I am a Jesus pusher!!! This is such a marvel! Jesus uses words like “The Law or the Prophets” (Matthew 5:17) and “the least of these commandments” (Matthew 5:19). He does not refer to the oral traditions, 613 in number. The Pharisees gauged their righteousness by these traditions. They took the pure Word of God and interpreted it to a lower standard, which they could accomplish. Jesus said, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). But everyone knows you can never match the laws of God. Who can fulfill all the requirements of the Mosaic Law? Even man-made traditions cannot be maintained consistently. The Jews expected a Messiah who would bring God’s standards down to a level they could manage. But Jesus came to raise the standard not lower it! He said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets, I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).
When Jesus fulfilled the Scriptures, He did not remove or eliminate them, but He elevated them to compete their intended purpose. This happens when the Living Word and the Written Word interact intimately in our lives. Jesus wants to merge with our inner nature and reveal Himself through His Written Word. He becomes the full Word of God in our lives! I am a Jesus pusher!!!