When Jesus states he came to fulfill the law, it means he came to complete its ultimate purpose and bring to fruition everything it foreshadowed, rather than to abolish or negate it. He did not come to undo God's law, but to perfect and finish the very thing the law pointed to from its inception.
Understanding "Fulfill" Versus "Abolish"
The distinction between "fulfilling" and "abolishing" is crucial for understanding Jesus' mission. It emphasizes continuity and completion rather than destruction or cancellation.
Jesus' statement highlights that:
- He did not intend to disregard or eliminate the divine principles established by God.
- His role was to bring to a perfect conclusion the divine plan that the law was an integral part of.
The Law's Purpose and Its Completion in Jesus
God gave the law to Israel for a specific purpose. Jesus' arrival marked the culmination of that purpose. This includes:
- Revealing God's Nature and Standards: The law perfectly outlined God's righteous character and His expectations for humanity. Jesus perfectly embodied this righteousness and lived a sinless life, fulfilling the law's moral demands.
- Exposing Sin and the Need for a Savior: The law demonstrated humanity's inability to perfectly keep God's commands, thereby highlighting the universal need for a redeemer. Jesus fulfilled this by becoming the perfect sacrifice, offering atonement for sins that the law could only point to through temporary rituals.
- Pointing to a Greater Reality: Many aspects of the Old Testament law, particularly the ceremonial laws involving sacrifices, temple rituals, and priestly duties, served as shadows or types of the coming Messiah and His work. Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension completed these types, making them obsolete because their ultimate reality had arrived. For instance, the animal sacrifices pointed to the ultimate, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus.
How Jesus Completed the Law's Intent
Jesus fulfilled the law in several profound ways:
- Perfect Obedience: He lived a life of flawless obedience to every command of God, something no human could achieve.
- Ultimate Sacrifice: His death on the cross served as the perfect and final atonement for sin, fulfilling the requirements of the sacrificial system.
- Deepening Its Meaning: Jesus elevated the understanding of the law from mere external adherence to an internal transformation of the heart (e.g., teaching that anger is like murder in the heart, and lust is like adultery).
- Establishing the New Covenant: The law of Moses was part of the Old Covenant. Jesus inaugurated the New Covenant, where the law is written on hearts by the Holy Spirit, enabling a deeper, more intimate relationship with God.
Fulfilling vs. Undoing: A Comparison
Understanding the difference can be clarified by comparing the concepts directly:
| Aspect | Fulfilling the Law | Undoing or Negating the Law |
|---|---|---|
| Core Action | Bringing to completion; achieving its ultimate purpose | Abolishing; rendering void; making irrelevant |
| Relationship to Law | Continuity and progression; law finds its ultimate meaning | Disruption and rejection; law loses its authority and purpose |
| Jesus' Role | The culmination and embodiment of the law's intent | An agent against divine revelation and established order |
| Outcome | The law's objectives are perfectly met in Christ | The law ceases to have any binding or guiding power |
In essence, Jesus fulfilled the law by being its perfect embodiment, its ultimate end, and the One who brought its prophetic purposes to glorious completion.
