What does Matthew 5:18 mean?
What is the meaning of Matthew 5:18?

For I tell you truly

Jesus begins with an oath-like assurance, signaling that what follows carries His full authority.

• In John 14:6 He claims to be “the way and the truth,” so every word He speaks is reliable.

Revelation 19:11 reminds us His name is “Faithful and True,” underscoring that He cannot mislead.

When the Lord says, “For I tell you truly”, He is alerting listeners—then and now—that we must receive the statement without reservation.


until heaven and earth pass away

This time marker stretches to the furthest horizon of history.

Luke 21:33 echoes, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away”.

2 Peter 3:10 pictures the current creation dissolving in fervent heat, proving Jesus is speaking of the final consummation, not a temporary phase.

So, the authority of God’s Law stands for as long as the universe endures.


not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen

Jesus moves from cosmic scale to the tiniest detail.

Psalm 119:89 affirms, “Your word, O LORD, is everlasting,” stressing durability down to every letter.

Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God is flawless,” reinforcing the idea that the minutiae matter to God.

By naming the smallest marks in written language, Jesus assures us that divine inspiration covers the entire text—no accidental leftovers, no expendable clauses.


will disappear from the Law

The Law refers to the Torah, yet by extension the entire Old Testament revelation.

Romans 3:31 asks, “Do we, then, nullify the Law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the Law”.

Psalm 19:7 celebrates, “The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul,” confirming its enduring purpose.

Jesus is not pitting Himself against Moses; He is affirming that grace fulfills, not abolishes, God’s earlier instructions.


until everything is accomplished

A second “until” shows the Law’s continuing relevance until its goals are fully realized in Christ’s redemptive plan.

Luke 24:44 records Jesus saying that everything written about Him “must be fulfilled.”

Galatians 3:24 explains the Law was our guardian “until Christ,” guiding us to Him.

The Law’s moral standards, prophetic types, and ceremonial shadows all find their completion in Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ultimate return.


summary

Matthew 5:18 binds the certainty of God’s Word to the permanence of creation itself. Christ guarantees that every detail of Scripture remains intact and authoritative until His redemptive mission reaches total fulfillment. Consequently, believers are called to respect, study, and obey the whole counsel of God, trusting that not even the smallest stroke will fail before He brings history to its appointed conclusion.

What does 'fulfill' mean in the context of Matthew 5:17?
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