When Jesus said, “I did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it” (Matthew 5:17), He made a profound statement about His purpose, His relationship to the Old Testament, and the transformation He brought to humanity’s connection with God. But what does it mean for Jesus to fulfill the Law? And how should believers understand the shift from the Old Covenant to the New?
Let’s explore this idea and why it matters.
The Law in the Old Testament: More Than Just Rules
God’s law in the Old Testament wasn’t just a list of dos and don’ts. It was a multi-layered system that included:
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Moral Law – Eternal principles like the Ten Commandments
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Civil Law – Rules specific to Israel’s governance
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Ceremonial Law – Regulations about temple rituals, sacrifices, and cleanliness
These laws revealed God’s holiness and pointed His people toward their need for a Savior.
Jesus: The Fulfillment of the Law
In Matthew 5:17-18, Jesus says:
“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.”
This is not a contradiction—it’s a completion. Jesus didn't erase the Law; He embodied its purpose, satisfying what it pointed to:
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The ceremonial system (sacrifices, temple rituals) foreshadowed His once-and-for-all sacrifice.
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The high priest’s role pointed to Jesus as our eternal High Priest (see Hebrews 7–9).
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The temple was a shadow of the heavenly reality—now, we are God’s temple, with Christ as the cornerstone.
Jesus fulfilled every aspect—morally, spiritually, and prophetically.
Hebrews: A New Covenant Has Come
The Book of Hebrews elaborates on this transition:
“The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come” (Hebrews 10:1).
The old covenant was temporary, preparing the way for something greater. Jesus inaugurated the New Covenant, not based on external rules but on transformed hearts:
“I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Hebrews 8:10)
This is why the temple’s destruction in AD 70 was significant—it marked the physical end of the old covenant system, just as Jesus had prophesied (Matthew 24:2).
Why This Matters Today
We are no longer bound by the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament. We are not called to offer animal sacrifices, avoid shellfish, or worship in a physical temple.
But this doesn’t mean the Law was meaningless—it means its purpose was fulfilled in Christ.
We now live in the freedom of grace, not law—but a grace that empowers us to walk in holiness, guided by the Spirit, and rooted in love for God and others.
Final Thoughts
Jesus did not come to destroy what God had established—He came to bring it to its intended completion. The Law was a shadow. Jesus is the substance.
So let us hold fast to the New Covenant, not clinging to shadows, but walking boldly in the light of the One who fulfilled them all.
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