I am a Jesus pusher!!! The Formation of the Kingdom (Matthew 5:3-12) is to be lived out in the Function of the Kingdom (Matthew 5:13-16). What will this look like? What are the details of the action of such intimacy with Jesus? Jesus marched directly into the bulk of this chapter. He gave us “The Fulfillment of the Kingdom” (Matthew 5:17-48) highlighting it in every section of this chapter. He focused on attitude, which is a state of being. The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees focused on the external; Jesus focused on the internal. The fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets is to move each from the external action to the internal. Jesus intensified, heightened, or deepened the Law with this focus.
There appears to be basic principles expressed in all of the applications Jesus gave regarding the Law. The first one is “The Spirit of the Law.” The letter of the Law is content with doing the bear minimum. If the Law is to be internalized in the person, the spirit of man must participate. It is here we know what God really wanted by the Law. This was the consistent theme of the Old Testament prophets concerning this New Covenant. The laws of God were to be written on the inner tablet of our hearts (Jeremiah 31:31). Religion can be content with ceremonies and curbed behavior, but Christianity cannot! Christianity demands the reality of God’s presence in the human nature. The Spirit of the law is a Person. Merger between Jesus’ heart and mine must take place. I must know Jesus in intimacy! I am a Jesus pusher!!!