Site of Sermon on the Mount, overlooking Sea of Galilee
As I have shown in my previous posts, Jesus Christ by His own direct statement makes it abundantly clear that He did not abolish the law, as verses 18-19 records. However, the full meaning of the word “fulfil” had been mostly overlooked, despite all the attention given to it. Notice the meaning “to make replete”, “to cram”, “level up”, “to complete”, “fill up”, “fully preach”, “supply” – or even the words “end” or “expire”.
After declaring that He did not come to “destroy” the law but to fulfil (v.17-20), Jesus Christ went on addressing specific commandments or statutes:
Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Mat 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself
Mat 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth…
Now, let’s consider this honestly:
Did Jesus Christ say that it is now okay to do any of those things that were prohibited in the old?
Did Jesus say those commandments had now become irrelevant or less important to us today?
Read the rest of the verses I cited above for yourself.
Clearly not, isn’t it?!!
Instead He said that whereas in the past, people knew only the actual killing to be wrong. Now Christ is telling us that by just being “angry without a cause” would make one equally guilty of judgment (v.22). Whereas in the past it was wrong to commit actual act of adultery, now Christ is showing us that by just looking at a woman with lust, would make one guilty of adultery (v.28).
What had Christ just done to God’s law? Does it sound like He abolished it?
Clearly not!
He actually just made the law more “replete”, “crammed” it, “leveled it up”, “filled it up”. Jesus had just “fully preached” the deep and full meaning and intent of the “old” law. What Christ had actually done was complete the “job” that He started at Mt. Sinai.
What do I mean?
Christ, as I have shown in an earlier post was the actual giver of the Ten Commandments. He wrote the Ten Commandments with His own fingers on tables of stone [Deut. 9:10]. But He was giving it to carnal Isrelites who can only understand the letter of the law. He did not then reveal the full intent of the law [even then Israel failed miserably to keep the letter of the law!!]. But when Christ came He “completed” what He started at Mt. Sinai. At Mt. Olivet Jesus revealed the full spiritual intent of the law. This is in fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy:
The Hebrew word translated “honourable” means: expand or magnificent, while the word “magnify” comes from a Hebrew word that also means “promote”. So the real truth is that Christ was promoting and increasing the importance of the law that He gave at Mt. Sinai rather than diminishing it. Jesus did this in time for the coming of the Holy Spirit which was to occur shortly after He leave and ascend to heaven. The coming of the Holy Spirit is what would fulfil God’s promise in Jer.31:31-33 concerning the “New Covenant”. In this “New Covenant” God promised:
Here we see that rather than abolishing the law, God promised to “put My law in their inward parts and write them in their hearts”. Through Ezekiel, God reveals how it is going to be done:
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
So it is very clear, that instead of abolishing – or even changing – the law, God through the New Covenant promises and intends to change our heart. Instead of giving a new law, God will give us a new heart that will enable us to walk in His laws. He will do it by the power of His Holy Spirit!
How clear the word of God is!
[This is Part 5 of the series Did Jesus Christ Abolish the Law?]