Jesus came to fulfill the Law

Article for Sunday February 8, 2026

Matthew 5:17 17“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Jesus Christ has made Himself known to the world around Him.  Not the whole world but in part that which is the people of God, the Israelites.  We know Israel was brought up on the laws God gave to Moses for His people Israel.  God’s laws are what we know as the Ten Commandments. 

The law has certain demands.  That is, if you break the law then you must suffer the consequences that are demanded by the law.  Man’s law contains the penalty of jail, prison, death, and probation.  God’s law contains only one form of punishment and that is death.

As Jesus says, He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill the law.  All punishments from man’s law and God’s law are still on the table.  There still is a consequence that looms over the heads of those who break the law.  But Jesus said He came to fulfill the law.

To fulfill the law is not to take away the punishments due when one breaks man’s law.  Rather, Jesus took the punishment for our sins in breaking God’s law.  Now if one breaks man’s law, one has also broken God’s law.  Though you might suffer the consequences of man’s law you might not have to suffer the consequences of God’s law due to Jesus’ fulfillment of God’s law.

Matthew 5:18 18For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Because Jesus was crucified for our sins He has paid the ultimate price, that is death, for us because of our sins.  This means we who believe and follow God no longer are subject to the consequences of our sin which is death.  Not that death is off the table of consequences but that you realize believing and following God is to love God as He loves you.

We can still separate ourselves from God.  So mere confession or false confession will further separate you from God.  As God’s love for us is genuine so our love of God should be genuine.

God’s law is good, though it does not save us it is good to follow God’s law as it is part of God’s love for us.  While there is life in this world or from this world the law will remain.  God’s law is designed to show us what we are supposed to be.  God’s law serves as a mirror to show us what we are, (a sinner).  God’s law is a means to help us live good and peaceable lives for we are God’s children adopted through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:19 19Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

This is Jesus Christ talking to us.  If we just read this passage without reading the rest of the Holy Bible, we will become self-righteous as many already have.  If you are righteous and not self-righteous and teach God’s law to others than you will be called great in heaven.

Let me warn you if you teach God’s law and pretend to be righteous for the sake of being great in the kingdom of God you missed the boat.  Why do we need to know more of scripture than this passage?  Because we need to know we are not righteous by our own accord.  We are only made righteous when we are clothed with our Lord Jesus Christ.  This is not something we put on but Jesus Himself adorns us through His body and blood.

Matthew 5:20 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

This passage in itself, sounds hopeless, but rest assured this is not a statement of hopelessness, rather, this is a statement of hopefulness.  Jesus Christ justifies us to be clothed in His righteousness.  The Holy Spirit sanctifies us so that the righteousness of our Lord remains on us.  And the Father sets us free from our captivity to sin as He sees us through the eyes of Jesus Christ His Son and the Holy Spirit which bonds us together with His holiness.  Amen.

Written by Pastor Curtis A. May