The Law Turned Upside Down (Session 1)
A New Look at the Old Law
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. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-20
Episode Summary
What does Jesus mean when he says, “I did not come to abolish but to fulfill” the Law and the Prophets? In this session on the Sermon on the Mount, we begin exploring the Antitheses, the section where Jesus takes familiar teachings from the Law of Moses and declares, “You have heard it said… but I say to you.” Rather than rejecting Scripture, Jesus offers a deeper interpretation of the Law—one shaped by grace, reconciliation, justice, and the values of the Kingdom of God. His teaching challenges not Scripture itself, but interpretations that have been used to reinforce legalism, punishment, and systems of power.
This video examines how Jesus challenges the religious assumptions of his day and calls his followers to a righteousness that goes beyond outward rule-keeping. Through the lens of the Beatitudes, Jesus reorients biblical interpretation around the poor in spirit, those who mourn injustice, those who hunger for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers. The result is a vision of Scripture that is both more demanding and more gracious—a call to read the Law through the character and mission of Jesus and to embody its deeper purposes within the Kingdom community.
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