Did Jesus come to abolish the law? (Matthew 5:17 vs. Ephesians 2:15)

1. The Question at Hand

The inquiry arises from two passages: “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” (Matthew 5:17), contrasted with “[He] set aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations” (Ephesians 2:15). At first glance, these two statements may appear contradictory—one seemingly affirms that the Law remains, and the other that it has been set aside in Christ. A careful review of each passage’s context resolves this tension.

2. Context of Matthew 5:17

In this portion of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), Jesus addresses His followers and larger Jewish audience. His declaration—“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets”—stands as a corrective. Many first-century Jewish individuals anticipated the Messiah might undermine or replace their deeply held scriptural traditions. By stating that He did not come to abolish but to “fulfill,” Jesus underscores:

1. Continuity with Scripture: Jesus affirms the divine origin and enduring importance of the Old Testament.

2. Culmination of Prophecy: All prophecies pointed to a Messianic fulfillment. In Jesus, every promise of Scripture converges.

3. Deepening of Moral Teachings: Immediately after stating He did not come to abolish the Law, He intensifies its meaning, moving from external adherence to an internal transformation (Matthew 5:21–48).

3. Meaning of “Fulfill”

The word “fulfill” in Matthew 5:17 (Greek: plēroō) implies bringing something to its intended completion. This not only involves predictive prophecy but also the Law’s moral, ceremonial, and typological dimensions.

- Moral Fulfillment: Jesus upheld the moral commands of Scripture, revealing that righteousness extends beyond legalistic observance to the heart (Matthew 5:21–22, 27–28).

- Ceremonial Fulfillment: The sacrifices and priestly rituals of the Old Testament foreshadowed the once-for-all atonement that Jesus achieved (Hebrews 10:1–10).

- Typological Fulfillment: Many Old Testament figures, events, and institutions prefigured Christ’s person and work. Examples include the Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7) and the temple (John 2:19–21).

Because Jesus is the substance behind these shadows (Colossians 2:16–17), the Law is not “destroyed” but brought to its full expression in Him.

4. Understanding Ephesians 2:15

The Apostle Paul’s discussion in Ephesians 2:15—“[He] set aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations”—focuses on how Christ’s redemptive work reconciles Jews and Gentiles into “one new man” (Ephesians 2:15). The ceremonial and sacrificial laws that once separated the Jewish people from the Gentiles have been satisfied and rendered no longer binding as a covenantal system. Key considerations include:

- Cultural and Covenantal Barriers: The Old Covenant signified a unique national identity for Israel, complete with dietary regulations, circumcision, and sacrificial rites. These structures highlighted humanity’s need for holiness and pointed forward to the Messiah.

- New Unity in Christ: By fulfilling and thus “setting aside” the ceremonial and regulatory aspects of the Law, Jesus removed ritual hurdles that prevented Gentiles from full participation in the covenant.

- Continued Moral Imperatives: The moral dimensions remain relevant. Paul consistently condemns immoral behavior (Romans 1; Galatians 5; etc.), indicating that the moral essence of the Law reflects God’s character and endures.

Thus, Ephesians 2:15 addresses how Jesus neutralized the dividing wall imposed by ceremonial observances, forming a new covenant community united in Christ.

5. Distinguishing Law Categories

Early Christian writers, along with many interpreters across centuries, recognized a distinction within the Old Testament Law:

1. Moral Law (e.g., Ten Commandments): Reflects God’s timeless moral character and remains relevant for all generations.

2. Ceremonial Law (e.g., sacrifices, dietary restrictions): Purposefully pointed to Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice, completed once He offered Himself (Hebrews 9:11–14).

3. Civil Law (e.g., governance of ancient Israel): Applied to Israel’s theocratic structure, revealing principles of justice but not binding on the global church in the same manner.

In Matthew 5:17, Jesus upholds the enduring moral truths of God’s Word. In Ephesians 2:15, Paul highlights the completion of ceremonial aspects that were once necessary to define covenant boundaries but no longer function the same way after Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice.

6. Harmony between the Passages

Matthew 5:17 and Ephesians 2:15 work together rather than contradicting each other. The Law’s moral core endures as an expression of God’s character, and the Law’s ceremonial components find complete fulfillment in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.

- Fulfillment Does Not Equal Destruction: Christ’s mission was not to discard God’s law but to embody and perfect it.

- Setting Aside Does Not Mean Nullifying Righteousness: Ephesians 2:15 focuses on how Christ renders obsolete the particular covenant markers and rituals that separated Jew and Gentile. God’s moral requirements for holiness continue, now enabled by the Holy Spirit in believers’ lives (Romans 8:1–4).

7. Early Church Recognition

In the first and second centuries, followers of Jesus grappled with how Gentiles should relate to the Mosaic Law (Acts 15; Galatians). Archaeological and manuscript evidence, such as early Latin and Greek manuscripts of Paul’s epistles, show consistent text in passages like Ephesians 2:15, indicating the church increasingly understood that the Law’s ritual framework was fulfilled in Christ. Early church councils affirmed this perspective, balancing respect for the Old Testament’s continuing authority with recognition of Christ’s unique completion of ceremonial requirements.

8. Practical Implications

1. Unity in Christ: Since ceremonial barriers have been fulfilled, all believers—whether Jewish or Gentile—are equally one in the Messiah (Galatians 3:28).

2. Holiness by the Spirit: Believers seek holiness not by external rules and sacrifices, but by the internal transformation facilitated by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9).

3. Gratitude for Fulfillment: The Old Testament narratives and regulations gain profound significance when viewed as preparation for the Messiah. Reading them in light of New Testament fulfillment inspires reverent worship and deeper appreciation for God’s redemptive plan.

9. Conclusion

Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to accomplish what it pointed to all along. Matthew 5:17 highlights continuity and the deeper intention behind the Law’s moral truths, while Ephesians 2:15 clarifies that the ceremonial and regulatory aspects of the Law reached their consummation on the cross, removing barriers between Jews and Gentiles. In unison, these passages underscore that God’s moral standard remains, anchored in His character, and that ritual observances find their perfect and completed meaning in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Through Him, the eternal purposes of the Law are fulfilled—and those who trust in Him experience not only freedom from ceremonial demands but empowerment to live a life pleasing to God.