I've had long, long exchanges with people, including Jewish people, who have claimed that Jesus, on the basis of his Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5), taught the Law as an everlasting contract. And indeed it does require some explanation--perhaps it is even given in a somewhat vague way to throw off detractors who would later reject the notion that Messiah must provide an eternal atonement for sin?
So when Jesus taught that he would not abolish the Law of the Prophets until the universe passes, that he had to "fulfill them," he did not explain how he would fulfill them right away. Israel was still under the Law, and Jews were still being divided between those partial to Jesus and those opposed to him. To avoid appearing as anti-Lew he said this, indicating that he was 100% in favor of the testimony of the Law, which is that until the universe passes all sin must be dealt with.
At the time, the Law dealt with sin by covering it with inadequate offerings of atonement. I say that they were inadequate because they had to be repeated, ritually, on an endless basis. It was assumed there would always be sin, such that atonement would have to be made in perpetuity, ie until the end of the universe.
But Jesus, almost cryptically, indicated he, as Messiah, would have to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. Looking back on the Cross, we now know that he fulfilled them by sacrificing himself in order to provide an atonement for Eternal Life. The Law could never provide for Eternal Life--just national and individual blessings. Jesus was really saying that the purpose of the Law had to be fulfilled in him because only he could provide a legal end to the condemnation of sin, making further offerings of atonement under the Law unnecessary.
Matt 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. 18 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. 19 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. 20 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.
Jesus was teaching that as long as the universe remains, ie with mortal, sinful human beings, sin must be dealt with, whether by the Law and its rituals or by Christ's eternal atonement for sin. Unless sin is atoned for, righteousness will not exceed the poor value of that of the Pharisees, who did their righteousness externally to be seen of men. But inside they were filled with hatred and even murder.
Later in Jesus' ministry we learn that since the Law could not provide for Eternal Life, Christ had to die and provide for an atonement that would last. He had to, in other words, "fulfill" the Law and the Prophets.
So when Jesus taught that he would not abolish the Law of the Prophets until the universe passes, that he had to "fulfill them," he did not explain how he would fulfill them right away. Israel was still under the Law, and Jews were still being divided between those partial to Jesus and those opposed to him. To avoid appearing as anti-Lew he said this, indicating that he was 100% in favor of the testimony of the Law, which is that until the universe passes all sin must be dealt with.
At the time, the Law dealt with sin by covering it with inadequate offerings of atonement. I say that they were inadequate because they had to be repeated, ritually, on an endless basis. It was assumed there would always be sin, such that atonement would have to be made in perpetuity, ie until the end of the universe.
But Jesus, almost cryptically, indicated he, as Messiah, would have to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. Looking back on the Cross, we now know that he fulfilled them by sacrificing himself in order to provide an atonement for Eternal Life. The Law could never provide for Eternal Life--just national and individual blessings. Jesus was really saying that the purpose of the Law had to be fulfilled in him because only he could provide a legal end to the condemnation of sin, making further offerings of atonement under the Law unnecessary.
Matt 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. 18 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. 19 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. 20 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.
Jesus was teaching that as long as the universe remains, ie with mortal, sinful human beings, sin must be dealt with, whether by the Law and its rituals or by Christ's eternal atonement for sin. Unless sin is atoned for, righteousness will not exceed the poor value of that of the Pharisees, who did their righteousness externally to be seen of men. But inside they were filled with hatred and even murder.
Later in Jesus' ministry we learn that since the Law could not provide for Eternal Life, Christ had to die and provide for an atonement that would last. He had to, in other words, "fulfill" the Law and the Prophets.
