“For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled”
(Matthew 5:18 NKJV)

Jesus came to fulfill the Old law

As Jesus was entering His work, it was important to state what He came to do. The scribes and Pharisees would accuse Him of opposing the Law. Early in His ministry, as His disciples plucked heads of grain, “the Pharisees said to Him, Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” — Mark 2:26.

In due time the law would be fulfilled, and attention would turn to the new covenant. Even His disciples had to be prepared for this jolt.

Jesus makes it plain that He did not come to destroy the law or the prophets (Matthew 5:17). There is a difference in destroying and fulfilling. Jesus fulfilled types of the law and prophecies of the prophets.

Some think the old law was in a constant state of change while Jesus was on earth. This is not true. He assured them that “one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18).

Even today the Old Testament remains authoritative (it is God’s word), but it points readers to the New Testament. Though we profit from studying the Old Testament, now we hear Jesus (compare Matthew 17:5).

The very context of Matthew 5:18 shows what God expects of His people. “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:19).

God has always required respect for His every word. “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you” — Deuteronomy 4:2.

Jesus warns against a casual and careless attitude toward the Word. His first answer to satan says it all: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” — Matthew 4:4.

Any Jew who disrespected God’s old covenant would probably show the same dangerous attitude if he decided to become a Christian. Sadly, this disregard for biblical authority is all too common in our day. Remember: the word that He has spoken will judge us in the last day (John 12:48).

– Rick Duggin