Not to abolish but to fulfill
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2019 16:00:12 +0000
JESUS said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”
Gospel • Mt 5:17-19
Jesus is accused of not keeping the Law or the Prophets, especially when he seems to break the Sabbath law. But Jesus makes it clear that he has come not to abolish but to fulfill. He wants people to understand and keep the genuine spirit of the Law. The Law and the Prophets intend to teach genuine righteousness, one that is anchored on love, on promoting the good of the person, and mirrors the holiness of the heavenly Father. It is a righteousness higher than that of the scribes and Pharisees.
How do you see Jesus’ actions in the Gospel? Has he no respect for God’s commandments or does he teach the right way to live them out?
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2019,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.