| • The sermon series continues on the hard sayings of Jesus
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| • Matthew chapter 5 passage discussed, where Jesus says he has not come to abolish the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them
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| • Comparison made between election rhetoric and people's expectations of Jesus as a revolutionary leader who will bring change
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| • Jesus' message is about understanding his true mission and purpose, which goes beyond just being a change agent
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| • The passage highlights how people attach their hopes and dreams to Jesus, expecting him to fulfill their desires for change
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| • Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets, not abolish them
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| • The Old Testament formed a people who loved God and their neighbor, but was unable to accomplish this due to sin
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| • Jesus' mission is to accomplish what the law and prophets could not do through his life, death, and resurrection
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| • Many Christian leaders have tried to eliminate or rewrite the Old Testament, including Marcion in the 2nd century
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| • The Bible shows a rich interweaving of references between the Old and New Testaments
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| • Jesus himself had a high view and love for the Old Testament, using its words in his own ministry and death.
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| • The Old Testament is God's gift to us and Jesus says we do not abolish its commands
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| • Jesus warns teachers and leaders against setting aside or teaching others to set aside any of the least of these commands
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| • Jesus emphasizes that knowing Scripture is not enough, but putting it into practice in our lives is what matters
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| • The passage discusses how to read the Old Testament in light of Jesus' fulfillment of its laws
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| • Food laws (e.g. Acts 15) are an example of changes in Jewish law after Jesus' time
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| • Pharisees accused Jesus of breaking the law, but he was actually fulfilling it by focusing on the heart and loving one's neighbors rather than just following external traditions
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| • The Pharisees' interpretation of the law became focused on behaviors and externals, rather than dealing with internal desires and motives
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| • Jesus' fulfillment of the law
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| • Jesus coming to draw out the true intention of the laws and prophecies
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| • Laws in the Old Testament are about loving God and loving neighbor
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| • Contextual case laws, including the prohibition against cooking a young goat in its mother's milk
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| • The heart of God is showing up in even the obscure laws
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| • Jesus' summary of the law: love God and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22)
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| • The Old Testament law and prophets were about forming a people who love God and love their neighbor
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| • Jesus pushing against the Pharisees to focus on motive rather than behavior
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| • Jesus saying it's not just enough to follow rules, but also to deal with hate, lust, and other destructive desires in one's heart
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| • The goal of teaching children is to help them desire obedience due to its intrinsic value, not just because it's required.
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| • Jesus' words on righteousness in Matthew 23 are harsh towards the Pharisees who focused on external obedience rather than heart attitude.
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| • Jesus contrasts the Pharisees' focus on law and behavior with his own emphasis on right relationship with God, neighbor, creation, and self.
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| • Righteousness is not just about doing good deeds or following rules, but about having a right and loving heart towards others.
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| • In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches that true righteousness comes from love for God and love for neighbor, and demonstrates this through his own life.
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| • Jesus' goal is for us to be righteous and operate out of love for Him and our neighbor.
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| • We cannot achieve righteousness on our own; it's a gift from God through Jesus' finished work on the cross.
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| • The laws given by God are good and lead to life, but they were impossible to obey due to human rebellion against sin.
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| • Through the resurrection, Jesus enables us to live in obedience to God's instruction and follow His laws.
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| • The church should take advantage of this moment to proclaim that we know how to live a life of love and obedience to God.
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| • The Bible is a gift that teaches us how to live and experience God's love
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| • Jesus gives His Spirit to empower us to follow His ways and experience life
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| • The law is fulfilled through Jesus' death on the cross, and we can experience love of God and neighbor now
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| • The speaker asks for prayer in receiving God's Word as a gift and experiencing its renewing power in their lives
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| • They pray for obedience, flourishing, and living lives full of love for God and neighbor. |
