17 “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. 18 For truly I tell you, 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. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly 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. 20 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. (Matthew 5:17-20 NIV)
Christ came to fulfill the law
The rule Christ came to establish was in full agreement with the Old Testament, called here “the law and the prophets.” The prophets were commentators on the law, and together they formed the foundation of faith and practice in the Jewish church. Christ did not seek to abolish this rule but to uphold and fulfill it.
Christ solemnly declares (Matthew 5:18) that until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke will disappear from the law until everything is accomplished. All of God’s works in providence and grace are fulfilling Scripture. Even the smallest details of the law are preserved because they bear God’s authority.
Christ affirms the authority of the Old Testament, assuring both the devout and the irreverent that he did not come to abolish the law and the prophets. To the pious Jews, he says, “Let not the pious Jews fear that I have come to destroy the law and the prophets,” urging them not to prejudge his teachings as a threat to the Scriptures they revered as God’s word.
Likewise, to those who opposed the law, he declares, “Let not the irreverent Jews, who dislike the law and the prophets, hope that I have come to destroy them.” Christ did not come to free people from the obligation of God’s commands while still securing them his promises. Rather, the Savior came to destroy only the works of the devil, not the divine laws given through Moses and the prophets.
How did Christ come to fulfill the law and the prophets?
- By obeying the law perfectly. He honored his parents, observed the Sabbath, prayed, gave to the poor, and never once broke the law.
- By fulfilling the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament, which all pointed to him. The covenant of grace remains unchanged, with Christ as its Mediator.
- By completing the symbolic laws. As Bishop Tillotson expressed, Christ did not make the ceremonial law void but fulfilled its purpose, revealing himself as the reality behind the shadows.
- By perfecting the law. The law was like a vessel partially filled with water—Christ did not pour it out but filled it to the brim. Or like an unfinished painting, where he completed the details.
- By continuing the law’s purpose. The gospel does not contradict the main goal of the Jewish religion but advances it. The gospel is a time of reformation (Hebrews 9:10), not a repeal of the law but its fulfillment.
Jesus warned them against neglecting or undermining the law because it comes with consequences. In Matthew 5:19, he declares that whoever breaks even the least of God’s commandments and teaches others to do the same will be least in the kingdom of heaven, while those who obey and teach them will be called great. Though some commands may seem lesser than others, none are insignificant; even the law regarding a bird’s nest (Deuteronomy 22:6-7) carried a meaningful purpose.
It is dangerous to weaken or dismiss any part of God’s law. Breaking a command is serious, but leading others to disregard it is even worse. Corrupt interpretations that encourage sin or undermine devotion make ministers guilty of leading others to break God’s command. True greatness in Christ’s kingdom belongs to those who uphold and practice God’s commands. They honor God, and in return, he will honor them (1 Samuel 2:30).
The righteousness Christ came to establish must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:20). This was surprising to those who viewed the scribes as the most learned teachers of the law and the Pharisees as the most devoted practitioners.
Though the scribes and Pharisees were strict in fasting, prayer, and giving to the poor, their righteousness was inadequate. They focused on external rituals rather than inward devotion. They sought the approval of people rather than God. They took pride in their religious deeds and relied on them for righteousness, rather than humbly trusting in God’s grace.
To enter the kingdom of heaven, Christ’s followers must go beyond the scribes and Pharisees—not just avoiding their failures but exceeding their best efforts. True righteousness is not about outward appearances but about wholehearted obedience to God. On the whole, Jesus makes it clear that those Jews who look to the Scriptures of the Old Testament as their rule of life are right. However, those who look to the scribes and the Pharisees as their role models are wrong.