“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses thatof the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17&20
The high and holy view of scripture in the life of Christ was not merely proclaimed, but displayed throughout His life, ministry and death. The best way of discovering the real meaning and purpose of the Word of God is to see how it was used and responded to by Christ. While there is always the danger of Bibliolatry, or the worship of scripture to the same level as God or Christ, we must be willing to accept the standard and authority of scripture at the level that our Lord demands.
Scripture has a purpose in the Christian’s life that must be realized and received for a life know the full blessing of God. Those who would create a faith apart from Christ must do so by the creation of their own authority. Many an individual has an opinion about God and Christ based on their personal authority and not scripture or history.
Jesus made it clear that He was not separating Himself from the Revelation of God in Scriptures.Do not thinkis the strongest possible prohibition. It was unthinkable to suppose that he had come to set aside his own religious heritage. His teaching was due, not to heresy, but to a "deeper and fuller understanding of the Law."'
When He said, thatIcame,Heexpressed His connection to the eternal purpose of God revealed in history through the Word. Jesus' sense of mission showed that God had sent him into the world for a purpose.
Jesus did not intendTo destroyor to set aside the Law or relax its authority andsay it was no longer necessary to obeyit. He accepted the Law in principle and saw it as a valid expression of the character of God. His teaching was not in reality an attack on the Law, but an attack on the traditional interpretation of the Law. The elders had practically destroyed the Law by attempting to build a fence about it. Thus,Jesus had to warn his disciples against a misunderstanding of his teaching and practice at this point.
What did the Jesus teach about the Bible? According to these verses Jesus taught that He did not come to supplant the Scriptures or to oppose them. He came to fulfill them and to fulfill them precisely. Jesus saw the scriptures as carrying the context and course of all of history for humankind. The scriptures will be the standard upon which all of mankind will be judged. There is no higher authority.
For a person to ignore the direction and claims of the Word of God, he must declare that there is a higher authority that allows him to live apart from the scriptures. Jesus clearly displays that the Word of God is the final court in all matters of men and eternity.
What does this mean for us today? If the Word of God was so powerful in the life of Christ, just what can it do for us today?
Scripture to Claim:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. II Timothy 3:16-17
