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NASB | Matthew 5:17 ¶ "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 5:17 ¶ "Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. |
Subject: WHAT WAS JESUS ATTITUDE |
Bible Note: You're right Jesus isn't saying that He fulfilled the Law (Torah), but He is saying that He came TO fulfill it. Before I go on, I think it's important to realize that LAW, i.e. "torah" is the first five books of Moses, not only the Ten Commandments. I haven't followed along here to know if the whole meaning of the word "torah" has been used, especially in that verse in Matt. 5:17-18. The laws (teachings and instructions) concern three basic ideas. 1)Ceremonial/Levitical laws. 2) Political laws by which to govern the nation of Israel. 3) Moral laws. Since we can be relatively certain what it is that Jesus was about to "fulfill", then we can also know what part of the "torah" Jesus would fulfill by the time "heaven and earth" does "pass away". I understand that as being TWO major things. 1) Ceremonial/Levitical Law. He did and will fulfill completely the "torah" concerning the Levitical priesthood and all the ceremonial laws given under the first covenant. He not only IS our new high priest [Heb. 5:1-11] on a daily basis, but also has completely fulfilled the ceremonial duties of the Passover week, plus Pentecost [death-Passover; 3 days in the grave-Unleavened Bread; resurrection-Firstfruits; Holy spirit given-Weeks/Pentecost]. The remainder of that aspect of the ceremial law will not be "fulfilled" by Him until His second coming [Trumpets; Day of Atonement; Tabernacles]. 2) Moral Law. When a believer becomes saved, born-again of the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, however you want to say it, Jesus will fulfill the "torah" (moral law) in the individual by writing God's "torah" (teaching and instruction, i.e. law) on the individual's heart. And the totality of the torah concerning God's moral laws is being fulfilled in His children as we speak. The culmination of the moral law is 'loving God with everything you've got, and loving others as yourself'. Jesus said that on those two great commandments "hang ALL the Law (Torah) and the Prophets [Matt.22:40]. And the "keeping of the Torah" by the Pharisees was only "works" related. They looked at the "actions" as their "fulfillment" of God's law in their lives. Whereas under the new covenant, Jesus explains that believers are not just involved with doing works (actions) but allowing God to clean us from the inside out. And I think that is why Jesus went from saying that He came to fulfill the law... and continued the teaching as to how the law must be done through correct heart motives, not simply "actions". Hence, only God can fulfill the "law of love" in/through each believer. |