Matthew 5
November 29, 2022
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (v17)
Jesus fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies about the messiah:
That he’d come from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:8-12)
That he’d be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
That he’d be crucified for the forgiveness of our sins (Isaiah 53)
And dozens of other specific prophecies
But more than just fulfilling specific prophecies, Jesus came to fulfill the heart of what God promised throughout the entire Old Testament: to redeem His people, restore them back to relationship with Himself, and remake them into His image.
Lord Jesus, thank You for leaving Heaven to come to Earth to rescue us. As I read the Old Testament through the lens of Your life, death and resurrection, I can see this was always the plan. Amazing grace - that You would endure poverty, rejection and even the cross to fulfill the plan of salvation. If You were willing to endure all of that to bring about my redemption, it fills me with hope that You’ll also bring about my final restoration, when one day I will get to dwell with You again in a new body on a New Earth!
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
