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| He (Jesus) elevated the righteousness of relationships as superior and authentic above the righteousness of rituals and doctrines |
At the beginning
of Jesus’ earthly ministry what He taught was recorded in Matthew chapter five
to the seventh. But I would like to draw your attention to few of His words in
chapter five. I believe this is a very crucial place to begin because what He
taught introduced us to the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, His Good News.
Do not think that I have come to do away with
or undo the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to
complete and fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until the sky and earth pass
away and perish, not one smallest letter nor one little hook [identifying
certain Hebrew letters] will pass from the Law until all things [it
foreshadows] are accomplished. Whoever then breaks or does away with or relaxes
one of the least [important] of these commandments and teaches men so shall be
called least [important] in the kingdom of heaven, but he who practices them
and teaches others to do so shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew
5:17-19 Amplified
Some believe
Christ was talking about not abolishing the ordinances of the Law but He
wasn’t. Jesus didn’t observe the rituals of the Law, which made the Pharisees and
Chief Priests to sharply contend with Him. Although, He admonished Jews to keep
the ordinances of the Law.
Then Jesus said
to the crowds and to his disciples: The teachers of the law and the Pharisees
sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. Matthew 23:1-3 NIV
What did Jesus
mean by fulfilling the Law and Prophets?
He said to them, This is what I told you while
I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in
the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. Then he opened their minds so
they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, This is what is written:
The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance
and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning
at Jerusalem. Luke 24:44-47 NIV
How He lived,
died and resurrected was what He meant by fulfilling the Law and prophets in
Matthew chapter five. This equally meant that before the death and resurrection
of Jesus he attained and was fulfilling the righteousness of the Law and Prophets
without partaking of the rituals embedded in the Law. This becomes clear when
we consider His words:
One of them, an
expert in the law, tested him with this question: Teacher, which is the
greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and
greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as
yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:35-40 NIV
The Law and the
prophets are summed up by love relationship with God and humans, not in
rituals. The Law and The Prophets was to massage the hearts of
Israel toward the divine God who chose them out of the nations of the earth and
it re-echoes God’s voice to Israel by giving timely counsel and warnings
critical in sustaining their relationships with YAHWEH and their fellow man.
Well said, teacher,
the man replied. You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other
but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with
all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself [RELATIONSHIP] is more
important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices [RITUALS]. Mark 12:32-33 NIV
Until Christians
think deeply and absorb this truth we shall keep chasing shadows in our walk of
faith. While the Pharisees and chief priests held on to their ritualistic
programmes, Jesus ignored the rituals and traditions and clung to relationships.
This is so important for us to grasp because Jesus began His first teaching by
enunciating on relationships. When Jesus in Matthew 5:20 said, “For I
tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the
teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven,” He
elevated the righteousness of relationships as superior and authentic above the
righteousness of rituals and doctrines.
So if when you
are offering your gift at the altar you there remember that your brother has
any [grievance] against you, Leave your gift at the altar and go. First make
peace with your brother, and then come back and present your gift. Matthew
5:23-24 Amplified
That is the
basis for New Testament theology. That we without the offering of a single
sacrifice or the keeping of a single commandment, yet by the love of God and
the sacrifice of His Son were brought into the righteousness of the
relationship of the Godhead. Abraham was declared righteous on the basis of God’s
invitation into a relationship and not when He erected altars. Therefore Relationship
is the fulfilment of all Laws and Prophecies of the Old Testament.
It is alarming
how modern day believers make conformity of doctrines and rites the basis for
association and relationships. This trend consciously or subconsciously emanates
from human ideology to grasp and practice the righteousness of God. But regrettably
it leads believers back to the gutters of the Pharisaic righteousness. These believers, in observing certain doctrines of consecration thought it necessary to axe
their relationships with people to remain pure. Therefore they either or both avoid visiting, fellowshipping or
eating with those who doesn’t conform to their doctrines and traditions
(parents included) just as the Pharisees and priests. Does it sound familiar? However Jesus kept His
relationships with His parents, siblings and even sinners and yet He was majestically
adorned with the name THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Jesus began His
earthly ministry with these words, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!
Repent by turning away from rituals and doctrines which has not fostered but
poisoned human relationships. The kingdom of heaven that was at hand then but
which now is, is a divine relationship with all the household of God. As a result,
we can now live peaceably loving even those who are yet to join in
(unbelievers) even our persecutors. At a time Jesus was the only one on earth
who walked in that divine fulfilment of relationship while others walked in the
ordinances which led to discrimination and the holier than thou syndrome.
Matthew chapter
five Jesus mentioned Brother four times, wife, enemies all in the context of strengthening
relationships with them. The chapter ended with Jesus demanding perfection in
our relationships as our Heavenly Father.
Grace is the
ability of God given to Christians that hitherto they have failed in their relationships
with God and man. By this supernatural gift now received, we can sustain and
strengthen all known relationships beyond human inadequacies. Our faith builds
relationships not destroy it. That is the gospel of Jesus! Strengthening your
relationships or severing them? Walking in the grace of Jesus Christ or the
righteousness of rites?
Do we then by [this] faith make the Law of no effect, overthrow it or make it a dead letter? Certainly not! On the contrary, we confirm and establish and uphold the Law. Romans 3:31 Amplified
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