Matthew 5:17 – 18 ” “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets.1 I did not come to destroy but to complete. Footnote: 1The Law and the Prophets is a term used for the pre-Messianic Scriptures.
For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done.”
Why did YAHSHUA have to address false assumptions? Evidently there were rumors that HE was discontinuing the Law…and possibly even the Prophets of the Scriptures. Why do we have to address this question? Because the same false assumptions exist today!
Verse 17a “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets”
“destroy”: Strong’s Hebrew & Greek Dictionaries
G2647 “kataluo”
From G2596 and G3089; to loosen down (disintegrate), that is, (by
implication) to demolish (literally or figuratively); specifically (compare G2646)
to halt for the night:—destroy, dissolve, be guest, lodge, come to nought,
overthrow, throw down.
Notice the context: It appears that HE is referring to BOTH the Law AND the Prophets. The context seems to suggest that whatever HIS intention is for EITHER, is HIS intention for BOTH. Has HE done away with the Prophets?
Verse 17b “I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
“fulfill”: Strong’s Hebrew & Greek Dictionaries
G4137 “pleroo” play roo o
From G4134; to make replete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a
hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute
(an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.:—
accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full
(come), fully preach, perfect, supply.
The following verses use the same Greek word “pleroo”;
Matthew 3:15 “But Yahshua answering, said to him, “Permit it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fill all righteousness.”
– Is YAHSHuA saying here “to do away with or discontinue all righteousness?”
Philippians 2:2 “…make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, one in being and of purpose…”
– Is Paul saying here “to do away with or discontinue his joy?”
Colossians 1:25 “…of which I became a servant according to the administration of Elohim which was given to me for you, to fill the word of Elohim…”
– Is he saying here “to do away with or discontinue the Word of YAH?”
2Thess 1:11 “To this end we always pray for you that our Elohim would count you worthy of this calling, and complete all the good pleasure of goodness, and the work of belief with power…”
– Is he saying here “to do away with or discontinue HIS good pleasure?”
Proponents of the belief that YAHSHUA “fulfilled” the law from this point on in this chapter, thus “discontinuing” or “doing away with law altogether”, also say that HE intends to now introduce a “new standard or set of laws” state that HE now proceeds to negate the “Old Testament Law” throughout the remainder of this chapter. These people became known as “Antinomianists” during the 2nd / 3rd centuries. This word came from the Greek word for “lawlessness” found throughout the New Testament. (See References on page 2)
Here is what the Holman’s Bible Dictionary says about this early movement:
ANTINOMIANISM (an tih noh’ mih an ihsm) The false teaching that since faith alone is necessary for salvation, one is free from the moral obligations of the law. The word antinomianism is not used in the Bible, but the idea is spoken of. Paul appears to have been accused of being an antinomian (see Rom. 3:8; 6:1, 15). While it is true that obedience to the law will never earn salvation for anyone (Eph. 2:8-9), it is equally true that those who are saved are expected to live a life full of good works (see, for example, Matt. 7:16-20; Eph. 2:10; Col. 1:10; Jas. 2:14-26). Since we have been freed from the dominion of sin through belief in YAHSHUA, we have also been freed to practice the righteousness demanded by YAH (Rom. 6:12-22).
In Legge’s “Forerunner’s and Rivals of Christianity” a work on the history of the Early Church, he states”
(in the late 2nd to early 3rd centuries) “Some well-known Church Fathers who came from Gnosticism were Epiphanius, who had been a Nicolaitan, Ambrose of Milan, who had been a Valentinian, and Augustine, who had been a Manichean for 9 years before joining the Catholic Church. All these Gnostic sects were distinguished by their rejection of the Old Testament Law, some of them even rejecting the Mighty One of the Old Testament, and some of them even equated the Mighty One of the Old Testament with the Evil One! In their rejection of the Old Testament Law, the Valentinian Gnostics even rejected all moral laws, leading to scandalous living.
The Marcionites were later on refuted, but they also contributed toward the aversion to, and even rejection of, the Old Testament. Manes and his followers, the Manicheans, from among whom Augustine came, “looked on Judaism with horror, rejected the Old Testament entirely…”
“LAWLESSNESS”
G458
From G459; illegality, that is, violation of law or (generally) wickedness:—
iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.
References to “lawlessness” in the New Testament:
Matthew 7:23 – And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Matthew 13:41-42 – ““The Son of Aḏam shall send out His messengers, and they shall gather out of His reign all the stumbling-blocks, and those doing lawlessness, and shall throw them into the furnace of fire – there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 23:38 – ““So you too outwardly indeed appear righteous to men, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
Matthew 24:12 – ““And because of the increase in lawlessness, the love of many shall become cold.”
Romans 6:19 – ” I speak as a man, because of the weakness of your flesh. For even as you did present your members as servants of uncleanness, and of lawlessness resulting in lawlessness, so now present your members as servants of righteousness resulting in set-apartness.”
2Corinthians 6:14 – Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
2Thessalonians 2:7 – For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work;
Hebrews 1:9 – (quoting from numerous Psalms & Prophets)You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness
1John 3:4 – Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
Please notice that the consistent use of this word “lawlessness” in these verses, contextually is describing some very serious consequences!
- In light of these verses is it safe for anyone to say that YAHSHUA is saying in Matthew 5, that HE has “done away with ALL Old Testament Law?”
- When does YAHSHUA say that this will be accomplished?
Matthew 5:18 – “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.”
When is that going to happen? Sometime in the future according to these verses:
2Peter 3:10 – But the day of the Master will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Rev 20:11 – Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
Rev 21:1 – Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
Again, in light of what the Scriptures say, is it wise to say that YAHSHUA in Matthew 5:17 is suggesting that The LAW of YAH is NOT relevant any longer?
You decide. I pray that you make your decision based on what the Scriptures are saying instead of what lawless men are saying…