Matthew 5:20 (AMP) 20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness (uprightness, moral essence) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

The Old Testament includes 3 categories of law: ceremonial, civil, and moral.

1. The “ceremonial law” related specifically to Israel’s worship (see Leviticus 1:2-3). Its primary purpose was to point forward to Jesus Christ; these laws, therefore, were no longer necessary after Jesus’ death and resurrection. While we need not follow all these ceremonial laws, the principles behind them— to worship and love a holy God—still apply. The Pharisees often accused Jesus of violating ceremonial law.
   
2. The “civil law” applied to daily living in Israel (see Deuteronomy 24:10-11). Because modern society and culture differ so radically from that time and setting, we need not keep all these guidelines specifically. However, the principles behind the commands are timeless and should guide our conduct. Jesus demonstrated these principles by example.
   
3. The “moral law” (such as the Ten Commandments) is the direct command of God; thus, it requires strict obedience (see Exodus 20:13). The moral law reveals the nature and will of God, and it still applies today. Jesus obeyed the moral law completely and expects his followers to do the same.
   

What was the purpose of the Law:

• Galatians 3:24 “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (NKJV).
  
• The Pharisees were content to obey the laws outwardly without humbly looking to God to change their hearts/attitudes.
  
• Not only did Jesus expect them keep all the commandments perfectly, but he also expected them to be more righteous than the scribes and Pharisees! (An almost impossible task.)
  
• How many laws: Maybe 613 or more.
  
• Jesus was speaking about the attitude of the heart, the righteousness found on the inside when God works in a person.
  
• The purpose of the law was not to show what to do to make oneself acceptable, much less to show how good one already is, but to show how utterly sinful and helpless all men are in themselves.
  

Sermon Summary

Main Theme:
The Sermon on the Mount teaches us to have a loving relationship with God rather than just a legalistic one, and to reflect God’s light to others.

Key Points:

1. We are called to be salt and light in the world, preserving goodness and reflecting God’s light to others.
2. The law was meant to be our tutor to bring us to Christ, not to create a legalistic relationship with God.
3. Our relationship with God is measured more by our human relationships than by religious rituals. We should prioritize reconciliation with others.
4. We need to be careful about distinguishing between actual scripture and common sayings or traditions that are not in the Bible.
5. Reading the Sermon on the Mount should humble us and make us grateful for God’s undeserved grace and salvation.

Conclusion:
Pastor Will encourages us to strive to be better both outwardly and inwardly, controlling anger and cultivating the attitudes described in the Beatitudes. He emphasizes gratitude for salvation and the importance of reflecting God’s love to others.