Jesus and the Law: "I Have Come to Fulfill It"
The relationship between Jesus Christ and the Law of Moses is a profound and often misunderstood aspect of biblical theology. Many interpret Jesus' coming as a complete abolition of the Old Testament Law, viewing it as irrelevant for New Testament believers. However, such a perspective directly contradicts the Lord's own emphatic declaration in 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." This pivotal statement, delivered during the Sermon on the Mount, serves as the bedrock for understanding Christ's interaction with, and ultimate purpose for, the Law. Jesus did not come to dismantle God's eternal standards, but to bring them to their intended culmination and perfection.
The Misconception of Abolition
The idea that Jesus abolished the Law is a common misinterpretation, often leading to antinomianism – the belief that Christians are freed from all moral law. Yet, Jesus' words leave no room for such an interpretation. He explicitly states He did "not come to destroy" but "to fulfil." To destroy would imply nullifying or rendering void, which is contrary to the very nature of God's unchanging character and His righteous decrees. Furthermore, He underscores the Law's enduring validity in Matthew 5:18: "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."
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.
A "jot" was the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet, and a "tittle" a tiny stroke distinguishing similar letters. This emphasizes the absolute, minute precision of God's Word and Law, affirming its eternal nature until its full purpose is accomplished. Jesus then issues a stern warning against those who would diminish the Law:
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
This passage clearly demonstrates that the Law, in its essence, retains its authority and significance within the framework of God's kingdom. The challenge then becomes understanding how Jesus "fulfilled" it, rather than abolished it.
Fulfilling Prophecy: Types and Shadows
One primary way Jesus fulfilled the Law was by bringing to fruition all the prophetic types, shadows, and ceremonies contained within it. The Mosaic Law, with its elaborate sacrificial system, priesthood, tabernacle, and festivals, was a divinely orchestrated foreshadowing of the coming Messiah and His redemptive work. The writer of Hebrews eloquently states:
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Similarly, Colossians 2:17 declares that the Old Testament dietary laws, holy days, and new moons "are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." Jesus, as the ultimate reality, rendered these shadows obsolete by His advent. He is:
- The perfect sacrifice for sin, the Lamb of God (John 1:29), fulfilling the sacrificial system.
- The great High Priest, who offered Himself once for all (Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 10:10), fulfilling the Levitical priesthood.
- The true tabernacle and temple, where God dwells among men (John 1:14; John 2:19-21).
- The fulfillment of the Passover Lamb, the unleavened bread, and the firstfruits, bringing salvation and new life (1 Corinthians 5:7; Luke 22:15-20).
By fulfilling these prophetic elements, Jesus did not destroy the Law but rather completed its purpose, demonstrating its divine origin and pointing to Him as the promised Redeemer.
Fulfilling Righteousness: Perfect Obedience
Another crucial aspect of Jesus' fulfillment of the Law is His perfect obedience to its moral demands. The Law, particularly the Ten Commandments, reveals God's righteous character and His standard for human behavior. No human being, apart from Christ, has ever perfectly kept the Law. Romans 3:23 states, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Yet, Jesus lived a sinless life, flawlessly upholding every precept of the Law, not only outwardly but in His heart and motives.
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Jesus' perfect obedience provides the righteousness necessary for salvation, which the Law could not provide due to human inability. He magnified the Law, revealing its true spiritual depth beyond mere external adherence. For example, He taught that anger without cause is akin to murder (Matthew 5:21-22) and lust is adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:27-28). His teaching elevated the Law from a set of external rules to a matter of the heart, demonstrating its true spiritual intent.
Fulfilling the Penalty: Bearing the Curse
Perhaps the most significant way Jesus fulfilled the Law was by bearing its righteous penalty for humanity's transgression. The Law not only prescribes righteousness but also pronounces a curse upon disobedience. Galatians 3:10 states, "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." Since all humanity has sinned, all are under this curse.
Jesus, being perfectly righteous, did not deserve this curse. Yet, He willingly became a curse for us on the cross, thereby fulfilling the Law's demand for justice and punishment:
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
By His atoning death, Jesus satisfied the Law's righteous demands against us. He paid the penalty for our sin, enabling God to be both just and the justifier of those who believe in Jesus (Romans 3:26). This is the culmination of the Law's purpose as a schoolmaster, leading us to Christ:
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
In this sense, "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Romans 10:4). This does not mean the Law ceases to exist, but that its function as a means to gain righteousness or condemn us has been fulfilled in Christ for those who trust in Him.
The Law's Enduring Purpose for Believers
While believers are no longer under the Law as a system for salvation or condemnation, the moral principles embedded within it continue to serve vital purposes in the Christian life. The Law reveals God's character and His will for His people. It remains a guide for righteous living and a mirror to expose sin.
We are saved by grace through faith, not by works of the Law (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, this freedom from the Law's curse does not equate to license to sin. Rather, it empowers us to live righteously out of a transformed heart, in accordance with the Spirit of God, fulfilling the righteousness of the Law in Christ (Romans 8:4).
Conclusion
Jesus Christ's declaration, "I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil" (Matthew 5:17), is a cornerstone of Christian doctrine. His fulfillment of the Law was multifaceted:
- He fulfilled its prophetic types and shadows, bringing the Old Covenant ceremonies to their intended reality in Himself.
- He perfectly obeyed its moral demands, living a sinless life and setting the standard of righteousness.
- He bore its curse and penalty on the cross, providing atonement for our sins and satisfying divine justice.
Through Christ, the Law's purpose is not negated but brought to its glorious completion. For believers, the Law no longer condemns, but it continues to reveal God's holy character, expose sin, and guide us in a life of grateful obedience. We are not under law, but under grace (Romans 6:14), yet this grace empowers us to live in a way that honors the God who gave the Law, and the Christ who fulfilled it.