Epistles to the Cyberchurch - Su Min

To: all
From: Su Min
Subject: I Have Come

Dear Friends, With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promises, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:8-9).

Today we hear the Word as Jesus teaches us in the next phase of His sermon on the mount. Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them (Matt 5:17)".

Many of the common people felt the burden of oppression from the weight of religious law, not as spelled out by the holy scriptures but as spelled out by the men who were given the responsibility of being guardians: the Pharisees and the scribes. Perhaps the common people expected Jesus as liberator to overthrow the law and the prophets. Jesus tells them otherwise. "I have come not to abolish them" Jesus says, "but to fulfil them."

Jesus, ever the Great Teacher, highlights the content of his message effectively by contrast. Not to abolish but to fulfil: Even as the scriptures tell us God is Love, Jesus came to be that love. Even as the scriptures predicted the coming Anointed One, Jesus came to be the Christ.

Jesus declares his mission clearly. He has come to fulfil the Law and the Prophets; Jesus declares his mission in a number of other carefully contrasting statements:

  1. The son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matt 20:28). I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to other towns also, that is why I was sent (Luke 4:43). I have come to bring fire on the earth and how I wish it were already kindled (Luke 12:49).
  2. The son of man came to seek and to save what was lost (Luke 19:10). God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:17). For judgement I have come into this world so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind (John 9:39). The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy: I have come that they may have life and have it to the full (John 10:10). I have come into the world as a light so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness (John 10:46). I did not come to judge the world but to save it (John 10:47). You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of the truth listens to me (John 18:37).
    (Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the very worst 1 Tim 1:15.)

Indeed the angel of the Lord had said: She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sin (Matt 1:21).

Jesus came to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many, to preach the good news of the kingdom of God, to bring fire on the earth, to seek and to save what was lost, to save the world, to testify to the truth, for judgement, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind, that they may have life and have it to the full, as a light so that no one who believes in Jesus should stay in darkness, not to judge the world but to save it.

Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. Assuredly, I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not a jot or a tittle will pass from the law till all is fulfilled (Matt 5:17-18)".

Jesus is using this hyperbole to express the value he places on the holy scriptures. Every word within The Word is vital. Every letter is critical. Even the Jot, which is the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet is crucial. Not one Jot of the scripture is to pass away before all is fulfilled. The tittle is even smaller than the smallest letter. The tittle is a little scribble placed above or below the body of a letter, changing it slightly. like a tale of a Q, without which it becomes an O. We may paraphrase "until heaven and earth disappear, not a smallest letter, not a tail of a Q will pass from the law till all is fulfilled"

Jesus goes on to teach "Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; whoever does them and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:19)". Here the injunction is clear: we are to Know the Word, Do the Word and Teach the Word.

Jesus closes this passage by saying, "For I tell you unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law, you certainly will not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:21).

Righteousness. Jesus wants us to be right with God, more so than the Pharisees and Scribes who studied the letter of the law but did not live with the spirit of the law. Is there a present day equivalent? The badge of "Holier than thou" still flashes around. There are pastors and church leaders who seemed more concerned about their own personal needs and own personal glory rather than needs of others and God's glory. But Jesus did not make this statement for us to condemn others. Let he who is without sin throw the first stone (John 8:7). No, Jesus wants us to examine our own righteousness, our own understanding of the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. He wants us to hear His Word and do it. He wants us to love His Word, study His Word, meditate upon His Word and Teach His Word.

Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. Assuredly, I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not a jot or a tittle will pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; whoever does them and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law, you certainly will not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:17-21).

And what does the Lord require of you?

Let us pray.

For any comments or enquiries please write to Dr. Lim Su Min


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