Gavin Howe
Jesus is recorded as saying that he did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. This statement, found in the Gospel of Matthew, is often interpreted as Jesus emphasizing the importance of following God's laws, rather than man-made traditions or the written code of Moses. Christians are considered spiritual Israel, and while they are no longer bound by Mosaic Law, they are still expected to follow God's commandments, such as keeping the Sabbath. Jesus' fulfillment of the law is seen as granting eternal salvation and making people right with God through grace and faith.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did Jesus abolish the Old Law? | No |
| Did Jesus fulfil the Old Law? | Yes |
| What did Jesus say about the Law? | "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. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished." (Matthew 5:17–18) |
| What is the distinction between Old and New Laws? | God's law and the laws of Moses |
| What is the Law now? | "The law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2) |
| What is the basis of the new law? | "Know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified" (Galatians 2:16) |
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What You'll Learn
Jesus did not abolish the law, but fulfilled it
Jesus did not abolish the law but fulfilled it. In Matthew 5:17–18, Jesus says:
> 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. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Here, Jesus is speaking directly to the religious leaders of His time, the Scribes and Pharisees. These leaders had built a system of man-made traditions around God's law, often focusing on external appearances of righteousness while missing the heart of what God truly desired.
Jesus' declaration that He came to fulfil the Law and the Prophets, not to abolish them, contains two statements in one. There is something Jesus did and something He did not do. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, regardless of what the Pharisees accused Him of. Instead, He promoted the authority of the Law of God, emphasizing its eternal nature.
Jesus' fulfilment of the Law and Prophets obtained our eternal salvation. No more were priests required to offer sacrifices and enter the holy place. Jesus has done that for us, once and for all. By grace through faith, we are made right with God:
> He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
We are now under "the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). As such, we are no longer under the Mosaic Law, but we serve "in the new life of the Spirit" (Romans 7:6). The Spirit guides us through the paths of God's law, and we do what is right because the Spirit tells us to do it, not because Moses tells us to do it.
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The Old Covenant was only a shadow of the good things that are coming
The Old Covenant, also known as the Mosaic Law, was the legal system that governed the relationship between God and his people, Israel, before the coming of Jesus Christ. It included ceremonies, sacrifices, and other external regulations that were to be followed by the Israelites.
Jesus, however, brought a new covenant, which fulfilled the old one. This is evident in his words in Matthew 5:17–18: "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. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."
Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and his fulfillment of the Law obtained our eternal salvation. As stated in Hebrews 10:1, the Old Covenant was only a shadow of the good things to come: "The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves." The tabernacle and temple, for instance, were "copies of the true things" (Hebrews 9:24).
With the coming of Christ, the need for priests to offer sacrifices in the holy place was done away with. As the author of Hebrews explains: "But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, that is, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation" (Hebrews 9:11).
The New Covenant, therefore, brings a deeper understanding of God and a more intimate relationship with Him. It is characterized by internal change and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, rather than external regulations. As such, Christians are now under "the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2) and are called to live by faith in Him, not by the works of the law.
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The Law had an expiration date
Jesus' declaration contains two key messages. Firstly, he clarifies that he did not come to abolish the Law, contrary to the accusations made by the Pharisees. Secondly, he states that he came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. This indicates that the Law had a purpose that was yet to be accomplished, and Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was meant to fulfill this purpose.
The idea that the Law had an expiration date is further supported by the understanding that the Law and the Prophets were only "a shadow of the good things that are coming". The tabernacle and temple, for instance, were considered "holy places made with hands" but were never intended to be permanent. They were described as "copies of the true things", indicating that they were temporary representations of something greater to come.
Jesus' fulfillment of the Law brings about our eternal salvation. Through his sacrifice, he takes away our sins and cancels our legal indebtedness. As stated in Colossians 2:14, "He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross".
It is important to distinguish between God's law and the laws of Moses. God's law, as summed up by Jesus, consists of the two greatest commandments: our duty of love to God and our duty of love to our neighbors. These commandments are eternal and form the foundation of "all the law and the prophets". On the other hand, the laws of Moses, referred to as "the letter" or "the written code", are no longer served. Instead, we serve "in the new life of the Spirit", guided by God's Spirit to do what is right.
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Christians are considered spiritual Israel
The concept of "spiritual Israel" is a complex and disputed topic in Christian theology, with some arguing that it contradicts Scripture. It is important to note that the term "spiritual Israel" is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, which maintains a clear distinction between the terms "Israel" and "Church".
However, there are passages in the New Testament that suggest a "spiritual Israel" by echoing terminology from the Old Testament. For instance, First Peter 2:9 uses similar phrasing as Exodus 19:5–6 when referring to Christians. Galatians 3:29 and Isaiah 65:9 both use the term "heirs". Ephesians 2:12–13 and Romans 10:12 emphasise that there is no national preference with respect to salvation. Galatians 3:7 further highlights that all Christians become spiritual "sons of Abraham" by faith.
These verses indicate that Christians can be seen as "spiritual Israel" in the sense that they are recipients of God's promises and blessings, which were once exclusively associated with the nation of Israel. This interpretation, known as replacement theology, suggests that the Church has replaced Israel in God's plan. However, this theology is controversial as it contradicts other Scriptures that affirm God's unchanging promises to Israel (Romans 11:1–2, 11, 23, 26, 29).
Jesus himself emphasised the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets, rather than their abolishment (Matthew 5:17–18). He fulfilled the Law, obtaining eternal salvation for humanity (Hebrews 8:10, 9:24, 10:1-14). Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are justified and granted righteousness (Galatians 2:16, 6:2). Therefore, while Christians may be considered "spiritual Israel" in the sense of sharing a spiritual heritage, it is important to recognise that this does not negate God's unique relationship with the nation of Israel as promised in Scripture.
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God's law is summed up by Jesus as the two greatest commandments
Jesus summed up God's law with the two greatest commandments: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself." (Matthew 22:37–40).
Jesus was responding to a Pharisee, considered an "expert in the law" (Matthew 22:34–36), who asked him which commandment was the greatest. Jesus' answer was a perfect response, not only to the Pharisee but also to all modern-day "Pharisees" who judge a person's righteousness by their outward conformity to a set of laws. Jesus' two commandments summarise all the laws and commands in Scripture.
Jesus' two greatest commandments do not replace the ten commandments of the Old Testament. Instead, they sum them up and give them new meaning. The first four of the ten commandments are about loving God, and the last six are about loving each other. So, if we truly keep Jesus' two commandments, we will keep the ten commandments and what the prophets said.
Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfil it. He emphasised the eternal nature of the Word of God and promoted the authority of the Law of God. By fulfilling the Law, Jesus obtained our eternal salvation. No more were priests required to offer sacrifices and enter the holy place (Hebrews 10:8–14). Jesus has done that for us, once and for all.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Jesus said, “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. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished”.
The old law refers to the Mosaic Law or the written code of Moses, which includes the 10 Commandments.
The new law is "the law of Christ", which grants us His righteousness as a free gift.
Jesus fulfilled the old law by obtaining our eternal salvation. No more were priests required to offer sacrifices and enter the holy place.
The old and new laws are distinct but related. The new law, or "the law of Christ", fulfils the purpose of the old law, which was never abrogated according to Jesus.
