Matthew 5:17

Friday, 22 November 2024

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. Matthew 5:17

“You, deem not that I came to disintegrate the law or the prophets. Not, I came to disintegrate but to fulfill” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told the disciples to radiate their good works in order to glorify their Father in heaven. Now, He brings up words that are so misquoted and misapplied within the church that entire cults have used them to justify the unjustifiable. He begins with, “You, deem not that I came to disintegrate the law or the prophets.”

First, Jesus’ words are to the people of Israel, to whom the law was given. No other people on the planet were given the Law of Moses. The law was not binding on any other people in the past, and it is not binding on any other people today. The context is Jesus, speaking under the law and to the people of Israel. Nobody else.

To remove this context is to form a pretext. It is unsound. Jesus is telling Israel that they should not perceive that His mission was to destroy the law or the prophets. That was not His mission, and nobody was to accuse Him of conducting His ministry otherwise. He was born under the law, and He had no design or intent to set aside Moses in His ministry.

But some may accuse Him of such, saying He was disobedient to Moses. No! He exclaims. That was not His mission at all. Because of these words, Judaizers, such as in Paul’s time, and a myriad of cults in our time, such as the Hebrew Roots movement, seize on His words and avow that everybody must adhere to the Law of Moses. He lived under it, and so we are obligated to it too.

From there, they will take the words of the coming verse and build upon their terrible theology with those words as well. For now, it is absolutely certain that Jesus did not come to disintegrate the Law and the Prophets. He has clearly avowed that. However, He doesn’t stop there. He next says, “Not, I came to disintegrate but to fulfill.”

You can’t stop with half a verse and expect your theology to be complete and proper. Jesus did not come to disintegrate the law. The law is binding on Israel as much today as it was when Moses gave it to them at the foot of Mount Sinai.

However, Jesus’ mission was to fulfill it for those who trust in Him, thus setting it aside and offering them His grace in place of it. And fulfill it, He did –

“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” John 19:30

Jesus fulfilled the law, finishing the task set before Him. Paul speaks of this as well –

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4

Paul is writing to both Jews and Gentiles, telling them that the law’s requirements are fulfilled in Christ and they are set aside in Christ. This is explained, explicitly, many times in the New Testament epistles –

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” Ephesians 2:14-16

Paul says the law is abolished through the cross for both Jews and Gentiles. He repeats this again in Colossians 2, using Christ’s physical body as a metaphor for the law –

“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13, 14

The author of Hebrews says that the law is annulled –

“For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” Hebrews 7:18, 19

The “former commandment” refers to the Law of Moses. The “better hope” is the fulfillment of the law by Jesus. He also says the law is abolished –

“In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:13

The words “ready to vanish away” refer to the time when Israel calls to the Lord, receiving the grace of Jesus Christ. At that time, they will no longer observe the law. He also says –

“Previously saying, ‘Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them’ (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’ He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:8-10

The sacrifices of the Old Covenant were ineffectual to bring man near to God. Jesus, not coming to disintegrate the law but fulfill it, did this in accord with the will of God. In His accomplishment of that, the law is “taken away,” and the New Covenant is introduced for all who will come to Him through faith, being sanctified once and forever by the precious blood (meaning the life) of Jesus Christ.

Life application: Context matters. Know your Bible through and through. Properly divide what is being said. Attempting to earn God’s favor through law observance is to set aside the grace of the cross – “Thanks God, I know you tried, but I will get this.”

It is a proverbial slap in God’s face, and you will find yourself condemned when you stand before Him at the Great White Throne. All that effort... for nothing. Come to Jesus and be saved, once and forever. All His effort... for all things!

Heavenly Father, help us not to think more of ourselves and our deeds than we should. Christ did it all. Now, may our lives being lived for Him be a pleasing and acceptable offering back to You for what You have done through Him. May we never set aside the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.