Sermon on the Mount
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He said nothing to unsettle the faith of the Jews in the religion and
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institutions of Moses. The same voice that declared the moral and
ceremonial law, which was the foundation of the whole Jewish system,
also uttered the words of instruction on the mount. It was because of
his great reverence for the law and the prophets that Jesus sought to
break through the wall of superstitious exactions that hemmed in the
Jews. He wished them not only to observe the law, but to develop the
principles of that law and the teachings of the prophets.
Jesus severely criticized the false interpretations which the Jews
had given to the law, yet he sufficiently guarded his disciples against
the danger of yielding up the vital truths given to the Hebrews. Jesus
came not to destroy their confidence in the instruction which he himself
had given them through Moses in the wilderness. But, while he taught
them due reverence for that law, he desired to lead them on to higher
truths and a greater knowledge, that they might advance into clearer
light.
As Jesus explained the duty of his disciples in the works of righ-
teousness, the Pharisees saw that the doctrines taught condemned their
course, and, in order to prejudice the people against the great Teacher,
whispered to one another that the lessons of Jesus were in opposition to
the law of Moses, in that he made no mention of that law. In this way
they designed to arouse the indignation of the people against Christ.
But Jesus, perceiving their intent, in the presence of the vast multitude,
and in a clear and distinct voice, declared, to the utter discomfiture of
his enemies, these words:—
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“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets;
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily, I say unto you,
Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass
from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Here Jesus refutes the charge of the
Pharisees. His mission to the world is to vindicate the claims of that
sacred law which they charge him with breaking. If the law of God
could have been changed or abolished, then Christ need not have come
to a fallen world to suffer the consequence of man’s transgression.
Jesus came to explain the relation of the law of God to man, and to
illustrate its precepts by his own example of obedience. He further
declares that, “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least
in the kingdom of Heaven.” Thus did the Saviour declare the validity