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Presence Weekly 9/8/26: The Righteousness of the Kingdom

 

Matthew 5:17-20: The Righteousness of the Kingdom

.17 “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. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:17–20

Setting Expectations

Picture a huge crowd of people gathered on the National Mall, filled with a mix of excitement and exhaustion, hope and despair, fascination and skepticism, listening to a once-in-a-generation speaker lay out their vision for the nation and the future. Now, add in that it is the middle of winter, the wind is blowing at 20 mph, it feels like 7 degrees, and they are standing in 8” of snow while listening.

We have all seen the clip of John F. Kennedy’s closing remarks in his inaugural address. The expectation for Kennedy and what he would do for the country were just as high as the expectations he was setting for the people listening when he said,

“In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.”

In effect, Kennedy was asking followers, seekers, and even skeptics to become agents of salt and light who seek the flourishing of their country and the whole earth. The new president was ready to lead and the people were eager to follow. Now imagine him saying, “But wait, I am just getting started. Let me make a few things clear. I have no plans to loosen the most rigorous or demanding expectations of citizenship. In fact, the standard is not the one you have been using. Not even the most revered elected or appointed officials are an acceptable measuring stick for proper citizenship.” That is probably the closest example of the state of the crowd when Jesus did not stop for applause after calling the disciples to salt and light, but turned abruptly into the next section of his message with this statement,

17 “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. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

When Jesus refers to the Law, he is referring to everything the slaves who had just been rescued out of Egypt received from Moses at Mt. Sinai in Exodus, including the 10 Commandments, were given and had eagerly agreed to obey.

7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” Exodus 24:7–8.

Shortly thereafter, however, the people began grumbling about wanting to go back to Egypt and then made and worshipped a Golden calf.

The Law also contains all the directions and rules for worship, including the building of the Tabernacle, the sacrificial system, and the economic laws of Leviticus 19. Despite their stubbornness and frequent wayward behavior, the people eventually managed to settle and even conquer the Promised Land under David. But that started falling apart under Solomon and ultimately escalated into splitting the kingdom in half, setting up places to worship false idols, and failing to “love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.” They also oppressed their neighbor. So, the God of steadfast love and faithfulness sent The Prophets.

Despite their calls to repentance and righteous living, both kingdoms fell, and the Southern kingdom ended up in exile in Babylon. When they returned seventy years later, it was to a now occupied Israel, which is the context into which Jesus delivered this message. This is what Jesus is referring to when he says, 17 “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.” Consider how that landed on his audience. They were still waiting for rescue and redemption. Still occupied. But now, the price of admission was going up.

Our draw to certain politicians reminds us that we, just like the people at Mt. Sinai, are often eager to embrace an inspiring call to mission even if much is expected. Yet, we, as a fallen, finite, fragile and fragged people are simultaneously looking for paths forward that require less, not more of us. We want citizenship but on our terms. In the end, we actually tend to be drawn towards candidates that tell us how they are going to make our lives easier. That is not the message of Jesus.

Only Jesus Fulfills

This is the seventh time Matthew has directly attached the word “fulfill” to Jesus and that is because it is, perhaps, the main theme that Matthew wants to focus on.

Fulfillment starts with the birth of Jesus.

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” Matt 1:22–23.

Fulfillment continues by connecting the deliverance of Jesus from Herod to the deliverance of Moses and Israel from Pharaoh. Both stories open the same way: a king orders the death of Hebrew boys, one child is preserved, and God brings his son out of Egypt.

14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” Matt 2:13–18.

The fulfillment motif includes the hometown of Jesus.

23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. Matt 2:23.

At his baptism, Matthew lets Jesus, himself, connect fulfillment to righteousness.

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. Matt 3:13–15.

Fulfillment is even brought to bear on where Jesus established his home base and began his ministry of proclamation.

12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matt 4:12–17.

Matthew, then, makes clear that the fulfillment mission of the incarnation of the Son of God is a central event in God’s grand narrative of redemption — a story which cannot be understood or appreciated without the Old Testament. Matthew does not suggest that anyone listening to Jesus understood that he was connecting his life to a forthcoming atoning sacrifice for sin. But connecting those dots is not needed at this point. What is needed is planting the question of what fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets entailed and setting Jesus apart from everyone up to and after that moment.

There is a clear difference between Jesus and all other servants and leaders in the public square — elected or appointed. None of them are capable of fulfilling all of our expectations or needs, let alone the Law and the Prophets. Only Jesus. This truth does three things. First, it ends any pretension by public square officials who think they are more than they are. Second, it ends the anguish of public square officials who are trying to live up to standards that are unrealistic. Third, it lowers every constituent’s expectations for servants and leaders in the public square and raises their expectations of Jesus.

The Upside Down Economy of the Kingdom of Heaven

Most importantly, Matthew is setting up a key theme of the Sermon on the Mount: connecting the life of righteousness, which is blessed or good life, to the kingdom of heaven. That kingdom, led by Jesus, has a surprising taxonomy.

First, the surest and quickest way to the bottom is through lessening the statements, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2) and, “4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Deut 6:4–5).

Second, Jesus desires and expects those who pursue the blessed life to do so through practicing and teaching the righteousness of the kingdom. This is exactly what Moses makes clear as he continued his rally sermon before the people entered the Promised Land,

6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deut 6:6–7.

And why Matthew concludes his narrative of Jesus with the statement,

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt 28:19–20.

Living as, and equipping, servants and leaders to live as agents of righteousness is the invitation Jesus is extending to the crowds. Those who embrace this call are greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

However, and here is the rub, Jesus informs the crowd that the Scribes and Pharisees, the very examples and guides they were told to follow, only serve as the standard that must be exceeded for entrance. That statement was probably most unsettling, and upsetting, to the Scribes and Pharisees themselves because their public image was central to their identity and ability to lead. That elevated standard would have raised a whole new series of questions about access to the kingdom of heaven for the Jews, and another series of questions for anyone familiar with Greek teaching on virtues, flourishing, and the good life.

[Application Questions]

  1. Name one servant or leader in the public square of whom you have expected something only Jesus can deliver. What would change in how you regard them, or work with them, if you stopped asking them to fulfill it?
  2. Jesus tells the crowd that the most rigorous, most admired religious people they knew are the standard their righteousness must exceed. If that is true, what were you counting on to make you acceptable in the kingdom of heaven and where does that leave you after this reflection?

[Faithful Prayer]

  • Cabinet Agency: The servants and leaders with the Department of Health and Human Services, and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as they convened the Live Real Life Symposium in Washington, D.C., bringing together leaders in technology, medicine, education, and advocacy to confront the harms of screen use in children, unveiling a new children’s book, The Magic Tablet, and free continuing education resources for clinicians and families.
  • Think Tank, Lobby group, NGO: The Ethics and Public Policy Center, as they continue their work as Washington, D.C.’s premier institute applying the Judeo-Christian moral tradition to critical questions of law, culture, and public policy, from life and family to religious liberty and constitutional governance.
  • Weekly delegation: The servants and leaders with the delegations of Alaska and Nebraska, as Senators Dan Sullivan, Deb Fischer, Jerry Moran, and Susan Collins saw their months of advocacy pay off this week, as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced a new deployment round making thousands of previously unserved rural locations, including over 5,000 in Alaska alone, newly eligible for federal broadband funding.
  • News events: For the servants and leaders along the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast, especially local emergency responders in Jefferson County, Port Arthur, and Beaumont, as they coordinate flood response and water rescues following Tropical Storm Edouard’s landfall near Johnson Bayou, Louisiana, which brought 90 mph wind gusts and torrential inland flooding to southeast Texas.
  • Personal requests:  For a couple who just found out they are expecting again, unexpectedly. For another couple who are progressing through a heightened risk pregnancy and another hope to conceive. For a senior agency staffer who received a nice promotion with increased responsibility. For a a senior diplomat traveling on government business. For someone looking forward to moving into a new, non-government, position. For someone pushing with all their might to get a major liece of legislation over the finish line.

[The Page, The Pod & The Stack]

  • READ this FIRST →  Mere Orthodoxy published Ronni Kurtz’s reflection on the purpose of theological study, arguing that theology is a means to the end of beholding God rather than an end in itself, and cautioning students and pastors against letting doctrinal mastery become its own reward.
  • LISTEN to this NEXT → On The Gospel Coalition’s Gospelbound podcast, Collin Hansen talks through why AI is already writing sermons, tracing the vision that guided AI’s pioneers and the pastoral pressures pushing more pastors toward the tool, without settling for either alarm or easy embrace.
  • STACK this FIRST → On his Substack Renewed Mind, Nick O’Brien wrote a meditation on why we read and write, tracing writing’s roots to God’s own act of self-revelation, from “Let there be light” to the Incarnate Word, and arguing that reading Scripture well means becoming, ourselves, a kind of writing: people who embody what we’ve read.
  • First Things’ Christopher Caldwell reported on Sunday’s Sachsen-Anhalt state election in Germany, tracing how Der Spiegel’s cover-story attack on AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund backfired, and what that says about the party’s continued rise.
  • Barna released new research finding that nearly all pastors worry AI could misread Scripture, with most wanting any AI tool to present the range of interpretations on a hard passage rather than settle on one.

[What’s Happening]

This Week:

Next Week:

  • Tuesday, September 15, 9:00am – 5:00pm – The Institute on Religion and Democracy’s In Defense of Christians program is hosting an in-person event, IDC Capitol Hill Advocacy Day 2026, inviting advocates and supporters to meet with congressional offices on behalf of persecuted Christian communities abroad.

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