“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat 5:17-20)
“Do not think” are the first words used here, and Jesus goes on saying “I tell you the truth”! But even though Jesus used crystal clear and very strong words, most Churches now teach the complete opposite; because Jesus fulfilled the law of Moses, they believe we no longer have to keep them.
One of the first problems with this is the sole focus on the fulfilling of the law. While Jesus is not only talking here about the Law but also about the Prophets! He came not to abolish them but to fulfill (plēroō – fully preach) them. “Them”; refers to both the Law and the Prophets.
The word ‘fulfill’ here gets translated by the church as ‘end’ or ‘finish’. like when you finish a cup of coffee there is no longer a need for drinking it, but this would not contrast abolish, which is the clear objective within the context. It would be good to get a better understanding of what is meant here by the word ‘fulfill’.
Fulfill
When looking at the root meaning of the word fulfill we see that the Greek word plēroō is being used.
πληρόω | plēroō |play-ro’-o
Thayer Definition:
1) to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full
2) to render full, i.e. to completeStrong:
From G4134; to make replete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.: – accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.
The word plēroō can mean ‘end’, ‘expire’ or finish, but let’s look at the context and try to use those word within the verse:
- I have not come to abolish them but to end them
- I have not come to abolish them but to expire them
- I have not come to abolish them but to finish them
None of them makes sense because the context tries to point out an opposite (do not think) to ‘abolish’, and ‘end’, ‘expire’ or ‘finish are not opposites of ‘abolish’, they pretty much have similar meanings. A much better fit is ‘fully preach’ or ‘perfect’.
- I have not come to abolish them but to fully preach them
- I have not come to abolish them but to perfect them
We find a similar use for this word in Rom 15:19:
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached (plēroō) the gospel of Christ. (Rom 15:19)
One of the prophecies about the Messiah is that he will magnify the law and make it honorable again which fits with “fully preach” or “perfect” them:
“The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable” (Isaiah 42:21 KJV).
So, we can see within the context that ‘fulfill, in regards to the law, does not refer to ‘end’ or ‘finish’ the law, but more to ‘fully preach’. Jesus, by fully preaching the Law, was a perfect example to us so we understand how to keep it, and do as Jesus did. It is also clear that Jesus disciples had the same understanding because all of them kept all the laws after Jesus went to the Father, even the smallest of the laws, as Jesus instructed us in this passage. See also my article “Are we disciples of Christ or of the church fathers“.
The Prophets
As mentioned already, Jesus is not only referring to the law he also talks about fulfilling the prophesies made by the Prophets. As part of the Lord’s prayer we still pray “your kingdom come” and many prophesies have still not come to pass:
- His Kingdom has not yet come!
- Also, Jesus did not yet return.
- We are still expecting The day of the Lord.
- Armageddon has not happened.
- Heaven and Earth are still here and therefore we have no new heaven, new earth or a New Jerusalem.
The context is pretty clear that “until everything is accomplished” includes all prophecies!
It is very interesting Jesus mentioned that heaven and earth have to disappear before one letter of the law does:
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything (both Law and Prophesies) is accomplished. (Mat 5:18)
This happens to be one of the last prophesies that will take place (see Revelations 21) followed by the creation of a New Heaven, New Earth and the coming down of the New Jerusalem. Only after this “all is accomplished”! We read this in Rev 21:1-6:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. (Rev 21:1-6)
It just lines up perfectly! With this, the last Prophesy gets fulfilled and it matches exactly what Jesus said (see also Isaiah 65:17-19)
To take away any confusion, we read the same in Luke 16:17:
It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law. (Luk 16:17)
I don’t think the Bible can get any clearer than this, Jesus even instructs us not to break even the least of the commandments in verse 19:
Mat 5:19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Not many know this but there is a very interesting reason why Jesus refers to “heaven and earth” with regards to the Law. We find the reason for this in Deuteronomy 30:19
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live (Deu 30:19)
God calls on heaven and earth to be a witness to make sure His people are keeping His commandments! As long as we have this heaven and this earth they will be God’s witness of us keeping God’s commandments.
The Spirit of the Law
As we already saw the word fulfill refers to ‘fully preach the law’ or ‘perfect the law’, even though God’s word states that His Laws are already perfect (see Psalm 19:7), the Jews’s understanding of the Law was far from perfect! As Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah will Magnify the Law and make it Honourable again, Jesus is doing exactly that in verses 21 to 48. These verses are in reference to verse 20:
Mat 5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
All the topics in verses 21 to 48 start with the words “You have heard that it was said” which clearly refers to the understanding the Jews had about the law at that time. Noticed that Jesus does not say “For it is written” as He did when He was referring to actual Scripture. We find 3 examples of this in Mathew 4:
Mat 4:4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
Mat 4:7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'”
Mat 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'”
He is referring, in Mathew 5 verses 21 to 48, to the teaching known to them in those days and not to scripture itself! This is important to note because Jesus had to keep the Law perfectly to be a perfect sacrifice. By adding new commandments He would be breaking the Law (Deu 4:2, Deu 12:32). All that He is referring to in these verses can be traced back to the Old Testament.
One good example is the last one about “Love your enemies”
Mat 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
Nowhere are we commanded to hate our enemies in the Bible, you will not find it anywhere! Quite the opposite when you check the Old Testament you find several passages that tell us to help our enemies when they are in need.
“If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall surely release it with him,” (Exodus 23:4-5).
and
“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,” (Proverbs 25:21).
Jesus is saying that for us to exceed the Pharisees we have to apply the spirit of the Law and not only the letter. Mathew 5 verses 21 – 48 are highlighting the spirit of the law as it was always intended! Jesus is not adding to the Law. And to use Jesus’ words: “Do not think” he came to subtract anything from the Law. Jesus Magnified the Law and made it Honourable again!
The Berean Test
As the Bereans did, we have to test that what we believe is in agreement with the rest of scripture, which was for them the Old Testament (see Acts 17 verse 11).
So, what position does the Old Testament support:
- The Law of Moses has been fulfilled and therefore no longer applies to us.
- The Law of Moses has been fulfilled (Fully preached) and still applies to us today.
When checking what the old testament says with regards to these positions, we can find countless verses throughout the Old Testament stating “throughout their generations” or “Forever” in relation to the Law. Just some of the examples:
Exo 31:16-17 Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'”
Exo 31:13 “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you.
Exo 12:14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
Exo 12:17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
Exo 12:24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
Lev 16:29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:
Lev 16:31 It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.
Lev 23:21 And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
Lev 23:31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
2 Chronicles 2:4 Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
Psa 119:44 I will keep your law continually, forever and ever,
Psa 119:159-160 See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your love. All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
Deu 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
Deu 11:1 Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, always.
Lev 10:15 The heave shoulder and the wave breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before the LORD; and it shall be thine, and thy sons’ with thee, by a statute for ever; as the LORD hath commanded.
On the other hand, when looking for any verses supporting the position “that after the Messiah comes, the laws of Moses no longer apply”, we find:
Nothing, not one verse!
If the law of Moses would end and be replaced with a new law then we must be able to find it in one of the prophesies, as is stated in Amos 3:7:
Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)
Again, we have 2 positions:
- The Law of Moses has been fulfilled and therefore no longer applies to us
- The Law of Moses has been fulfilled (Fully preached) and still applies to us today
Old Testament confirms position 2 and not position 1, that the Laws remain in place for us today.
Misconceptions within the Church today
Some may say “What about the New Covenant? The Old Testament speaks about the New Covenant, with the New Covenant comes a new law or not?”
When you read Jer 31:31-34, Eze 36:26 and Heb 8:1-13 you will find that what is new in the New Covenant is not the Law, the Law (tôrâh H8451 as mentioned in the verse) is the same.
In the New Covenant God will remove the heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh, then He writes the law (tôrâh) on their hearts and minds and He will give us His Spirit that will help us to keep the Law instead of breaking it.
There is a big misconception in Churches teaching that with the New Covenant comes a new law. The idea of a new Law being introduced with the New Covenant has no Biblical foundation! The once making the argument will show a few verses from Paul and make a beautiful picture of a Cross with on the Left the text ‘Old Covenant’ plus the text ‘The Law’ and on the right, you have the text ‘New Covenant’ and the word ‘Grace’.
But you will never see a Pastor go over the scriptures directly related to the New Covenant line by line! I had totally no clue what the New Covenant was about except for what I was taught by church doctrine. How many Christians today have studied this topic for themselves?
Read for yourself Jer 31:31-40, Eze 36:22-38 and Heb 8:1-13 (quoting Jer 31:31), and ask yourself the next 3 questions:
- What was wrong with the Old Covenant?
- What is new in the New Covenant?
- And with who will the New Covenant be made?
The last one will shock you because God does not make it with the Gentiles!
This will bring us to another big misconception in Churches today with regard to this subject. Many will say but the Old Testament is for the Jews and the New Testament is for the Gentiles. See all the verses quoted in the Barean test, it clearly mentions Israel all the time, for example:
Exo 31:16-17 Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'”
One of the things I learned is that there is a big difference when the Bible talks about the people of Israel and the Jews. Jews are descendants from the House of Judah, the other house is the House of Israel. Not many Christian realize that the people of Israel got split up into 2 kingdoms, the Northern Kingdom which was the House of Israel (10 tribes), and the Southern Kingdom which was the House of Judah (the tribe of Judah and Benjamin + some of the tribe of Levi).
Both got exiled for their disobedience to God’s Laws, first, the House of Israel was taken captive and exiled by the Assyrian, later on, the House of Judah got exiled to Babylon by the Babylonians. Only the House of Judah returned to the land of Israel but the House of Israel never did! So, when we talk about Jews we basically refer to the House of Judah only. During Jesus’ time, Israel was only made up of the House of Judah.
Why I am mentioning all this? Because it is of key importance for us to understand that the key objective of God is to unite back the 2 houses, both the House of Israel and the House of Judea into a New Kingdom with one people, the people of Israel, and not to create a new church! This is why we read the next verses in the New Testament.
Mat 15:23-24 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” (24) He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
Luk 4:43 But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”
Mat 6:9-10 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. (10) Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Act 1:6-7 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (7) He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
Act 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
Act 26:6-7 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. (7) This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. O king, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me.
We find also confirmation of this in the Old Testament:
Jer 31:10 “Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’
Jer 3:18 In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers for a heritage.
Psa 106:45-48 For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love. (46) He caused them to be pitied by all those who held them captive. (47) Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. (48) Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the LORD!
Mic 2:12 I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob; I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men.
Eze 37:22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.
…
Eze 37:24 ” ‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees.Isa 27:12 In that day the LORD will thresh from the flowing Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you, O Israelites, will be gathered up one by one.
Isa 56:6-8 “And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant– (7) these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” (8) The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.”
Hos 1:11 And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head. And they shall go up from the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
As you will read in the scriptures regarding the New Covenant and notice from these verses, the New Covenant is only with the House of Judah and the House of Israel. The only way for us Gentiles to be part of this New Kingdom of Israel and the New Covenant is by being crafted into the New Kingdom as Paul mentions in Rom 11:11-24. We do not read about 2 Olive trees but one and the ‘wild olive shoots’ (Gentiles) get grafted into that one tree. Right after this scripture, Paul writes:
Rom 11:25-27 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. (26) And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. (27) And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.“
The whole idea of the Old Covenant is for the Jews and the New Covenant is for the Gentiles has no Biblical foundation. We are all part of one body, part of one tree, and are all children of Abraham through our Faith in Christ. There are no 2 trees and 2 bodies and 2 different laws, one for the Jews and another for the Gentiles.
1Co 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free–and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
We read in Rom 2:23-29 that the Jews brag about the law that they did not keep while the Gentiles are actually keeping that same law, not 2 laws but one and the same law for all! Paul also states here that “A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code”:
Rom 2:23-29 You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? (24) As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (25) Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. (26) If those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? (27) The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. (28) A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. (29) No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God.
He also says:
Gal 3:26-29 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, (27) for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (29) If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
By your circumcision of the heart you become sons of Abraham and sons of God, and by this become part of Israel and God’s covenant with the House of Judah and the House of Israel, God’s New Kingdom!
In Conclusion
Jesus used very strong words to make it very clear that He is not going to end the Law, He furthermore makes it very simple for us to understand what He is saying, by referring in 2 separate occasions within Scripture, that not one letter of the Law will pass as long as we have this Heaven and Earth.
So, if you wake up and you notice that the earth is still here then remember what Jesus said:
It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law. (Luk 16:17)
May God Bless you and don’t forget to test everything!