Meaning of Matthew 5:17

Jesus' declaration in Matthew 5:17 that he did not come to abolish but to fulfill the Law and the Prophets is a foundational statement concerning his mission and relationship to the Old Testament. This pronouncement occurs within the Sermon on the Mount, a discourse where Jesus systematically reinterprets and elevates the Mosaic Law and prophetic teachings, demonstrating their deeper spiritual intent and his authority over them. Rather than dismissing the existing covenant, Jesus asserts that his life, teachings, death, and resurrection are the culmination and ultimate realization of all that the Law and the Prophets anticipated. This fulfillment signifies not an annulment, but a perfect embodiment and completion of God's will as revealed in the Old Testament, thereby inaugurating a new covenant that is rooted in, and flows from, the old.

Context and Background

The audience for Jesus' sermon, and specifically this verse, consisted of his disciples and a large crowd. Many of these individuals were devout Jews who held the Law of Moses (the Torah) and the writings of the Prophets in high esteem. The Law, comprising the first five books of the Old Testament, provided the framework for Israel's covenant relationship with God, outlining commandments, rituals, and ethical guidelines. The Prophets, on the other hand, delivered God's messages, calling Israel to faithfulness, denouncing sin, and foretelling future redemption. Within this cultural and religious context, any perceived challenge to the Law could be seen as a radical departure from God's established order. Jesus' statement preempts such a misunderstanding by affirming his profound respect for, and intended completion of, these sacred texts.

Key Themes and Messages

The central theme is fulfillment, not abolition. Jesus clarifies that his purpose is not to nullify or discard the Old Testament scriptures. Instead, he is the one who brings them to their intended meaning and ultimate purpose. This fulfillment encompasses several aspects:

• Obedience: Jesus perfectly lived out the demands of the Law, demonstrating the righteousness God requires.
• Sacrifice: His atoning death provides the ultimate sacrifice that the animal sacrifices of the Law foreshadowed.
• Interpretation: Jesus reveals the deeper, spiritual intent of the Law, moving beyond outward observance to inward transformation of the heart.
• Prophetic Witness: He embodies the messianic prophecies, fulfilling the hopes and promises of the Prophets.

Spiritual Significance and Application

The spiritual significance lies in understanding Jesus as the key to unlocking the full meaning of the Old Testament. For believers, this means that salvation is not achieved through strict adherence to the Law alone, but through faith in Jesus, who fulfilled its requirements. The Law, in its original context, exposed sin and pointed to the need for a savior. Jesus, through his fulfillment, provides that savior and a path to righteousness. The application for believers today involves recognizing that the ethical principles of the Law, as clarified and intensified by Jesus, remain relevant, but they are now to be lived out by the power of the Holy Spirit, motivated by love for God and neighbor, rather than by legalistic obligation.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

Matthew 5:17 is pivotal in connecting the Old and New Covenants. It demonstrates that Jesus is not an innovator who overthrew God's previous revelation, but the divinely appointed one who brings it to its intended climax. The Old Testament is the story of God's covenant with Israel, marked by promises and foreshadowings of a coming Messiah. The New Testament, beginning with Jesus, is the story of the fulfillment of those promises and the establishment of a new covenant in Christ, accessible to all nations. Jesus' fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets is the bridge between these two testaments, showing continuity and ultimate consummation.

Analogies

Consider the analogy of a master architect who designs a magnificent building. The blueprints (the Law and the Prophets) lay out the detailed plans, specifications, and structural requirements. The architect's work is not to tear down the foundation or the initial framework, but to meticulously construct the building according to those plans, adding the finishing touches, the crowning elements, and the ultimate purpose for which it was designed. Jesus is that architect, bringing the divine blueprint to its glorious completion.

Another analogy is that of a seed and a plant. The seed contains the potential and the genetic code for the mature plant. The Law and the Prophets are like the seed, containing the promise and anticipation of God's redemptive plan. Jesus is the fully grown plant, embodying and actualizing all that the seed was meant to become.

Relation to Other Verses

This verse resonates with several other biblical passages:

• Luke 24:44: Jesus tells his disciples, "Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled." This reinforces the idea that the Old Testament scriptures were pointing toward him.
• Romans 10:4: Paul states, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." This echoes the theme of fulfillment, indicating that Christ's work brings the Law to its intended conclusion concerning righteousness.
• Hebrews 9:11-14: This passage describes Jesus as the great high priest and the mediator of a new covenant, whose sacrifice is superior to the Old Testament sacrifices, thus fulfilling their purpose.
• John 1:17: "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." This highlights the transition from the Law to the era of grace and truth embodied in Jesus.