Matthew 5:17-19

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Matthew 5:17-19
In the first sixteen verses of Jesus’ sermon He has described the character of a citizen of His kingdom. But the obvious question that would be in the mind of the multitudes would be, “What relationship will this new kingdom have to the Law and the Prophets?”Jesus states that He has not come to destroy but to fulfill. The two words are used on contrast to one another. “Destroy” means to “disintegrate, demolish, or overthrow.” Jesus did not come to change the law, to add to it, or to overthrow it. He came to fulfill it by accomplishing its goals. The old covenant was to prepare the way for Christ and was never intended to endure permanently (Gal. 3:24-25). The Hebrew letter tells us that the Law was a “shadow of good things to come” (Heb. 10:1), and was imperfect to bring about God’s ultimate purpose of forgiveness of sins (Heb. 8:6-7).

Verse 18 has confused many, but the statement is direct and to the point. The Law and the Prophets (representing the whole of the Old Testament) would not pass away until all is fulfilled. So sure is this statement that Jesus says that even heaven and earth could not pass away until the Law is fulfilled. Jesus later states in Luke 24:44, “that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” Jesus did fulfill all things and when He did the Law “passed away.” Jesus did not destroy the Law, but He did bring it to its intended completion. Paul elaborates on this in 2 Cor. 3:7-13.

Notice that Jesus states that even every “jot and tittle” (smallest marks in the Hebrew), were to be considered important in the Law. This shows that Jesus put His stamp of approval on the inspiration of the Hebrew Old Testament. We use the same Old Testament canon today as Jesus verified while on the earth. Therefore, anyone who would break (disregard) the least of these commandments would be least in the kingdom (without salvation). Jesus would not tolerate anyone disregarding any part of God’s law. That same principle holds true for the new covenant that came into effect at Jesus death (Heb. 9:16-17).
Berry Kercheville