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by Sandy Shaw
In Matthew Chapter 5 we have these words of Jesus concerning the law and the prophets and his high regard for these writings. In the Old Testament, God is speaking and saying something specific. Often we have these words, “Thus says the Lord”. Almighty God is speaking – therefore, we should pay attention. Jesus Christ comes to fulfil everything that the prophets said Messiah would fulfil.
God speaks so clearly to Moses – commanding him – and one of the things God is doing as He delivers the Israelis from slavery in Egypt is reminding them they are His treasured possession. God regards these Hebrews as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. They were to be different from every other nation. We read all of that in Exodus 19. We are called in Christ Jesus to become the people of God and to serve Him wherever He places us.
A question arose later on about which is the greatest commandment – Matthew Chapter 22 verse 34f – and Jesus replies, “Love the Lord Your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and love your neighbour as yourself.” Serving Jesus comes from the heart – from within.
The God of the Old Testament and the God and Father of our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ, is the same one God. Many people have great difficulty with this. This passage is fundamental with regard to the rest of the Sermon on the Mount. What is Jesus’ relationship going to be with all that has gone before – to the old order? He has been regarded by the Pharisees as some kind of maverick rogue or wandering rabbi. Jesus looks like a new broom. Is he going to sweep everything clean? Is going to sweep everything away?
Verse 17. “I have come”. Jesus had a sense of His mission from the very beginning. Jesus knew what he came to do. Jesus knew why he had come into this troubled world. Are we going to just bin the past? No – I have come to fulfil and accomplish and complete that which has been prophesied.
The prophets continually speak of what is to come, and in Jesus Christ many of these prophetic words were fulfilled. They also spoke about what would happen if the people continued to live in disobedience and rebellion, and we read of some of the consequences of that in Daniel.
When the risen Jesus is walking with these two disciples on the Emmaus Road on resurrection afternoon, he says – How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken – Moses and all the prophets.
When we come to such passages it is not a matter of “Is it true?” – but – “What does it mean?” and “How am I to behave?” – without being legalistic. Not only is it inspired, but it is inspiring.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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