Dismissing the “Old” Testament – Part 4
Dear Phil,
Didn’t Jesus fulfill the Old Testament? If Jesus fulfilled it, how does that not mean that the OT is done, finished, or “over with”?
Tom
Didn’t Jesus fulfill the Old Testament? If Jesus fulfilled it, how does that not mean that the OT is done, finished, or “over with”?
Tom
Dear Tom,
Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:17–19 NASB).
First, notice that Jesus did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. The word “abolish” means “to end the effect or validity of something, put an end to” (BDAG). 4 Maccabees (a 1st century Jewish philosophical treatise traditionally ascribed to Josephus) illustrates well what it would mean to “abolish” the law.
In chapter 4, the author of 4 Maccabees writes about the Syrian tyrant, Antiochus Epiphanes, who “issued a decree that if any [Jew] were found observing the ancestral law they should die. When he had not been able in any way to abolish the people’s observance of the law by his decrees, but saw that all his threats and punishments were being disregarded…he tried through torture to compel everyone in the nation to eat defiling foods and to renounce Judaism” (4 Macc 4:23–26).
If the OT were abolished, it would no longer be followed, obeyed, or be useful in any way. Since Jesus states outright, “I did not come to abolish the law or the prophets,” He must not have put an end to them or set them aside.
Second, notice in Matthew 5:18 that Jesus says not the slightest element of the law will pass away until all is “accomplished” or “happens.” We can say without question that everything in the Hebrew Scripture has not been fulfilled. There are scores of unfulfilled prophecies about Jesus’ second coming, the new heavens and earth, the abolishment of death, and so on. So, just on the basis of Matthew 5:18 we should conclude that the OT has not passed away.
Third, in Matthew 5:19 Jesus condemns any breaking or annulling of the least commandment. Instead, He says the one who does the commandments and teaches others to do them will be great in the kingdom of heaven. Doing and teaching the least of the commandments is what Jesus directs.
So then, what does Jesus mean when He says He came to “fulfill” the law? Here’s the heart of the answer: “Every Old Testament text must be viewed in light of Jesus’ person and ministry and the changes introduced by the new covenant He inaugurated” (Blomberg, New American Commentary, 104). The word “fulfilled” is like a diamond. It has many facets. Depending on which facet the light hits, its color changes. “Fulfill” means different things depending on the aspect of the law and prophets we’re considering: command, narrative, promise, prediction, or type.
Jesus fulfills the commands of Scripture by keeping them. Jesus perfectly kept the law to fulfill all righteousness (Matt 3:15). Jesus fulfills the narratives of the law by being their ultimate point. All the OT stories are the “back story” that leads to Jesus. Jesus fulfills the OT promises by being the means by which God keeps His promises. As Paul says, “All the promises of God find their Yes in him” (2 Cor 1:20). That means that we receive everything God has promised us only through Jesus. Jesus fulfills the OT prophetic predictions by being, saying, or doing what was predicted. Jesus fulfills OT types by being the ultimate reality which they temporarily represented. The OT sacrifices, priesthood, and kingship are examples of types or shadows that Jesus Himself now fulfills (Col 2:17).
Given the context of Matthew 5:21–48 where Jesus teaches the fuller meaning of the law, it seems that Jesus also fulfills the law and prophets by showing their full and true significance. That’s my best understanding of what it means that Jesus fulfilled the law and the prophets.
Blessings,
Phil
Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:17–19 NASB).
First, notice that Jesus did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. The word “abolish” means “to end the effect or validity of something, put an end to” (BDAG). 4 Maccabees (a 1st century Jewish philosophical treatise traditionally ascribed to Josephus) illustrates well what it would mean to “abolish” the law.
In chapter 4, the author of 4 Maccabees writes about the Syrian tyrant, Antiochus Epiphanes, who “issued a decree that if any [Jew] were found observing the ancestral law they should die. When he had not been able in any way to abolish the people’s observance of the law by his decrees, but saw that all his threats and punishments were being disregarded…he tried through torture to compel everyone in the nation to eat defiling foods and to renounce Judaism” (4 Macc 4:23–26).
If the OT were abolished, it would no longer be followed, obeyed, or be useful in any way. Since Jesus states outright, “I did not come to abolish the law or the prophets,” He must not have put an end to them or set them aside.
Second, notice in Matthew 5:18 that Jesus says not the slightest element of the law will pass away until all is “accomplished” or “happens.” We can say without question that everything in the Hebrew Scripture has not been fulfilled. There are scores of unfulfilled prophecies about Jesus’ second coming, the new heavens and earth, the abolishment of death, and so on. So, just on the basis of Matthew 5:18 we should conclude that the OT has not passed away.
Third, in Matthew 5:19 Jesus condemns any breaking or annulling of the least commandment. Instead, He says the one who does the commandments and teaches others to do them will be great in the kingdom of heaven. Doing and teaching the least of the commandments is what Jesus directs.
So then, what does Jesus mean when He says He came to “fulfill” the law? Here’s the heart of the answer: “Every Old Testament text must be viewed in light of Jesus’ person and ministry and the changes introduced by the new covenant He inaugurated” (Blomberg, New American Commentary, 104). The word “fulfilled” is like a diamond. It has many facets. Depending on which facet the light hits, its color changes. “Fulfill” means different things depending on the aspect of the law and prophets we’re considering: command, narrative, promise, prediction, or type.
Jesus fulfills the commands of Scripture by keeping them. Jesus perfectly kept the law to fulfill all righteousness (Matt 3:15). Jesus fulfills the narratives of the law by being their ultimate point. All the OT stories are the “back story” that leads to Jesus. Jesus fulfills the OT promises by being the means by which God keeps His promises. As Paul says, “All the promises of God find their Yes in him” (2 Cor 1:20). That means that we receive everything God has promised us only through Jesus. Jesus fulfills the OT prophetic predictions by being, saying, or doing what was predicted. Jesus fulfills OT types by being the ultimate reality which they temporarily represented. The OT sacrifices, priesthood, and kingship are examples of types or shadows that Jesus Himself now fulfills (Col 2:17).
Given the context of Matthew 5:21–48 where Jesus teaches the fuller meaning of the law, it seems that Jesus also fulfills the law and prophets by showing their full and true significance. That’s my best understanding of what it means that Jesus fulfilled the law and the prophets.
Blessings,
Phil