Sermon Notes

Jesus says He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them. In Matthew 5:17–20, He shows that every part of God’s Word still matters, and He raises the bar for what true righteousness looks like.

This message from the Radical series helps us see how the Law points to Him and how life in the Kingdom is not about external performance but about a transformed heart.

Key Takeaways

Jesus fulfills the Law, He does not abolish it.
Every part of Scripture points to Him.
True righteousness is deeper than rule-keeping.
Pharisaic righteousness is not enough.
Kingdom life is about obedience that comes from the heart.
Discussion Questions

What do you think it means that Jesus “fulfills” the Law?
Why does Jesus say that not even the smallest detail of Scripture will pass away?
How is true righteousness different from outward performance?
Where do you find yourself living more like a Pharisee than a disciple?
What does it look like to pursue heart-level obedience this week?

Transcript

Jesus Fulfills the Law

In Matthew 5:17–20, Jesus makes a bold claim. He says He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them. That means He isn’t erasing what came before Him. He is bringing it to completion.

The Law points to Him. Every sacrifice, every command, every promise—it all finds its fulfillment in Jesus. He is the one the story has been leading to.

Not a Single Word Wasted

Jesus adds that not even the smallest detail of God’s Word will disappear until all is accomplished. That shows how deeply He values Scripture. Every word matters. Every promise stands.

For us, this means we cannot pick and choose which parts of the Bible we like. All of it matters. And all of it points us to Christ.

A Higher Standard

Then Jesus raises the bar. He says that unless our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, we will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. At first, that sounds impossible. The Pharisees were experts at keeping rules.

But Jesus is not talking about more rules. He is talking about a different kind of righteousness. Not outward performance. Heart-level obedience.

Beyond Appearance

The Pharisees cared about looking holy. Jesus cares about being holy. True righteousness is about motives, not just actions. It’s about loving God with your whole heart, not just checking religious boxes.

This is why the Sermon on the Mount is so radical. It moves beyond appearances and goes to the core of who we are.

Why It Matters Today

For us, this passage is a reminder. God’s Word still stands. Every word still matters. And Jesus is the one who fulfills it.

We don’t need to rely on our performance to make us righteous. We need Jesus. He has already met the standard we never could. And through Him, we are invited into a life of real obedience—obedience that comes from the heart.