Lesson 4 of 4
Jesus and the commandments
Read
Study objective: See how Jesus and the apostles read the commandments, deepening and summing them up in love.
Reading: Matthew 5:17–30Matthew 22:34–40Romans 13:8–10
Matthew 5:17–30 WEB
17“Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 21“You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna. 23“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. 26Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny. 27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ 28but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. 30If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.
Matthew 22:34–40 WEB
34But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, gathered themselves together. 35One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him. 36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” 37Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and great commandment. 39A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
Romans 13:8–10 WEB
8Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.
Background and context
Jesus says he came not to abolish the law but to fulfil it, and then deepens commandments about murder and adultery to anger and lust. Asked for the greatest commandment, he names love for God and love for neighbour. Paul says love fulfils the law. Christians differ on how the Old Testament law applies today, but they agree that these commandments express God’s will.
Observe
- Jesus came to fulfil, not abolish, the law (Matthew 5:17).
- He applies “do not murder” to anger and insult (5:21-22).
- He sums up the law in two commands (22:37-40).
- Paul lists commandments and sums them up in love (Romans 13:9-10).
Words, people and events to notice
- Fulfil
- To complete or bring to its intended goal. Jesus uses it of his relation to the law and the prophets. Matthew 5:17
Understand
- How does Jesus deepen the commandments in Matthew 5:21-30?
- Why might love be the fulfilment of the law (Romans 13:10)?
- How do the two great commandments relate to the two parts of the Ten?
Connect
- Jeremiah 31:33
The promise of God’s law written on the heart.
Reflect
- Which commandment do you keep outwardly but not inwardly?
- How could love for neighbour shape a decision this week?
Key takeaways
Editorial summary, not Scripture.
- Jesus deepens the commandments to the heart.
- Love for God and neighbour sums up the law.
Answers, notes and progress are saved on this device only. Nothing is sent to BibleKenya.