Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount clarifies the relationship between his ministry and the Hebrew scriptures, specifically regarding the law and the prophets. Fulfilling the law involves interpreting Torah correctly and embodying that interpretation through one’s life, or *halakhah*, rather than viewing it as a series of rules to be completed or abolished. This authority to interpret—known as *shmicha*—is validated by Jesus’ baptism and his life’s commitment to mercy and love. By framing his teachings through this lens, Jesus challenges his followers to read all scripture as a call to love God and neighbors. This approach rejects the notion that his ministry replaces the law, instead positioning his life as the definitive example of how to walk out the scriptures in their intended, original context.
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