What does it mean when Jesus said he came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it?

As part of Jesus sermon on the mount, he made this important claim, "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17). It's quite unfortunate that so many believers have a poor understanding of the meaning of Jesus statement, which has led to a wrong interpretation of what he meant by what he said. In this verse, Jesus defined his mission and his mission was not to abrogate the law or the prophets but to fulfill it. Jesus didn't want them to have a double mind with respect to his relationship with the old testament scriptures, for this reason he stated it clearly without any obscurity whatsoever by saying, "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill".

The Law and the prophets points to Jesus Christ 

The law and the prophets refers chiefly to the entire old testament scriptures. The Law refers to the first five books of Moses, and the prophets refers to the books of the prophets. The Law and the prophets constitute the old testament scriptures and they points to him: You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me (John 5; 39). Under the law, the sacrificial system was instituted by God for the children of Israel to make atonement for their sins through animal sacrifices. Daily and yearly sacrifices were offered by priests to propitiate God's wrath against them. But those sacrifices were types and shadows of the good things to come (Hebrews 10; 1). 

All those sacrifices under the law foreshadowed the once and for all time substitutionary sacrifice of the anticipated Messiah. He alone is the body, the substance, the antitype of all those types and shadows (Colossians 2; 17). Those sacrifices were prophetic symbol which typified the atoning death of the Messiah. The prophets also by the Spirit gave a vivid prophetic utterances about the coming and birth, the suffering and death, as well as the resurrection of the Messiah from the dead, see  (Micah 5; 2, Isaiah 7; 24, Isaiah 53, Psalm 16; 10). God raised up different prophets at different dispensation, and at different times and seasons and yet they all testified about the same message respecting the Messiah. Apostle Peter spoke by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit saying: Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins (Acts 10: 43). All the prophets of old gave prophecies about the suffering and death, as well as his resurrection from the death. It is evident that the law and prophets all pointed to none save the Messiah Jesus Christ.

Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets 

Jesus in the days of his flesh knew the law and the prophets had to be fulfilled and he came primarily to fulfill it. The Greek translation for, "fulfill" is "pleroo" and it means, "to accomplish", to complete, or to end". The question is, how did Jesus fulfilled the law? He satisfied the demands of the law by his sinless life and death. His impeccable life fulfilled the moral law and his death fulfilled the ceremonial law or brought an end to the sacrificial system. The law had it complete fulfillment in the Man Jesus Christ. The predictions of the prophets about the Messiah were literally fulfilled in Jesus.

Jesus Christ came as was foretold, he suffered, he died and rose on the third day according to the prophecies of the prophets. After his resurrection, Jesus said to his disciples: And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures (Luke 24: 25-27). Jesus Christ came not to demolish the law, but came to fulfill all that were written about him both in the law and in the prophets. 

Because Jesus did not abolish the law, does that mean we are to be under the law?

Certain people are of the view that if Jesus did not abolish the law, then the law is still binding on us to live under it, but is this claim true? The fact that Jesus did not destroy the law does not mean we are still under the law. Jesus fulfilled the law and brought it back to it's esteemed glory. The law has been fulfilled, it is has now been set aside and the new covenant established on better promises is now in force. Jesus in fulfilling the law and prophets secured not only our eternal salvation, but also secured all the blessings encapsulated in the New covenant for us. We are not under the law, for the law can neither save nor justify, only faith in the Man Jesus Christ can save anyone. Paul described our current relationship to the law in this: "Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God" (Romans 7: 4). 

We are dead to the law and are now joined eternally to him who was raised from the dead. In the preceding chapter, the apostle wrote: For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! : (Romans 6:14-15). Paul stated emphatically that the believer in Christ is not under the law. In his epistle to the Galatians the apostle wrote: But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor (Galatians 3; 23-25). The way of salvation is not by being under the law, for it by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Are Christians under the law? Certainly not, we are under grace (Romans 6; 14b). The Law has been fulfilled, it is no longer binding on Christians, the new testament is now in force which is established on better promises.

A thought to ponder

Are Christians under the law? Certainly not, we are under grace 

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