Matthew 5:17
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Matthew 5:17
Jesus clarifies he did not come to abolish the law or the prophets but to fulfill them. This verse addresses misunderstandings about his mission. “Fulfill” carries the sense of bringing to completion, satisfying, or accomplishing what the Law and Prophets pointed toward—the redemptive purposes of God. In Jesus, the long arc of biblical history reaches its high point; he embodies, interprets, and completes the law’s moral demands. This sets up the subsequent teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, showing how Jesus deepens and expands righteousness, not by discarding the law, but by giving it its intended meaning and force through inner transformation and reliance on him.
Fulfillment affirms the harmonious continuity between Old Testament revelation and Jesus’ ministry. It anchors Christian ethics in Christ’s person and work, showing Jesus as the authoritative interpreter and definitive revelation of God’s will. It also reframes the law as a gracious invitation to life with God, now empowered by the Spirit for transformative living.
This invites believers to read Scripture with Christ-centered eyes, seeking the spirit and letter of the law in harmony. Practical steps: study how Jesus interprets moral commands (e.g., on anger, lust, retaliation) and apply not just outward obedience but heart-aligning transformation. It also invites humility in disagreements about how to apply Old Testament norms in modern contexts, recognizing Christ as the culminating authority. A concrete example: when confronted with a controversial moral issue, anchor your stance in Jesus’ teachings and seek to embody them with grace.
Cross-References:
- Luke 24:44
- Matthew 11:13
- Galatians 3:24-25
- Hebrews 8:6
- Romans 10:4