Jesus said this to clarify that He didn’t come to cancel the Old Testament but to fulfill it. He perfectly obeyed the Law, fulfilled prophecy, completed the sacrificial system, and revealed God’s true intent behind His commands.
Jesus’ 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”—clear up a common misunderstanding about His mission. He didn’t come to cancel the Old Testament but to complete its purpose. By living a sinless life, fulfilling every prophecy, and becoming the final sacrifice for sin, Jesus brought the Law and the Prophets to their true fulfillment.
For Christians today, this means freedom from trying to earn salvation through rule-keeping, but also a call to live in holiness, love, and obedience through the Spirit. The Old Testament still matters because it points to Christ and reveals God’s character. Keep reading for a deeper dive into why Jesus made this statement, what it means for you, and how it shapes your faith today.
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When Jesus said, “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” (Matthew 5:17, ESV), He was addressing one of the biggest misunderstandings of His mission. Many people in His day thought He came to replace or destroy the Old Testament law. But Jesus made it clear—He didn’t come to abolish it. He came to fulfill it.
This statement is central to understanding the relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Let’s break it down so you can see exactly what Jesus meant and why it matters for your faith today.
1. The Context of Matthew 5:17
The verse comes from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5–7), where Jesus was teaching His disciples and the crowds about true righteousness.
The Jewish people were deeply rooted in the Law of Moses (the first five books of the Bible) and the Prophets (writings that called Israel back to obedience). For centuries, their identity as God’s people was tied to the Law.
So when Jesus started teaching with authority, healing on the Sabbath, and challenging traditions, many thought He was throwing out the Law. That’s why He made His mission clear:
- He didn’t come to abolish the Law.
- He came to fulfill it.
2. What Does “Law and the Prophets” Mean?
When Jesus said “the Law or the Prophets,” He was referring to the entire Hebrew Scriptures—what we call the Old Testament today.
- The Law (Torah): The first five books of Moses (Genesis to Deuteronomy). It contained moral, civil, and ceremonial instructions.
- The Prophets: The historical and prophetic books (Joshua to Malachi) that explained God’s covenant and pointed to the coming Messiah.
In short, “the Law and the Prophets” meant the whole Old Testament.
3. What Does “Fulfill” Mean?
The key word in Matthew 5:17 is fulfill. Jesus didn’t come to ignore the law but to complete its purpose.
Here’s how He fulfilled it:
a) He Kept the Law Perfectly
Unlike anyone else, Jesus obeyed God’s commands fully. He said, “Which one of you convicts me of sin?” (John 8:46). No one could. He lived out the moral law without failure.
b) He Fulfilled the Prophecies
The Old Testament is full of prophecies about the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled them all:
- Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, fulfilled in Matthew 2:1)
- Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14, fulfilled in Matthew 1:23)
- Suffering for our sins (Isaiah 53, fulfilled in Luke 23)
c) He Completed the Sacrificial System
The temple sacrifices pointed to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. Hebrews 10:10 says, “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” He’s the Lamb of God who takes away sin (John 1:29).
d) He Brought the True Meaning of the Law
Jesus went deeper than external obedience. He taught that anger is like murder and lust is like adultery (Matthew 5:21–28). He revealed the heart behind the commandments.
4. Why Didn’t Jesus Abolish the Law?
Jesus valued the law because it revealed God’s holiness and guided people to Him. Abolishing it would mean throwing away God’s covenant and promises.
Instead, He fulfilled it so that through Him, we could live under a new covenant. Paul explains this in Romans 10:4:
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
That means Jesus is the goal of the law. The law pointed to Him all along.
5. Are Christians Still Under the Law?
This is where many people get confused. Here’s the answer:
- We’re not under the Old Testament ceremonial and sacrificial laws.
Christ’s death fulfilled them once and for all. That’s why we don’t sacrifice animals or follow temple rituals. - We’re not bound by the Old Testament civil laws.
Those applied specifically to Israel as a nation. - We are still called to live by God’s moral law.
The Ten Commandments and principles of righteousness still reflect God’s character. Jesus summarized them with two commands:- Love God with all your heart.
- Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37–40).
So no, you’re not under the law as a system of salvation. You’re under grace (Romans 6:14). But the law still shows God’s will and guides you to live in a way that honors Him.
6. What This Means for You Today
When Jesus said He came to fulfill the law, He gave us freedom and responsibility.
a) Freedom in Christ
You don’t have to earn salvation by keeping the law. Jesus did that for you. Salvation is by faith in Him alone (Ephesians 2:8–9).
b) A Call to Holy Living
Grace isn’t a license to sin. Jesus expects His followers to live righteously. In fact, right after Matthew 5:17, He said, “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).
That doesn’t mean doing more religious acts. It means living with a transformed heart that loves God and others.
c) Confidence in God’s Word
Jesus affirmed the Old Testament as God’s Word. He said in Matthew 5:18, “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”
This means you can trust Scripture. It all points to Christ and is relevant for your life.
7. Examples of Jesus Fulfilling the Law
Here are a few clear examples:
- Passover Lamb (Exodus 12): Jesus became the true Passover Lamb, sacrificed for our sins (1 Corinthians 5:7).
- Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16): The high priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year with blood. Jesus, our eternal High Priest, entered heaven with His own blood once for all (Hebrews 9:12).
- Sabbath Rest (Exodus 20:8–11): Jesus offers ultimate rest in Him (Matthew 11:28).
Every part of the Old Testament pointed forward to Him.
8. Common Misunderstandings
Let’s clear up a few:
- “Jesus abolished the law.” Wrong—He fulfilled it.
- “We’re saved by keeping the law.” No—salvation is by grace through faith.
- “Christians don’t need the Old Testament.” False—Jesus and the apostles constantly quoted it. It still reveals God’s character and plan.
9. Final Takeaway
When Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets,” He was assuring His followers that He wasn’t tearing down God’s Word. Instead, He was bringing it to its full meaning.
- The Law pointed to Him.
- The Prophets anticipated Him.
- He lived it out, fulfilled it, and completed it.
For you, this means you don’t live under the heavy burden of the law. You live in the freedom of Christ. But that freedom calls you to love God, love others, and walk in righteousness—not by your strength but by the Spirit living in you.
As Paul put it in Galatians 5:14: “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
✅ In short: Jesus didn’t abolish the Law or the Prophets. He fulfilled them so that through Him, you can live in grace, truth, and freedom.
FAQs: Why Did Jesus Say “Do Not Think That I Have Come to Abolish the Law or the Prophets?”
1. What did Jesus mean when He said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets”?
Jesus meant that He didn’t come to reject or destroy the Old Testament teachings. Instead, He came to fulfill them by living perfectly, fulfilling prophecy, and completing the sacrificial system.
2. Why did Jesus say He didn’t come to abolish the Law or the Prophets?
Jesus said this because people thought His teaching contradicted the Old Testament. He clarified that His mission was to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, not cancel them.
3. What does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets?
When Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets, He completed their purpose by:
- Living without sin
- Fulfilling all prophecies
- Becoming the final sacrifice for sin
- Revealing the true intent of God’s commands
4. Did Jesus abolish any part of the Law?
No. Jesus did not abolish the Law. Instead, He fulfilled it and established a new covenant of grace through His death and resurrection.
5. Are Christians still under the Law today?
Christians are not under the Old Testament ceremonial or civil laws. But the moral law, summarized in loving God and loving your neighbor, still applies as God’s standard of holy living.
6. How does Jesus fulfilling the Law affect salvation?
Since Jesus fulfilled the Law, salvation no longer depends on keeping rules. It comes by grace through faith in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8–9).
7. Why is the phrase “Law and the Prophets” important in this passage?
“Law and the Prophets” was a Jewish way of referring to the entire Old Testament. Jesus affirmed that all of Scripture pointed to Him and would be accomplished through Him.
8. What role does the Old Testament play for Christians if Jesus fulfilled it?
The Old Testament is still valuable because it reveals God’s character, explains His plan of salvation, and shows how Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy.
9. How should Christians live if Jesus fulfilled the Law?
Christians should live by the Spirit, walking in love and holiness. Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37–40).
10. What’s the main takeaway from Jesus saying He didn’t come to abolish the Law or the Prophets?
The main takeaway is that Jesus upheld the Old Testament while fulfilling its purpose in Himself. For believers today, this means freedom from the burden of the law but responsibility to live out God’s love through Christ.
