Matthew 5:17-20

Jesus addresses two dangerous approaches to Scripture in Matthew 5:17-20. The first group treats the Bible as outdated and picks which parts to follow, while the second group focuses on legalistic rule-keeping without heart transformation. Jesus came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it perfectly, showing us what love looks like in action. He emphasizes that every detail of Scripture matters and serves as a blueprint for fully alive, loving people. However, external compliance isn't enough - our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees through heart transformation, not better scorekeeping. The gospel-centered alternative puts Christ at the center, using Scripture to drive us to Jesus and create dependence on his perfect righteousness rather than our own performance.