Gospel of Matthew: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets."

“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."

Matthew, 5:17-18

Maybe I've always loved this explanation from Jesus because I like to think of the people saying, "Now we can live a new way. No more of the 10 commandments!" Every time I see something that reminds me people acted just the way we do today, it makes me smile.

I've also got a real love of the Old Testament and I hate it when people say that the Old Testament God was mean while New Testament Jesus is nice and loving. I hear this a surprising amount, many times from a particular priest during homilies which finally led to a conversation afterwards.

Because Old Testament or New — God is the same. Three persons but one God and one essence. Also, that means that people haven't been reading their Old Testament very well. Yes, there are a lot of examples of the way ancient people settled things which doesn't match our ideas of justice or mercy very well. But all through out, God is saying the same thing over and over.

That is part of why Jesus follows the Beatitudes, which are so revolutionary sounding, with the reminder above. He's connecting the weight and meaning of his lawgiving ("I say to you...") with what came before.

Below are a few examples of Old Testament mercy that might sound familiar. There are many more examples, but these will give you a sample.

Moses and the Ten Commandments
±1600 - ±1624, Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht, Netherlands

• Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your own people. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. — Leviticus 19:18
• But the poor will inherit the earth, will delight in great prosperity. — Psalm 37:11
• If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat, if thirsty, give something to drink; For live coals you will heap on their heads, and the LORD will vindicate you. — Proverbs 25: 21-22
• It is good for a person, when young, to bear the yoke, To sit alone and in silence, when its weight lies heavy, To put one’s mouth in the dust—there may yet be hope—To offer one’s cheek to be struck, to be filled with disgrace. — Lamentations 3:27-31

Bible verses are from The New American Bible, Revised Edition. This series first ran in 2008. I'm refreshing it as I go.