Knowing The Word in Matthew 5:17-20

Christ Came to Fulfill the Law

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish [which Jesus’ accusers probably said] the Law or the Prophets [the whole of the OT]; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. [Stated in the positive, to fulfill means (a) to accomplish and obey, (b) to bring out the full meaning, and/or (c) to complete by bringing out the full meaning to its destined end. The latter is the most likely meaning. All along Matthew has been quoting the Prophets saying that what they said has been fulfilled in Jesus. “Jesus is bringing that to which the Old Testament looked forward. His teaching will transcend the Old Testament revelation, but, far from abolishing it, is itself its intended culmination.] 18 For truly, I say to you [a unique saying of Jesus found 31 times in Matthew and 25 in John], until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota [the smallest Hebrew letter, called yod], not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. [The law remains valid until it reaches its intended culmination, which it is doing in the ministry and teaching of Jesus.] 19 Therefore whoever relaxes 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 does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [Disrespect for the Old Testament makes a poor Christian.] 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

[We could reword verses 17 through 20 as follows: “I have not come to set aside the Old Testament, but to bring the fulfillment to which it pointed. For no part of it can ever be set aside, but all must be fulfilled (as it is now being fulfilled in my ministry and teaching). So a Christian who repudiates any part of the Old Testament is an inferior Christian; the consistent Christian will be guided by the Old Testament, and will teach others accordingly. But a truly Christian attitude is not the legalism of the scribes and Pharisees, but a deeper commitment to do the will of God, as what I say next will illustrate.”