Few statements of Yeshua have been more misunderstood—or more frequently used to dismiss the Torah—than His words in Matthew 5:17:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
For many believers today, this verse is cited as the reason the Law no longer applies—that Yeshua “fulfilled” it on our behalf so that we no longer need to live by it. But a closer look at the full context of Matthew chapters 5 through 7 reveals a very different meaning—one that actually intensifies the call to righteousness rather than relaxes it.
Context: A King Teaching His Disciples, Not a Crowd
At the time of this teaching—known as the Sermon on the Mount—Yeshua’s influence was growing rapidly. Large crowds from across the region followed Him, drawn by His miracles and authority. Yet instead of speaking to the masses, Matthew tells us that Yeshua retreated up the hill and began to teach His disciples directly (Matthew 5:1–2).
This was no casual sermon. It was a leadership retreat.
Yeshua had just called these men into ministry, and they were now being trained as His representatives—spiritual leaders who would soon become the primary voices of biblical instruction to the people. In that context, His statement about the Law wasn’t a public announcement of its cancellation—it was a private mandate to uphold and rightly interpret it.
He was preparing His disciples to become the new teachers of Israel, in direct contrast to the existing religious establishment—the Pharisees and teachers of the law. And He made clear from the outset that their standard of righteousness must exceed that of those before them.
The Meaning of “Fulfill”
After declaring that He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, Yeshua continues:
“For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen,
will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly
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.” (Matthew 5:18–19, ESV)
Here, Yeshua explicitly teaches that not a single part of the Law will disappear until heaven and earth pass away—a condition which clearly has not been met.
The Greek word for fulfill (plēroō) means to complete, make full, or bring to its intended purpose.
Yeshua didn’t terminate the Law; He embodied it perfectly, showing its true purpose—righteousness expressed through love, truth, and obedience. His life fulfilled the Law in action and intent, setting the ultimate example for His disciples to follow.
Righteousness That Surpasses the Pharisees
Yeshua’s warning in verse 20 was both radical and sobering:
“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law,
you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
This statement doesn’t abolish the Law—it raises the bar.
The Pharisees focused on external obedience; Yeshua called His disciples to internal transformation. He wasn’t replacing the Law with grace—He was revealing that true obedience begins in the heart.
That’s why, immediately afterward, He begins tightening rather than loosening commandments:
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Anger is equated with murder.
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Lust is equated with adultery.
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Oaths are unnecessary because truth should be constant.
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Retaliation gives way to forgiveness.
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Love extends even to enemies.
Far from abolishing the Law, Yeshua reestablishes its spiritual depth and moral intent, showing that obedience is not merely legal—it is relational.
The Narrow Path of True Obedience
At the end of this powerful discourse, Yeshua gives three solemn warnings:
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The Narrow and Wide Gates – Few will choose the narrow path that leads to life; many will follow the broad road of easy religion (Matthew 7:13–14).
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True and False Prophets – Teachers who appear righteous but bear bad fruit will be cut down and cast away (Matthew 7:15–20).
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True and False Disciples – Not everyone who claims to follow Him will enter the Kingdom, but only those who do the will of His Father (Matthew 7:21–23).
Notice that the final test of discipleship is not one’s claim to faith, nor one’s use of His name in ministry, but whether one does the will of the Father.
Yeshua’s own words make clear: obedience remains central to Kingdom life. Grace does not replace obedience; grace empowers it.
Grace and Law: Not Opponents but Partners
Paul, often misquoted as dismissing the Law, actually affirms its place:
“Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.”
(Romans 3:31, ESV)
Grace is not permission to sin—it’s the power to walk in righteousness.
The Law defines what righteousness looks like; grace enables us to live it through the Spirit. Together, they form the full expression of covenant relationship with God.
Conclusion: Spirit and Truth
When Yeshua said He came to fulfill the Law, He wasn’t ending it—He was bringing it to life. He warned that anyone who teaches others to set aside even the least of His commands will be least in the Kingdom of Heaven, while those who practice and teach them will be great.
This is why genuine worship, in Spirit and Truth, is so rare and so costly.
It requires us to resist the easy, popular gospel of “grace without obedience” and return to the fullness of Yeshua’s teaching—where grace empowers, truth convicts, and obedience glorifies God.
This truth naturally leads to the next question: If the Law still stands, then what is grace? I invite you to continue in Part II of this series, where we uncover how grace and the Law work hand in hand from Genesis to Revelation.
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