Wednesday in the Third Week of Lent, March 15, 2023

Matthew 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the Law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.”  The Lord addresses a concern that his disciples may have heard from his critics, that he wants to “abolish” (the Greek word means “to overthrow” or “break up”) the Law and the Prophets.  This rather extreme accusation apparently comes from Pharisees alarmed at his correction of their interpretation of the laws regarding the Sabbath.  Their thickheadedness prevents them from seeing that any understanding of the Law and the Prophets that differs from theirs not only is wrong but poses a threat to Judaism itself.  Indeed, the Lord offers them the chance to debate with him on his treatment of those matters of the Law that perturb them the most, but when they hear what he teaches, they do not engage with him but turn inwards to plot his murder.

“I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”  Far from overthrowing the Law and the Prophets, he has come to “fulfill” or “complete” them.  We might think of him finishing sentences in the Law: “You shall love the Lord your God this day”, which he finishes with, “and every day of your life.”  In the Sermon on the Mount, from which the present Gospel Reading is taken, the Law says, “You shall not commit adultery”, and the Lord completes this sentence with, “whether physical or mental”.  He fulfills the Prophets through carrying out those deeds which they foresaw through divine inspiration.  “Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the Law until all things take place.”  The Lord speaks of the passing away of heaven and earth, the fulfillment of Isaiah 65, 17: “For behold I create new heavens, and a new earth: and the former things shall not be in remembrance, and they shall not come upon the heart.”  This passing away and the creation of a new heaven and earth meant for the Jews an eternal Sabbath after the great judgment.  The coming of the Messiah would usher this in.  The Lord is saying that the Law and the Prophets shall bind until the end of time.  Not even the smallest particle of a Hebrew letter would change.  Not that portions of the Law would not be superseded or even rendered mute by the change of circumstances, such as the destruction of the Temple and the loss of the Ark of the Covenant meaning the suspension of animal sacrifices.  But the moral Law would always remain.  

“Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.”  This applies today particularly to bishops, priests, and consecrated religious who put forward their own agendas in place of the commandments given to the Church by the Lord Jesus.  These false teachers who lead the faithful astray are worse, though kin, to the Pharisees, for the false teachers of today have the whole revelation, taught infallibly by the Church, easily accessible to them and yet they reject it.  “Least in the Kingdom of heaven” in fact means condemnation in hell.  On the last day, the Lord says that he will say to them: “Depart from me, you that work iniquity” (Matthew 7, 23).

“But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”  Of these the Lord also says, “Therefore every scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like to a man who is a householder who brings forth out of his treasure new things and old” (Matthew 13, 52).  That is, he brings them out and gives them to those who need them.  It is very valuable for us to study the teachings of the Faith and make ourselves masters in the knowledge of the doctrine which has been handed down to us, marvelously protected and explained by the Holy Church.  In this way we fortify our faith, delight our souls, and prepare to teach others.