CHRIST FULFILLED THE LAW

Matthew 5:17-18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Christian characteristics Jesus outlined previously, in what is commonly referred to as the Beatitudes (Vss. 3-12), as well as the righteous calling of His followers to glorify God, instead of themselves, by being good examples and doing good works (Vss. 13-16), may have seemed foreign to His hearers. Such teachings, no doubt, directly opposed the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees, and, if true, they could very well contend that Jesus was attempting to destroy the Law of Moses given to the children of Israel by God. Aided by the scribes, the Pharisees became the accepted source of Jewish law - the authority interpreting the Law of Moses. However, the traditions of their fathers kept them from recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. Therefore, the Pharisees rejected Jesus as their Savior and their King. They strongly opposed His teachings with many bitter confrontations, especially regarding Sabbath Day activities. Their disagreement was so strong, and their avid, erring opinion, which was corrupting Law of Moses, was so fixed in their minds, that they sought to destroy Jesus (Mark 3:6).

With this prevalent opinion circulating among the Jewish people, Jesus corrects it by saying; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill (the law). When Jesus came from Galilee to the river Jordan to be baptized, John, at first, refused to do so. Jesus then said, suffer it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Following this statement, He was baptized by John, ...the heavens were opened, ...the Spirit of God descended on Him like a dove, and God confirmed Jesus as the Messiah, the Savior of the world by saying, this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (See Matt. 3:13-17). Jesus, indeed, fulfilled God's righteousness, making it available to all people of the world. Planned by God from the beginning of the time (Eph. 3:9), Jesus Christ was promised through the seed of Abraham, brought into the world through Jewish heritage, preached God's message of salvation throughout the land of Israel, was crucified on the cross of Calvary, was buried, arose from death, was witnessed by many, ascended into heaven, and was given the supreme power over His kingdom on earth and in heaven. Thus fulfilling the Old Testament law and the prophesies of God's chosen messengers. God's kingdom was finally established - the church of Christ on earth, and the eternal abode prepared for faithful Christians in heaven. Christ's church will endure until the end of time, and heaven remains eternal.

Jesus, and most of His followers were accused of "destroying the law" by their preaching. Stephen was charged of speaking blasphemous words against Moses, and against God, ...against this holy place, and the law (See Acts 6:8-8:2). He was brought before the Jewish tribunal, testified against by false witnesses, convicted of blasphemy, carried out of the city and stoned until dead, to which Saul of Tarsus consented to the death of this Christian martyr. It was this same Saul, whose name was changed to Paul, whowas converted by Jesus Christ as he traveled on the road to Damascus, was baptized into the body of Christ, and became one of Jesus most successful preachers of God's word. He, too, was accused of "destroying the law," and suffered the same persecution, as did Christ, and Stephen, though not to death. Paul was accused of persuading men to worship God contrary to the law (Acts 18:12-13), as well as teaching all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place (Acts 21:26-28). Both Stephen and Paul were falsely accused because the Law of Moses and the prophets had been fulfilled in the coming of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom, the church of Christ.

Indeed, God's law to the people of Israel, the Law of Moses, was never to be destroyed until it was completely fulfilled in Christ. Even if heaven and earth would pass away (which is not possible), God's law would not be destroyed until it was fulfilled. It would be fulfilled in its entirety, down to the very last jot and tittle - down to the smallest letter and accent in the Hebrew language. The completeness of the fulfillment of the Old Testament law - God's law for the Jewish nation - could not be expressed in any stronger terms than those used by Jesus as he addressed the multitude of His disciples from the mountain in Galilee. The Son of God was sent, not only to fulfill the Old Testament will of God, but also to confirm its truths. Jesus was the culmination of the very purpose for which the Old Testament was given. Praise God!