Jesus Fulfills Is the Old Testament

Jesus Fulfilled the Law and Prophets

Jesus taught that he did not come to abolish the law and prophets (Old Testament), but to fulfill them. There was a belief in Judaism that when the Messiah came, the old law would be done away with and the Messiah would establish His own laws. Jesus corrected this belief by clearly stating that His is the Messiah and that He is not creating new law but is the embodiment of the law and prophets.

Jesus Fulfilled the Law

Jesus fulfilled both the moral and ceremonial law by teaching, upholding, and becoming the everlasting sacrifice. The moral law is rooted in the ten commandments and the ceremonial law is rooted in the levitical sacrificial system implemented by Aaron (First Priest) in the Old Testament.

The Moral Law

Jesus fulfilled the Moral Law by teaching and upholding the ten commandments. Jesus went beyond the intellectual understanding of the law and taught the spirit of the law. This is why we are going to see Jesus saying “You have heard it said by the ancients… But I say unto you”. The Pharisees and the Scribes understood the letter of the law, but because they did not understand the spirit of the law, they misappropriated their judgement of people regarding the law. It is kind of like our legislators today that make laws that sound good in theory, but in practicality and application they become burdensome. They become burdensome because they don’t understand the function of law regarding those the law affects. It would be better if the legislators would get guidance from the people that the law affects. Then they could construct a law that not only is a good idea in theory but also in practicality and function.

Not only did Jesus fulfill the Law by teaching the spirit of the law, but He also lived the Law perfectly. He demonstrated what God expects from us. He demands perfection! Obviously we cannot meet that expectation.

Romans 3:23 NASB95

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

James 2:10 NASB95

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

We see that everyone is guilty of breaking the law and a transgressor of them all. Because of this we have to have a Savior. Only one who has kept the law perfectly can be the Savior. Jesus is our Savior!

How does Jesus living the perfect life without sin bring us salvation? This is where Jesus fulfilling the ceremonial law is important.

The Ceremonial Law

When the Law was given in Exodus 20-23 Moses affirmed the covenant between God and people by offering a blood sacrifice in Exodus 24 :7-8

Exodus 24:7–8 (NASB95)

Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

There had to be a blood sacrifice in order to seal the salvation of the Lord. This is why the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 9:22

Hebrews 9:22 NASB95

And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Jesus being the fulfillment of the law that judges us became the sacrifice that cleanses us from sin and saves us from the judgment of God. Romans 8:1-4

Romans 8:1–4 (NASB95)

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Jesus fulfillment of the Ceremonial Law makes any other blood sacrifice meaningless. Jesus became the sacrifice for us to enter into a new covenant with God. John 3:16

John 3:16 NASB95

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 1:29 NASB95

The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Jesus Fulfills the Prophets

The prophets of the Old Testament prophesied about the judgement of Israel and a coming Messiah that would come and save them from judgment. Jesus is the Messiah. He is the One the Prophets prophesied about. They gave specific indications of who the Messiah would be.

Micah 5:2 (NASB95)

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”

Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

Hosea 11:1 (NASB95)

When Israel was a youth I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.

Jesus was raised in Egypt to avoid Herod’s persecution

Isaiah 35:5–6 (NASB95)

Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah.

Jesus opened the eyes of the blind, ears of the deaf, mute to speak, and lame to walk. This is why when John the baptist was doubting that Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus answered and said, Matt. 11:4-6

Matthew 11:4–6 (NASB95)

Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. “And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

Psalm 78:2 (NASB95)

I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,

Jesus Spoke in parables

Psalm 22:16 (NASB95)

For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet.

This is an indication that the Messiah would be crucified.

Isaiah 53:10–11 (NASB95)

But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities.

Hosea 6:1–2 (NASB95)

“Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. “He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him.

These prophecies reveal that the Messiah will be resurrected on the third day.

There are many more prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. You may ask how many? ALL OF THEM!

The Law Remains!

Jesus stated that the Law will remain until heaven and earth pass away. Just because Jesus fulfilled the law doesn’t mean that we do not have to obey the law. Some people will say I live under grace and not the law. I would agree with that with the caveat that you live under grace but behave according to the law.

The reason the law remains is so that the unregenerate, those that reject Christ, can be judged according to it. If Jesus abolished the moral law then the unsaved could not be judged by it because it was abolished. It will remain until every last person that rejects Jesus is judged.

In addition to the judgement of the unsaved, the Law is good in its entirety. It reveals how we can live rightly with God and with one another. This is timeless and never loses its relevancy.

The law remains to reveal to us that we cannot uphold it and need a Savior. The law was never meant to be fulfilled completely, it was given to show us our need for God’s mercy, grace, and salvation. The law continues and will continue to lead people to Christ as long as heaven and earth exist.

Law Keepers Are Greater Than Law Breakers

Law Breakers

To annul God’s commandment is to believe that they are not important. This is the person that trivializes sin. They will knowingly engage in sinful behavior because they don’t believe it is a big deal. Jesus says this person will be least in the kingdom of heaven. This is because those who hold the commandments of God in low regard, God will hold them in low regard.

This does not mean that you lose your salvation, but it does mean that you lose your reward. 2 John 8

We must uphold the law of God in order to receive full reward. Matt. 16:27

Matthew 16:27 NASB95

“For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.

Revelation 22:12 NASB95

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.

The Lord will reward us for what we do on earth when we get to heaven.

Those who are going to neglect God’s word will most likely teach others to do the same. They will certainly demonstrate it by trivializing God’s commandments.

So why do people trivialize God’s commands?

Some may believe in God but may not agree with the interpretation of the commandments by religious leaders. Some people may feel that the commandments are outdated or irrelevant to modern life. Additionally, some people may simply be unaware of the commandments or their importance. I believe that most people trivialize the commandments of God because there are typically instant consequences for disregarding His commandments.

There is coming a day when we will stand before the Lord and give an account for how we regarded the commandments of God.

Law Keepers

Those that hold the commandments of God in high regard will live them and demonstrate them to others. Paul commended the Thessalonians for their high regard for God’s commandments. 1 Thess. 2:10-12

1 Thessalonians 2:10–12 (NASB95)

You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

We demonstrate our love for God by our regard for His commandments. People will notice a difference in you when you adhere to the commandments of God.

Those who hold God’s commandments in high regard will be called great on the kingdom of God. Our greatness is not in the act of upholding the law of God, it is in the reflection of God to others by holding God’s commandments in high regard.