5. The Law Fulfilled

JERRY RECTOR | Physician

So, I think you’ll agree that what Jesus is stating in Matthew 5:17 is that He has come to fulfill the entire Old Testament. Then in verse 18, the term “the Law” can not be seen to mean “the Ten Commandments” and must instead be seen to mean the whole Torah—the first five books of the Bible. This is the way the term “the Law” is used throughout Matthew and the rest of the Gospels. The Greek word is “nomos” and will be discussed further regarding its usage in the NT Epistles. Even in the encounter with the rich young ruler, Jesus uses the term “commandments” (Greek word “entole”), not “the Law” – and that was only to test this man, who was evidently very good at keeping the commandments (the Ten plus others), but did not want to turn his life over to Jesus. 

The point of this story is that the keeping of the commandments does not change the heart. But, back to my point about the original verse: the term “the Law” has to mean the entire Pentateuch. Given this interpretation, the meaning of the verse is this: the Jewish system of worship (the Old Covenant) will not pass away until I (Jesus) have fulfilled it. 

Well, either we had better be sticking to the sacrificial system in its entirety, or we need to be able to point to a time when Jesus fulfilled that system of worship. I believe the Bible is clear about this. Gospel writers use the terms “fulfill” and “accomplish” as markers for the end of this system described in the Law and the Prophets. 

Notice the parallel between this verse in John 19:28 “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, I am thirsty.” Matthew as well uses the term “fulfilled” in a final way, never in a state of on-going fulfillment. For instance, “But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled…” Matthew 26:56. 

I believe a correct interpretation of this verse in Matthew 5 shows that the Old Covenant system of worship practiced by the Jews was fulfilled by the life and death of Christ and has now lost their importance, making room for a new system of worship and a new understanding of our relationship with God: the New Covenant. This makes many uncomfortable, but I emphasize again that the eternal moral principles contained throughout the Old Testament and Old Covenant system are timeless and are incorporated into the New Covenant system as well. 

The focus, however, is (and has to be) different. It is now based on Jesus and his accomplished sacrifice, instead of the promise of the coming sacrifice which was the focal point of the Old Covenant. The Old was leading up to that triumph, and the New is life after the triumph—related, but very different perspectives—like Adam before and after the fall. Same man, but entirely different “state.”

One more point about this verse…When Jesus uses the term “commandments” in verse 19 (Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments…,) he appears to be using a general term that applies to the many God-given directions in the Torah, including, but not limited to the Ten Commandments. (The Greek word is “entole.” We will examine its usage throughout the New Testament later in this paper.) This is supported by the whole context of the verse, and the usage of the term elsewhere in the gospels. 

Again, see the verses in Matthew 22 which also incorporate all these exact terms. (When asked about the greatest commandment, He responds with statements found elsewhere in the Torah.) He is upholding the entire Torah, not just the Ten. I believe a different conclusion is speculation, which is fine to do, but not when formulating doctrine. Adventists think they have Ellen White to validate their speculation, but without her validation, these proof texts are much less clear.

I want to take some time here to examine what Jesus does emphasize from the Ten Commandments in his pivotal Sermon on the Mount. He cuts through the letter of the law to reveal the eternal principle behind this covenant made between God and the Israelites—principles which make perfect obedience to the law impossible, yet are still what we strive for. For example:

In addition to refraining from murder, don’t even be angry. Avoid lawsuits. Don’t hold grudges.  

In addition to refraining from adultery, don’t even look at a woman with lustful thoughts. Exactly where does one cross the line from admiring beauty to lustful thinking? That is not spelled out for us. People who would prefer to live by a well-defined law don’t know what to do with this because it is not black and white. 

Then Jesus moves outside of the Ten Commandments into other principles of the Law, including divorce and the use of oaths. There is no hint that these laws are any less important or separated in any way from the Ten.

Then Jesus moves outside of the Ten Commandments into other principles of the Law, including divorce and the use of oaths. There is no hint that these laws are any less important or separated in any way from the Ten. He then breaks more new ground introducing the New Covenant principles of turning the other cheek, loving ones enemies, stewardship and the attitude of the heart behind giving and prayer life. 

The idea of “eye for an eye” is indeed a Biblical principle, enunciated in Exodus 21:24. Yet Jesus shows a more mature approach. My two points of emphasis are these: 

1. Jesus does not make a distinction between the Ten Commandments and the rest of the Law. 
2. Jesus does emphasize a new focus beyond the letter of that Law—not setting it aside, but in fact making it even harder to follow – impossible in fact without the Holy Spirit. (Good news – obeying the Law, or the principles behind it, is not a requirement for salvation! Thanks be to God.) There is no sign that seventhth-day worship is one of those eternal principles. But worship itself certainly is, as is Sabbath rest, and this will be examined at length in Hebrews.

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.”

Adventists like to reference John 14:15 as a specific direction by Jesus to uphold the Ten Commandments, including the Sabbath. “If ye love me, keep my commandments. (KJV)” 

Or in the NIV, that I’ve been using for this study, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”

Elder Vandeman, in his book A Day to Remember, made a point of emphasizing that it was really Jesus who met with Moses on Mount Sinai and wrote the Ten on the tablets of stone with his finger. I don’t think this is crystal clear from Scripture, but I wouldn’t argue the point. Either way, Jesus is a full member of the Trinity, and thus wholly God. 

However, and most importantly, this argument in no way establishes that Jesus is referring to the Ten Commandments in this verse. In fact, the context of this verse strongly promotes the “Law of Love” that Jesus is emphasizing to his disciples during the Last Supper. Vandeman tries to brush this off, but gives no justification for doing so. Simply read the chapters from John 13-15 to see that Jesus is preparing his disciples for his death and resulting separation from them. Yet he encourages them with the promise of the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. 

He assures them that the character of God has been manifested to them through him, so they can love and trust God in a richly personal way—patterned after their human relationship with Him (Jesus.) Over and over Jesus states clearly what command he is giving to his disciples: Love one another as Jesus has loved them (us). John 13:34, 35:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Keeping the Sabbath is not how all men will recognize Christ’s true followers! Instead, it is the first fruit of the Spirit – Love. (And along come Joy, Peace, etc.)

Let me summarize a bit at this point: I hear it said often by Sabbath-keepers that since Jesus kept Sabbath, we should as well. Of course, Jesus was Jewish, and so was circumcised, educated by the Rabbis, celebrated the Jewish holidays, paid the temple tax, and still managed to convince the local experts on the Law that he was breaking the Sabbath on a regular basis. 

We don’t do all those other parts of the Jewish customs that Jesus did, so what again is the rationale for keeping the Sabbath?

We don’t do all those other parts of the Jewish customs that Jesus did, so what again is the rationale for keeping the Sabbath? There is no mention of the Sabbath prior to the giving of the manna one month before the Ten Commandments. Though God rested on the seventh day after creation, He did not call it the Sabbath. 

There is no indication that humans rested on the seventh day until instructed to do so in the Old Covenant described by Moses in Exodus. This covenant was clearly made between God and Israel. Converts to Judaism first had to be circumcised (entrance sign) before they could worship in the Synagogue/Temple with the Jewish people on Sabbath (ongoing sign of the covenant). 

This covenant between God and Israel contains a ritualistic system of worship that even Adventists largely discard, though they and others hang onto the Sabbath because of its special inclusion in the Ten Commandments. However, it is clear that Christian living goes far beyond the Ten Commandments, as demonstrated by Jesus’ discourse on the subject, and later expanded by the New Testament writers. So, is there evidence that Jesus and the Apostles focused their emphasis on the Ten Commandments—in the format and context that was given to the Jews—as the focal point for Christian living?

 Let’s see what Paul and the New Testament writers have to say about it… [next week].