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.

Matthew 5:17 (KJV)

Context

Jesus speaks these words during the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), a collection of essential teachings about the kingdom of God and the righteousness expected from His followers. In verse 17, He directly addresses the relationship between His ministry and the Old Testament. The “law” refers to the Mosaic Law given by God to Israel through Moses, and “the prophets” refers to the prophetic writings of the Old Testament.

Meaning

Jesus begins with a correction: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law.” This addresses a common misconception that He came to abolish the law of Moses. He clarifies, “I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” The word “fulfil” means to complete or bring to its intended purpose. Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophetic writings by perfectly embodying their requirements and fulfilling the Messianic prophecies. In His life, teachings, death, and resurrection, He perfectly fulfilled the righteous demands of the law on behalf of humanity.

Biblical connections

Jesus’ statement highlights the continuity between the Old Testament and His ministry. He did not come to set aside the law but to bring it to its intended fulfillment. The law and the prophets pointed forward to the coming of the Messiah, and Jesus fulfills these expectations. In the following verse (Matthew 5:18), Jesus emphasizes the enduring nature of the law, stating that not even the smallest part will pass away until all is accomplished. This reinforces the permanence of God’s revelation and the certainty of its fulfillment in Christ.

Application

Jesus’ fulfillment of the law and the prophets does not negate the moral and ethical principles contained within them. Instead, Jesus sets a higher standard of righteousness for His disciples, as revealed in the rest of the Sermon on the Mount. He expands on various laws, emphasizing the importance of inward righteousness, sincere devotion to God, and love for others. This calls believers to honor the Old Testament as Scripture while embracing the fuller righteousness that Jesus teaches.

Reflection

Jesus’ words assure us that His coming was not a rejection of God’s prior revelation but its completion. The law and the prophets find their true meaning in Him. As followers of Christ, we are invited to see the Old Testament as a foundation that points to Jesus and to live out the righteous standards He taught, relying on His fulfillment on our behalf.