Matthew 5:18 Meaning and Explanation
“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus says God's word holds down to the smallest stroke, and He came not to cancel it but to bring it to its fullness.
The Context of Matthew 5:18
Jesus is teaching the crowds on the mountainside, in the Sermon on the Mount. He has just said He came not to destroy the law and the prophets but to fulfil them (verse 17), and now He presses that point as far as it will go.
What Does Matthew 5:18 Mean?
Jesus reaches for the two smallest marks a scribe could make. The 'jot' is the yod, the tiniest letter of the Hebrew alphabet, hardly more than a comma. The 'tittle' is the little stroke that distinguishes one letter from another, the difference a careful hand makes. Not even these, He says, will drop away from God's word until everything it points to has come true. The Scripture that shaped Israel is not a passing thing; it carries the weight of God's own faithfulness.
And the word that holds is fulfilled in Jesus Himself. He lives out the law fully, keeps it where we break it, and brings the promises of the prophets to their meeting point in His own life, death, and rising. The smallest stroke matters because it was always leaning toward Him. In Christ the whole of Scripture finds the One it was waiting for.
Matthew 5:18 in the Original Language
keraia (κεραία), 'tittle' -- a little horn or hook, the tiny stroke that distinguishes similar Hebrew letters.
How to Apply Matthew 5:18 Today
We can trust the Scriptures down to the smallest detail, because the God who gave them keeps every word. And we can read all of them looking for Jesus, since He is the One in whom they are fulfilled. Nothing God has spoken falls to the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 5:18
What does Matthew 5:18 mean?
Jesus says God's word holds down to the smallest stroke, and He came not to cancel it but to bring it to its fullness.
What is the context of Matthew 5:18?
Jesus is teaching the crowds on the mountainside, in the Sermon on the Mount. He has just said He came not to destroy the law and the prophets but to fulfil them (verse 17), and now He presses that point as far as it will go.
How can I apply Matthew 5:18 today?
We can trust the Scriptures down to the smallest detail, because the God who gave them keeps every word. And we can read all of them looking for Jesus, since He is the One in whom they are fulfilled. Nothing God has spoken falls to the ground.