Everlasting Good News of Yahweh

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For truly I say unto you, Until heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, until all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17-19

These words of our Master and Savior Yeshua the Messiah are packed with spiritual truth. Sadly, however, many followers of Messiah have difficulty understanding what he meant. It is my hope that this article will help you, dear reader, to understand what Yeshua intended his followers to learn by these words.

First of all, we must make note that these words are part of Yeshua’s “Sermon On The Mount” in which he teaches “the multitudes” including his “disciples”. It is commonly agreed that the “Sermon On The Mount” is Yeshua’s most important teaching on how to live a moral life. Within this discourse, Yeshua teaches the main tenets of discipleship and shows himself to be the ultimate interpreter of Torah and, in particular, the Ten Commandments. More on that later.

Now let’s examine verse 17. 

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” 

“The law” refers to all the commandments, statutes and judgments found in the first five books of Moses. The Hebrew word for “law” is “Torah”. “The prophets” refers to all prophetic utterances found in the “Old Testament” Scriptures including all the minor and major prophetic books as well as prophecies given by Samuel, Eliyah, Elisha, etc. 

The key word in verse 17 is “fulfill”. The Greek word is “pleroo”. Here is what Thayer’s Lexicon says about the word.

“4137  pleroo play-ro’-o

from 4134; …

1) to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full

1a) to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally

1a1) I abound, I am liberally supplied

2) to render full, i.e. to complete

2a) to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim

2b) to consummate: a number

2b1) to make complete in every particular, to render perfect

2b2) to carry through to the end, to accomplish, carry out, (some undertaking)

2c) to carry into effect, bring to realisation, realise

2c1) of matters of duty: to perform, execute

2c2) of sayings, promises, prophecies, to bring to pass, ratify, accomplish

2c3) to fulfil, i.e. to cause God’s will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, and God’s promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfillment”. 

The common Christian interpretation of Matthew 5:17 is that “fulfill” means to bring to an end or abolish. If that were true, then Matthew 3:15, in which “pleroo” is used, would be very hard to accept:

“And Yeshua answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to [abolish] or [end] all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”

Matthew 5:17 would be difficult to understand as well:

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to abolish”???

The word “destroy” has the meaning of “annul, abrogate, or abolish”. Therefore, since “destroy” is used in contrast to “fulfill”, “fulfill” cannot bear the same meaning. 

Yeshua is saying that he has not come to abolish the law, but to fill it up and make it complete through his life and death. In his life, death and resurrection he would fulfill every aspect of the law and the prophets by 1) obeying the law perfectly; 2) by fulfilling all prophecies concerning himself and 3) by fulfilling all shadows of him that the law contained. 

1) Obey the law perfectly –

It is a fact that Yeshua lived a perfect sinless life – 

Hebrews 4:15 reads: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” 

1 Peter 2:22 – “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:” 

1 John 3:4 says, “Sin is the transgression of the law.” That being the case, Yeshua being sinless means he never transgressed or broke the law. He obeyed every command of the law that was applicable to him. 

2) By fulfilling all prophecies concerning himself –

We know that Yeshua fulfilled all prophecies concerning his first coming such as: 

He would be born in Bethlehem – Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:4-6; John 7:42

He would be a prophet like Moses – Deuteronomy 18:15; John 1:45; Acts 3:20-23

He would die for our sins – Isaiah 53:5; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 2:24

He would be mocked – Psalm 22:7-8; Matthew 27:39-43

He would die with the transgressors – Isaiah 53: 12; Mark 15:27-28

However, he has not fulfilled all the prophecies concerning his second coming such as:

His being given a Kingdom which will come to earth and destroy all other kingdoms – Dan 7:13-14; 2:44

His coming to rule over the earth – Psalm 110:1-5

His rule over the earth – Isaiah 9:6-7

His coming to judge the wicked in the day of vengeance – Isaiah 63:1-6

Since Messiah Yeshua has not fulfilled these prophecies yet, as well as a host of others, “the prophets” cannot be abolished. 

3) By fulfilling all shadows of him that the law contained – 

We know Yeshua fulfilled certain aspects of the Law such as animal sacrifices, including the Passover lamb, based on such passages as:

Hebrews 7:27 – Who needs not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 

Hebrews 9:26 – For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 

Hebrews 10:12 – But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of Elohim; 

1Corinthians 5:7 – Purge out therefore the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Messiah our Passover is sacrificed for us: 

However, there are other shadows in the Law that Messiah Yeshua has not fulfilled such as:

His coming at the Jubilee trumpet to set the captives of death free from their prison, the grave – Leviticus 25:9-10

His receiving, as High Priest, the two wave loaves representing the firstfruits of the wheat harvest (the resurrection of the saints) – Leviticus 23:17-20

His revealing himself to his Israelite brothers as Joseph did to his brothers – Genesis 45:4-5

Since Messiah has not fulfilled these shadows, as well as a host of others, the Law cannot be abolished. 

Now let’s examine Matthew 5:18.

“For truly I say unto you, Until heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, until all be fulfilled.” 

A “jot” is defined as the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet, “yod”.

A “tittle” is defined as “the little lines or projections, by which the Hebrew letters, in other respects similar, differ from one another”. The meaning Yeshua was trying to convey is “not even the minutest part of the law shall perish”.

The Law will continue to exist “until heaven and earth pass” and “until all be fulfilled.” 

Dear reader, I ask you, has heaven and earth passed? Obviously not. When it passes, the new heaven and the new earth will take its place. There will be no gap of time between the old passing and the new coming. Therefore, since the heavens and the earth still exist, the entire Law must still exist. Certain aspects of the Law have been fulfilled such as the sacrifices, but they have not passed. They continue to exist in a better way, that is, in the person of Messiah Yeshua. We also saw above that certain aspects of the Law have not been fulfilled. Therefore, since Yeshua said the Law could not pass “until all be fulfilled”, the Law must still exist. That is why the Apostle Paul, writing under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote; 

“Do we then make void the law through faith? Elohim forbid: yea, we establish the law.” Roman 3:31

The word “establish” means, “to cause or make to stand; to fix, to set; to stand immovable”. Yeshua and Paul were of one mind concerning the continued existence of the Law. 

The Psalmist understood the Ten Commandments (the “testimonies”) were established for ever. He wrote: 

Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that you have founded them for ever. (Psalm 119:152) 

This brings us to Matthew 5:19. 

“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” 

When Yeshua said, “least commandments”, it is not clear if he was referring to the size or importance of a commandment, but it is clear he was referring to the entire Law. If a person breaks even the smallest or least important commandment, he will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. One cannot break the least commandment unless the commandment still exists and unless the person is subject to obey the commandment. If, for example, the command to not may any marks on our flesh (Leviticus 19:28) was abolished, then we could not obey that command. However, at the time Yeshua spoke the words of Matthew 5:19, the “Old Covenant” with its Law was still in effect. Therefore, all commandments were still in effect and to break the least of them would bring consequences. Even the least command would exist until heaven and earth passed. In other words, even the least commandments are still in effect today because heaven and earth have not passed. 

The Sabbath command of Exodus 20:8-11 is not only one of the largest commandments in size, but also of importance. Yet, Christianity has abolished the command to rest on the seventh day and they teach men the seventh day is no longer a rest day even though it is not among the least commands. Therefore, they will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but those that keep the Sabbath and teach others to keep that day holy by not working on that day will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 

Dear reader, I don’t know about you, but I want to be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, I will keep even the least commandment until heaven and earth pass. How about you?