Matthew 5:17 Meaning and Explanation
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus came to fulfill the old Scriptures, bringing everything they pointed toward to its fullness.
The Context of Matthew 5:17
Spoken in the Sermon on the Mount, just before Jesus begins teaching on anger, faithfulness, and love of enemies. Some in the crowd may have feared that this new teacher was setting Himself against Moses, so He clears the air before going further.
What Does Matthew 5:17 Mean?
To people who treasured the law of Moses and the words of the prophets, Jesus makes His relationship to them plain. He comes to honor them and uphold them. The Scriptures of Israel are His friends and witnesses. He came to fulfil them, to bring the law to its true meaning and to make the promises of the prophets come real. Everything those ancient pages were reaching toward finds its center in Him.
This is one of the great claims of the Gospels. The whole story of Israel, its commandments, its sacrifices, its longing for a deliverer, was always leaning toward someone, and Jesus says quietly that the someone has come. He keeps the law perfectly, He carries its weight to the cross, and He opens the door the prophets only saw from far off. We can read the older Scriptures and find Him on every page, the One they were always about.
Matthew 5:17 in the Original Language
pleroo (πληρόω), 'to fulfil' -- to fill full, to bring to completion, to make a promise or pattern come true.
How to Apply Matthew 5:17 Today
When we open the Old Testament, we are reading pages Jesus honored, lived, and fulfilled. Every law and every promise there finds its meaning in Him, and we can come to those pages expecting to meet Him.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 5:17
What does Matthew 5:17 mean?
Jesus came to fulfill the old Scriptures, bringing everything they pointed toward to its fullness.
What is the context of Matthew 5:17?
Spoken in the Sermon on the Mount, just before Jesus begins teaching on anger, faithfulness, and love of enemies. Some in the crowd may have feared that this new teacher was setting Himself against Moses, so He clears the air before going further.
How can I apply Matthew 5:17 today?
When we open the Old Testament, we are reading pages Jesus honored, lived, and fulfilled. Every law and every promise there finds its meaning in Him, and we can come to those pages expecting to meet Him.