What does "fulfill" mean in the context of Matthew 5:17? Setting the Verse in Context • Matthew 5:17 sits inside the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus clarifies the heart of God’s law for His disciples. • Verse: “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.” • Listeners assumed Messiah might overthrow the Mosaic system; Jesus corrects that notion immediately. Defining “Fulfill” in Matthew 5:17 • The Greek word plēroō carries ideas of “to fill up,” “to complete,” “to bring to full expression.” • In Jesus, every purpose embedded in the Law and the Prophets comes to its intended completion—nothing lacking, nothing discarded. How Jesus Fulfills the Law and the Prophets 1. Perfect Obedience – He lived every command without sin (Hebrews 4:15). 2. Prophetic Completion – Specific messianic prophecies find their concrete realization in Him (Luke 24:44). 3. Foreshadowed Realities Revealed – Ceremonial sacrifices pointed to His once-for-all atonement (Hebrews 10:1–10). 4. True Meaning Unveiled – He exposes the heart intent behind each statute (“You have heard… but I tell you,” Matthew 5:21-48). 5. Final Goal Achieved – “Christ is the end of the Law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4). What Fulfillment Does Not Mean • Not Abolition: The moral vision of the Law remains authoritative; Jesus underscores it (Matthew 5:18-19). • Not Mere Illustration: He doesn’t just model the Law; He completes its redemptive storyline. • Not Optional for Believers: The fulfilled Law now written on hearts (Jeremiah 31:33) calls for Spirit-empowered obedience. Implications for Believers Today • Confidence: Scripture stands unbreakable; every “jot and tittle” will be accomplished (Matthew 5:18). • Guidance: We read the Old Testament through Christ’s completed work, seeing both continuity and consummation. • Gratitude: The Law’s demands met in Him free us from condemnation while summoning us to holy living (Galatians 3:24; Romans 8:4). |
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