Matthew 5:17

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Think {G3543} not {G3361} that {G3754} I am come {G2064} to destroy {G2647} the law {G3551}, or {G2228} the prophets {G4396}: I am {G2064} not {G3756} come {G2064} to destroy {G2647}, but {G235} to fulfil {G4137}.

"Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete.

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.

Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.

Commentary on Matthew 5:17 (KJV)

Matthew 5:17 is a pivotal verse in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, where He clarifies His relationship to the existing Jewish Law and the teachings of the prophets. This statement addresses potential misunderstandings among His listeners, who might have perceived His radical new teachings as a rejection of their long-held traditions and divine revelation.

Context

This verse immediately follows the Beatitudes and precedes Jesus' deeper exposition of the Law, where He reinterprets several Mosaic commands, emphasizing their spiritual intent over mere external observance. His Jewish audience, steeped in the Law of Moses and the prophetic writings, needed assurance that Jesus was not undermining the very foundation of their faith. This clarification sets the stage for understanding the profound nature of His kingdom principles.

Key Themes

  • Continuity, Not Abolition: Jesus explicitly states that His mission is not to "destroy" (Greek: katalyō, meaning to abolish, overthrow, or annul) the Law or the Prophets. This immediately counters any notion that He came to nullify God's previous revelations. Instead, He affirms the divine origin and enduring purpose of the Old Testament Scriptures.
  • Fulfillment and Completion: The core message lies in the word "fulfil" (Greek: plēroō). This term means to bring to completion, to fill up, to give full meaning, or to bring to its intended purpose. Jesus fulfills the Law and Prophets in several profound ways:
    • He perfectly obeys the Law, living a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), thus setting the perfect example.
    • He reveals the Law's deeper, spiritual intent, moving beyond superficial adherence to address the attitudes of the heart (Matthew 5:21-48 provides numerous examples of this reinterpretation).
    • He is the culmination of the Law's ceremonial and sacrificial system, as His life, death, and resurrection provide the ultimate and perfect sacrifice for sin (Romans 10:4).
    • He fulfills the myriad prophecies concerning the Messiah found throughout the Old Testament (Luke 24:44).
  • Christ's Authority: By declaring His purpose to fulfill, Jesus asserts His unique authority as the one who perfectly understands, embodies, and brings to completion God's divine will as revealed in the Law and Prophets.

Linguistic Insights

The distinction between katalyō ("destroy") and plēroō ("fulfil") is essential. Jesus is not an innovator who discards the past, but rather the one who brings God's grand plan to its intended consummation. He takes the Law from its external, legalistic interpretation to its internal, spiritual reality, emphasizing righteousness from the heart.

Practical Application

For believers today, Matthew 5:17 provides crucial understanding of the relationship between the Old and New Testaments. It teaches us that the Old Testament is not obsolete but finds its ultimate meaning and purpose in Jesus Christ. While Christians are not under the Mosaic ceremonial law, the moral principles of the Law remain eternally valid, interpreted and lived out through the lens of Christ's perfect example and teachings. Our call is to live out the spirit of the Law, which is ultimately summarized by love for God and neighbor.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Romans 10:4

    For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

  • Luke 16:17

    And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

  • Galatians 4:4

    But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

  • Galatians 4:5

    To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

  • Romans 3:31

    Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

  • Romans 8:4

    That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

  • Isaiah 42:21

    The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make [it] honourable.
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