Matthew 5:17-19 Did Jesus' Fulfillment of the Law Do Away with It?

Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets I am not come to destroy rather to fulfill [1] ^{satisfy [the requirements of the Law] Colossians 2:14} 18: For truly I say to you Till heaven and earth pass one yod or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be satisfied ^{John 19:30} [2] 19: Whosoever then shall break one of these least commandments and shall teach any so they 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 [3]

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[1] ^{Matthew 5:17} Jesus said he came to fulfill the Law. Did he do that? Which part[s] did he fulfill? 

While Jesus hung on the cross, he cried out “It is finished, paid, completed, fulfilled.” What did he mean by that?

[2] ^{Matthew 5:17-18} Jesus said he came to satisfy the requirements of the Law. Did he?

Paul wrote that these requirements were against us ^{Colossians 2:14}.

Jesus said he came to satisfy the requirements of the Law (pay the debt), and he did that with his death on the cross ^{John 19:30}.

[3] ^{Matthew 5:19} Before the cross, Jesus had not yet satisfied all the requirements of the Law ^{John 19:30}. Context: In Matthew 5:17-19 (and in Luke 16:17), he was speaking from the position of still being under the Law. The requirements/sin debt had not yet been paid when he said this.

To say that after the requirements were satisfied [the debt was paid] at the Cross ^{John 19:30}, all are still required to observe the Mosaic Law which guarded and protected until faith came, misleads by taking this statement of Jesus out of context. When Jesus said he had not come to abolish the Law, he was clarifying his motivation. He then stated his purpose, which clarified the fine line between destroying something and fulfilling it. Jesus came to fulfill the requirements of the law that were against us, to take them out of the way by nailing them to his cross (Colossians 2:14). Did he accomplish his purpose?

Galatians 3:24-25 the Law ^nomos was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith 25: But after that faith is come we are no longer under a schoolmaster [1]

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[1] Galatians 3:24-25 is not speaking of the traditions of the elders. It was the acts of the law ^nomos that led to Christ and not the extra scriptural traditions. Nomos was the schoolmaster that pointed to the Messiah. No tradition of the elders could ever do that. Jesus said the traditions nullified the Word of God and made it of no effect. 

New Covenant believers, first called Christians at Antioch, have never been required to perform the acts of the law. The Bible says God's Law is written on our hearts. Jesus said when we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength, and we love our neighbors as ourselves, then we have fulfilled all the Law ^nomos and all the prophets. This is the Law ^nomou of Love (Romans 13:10). 

Matthew 5:17-19 commentary

 

 Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill ^{satisfy [the requirements of the Law] Colossians 2:14} For truly I say to you Till heaven and earth pass one yod or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be satisfied ^{John 19:30} [1] Whosoever then shall break one of these least commandments and shall teach any so they 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 [2]

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[1] ^{Matthew 5:17-18} Jesus said he came to satisfy the requirements of the Law.

Paul wrote that these requirements were against us ^{Colossians 2:14}.

Jesus said he came to satisfy the requirements (pay the debt), and he did with his death on the cross ^{John 19:30}.

[2] ^{Matthew 5:19} Before the cross, Jesus had not yet satisfied all the requirements of the Law ^{John 19:30}. Context: In Matthew 5:17-19 (and in Luke 16:17), he was speaking from the position of still being under the Law. The requirements/sin debt had not yet been paid when he said this.

To say that after the requirements were satisfied [the debt was paid] at the Cross ^{John 19:30}, all are still required to observe the Mosaic Law, misleads by taking this statement of Jesus out of context.

 Author and speaker, Jocelyn Andersen, is an eclectic Christian writer. She is a Bible teacher who writes about many subjects including equality of the sexes. She is best known for her advocacy in domestic violence awareness. Her book, Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence, has been a staple in the library of resources on that subject.  

To receive Jocelyn's newsletters, subscribe HERE.

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1 John 2 Commentary

 

   1: My little children these things write I to you that you sin not And if ever any sin we have an advocate with the Father [1] Jesus Christ the righteous 2: And he is the appeasement for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world 3: And hereby we do know that we know him ^Jesus if we keep his ^Jesus’ commandments [2] 4: They that say I know him and keep not his commandments are liars and the truth is not in them 5: But whoso keeps his word in them truly is the love of God perfected this is how we know that we are in him ^{In Christ} 6: They that say they abide in him ought themselves also so to walk even as he walked [3] 7: Brothers and sisters I write no new commandment to you but an old commandment which you had from the beginning The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning 8: Again a new commandment I write to you which thing is true in him and in you because the darkness is past and the true light ^Jesus now shines 9: They that say they are in the light ^{in Christ} and hate their brothers [and sisters] are in darkness even until now 10: They that love their brothers [and sisters] abide in the light and there is none occasion of stumbling in them 11: But they that hate their brothers [and sisters] are in darkness and walk in darkness and know not where they go because that darkness has blinded their eyes 12: I write to you little boys and girls because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake 13: I write to you fathers because you have known him that is from the beginning ^{John 1:1} I write to you youths because you have overcome the wicked one I write to you little children because you have known the Father 14: I have written to you fathers because you have known him that is from the beginning I have written to you youths because you are strong and the word of God abides in you and you have overcome the wicked one 15: Love not the [world]-system neither the things that are in the system If ever any love the system the love of the Father is not in them 16: For all that is in the [world]-system the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life ^{Genesis 2} is not of the Father but is of the [world]-system 17: And the world-system passes away and the lust thereof but they that do the will of God abide forever 18: Little children it is the last time ^{last days} and as you have heard that antichrist shall come even now are there many antichrists this is how we know that it is the last time ^{Last days} 19: They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest ^exposed that they were not all of us 20: But you have an unction from the Holy One and you know all things 21: I have not written to you because you know not the truth but because you know it and that no lie is of the truth 22: Who is a liar but they that deny that Jesus is the Christ They are antichrist that deny the Father and the Son [4] 23: Whoever denies the Son the same has not the Father (but) they that acknowledge the Son have the Father also 24: Let that therefore abide in you which you have heard from the beginning If that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, you also shall continue in the Son and in the Father 25: And this is the promise that he has promised us even eternal life 26: These things have I written to you concerning them that seduce you [5] 27: But the anointing which you have received of him (Jesus) abides in you and you need not that any teach you but as the same anointing teaches you of all things and is truth and is no lie and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in him 28: And now little children abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming [6] 29: If you know that he is righteous you know that every one that does righteousness is born of him

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[1] ^{Matthew 1:18-20} 18: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together she was found with child by the Holy Ghost…the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is by the Holy Ghost.
^{see also Luke 1:35} 

Mary got pregnant by the Holy Spirit. That makes the Holy Spirit Jesus’ father. Yahweh is the Father. The Holy Spirit is the Father. Jesus is the Everlasting Father. Jesus is YHWH. Jesus is God.

[2] ^{1 John 2:3} It is Jesus’ commandments John is telling us to keep. What are Jesus’ commandments (see notes on Matthew 5:17-19)?

[3] 1 John 2:6 John is not commanding believers to be observant. Jesus was observant because he was a man born under the Law ^{Galatians 4:4}.  

Jesus said he came to satisfy the requirements (pay the debt), and he did by his death on the cross ^{John 19:30}.

What about what Jesus said in [3] Matthew 5:19? Before the cross, Jesus had not yet satisfied all the requirements of the Law ^{John 19:30}. Context: In Matthew 5:17-19 (and in Luke 16:17), he was speaking from the position of still being under the Law. The requirements/sin debt had not yet been paid. To say that after the requirements were satisfied [the debt was paid] at the Cross ^{John 19:30}, all are still required to observe the Mosaic Law is misleading and takes the words of Jesus out of context.

[4] ^{1 John 2:22} How can anyone say Christians and Muslims worship the same God when Allah has no son?

[5] ^{1 John 2:26} What are they being seduced with? In most of the New Testament, we read of believers being seduced with returning to the requirements of the Law.

[6] ^{1 John 2:28} Why would a believer be ashamed before Christ at his coming unless they had fallen away? This must be a reference to his 2^nd Coming.

 Author and speaker, Jocelyn Andersen, is an eclectic Christian writer. She is a Bible teacher who writes about many subjects including equality of the sexes. She is best known for her advocacy in domestic violence awareness. Her book, Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence, has been a staple in the library of resources on that subject.  

To receive Jocelyn's newsletters, subscribe HERE.

To receive an announcement from Amazon whenever a new book is released by Jocelyn Andersen, subscribe to Her Amazon author's page.

To Contact Jocelyn: Use the contact form in the sidebar of her blog at www.jocelynandersen.com to leave comments on her books, to reach her with questions, or to request for her to come and speak at your group meeting or event.

Titus 1 commentary

       1: Paul a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to preach the faith of God's elect ^Tyndale and the knowledge of that truth Which truth is in serving God [2:] in hope of Eternal Life which God who cannot lie promised before the world began 3: But has at the time appointed[1] opened his word by preaching which is committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior [2] 4: To Titus mine own son after the common faith Grace mercy and peace from Theon ^God (Father and Lord) Jesus Christ our Savior 5: For this cause I left you in Crete that you should set in order the things that are lacking and appoint elders in every city as I had appointed you 6: If any be blameless the husband of one wife[3] ^{not practicing poygamy} having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly 7: For a bishop must be blameless as the steward of God not self-willed not soon angry not given to wine no striker ^{[not a wife-beater] 1 Timothy 3:3} not greedy for sordid gain 8: given to hospitality loving that which is good sober just holy temperate 9: Holding fast the Faithful Word as he has been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers 10: For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers specially they of the circumcision[4] 11: Whose mouths must be stopped who overthrow entire households[5] ^{2 Timothy 3:6} teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucre's sake 12: One of themselves even a prophet of their own said The Cretians are always liars evil beasts slow bellies 13: This witness is true Wherefore rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith 14: Not giving heed to Jewish fables and man-made commandments that turn from the truth 15: Unto the pure all things are pure but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their minds and conscience are defiled 16: They profess that they know God but in works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and unto every good work reprobate

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[1] The times and seasons God has ordained are appointed and pre-set ^{Ecclesiastes 3:1; Daniel 8:19,12:9; Acts 17:26; 1 Thessalonians 5:1; 1 Peter 1:19-20}

[2] …and there is no God else beside me a just God and a Savior there is none beside me ^{Isaiah 45:21}  …all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Savior and thy Redeemer ^{Isaiah 49:26} One God. One Savior. Jesus is God.

[3] This verse refers to polygamy—not to divorce. Having multiple wives was not uncommon among the earliest believers. Jesus clarified that having one wife (and not getting rid of her for just any reason) was God’s perfect will. There is biblical prohibition against adultery and treacherous divorce but no prohibition against divorced believers serving in any capacity God chooses to call them.

[4] Paul is speaking of Jews (the circumcision) here, referring to professing believers (false though they were) who had found a way to financially profit from dragging Christians back into the bondage of the Law. Paul had strong words for the Galatians on that subject.

[5] Paul used strong language in dealing with false teachers. He did not merely say they deceived people and led them into error, which is bad enough; he wrote that through error, their victims were overthrown. 

   In English, to overthrow means to bring about downfall or destruction, as does the Greek word, anatrepō, which is used in this passage. It is unfortunate that Bible commentators mitigate the destruction of God’s people by adding the word “figuratively” in their definitions of the downfall or destruction of victims that the word, anatrepō, refers to. There is nothing figurative about an eternity of destruction that results from being spiritually overthrown by false teachers, whose goal is to financially sack their victims. Victims are financially overthrown  when income streams or wealth is funneled it to the false teachers or when they liquidate and give their entire net worth to the false teacher. 

   These victims are plundered both spiritually and financially through deceit and greed.  

   Contending for the faith is serious business. 

   The motivation of false teachers is generally greed, and they prey on either legitimate needs of their victims or on their victim’s sins or weaknesses. 

   One of the most common weaknesses in the Body of Christ, is not having a working, conversive, knowledge of the Bible. There is great protection in being full of the knowledge of God—which can only happen if we fill our minds and spirits with His Word and ask the Holy Spirit to give us understanding [we must read it for ourselves, not depend on the interpretations of others]. The Word of God encompasses every part of the Armor of God—most of which is defensive, protective. 

   Knowing the Word and acting on it is a protection from the many snares the enemy of our souls lays for us. So we see that contending for the faith is an urgent business and involves biblical literacy. 

   One thing is true of most victims; they quickly become defensive of their teachers and conversive in the false doctrines they embrace. They quickly memorize talking points, mantras, and slogans that discourage constructive discussion when defending their paradigm or leader. 

   Believers who depend upon daily Bible devotions and Bible studies for all their Bible knowledge are also at risk. Daily devotions can be helpful but are  limited. When these are the sum total of our Bible reading, the vast majority of the Bible never gets read. 

   The only way to ensure the protection of biblical literacy is to read our entire Bibles on a daily and systematic basis. This writer, recommends reading our Bibles every day, always picking up today where we left off yesterday.

1 Timothy 1 commentary

       1: Paulos an apostle [of] Jesus Christ [by] the command of God our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ our hope[1] 2: To Timotheus true child in faith Grace mercy and peace from God our Father and Jesus the Christ our Lord 3: As I requested of you to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia that you might declare [to] some that they teach no other doctrine 4: Neither give heed to myths and endless genealogies [which] offer endless questionings [bring] rather the godly edifying which is in faith 5: Now the [desired] purpose [of my] request is agapē ^love out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith without hypocrisy 6: From which some have erred [and] turned [aside] from into useless debate 7: Desiring to be teachers of the law understanding neither what they say nor what it is they [strongly ^Berry] affirm 8: But we know that the law is good, if any use it lawfully 9: Knowing this that the law is not made for the righteous but for the lawless and disobedient for the ungodly and for sinners for unholy and profane for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers for manslayers 10: For pornos for men who bed with other men for menstealers for liars for perjured persons and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine 11: According to the glorious gospel of the Blessed God which was committed to my trust 12: And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me for that he counted me faithful putting me into [His] service ^diakonia13: Who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief ^{“Father forgive them for they know not what they do} 14: And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 15: This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief 16: Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might manifest all patience for an example to them who should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting 17: Now unto the King eternal immortal invisible The Only Wise God be honor and glory for ever and ever Amen 18: This charge I commit to you [my] child Timotheos according to the prophecies which went before on you that you by them might wage a good warfare 19: Holding faith and a good conscience which some having repudiated concerning faith have suffered shipwreck 20: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander whom I have delivered unto Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme ^{2 Thessalonians 3:14}

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[1] It was Yeshua Himself who called and commanded Paul in his apostleship:
Acts 9:4: And he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying unto him Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me 5: And he said Who art thou Lord And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks 6: And he trembling and astonished said Lord, what wilt thou have me to do And the Lord said unto him, Arise and go into the city and it shall be told thee what thou must do. Jesus is God.

Additional commentary pending for this chapter