show a God who instead called for love and relationship. For not ignoring each other, but instead being there for each other.

 Walking beside each other. Calling for justice for each other. Being kind to one another.

 Loving each other.

 The Kingdom of God comes then when the Kin-dom of God reigns. When kinship is fulfilled.

 When Love itself is the law.
Prayer: Let my life be a testament of loving my neighbor. Amen

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