“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (KJV, Matt. 5:17-18).
“Think not”
Matthew’s words start with a clear command that must be broken down into various parts. The command begins with the words, “Think not.” The Bible has much to say about how Christians ought to think.
As a result, the Christians must take the implications of both good and bad thinking seriously. In the book of Romans chapter 12:2, Paul tells us that a person is transformed by the renewing of his mind. The Greek word metamorphoo is translated as “transformed” in Romans 12:2, which is where we get our English word metamorphosis.
The Gospels authors use the same Greek word when the Bible tells us of Jesus’ transfiguration. When Jesus was transfigured, His outward appearance changed. Here we see that the transformation spoken of is external, as it is in Romans 12.
It will show forth in a transformed life when someone starts to think differently. Thus, the thinking of a man is vitally important as it will determine the course of his life.
Other Scriptures attest to this reality. For example, the Bible tells us that a man is as he thinks in his heart. Elsewhere we can read that as water reflects a man’s face, so the heart does as well. Thus, Jesus was highly concerned with his listeners’ thinking.
“that I am come”
Here we move into the second part of Jesus’ command. Jesus started with the mind and then moved to His coming to the earth. Therefore, we can see that Jesus was concerned with people thinking correctly about why He came to the earth.
The Bible tells us many reasons why Jesus came to live among sinful men. However, in the text, we will see one specific reason that Jesus displays positively and negatively.
This Christmas, the Christian should rejoice in the birth of Christ. However, the Christian must go deeper than simply knowing Jesus came to the earth. The Christian must ask himself, “Why did Jesus come to the earth?” When someone begins to think this way, he will find that the Spirit of God will develop his understanding of Scripture in new and exciting ways.
“to destroy the law or the prophets”
Jesus tells us He did not come “to destroy the law or the prophets.” But what does He mean by making such a statement? First, it is essential to note what the term “law or the prophets” means. The law or the prophets referred to the entirety of the Old Testament.
We can see Jesus use the reference to the law and the prophets again when He tells us of the golden rule in Matthew 7:12. Jesus tells us that a person should do unto others as he would have them do unto himself. Jesus ends by notifying us that His “Do unto others teaching” summarizes the teaching in the law and the prophets.
In Matthew 11:13, Jesus espouses the ministry of John the Baptist. Jesus tells us, “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John” (Matt. 11:13) . Another reference to the law and the prophets can be seen in Matthew 22:40. Here Jesus tells us, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matt. 22:40) . Matthew’s use of the term “law and the prophets” is not coincidental.
Matthew is the first book of the New Testament because it is filled with links to the Old Testament. Matthew uses many prophecies to form a bridge from the New Testament to the writings of the Old Testament. Another way Matthew builds a bridge is by highlighting the law and the prophets and what Jesus has to say about the law and the prophets.
But we see that Jesus did not come to earth to destroy the law or the prophets. The word translated as destroy is the Greek word kataluo, which carries different meanings such as to demolish, overthrow, loosen down, or come to naught.
Simply put, Jesus did not come to start something new, and He did not come to do away with the old.
“I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil”
But here, we begin to see the positive aspect of Jesus’ coming. The Bible tells us that Jesus did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill the law. This startling truth is essential in bringing about salvation. God does not save people apart from the fulfillment of the law.
The law can be broken down into its moral, ceremonial, and judicial obligations. In the person and work of Christ, we can see that the moral law was fulfilled through Christ, keeping the law perfectly throughout His life. Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial law in a prophetic sense by being the ultimate fulfillment of all the ceremonial elements. For instance, the ceremonial law required sacrifices for sin. Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of the sacrificial system. Again, The ceremonial law required cleansing to approach God. Jesus is the One Who cleanses the Christian. Finally, Jesus fulfilled the judicial law in that God the Father exercised His justice through Christ.
“For verily I say unto you”
Jesus ends His explanation concerning His purpose to fulfill the law rather than destroy the law and then moves into a string of words that He uses for special proposes. When Jesus used the words “verily,” He sought to highlight a significant point that He was going to make. Therefore, the reader must pay close attention to what Jesus is about to say.
“Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law”
Here we see that Jesus speaks of a duration of time. He speaks of the time in which the Christian finds himself presently. The Christian is living on the earth before the new heavens and the new earth. Jesus tells us that while the current heavens and earth remain, nothing will pass from the law.
Jesus Christ did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill the law. When Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Scriptures and the law, He did not do away with the law. Instead, Jesus came and brought clarity to the law. While it is true that the Christian does not need to offer sacrifices, this does not mean that the law has been abolished. It simply means that Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice. The underlying principles found within the law are still in place, but a sacrifice of infinite value has been offered.
“till all be fulfilled”
Jesus points us to the new heavens and the new earth. All will be fulfilled when the new heavens and the new earth come. The present heavens and earth will pass away, and God will make all things new. During this time, God will usher in a new economy, and the old law will no longer be in place. During this time, sin will be no more; it will simply be a thing of the past.
The Christian must look forward to this time of blessed peace and rest. Much was fulfilled in Christ’s first coming. The Christian should acknowledge that over 300 prophecies have been fulfilled in Christ alone. However, a day is on the horizon when it can be rightly said, “All has been fulfilled.” On that day, the Christian will enter life in the new heavens and earth.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for Your grace towards me. I thank You for the mission of Christ in fulfilling the law in its various aspects. I do not deserve to have the merits of Christ applied to me. I do not deserve Your divine favor. But You have been exceedingly good to me, and I am thankful for Your love. Please help me to appreciate Christ more this Christmas. In Jesus’ name, Amen.