Matthew 5:17
The Fulfillment of the Law
Read Matthew 5:17 Using Other Translations
What does Matthew 5:17 mean?
Think not that I am come to destroy the law or
the
prophets
From verse 3 to the 10th inclusive, our Lord seems chiefly to
respect the whole body of his true disciples and followers; from
thence, to the 16th inclusive, he addresses the disciples, whom
he had called to be ministers of the word; and in this "verse",
to the end of his discourse, he applies himself to the whole
multitude in general; many of whom might be ready to imagine,
that by the light of the Gospel, he was giving his disciples
instructions to spread in the world, he was going to set aside,
as useless, the law of Moses, or the prophets, the interpreters
of it, and commentators upon it. Christ knew the thoughts of
their hearts, that they had taken up such prejudices in their
minds against him; wherefore he says, "think not"; he was
sensible what objections they were forming, and what an
improvement they would make of them against his being the
Messiah, and therefore prevents them, saying,
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
By "the law" is meant the moral law, as appears from the whole
discourse following: this he came not to "destroy", or loose
men's obligations to, as a rule of walk and conversation, but "to
fulfil" it; which he did doctrinally, by setting it forth fully,
and giving the true sense and meaning of it; and practically, by
yielding perfect obedience to all its commands, whereby he became
"the end", the fulfilling end of it. By "the prophets" are meant
the writings of the prophets, in which they illustrated and
explained the law of Moses; urged the duties of it; encouraged
men thereunto by promises; and directed the people to the
Messiah, and to an expectation of the blessings of grace by him:
all which explanations, promises, and prophecies, were so far
from being made void by Christ, that they receive their full
accomplishment in him. The Jews F20 pretend that these words of
Christ are contrary to the religion and faith of his followers,
who assert, that the law of Moses is abolished; which is easily
refuted, by observing the exact agreement between Christ and the
Apostle Paul, ( Romans 3:31 ) (
10:4 ) and
whenever he, or any other of the apostles, speaks of the
abrogation of the law, it is to be understood of the ceremonial
law, which in course ceased by being fulfilled; or if of the
moral law, not of the matter, but of the ministry of it. This
passage of Christ is cited in the Talmud F21, after
this manner:
``it is written in it, i.e. in the Gospel, "I Aven", neither to diminish from the law of Moses am I come, "but", or "nor" (for in the Amsterdam edition they have inserted (alw) between two hooks), to add to the law of Moses am I come.''Which, with their last correction, though not a just citation, yet tolerably well expresses the sense; but a most blasphemous character is affixed to Christ, when they call him "Aven"; which signifies "iniquity" itself, and seems to be a wilful corruption of the word "Amen", which begins the next "verse".
F20 R. Isaac Chizuk Emuna, par. 2. c. 10. p. 401.
F21 T. Bab. Sabbat. fol. 116. 2.
