Matthew 5 Footnotes

5:19 Some have seen in this verse not the voice of Jesus but a later reaction against the apostle Paul’s brand of Christianity. However, there is no reason why Jesus could not have said these words. Given what Jesus had said of his status with regard to the law, keeping and teaching the commandments must take on different force than strict adherence. The law is good and remains valid (Rm 3:31; 1Tm 1:8). Loving God and neighbor is a fulfillment of the law (Mt 7:12; 22:37-40; Rm 13:8-10; Gl 5:14; Jms 2:8).