What did Christ accomplish or fulfill according to this passage of Scripture found here at Matthew 5:17?
When Christ sat down on the mountain he began to teach the great teaching, he talked about being or finding happiness then he focuses attention upon the Law of God.
Matthew 5:17-20… Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill (G4137). 18 For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
The meaning of the word fulfill means, to bring to completion or reality to achieve or realize. So, in the context of what Christ said, that he was not going to end the Law nor destroy it, but he was going to fulfill it by making it a reality, but there was a payment of the blood sacrifice that had to be paid first.
The apostle Paul goes into great detail in his letter to the Hebrews to explain how Christ became the high priest perpetually, thus fulfilling that role in the law. Hebrews 7:1-3 He became the ultimate blood sacrifice that the law also called for.
Hebrews 11:12-22…Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. 12 But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. 13 He is now waiting until His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after He says: 16 This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws on their hearts and write them on their minds, 17 He adds: I will never again remember their sins and their lawless acts. 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way He has opened for us through the curtain (that is, His flesh), 21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God
The Scriptures a very clear. Christ did away with sin not the Law. Verse 16 speaks of the new covenant God will have with mankind.
Christ became that perpetual sacrifice paid with his life so that he could make the promises of God a fulfilled reality. Christ became the spirit that was sent forth to make new your heart. John 3:3-8, 1 John 3:9-10
Remember what we have learned about the promise to the people of God at Ezekiel 11:18-20. That he would give them a new spirit so they could follow the statutes, ordinances, and practice them.
Back to Matthew 5:17, now after explaining that he was not there to do away with the Law or destroy it. He states in verse 19 saying; therefore, anyone breaking or teaching will be called least in the Kingdom of God, but anybody teaching will be called great in the Kingdom of God.
The Attack on the Law
The Law was made as a fence to separate God’s people away from the people of the world. The Pharisees and the Sadducees put up more and more fencing to the point that it became a stockyard. No longer were the people free to move about under the law. The Pharisees and Sadducees added commandments of men and the interpretations of what they believe the Scriptures were saying.
Christ came to set men free from the restriction of men and to fulfill and accomplish the purpose that God had for the law. It was a means to help people appreciate they needed to be kept separate from the teachings of the people of the nations. They needed a high priest forever and they needed a perpetual blood sacrifice. They needed the promises of God, a new heart, and spirit in which to serve him with.
The attack of the wicked continue as they teach; that we do not need to observe any part of Gods commandments, ordinances, or festivals. God and the Christ knowing that this was going to happen provided for us a Scripture. It will help us to solidify what we need to be doing now to safeguard ourselves at this time of the end.
Revelation 12:17… So, then the dragon was furious (enraged) at the woman, and he went away to wage war on the remainder of her descendants on those who obey God’s commandments and who have the testimony of Jesus Christ and adhere to it and bear witness to Christ.
The point is that we need to obey God’s commandments and testify about Christ Jesus!
Will you accept the peace of Christ and testify that he is the way the truth and the life?
Come Lord Jesus! Blessed are all who accept the terms for peace.
Follow the hyperlink below to: God is offering new terms for peace.
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