Listen to the short passage of Scripture below, and then watch some related resources. As you meditate on this passage, think about this question: What is the story of the Torah and Prophets, and how does Jesus contribute to it?
The “Torah and Prophets” refers to the Hebrew Bible, which tells the story of God calling all of humanity to partner with him to rule the world with peace and justice.
Matthew 5:17-20
Jesus and the Torah
How might Jesus’ first audience have understood Jesus saying that he was going to fulfill the story of the Hebrew Bible?
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“Life is messy. In any given situation, how are we even supposed to know what it means to do right by everyone? That is the question. Remember, Jesus was an Israelite. And the people of Israel had a specific answer to that question that was simple and profound. To do right by God and people, you need to learn God’s wisdom. And how do you get God’s wisdom? Well, for Israelites, you find God’s wisdom by meditating on their Scriptures, called ‘the Torah and Prophets.’”
“The phrase ‘Torah and Prophets’ refers to Jesus’ Bible, the Hebrew Bible. These scriptures tell a story about God calling all of humanity to partner with him to rule the world in a way that brings peace and justice, and how he called one nation, Israel, to lead the way, with the hope that he will make the world new, uniting Heaven and Earth.”
Chapter from Sermon on the Mount E9
The Story Behind Matthew 5:17-20
“Jesus opens this central section with one of the more dense paragraphs in the whole sermon that is full of exegetical and interpretive puzzles at every turn. So I'm just going to let you read it. It's got a wonderful literary design. This is a four-part paragraph that's broken up in a logical chain. So how about you read each part, and then I'll ask you the question that prompts Jesus to say the next thing he says.”
The “Torah and Prophets” refers to ancient Israel’s sacred Scriptures, also known as the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. These Scriptures tell one, unified story about God calling all of humanity to partner with him to rule the world with peace and justice, and how he chose one nation, Israel, to lead the way. Jesus carries that story forward with a faithful crew of Israelites who will unite Heaven and Earth by living in right relationship with God and others.