Understanding Jesus's Words: Fulfilling vs Destroying the Law

Have you ever wrestled with Jesus's statement in Matthew 5:17 - "Think not that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets; I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill"? This profound declaration holds a key to understanding the relationship between God's law, Christ's mission, and our salvation today.

The True Meaning of "Fulfill"

The Greek word used for "fulfill" (pleroo) means to accomplish, complete, or bring to fullness - not to terminate or end. Think of how a spouse might say "you complete me" - they don't mean the other person ends them, but rather brings them to their full potential. Similarly, when Jesus speaks of fulfilling the law, He means bringing it to its complete intended purpose and fullest expression.

How Did Jesus Fulfill the Law?

Jesus fulfilled the law in two crucial ways:

1. Perfect Obedience: He lived in complete accordance with God's law, without sin or fault. As Hebrews 4:15 tells us, He "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

2. Complete Embodiment: Jesus became the perfect high priest and the perfect sacrifice - fulfilling every requirement of the law that we could never achieve. He was the lamb without spot or blemish, the ultimate expression of what the law pointed toward.

   
   

The Law's Continuing Role

Does this fulfillment mean the law is now irrelevant? Paul addresses this directly in Romans 3:31: "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid! Rather, we establish the law."

The law continues to serve vital purposes: - It defines sin and righteousness - It reveals God's unchanging standards - It points us to our need for Christ - It guides righteous living through faith

Grace and Law: Understanding the Relationship

A crucial distinction emerges: while we are not saved by keeping the law (which is impossible for humans), the law remains God's standard of righteousness. Grace trumps works for salvation, but doesn't nullify God's righteous standards.

Consider this profound truth: If Christ fulfilled God's standard of righteousness (the law) and we are declared righteous through faith in Him, then the same righteousness Christ fulfilled should be manifested in our lives through faith.

Practical Application for Today

This understanding transforms how we view both law and grace:

1. Embrace Grace: Salvation comes through faith in Christ alone, not through attempting to keep the law perfectly

2. Honor God's Standards: While not seeking righteousness through works, we submit to God's word as His unchanging standard

3. Walk in Faith: Through faith in Christ, we can manifest the righteousness He fulfilled, not by our own strength but through His Spirit

4. Avoid Extremes: Don't fall into either legalism (seeking righteousness through law-keeping) or license (dismissing God's standards entirely)

   
   

The Path Forward

Jesus's fulfillment of the law provides the perfect model: complete submission to God's righteousness while walking in grace through faith. The law was never meant to save us - it was meant to show us our need for a Savior and guide us in righteous living once saved.

Remember: When Jesus said He came to fulfill the law, He demonstrated both the impossibility of human perfection and the possibility of living in God's righteousness through faith in Him. This remains the pattern for believers today - not striving to keep rules for salvation, but allowing Christ's fulfilled righteousness to be expressed through lives of faith.

As you consider these truths, ask yourself: Are you trying to achieve righteousness through works, or are you allowing Christ's fulfilled righteousness to work through your faith? The answer makes all the difference in your Christian walk.