“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place.” —Matthew 5:17–18
The Lord Jesus came to fulfill all righteousness.
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John to be baptized by him in the Jordan River. But John tried to prevent him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?’ So Jesus replied to him, ‘Let it happen now, for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John yielded to him.” —Matthew 3:13–15
God made His own perfect Son take on our sin so that we might have a restored relationship with God the Father. Paul tells us:
“God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.” —2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus did not come into the world He created to present a new system that rivaled the Law. He came to fulfill the Law—perfectly! Perfect and fully obedient, Christ ushered in and established a kingdom that is in total agreement with the Old Testament Scriptures. He neither canceled nor weakened the Law; He completed and transcended it.
The Savior sent from heaven to save the souls of all people destroyed nothing of the dictates from God or of Moses and the prophets. He lived a perfect life that He might be the perfect sacrifice, once and for all, for my sin and yours! He saved us that we might believe in Him and live our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to live supernatural lives propelled and guided by the Spirit. Undiscerning eyes who live only for what they see cannot comprehend God’s amazing plan.
Jesus’ fulfillment of the Law extends to the smallest letter—the “jot”—as well as the least stroke of a pen—the “tittle.” The “jot” corresponds to our dot above the letter “i,” and the “tittle” compares to the difference between a P and an R, simply a small angled line! This is important because letters make up words and even a slight change of a letter in a word can change its meaning. God’s Word does not change. Jesus did not come to change God’s Word; he came as the fulfillment of it.
“O LORD, your instructions endure; they stand secure in heaven.” —Psalm 119:89
“Your instructions are totally reliable; all your just regulations endure.” —Psalm 119:160
“The grass dries up, the flowers wither, but the decree of our God is forever reliable.” —Isaiah 40:8
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” —Matthew 24:35
Become More
“The Sermon on the Mount is not a set of rules and regulations—it is a picture of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is having His unhindered way with us.” —Oswald Chambers
Further Reflection
“Nearness to Christ, intimacy with Him, assimilation to His character—these are the elements of a ministry of power.” —Horatius Bonar