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Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount—Fulfillment of the Law

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Do we have to keep Mosaic Law today?

What does Jesus mean when He says that He fulfills the Law?

What is the purpose of the Law (Mosaic Law)?

These are some questions I hope to answer from Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 5:17-20.

My translation and notes.

Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount—Fulfillment of the Law

17 “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

[Jesus said that He is come to fulfill the Mosaic Law, that is, every point of the Law is finished, completed, and executed. The Greek word for fulfill is πληρόω plēróō (G4137). It means that what is required is perfectly done whether measuring liquids or solids, whether law or morals, etc. Here it has the idea of a check list that every point on the check list has been completed perfectly. Only Messiah could do this in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. Mosaic law ended when the Messiah died. See Romans 10:4, Ephesians 2:15, and Galatians 3:13. He was the perfect sacrifice. He was not a sacrifice to cover sin as an animal’s blood did. Jesus was sinless, human, and a volunteer to experience the perfect and complete wrath of God for sin].

18 “Truly I tell youp that until heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will not in any way pass from the law until everything is fulfilled.

[The Lord Jesus did fulfill everything perfectly. Every applicable law was consistently and perfectly followed in thoughts, desires, words, and deed. Thus, Jesus was sinless. See 1 John 1:5, 1 Peter 2:22, and John 8:46].

19 “Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least commandments and teaches others so, will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven, but whoever does and teaches these will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

[Jesus teaches that there is no separation of the Law into parts. Some do. They teach that there is a ceremonial law section, a governmental section, and a moral section. Then, they teach that today we are to keep the moral section and not the others, but Jesus teaches that we must keep all the Law, every part and section without any distinction. Jesus teaches if we break one law, even a lesser commandment, then we are guilty. Compare James 2:10].

20 “For I say to youp that unless yourp righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees, youp will not in any way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

[One of the purposes of Mosaic Law was to increase awareness of our sins (Romans 3:20 and Romans 7:7), our addiction to sin (Romans 6:16, Galatians 4:3, and 2 Peter 2:19), and the utter impossibility of becoming righteous by keeping Mosaic Law (Acts 13:39 and Romans 3:20). Jesus did completely fulfill the Laws demands. The Kingdom of Heaven is not the Jewish nation. It is the kingdom where Messiah rules. Messiah’s kingdom is the kingdom of God’s worldview, lifestyle, rules, order, freedom, blessings, and joys].