Image Description from historic lecture booklet: “About ten miles northwest of the Sea of Galilee on a very high hill (2,749 feet) of the ancient province of Galilee, is situated the city of Safed, which is thought by some to be the city referred to by Jesus in His sermon on the mount (Matt 5:14).
You remember the words of our Lord to his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount? “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” He may have pointed to this very hill and this very city, now known as Safed, in northern Galilee. Although no place having this location is named in the Bible, it is probable that in Christ’s day, a city was standing on this hill, for in the New Testament period, this land was densely populated. Safed stands as a landmark, seen in every direction, and well illustrated the words of Jesus regarding the prominence of his disciples in the world.” by Visual Instruction Department Lantern Slides
Well, I bet you were wondering where your friendly brown bear has been lately. Well, yesterday was MEG day for Daniel and today we are in the hospital for his in-hospital EEG stay. So we are settled and praying, praying, praying for peace. Trust. Hope. Confidence. The blood guy just came in..and Daniel just stuck out his arm. What a trooper. 
So we hold onto our Savior. I’m pumping Pandora worship music through our room. Daniel’s on the Ipad that Child Life gave us to borrow. Playing games. And I think I have some time to work on my Bible. I need some time to focus on my God.
Let’s get back into the Sermon. 🙂 Now, don’t run away when I say the next word. Law. You still there? GOOD! HI! So, let’s go through Matthew 5 and pick up all we can about the Law that Jesus teaches…Ready? I promise..it’s worth it.
17 Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until the sky and earth pass away and perish, not one smallest letter nor one little hook [identifying certain Hebrew letters] will pass from the Law until all things [it foreshadows] are accomplished.
God did not bring Jesus to wipe away the Law. Now, I find this so fascinating. Think about this. Not to undo the Law or Prophets but to complete and fulfill..now what is ( I wish you could see my hands I’m modelling my excitement!) so transformational about this word here: the root of this word(plērēs )means to be filled up like a hollow vessel, not lacking anything, perfect. Jesus was the completion of story. Every piece though has to be placed. So this next verse is also critical to our understanding: stay with me here! The sky and earth are passing away before the Law is going away. Really? How? Getting a bit ahead of myself… first lets figure out some of the issues Jesus points to in these verses: Murder…
21 You have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court.
Adultery…
27 You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.
Divorce…
31 It has also been said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.
Oath…
33 Again, you have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not swear falsely, but you shall perform your oaths to the Lord [as a religious duty].
Ethics…
38 You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
The Law is much more than this and it is much more than just the 10 commandments found in Exodus 20, but there is such a jewel found in this passage, take some time with me, pause and look. So after the 10 commandments were presented, then…
18 Now all the people perceived the thunderings and the lightnings and the noise of the trumpet and the smoking mountain, and as [they] looked they trembled with fear and fell back and stood afar off.
19 And they said to Moses, You speak to us and we will listen, but let not God speak to us, lest we die.
20 And Moses said to the people, Fear not; for God has come to prove you, so that the [reverential] fear of Him may be before you, that you may not sin.
God had, my friends, instilled them with a holy, reverential fear. Here are the beautiful words…
hayah -to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time), to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality), to accompany, be with
paniym–face presence, person
Oh, friends, God wanted, wanted to abide and remain with them. His face ever before them. A reverential fear to help them not to sin.
We could learn so much from a reverential fear of God. We could glean so much from remembering His holiness. What brings Holy God ever into communion with us? It started here, with the blood.
3 Moses came and told the people all that the Lord had said and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, All that the Lord has spoken we will do.
4 Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. He rose up early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve pillars representing Israel’s twelve tribes.
5 And he sent young Israelite men, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord.
6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he dashed against the altar.
7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people; and they said, All that the Lord has said we will do, and we will be obedient.
8 And Moses took the [remaining half of the] blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.
The blood gave the people access to Holy God. Hopefully, the blood flashes lights in your brain. In my next post, we’ll talk more about what the Law could and could not do…:)
Well, this post has been interrupted more times than I can count. Pray on. Pray on.
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