MATTHEW 5:17: “DO NOT THINK THAT I CAME TO DESTROY THE LAW …… BUT TO FULFILL.” GREEK FULFILL MEANS TO FULLY FILL THE LAW, NOT TO SUBSTITUTE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST

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Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to FULFILL.” (New King James Version)

Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to ADD TO, SUPPLEMENT, MORE FULLY FILL UP, FILL FULL, MAGNIFY, AND EXPAND the Law.” (A Plainer, More Accurate, More Literal Translation [not an official translation])

The original Greek word for fulfill is pleroo, Strong’s number 4137, which DOES NOT mean to replace, abolish, substitute, or perform for other Christians. Its FIRST, MAIN, PRIMARY definition means to “make replete, level up, be full, perfect, fully preach, complete, or to fill.” Fulfill means to fill to the full in verse 17, to fill full, or fill fuller. Pleroo means basically “to add to,” or “supplement.” Joseph H. Thayer, famous Bible word expert, includes the following words in his definition of pleroo: “to furnish or supply liberally,” “liberally supplied,” “to render full,” “to fill up to the top,” “so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim,” “to make complete in every particular,” and “to render perfect.”

The same pleroo word was used in Matthew 13:48 in which nets were FILLED UP with fish! Yes, in other verses pleroo is often used to signify the prophetic fulfillment or consummation of a prophesied event. However, no prophesy ever even hinted that the law would be “fulfilled” by Jesus in a way in which Christians would no longer need to obey the law. Context, simple verse structure, and supporting verses elsewhere in the Bible define and limit how pleroo is to be defined. The following verses contain the pleroo word used in a way in which it OBVIOUSLY refers to an INCREASE in number: Matthew 23:32, Luke 2:40, Luke 3:5, John 12:3, 15:11, 16:6, 16:24, Acts 2:2, plus …… (editing, will be completed)

God the Father is referring to His Son, Jesus Christ in Isaiah 42:1,4,6,7,19-21. Isaiah 42:21: “Jehovah is delighted for His righteousness’ sake; He WILL MAGNIFY the Law and make it honorable”— Green’s Literal Translation. Isaiah predicted that Jesus would MAGNIFY the law. No Old Testament prophet EVER even remotely hinted that Jesus would remove from each Christian the need to individually continue obeying the law. Other respected translations such as the John Nelson Darby Translation, A Conservative Version, English Jubilee 2000, New Heart English Bible, World English Bible, English Revised Version, American Standard Version with Strong’s, Updated King James Version, American King James Version, KJV Pure Cambridge Edition, Rotherham Emphasized Bible, Julia Smith Translation, Noah Webster’s KJV revision, Geneva Bible, Bishop’s Bible, Coverdale’s Translation, American Standard Version, Leeser Old Testament, Young’s Literal Translation, Concordant Literal Version, and the Interlinear Hebrew Old Testament also use the word “magnify” in Isaiah 42:21.

Jesus most certainly did, unquestionably, add to, improve, and magnify the law just like He said He would do in Matthew 5:17. For example, in His famous Sermon on the Mount, He added to or refined (improved) the law at least eight times: 1) Matthew 5:22: refining further the law prohibiting murder, merely being angry with someone without a cause or seriously insulting someone is now a very serious sin, 2) 5:28: just looking at a woman lustfully is now equivalent to actual adultery, 3) 5:32: whoever marries a divorced woman now commits adultery (there may be one exception), 4) 5:34: never swear at all, 5) 5:39-42: if you are slapped on one cheek, let yourself be slapped on the other cheek and do not refuse to loan or give to others if they ask for a loan or help (there are obvious common sense exceptions since some people might argue that Jesus does not expect us to unnecessarily severely injure ourselves or damage or ruin ourselves financially giving to drug addicts, financial predators, etc.), 6) 5:44: instead of hating our enemies, we are now instructed to love, bless, pray for, and do good to our enemies, 7) 6:15: we must now forgive others instead of holding a permanent grudge, and 8) 7:1: do not judge others unless you want to be judged by the same criteria.

The following seventeen (17) reputable translations show clearly that Jesus DID NOT “fulfill” the law in a way that no longer required us to obey the law. He simply made the law better, adding to it, and refining it further, which “completed” the law. We still need to diligently observe many Mosaic laws, including the mainstreamer despised festival, safe meat, and Saturday rest laws. Mainstreamers incorrectly think that those are the laws of the Jews, but they really are God’s laws, not just the Jew’s laws. The sacrifice, circumcision, and Levitical priesthood laws, of course, no longer need to be obeyed. The Apostles carefully explained, specifically naming them, that they have been abolished.

Matthew 5:17: “You folks should not infer from customary presumption or from established supposition that I came to loosen-down or demolish the Law (or: Torah) or the Prophets. I did not come to loosen-down or demolish, but to the contrary, to fulfill (or: FILL UP) AND MAKE FULL“ (Jonathan Mitchell New Testament)

Matthew 5:17: “If you think I’ve come to set aside the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets, you’re mistaken. I have come to fulfill AND BRING TO PERFECTION all that has been written.” (The Passion Translation)

Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to do away with them, BUT TO COMPLETE THEM.” (Twentieth Century New Testament)

Matthew 5:17: “Think not that I have come to abolish the law, or the prophets: for I have come not abolish, BUT TO COMPLETE.” (Julia Smith Translation)

Matthew 5:17: “Don’t think that I have come to ·destroy [abolish; do away with] ·the law of Moses or the teaching of the prophets [L?the Law and the Prophets; C?referring to the OT]. I have not come to destroy them but to ·bring about what they said [fulfill/COMPLETE THEM]. (Expanded Bible)

Matthew 5:17: “Think not that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets; I have not come to destroy BUT TO COMPLETE.” (Sawyer New Testament)

Matthew 5:17: “Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures—either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish BUT TO COMPLETE. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama.” (The Message)

Matthew 5:17: “Let there be no thought that I have come to put an end to the law or the prophets. I have not come for destruction, BUT TO MAKE COMPLETE.” (Bible in Basic English)

Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses or the writings of the early preachers. I have not come to do away with them BUT TO COMPLETE THEM.” (New Life Version)

Matthew 5:17: “”Do not suppose that I have come to do away with the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to do away with them BUT TO ENFORCE THEM.” (Goodspeed New Testament)

Matthew 5:17: “Think not that I am come to abrogate the law, or the prophets: I am not come to abolish, BUT TO COMPLEAT THEM:” (Worsley New Testament)

Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that I have come to set aside the law and the prophets; I have not come to set them aside, BUT TO BRING THEM TO PERFECTION.” (Knox New Testament)

Matthew 5:17: “Don’t think that I am come to abolish the law or the prophets: I am not come to abolish, BUT TO COMPLETE THEM.” (Daniel Mace New Testament)

Matthew 5:17: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, BUT TO PERFECT [THEM]“ (William Whiston New Testament)

Matthew 5:17: “You must not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them BUT TO COMPLETE THEM.” (J.B. Phillips New Testament)

Matthew 5:17: “Do not for a moment suppose that I have come to abrogate the Law or the Prophets: I have not come to abrogate them BUT TO GIVE THEM THEIR COMPLETION.” (Weymouth New Testament)

Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to do away with them, BUT TO FILL THEM FULL.” (Riverside New Testament)

So you can now easily and clearly see that Matthew 5:17 certainly IS NOT proof, beyond reasonable doubt, that Christians can abandon law keeping. Jesus Christ’s Sermon on the Mount in Matthew provides “tons” of evidence that Jesus really did add to, fill more fully, magnify, expand, and perfect the law, thereby “completing” the law. Most Bible translators are slightly anti-Mosaic law leaning, so they understandably chose the English word, among those that define pleroo, that is the most anti-Mosaic law, which is “fulfill,” with no further explanation. If you do not believe that the majority of translators are anti-Old Testament law leaning, then read the page EXAMPLES OF TRANSLATORS’ BIAS AGAINST OT LAWS to see solid proof of their prejudice. The rejuvenating Saturday rest, the safe meat, and the mostly prophetic festival laws, one of which celebrates in advance the exact day of the year that Jesus will return, for example, still need to be observed. For further study go to ucg.org/bsc/09/spiritoflaw.ht. Do not hesitate to email questions about this verse to the letter answering departments of the safe haven churches listed on the INTRODUCTION page.

Remember,

1 John 3:4: “…… SIN IS THE VIOLATION OF THE LAW”

Romans 2:13: “For not the hearers of the LAW are just in the sight of God, but the DOERS of the LAW will be justified.”

Romans 6:1,2: “…… Shall we continue in SIN that grace may abound? 2 CERTAINLY NOT! How shall we …… live any longer in it?”

Romans 6:15: “…… Shall we SIN because we are not under LAW but under grace? CERTAINLY NOT!”

Romans 3:31: “Are we abolishing Moses’ Teachings by this faith? THAT’S UNTHINKABLE! Rather, we are SUPPORTING Moses’ teachings.” (God’s Word Translation)

Matthew 19:17: “….. BUT IF you want to enter into life, KEEP the commandments.” Revelation 22:14: “Blessed are those who DO His commandments, that they may HAVE THE RIGHT to the tree of life ……” Remember, the Ten Commandments contain the one requiring rest on Saturday, not Sunday, which was started by the Catholics.

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: “…… His angels …… will gather …… those who practice LAWLESSNESS 42 and will cast them into the FURNACE OF FIRE ……”

Yes, the death of Jesus did wipe away and atone for our sins (violations of the law), BUT IT WAS GENERALLY ONLY FOR OUR PAST, REPEAT, PAST SINS, NOT SINS AFTER REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM!!

ROMANS 3:24,25: “…… GRACE, through …… Jesus: …… 25 in His pity God let the SINS OF EARLIER TIMES GO UNPUNISHED.” (Bible in Basic English) That is why we need to keep on obeying the law after our baptism. New, post baptismal sins, though, when confessed and sincerely repented of, can also be forgiven (1 John 1:9, 2:1,2). Abandoning one’s conversion and baptism, however, or deliberately and consistently sinning may ultimately be judged as unforgivable according to Hebrews 6:4-6, and 10:26-27.

Remember, only 7 verses in the entire Bible say literally that Christians are no longer under range of laws, which are the sacrifice, circumcision, Levitical priesthood, or eternal death penalty laws. The topic is never the general law, so that means the safe meat, mostly prophetic festivals, and tithing laws are still in full force despite what the popular, verse skipping, mainstream churches fanatically preach. Please read the page ROMANS 6:15: “…… SHALL WE SIN BECAUSE WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW BUT UNDER GRACE? GOD FORBID! ……

For additional study please visit http://www.ucg.org/doctrinal-beliefs/did-jesus-do-away-law/.

J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS) The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Administered by The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Used by Permission.