The Fulfillment, Not the End

Text: Matthew 5:17-18 (ESV)

> “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. 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.”

**Introduction**

Good morning. If you’ve ever been part of a major project—building a house, writing a book, planning a wedding—you know there’s a moment when everything changes. The blueprint is rolled out, the outline is finished, the invitations are sent. Up to that point, it’s all plans and promises. But then, the work of *fulfillment* begins. The foundation is poured, the chapters are written, the ceremony takes place. The plan hasn’t been thrown out; it’s being brought to life.

In our passage today, Jesus is making a stunning declaration about the biggest project in human history: God’s plan of redemption. His teachings, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount, were so radical that some accused Him of throwing out the Old Testament, of dismantling the religion of Moses and the prophets. Others today might think the Old Testament is outdated, replaced by the message of grace. Jesus addresses this misunderstanding head-on. He reveals that His mission is not one of destruction, but of *completion*.

I. The Misunderstanding: “Do not think that I have come to abolish…”

Jesus begins with a corrective: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.” The “Law and the Prophets” was a common way of referring to the entire Old Testament—God’s revealed will, His covenants, and His promises.

Why would anyone think Jesus was abolishing it?

Because He challenged the superficial, legalistic interpretations of the religious leaders.

He healed on the Sabbath.

He associated with sinners.

He was about to emphasize the spirit of the law over mere external compliance.

To the casual observer, it looked like He was starting a new religion from scratch.

But Jesus says, “Do not think that.”

He confronts our tendency to create a false dichotomy: Law vs. Grace, Old Testament vs. New Testament.

He insists that His mission is in perfect continuity with all that God had been doing since the beginning.

Illustration: The Architect and the Builder

Imagine a magnificent cathedral, designed centuries ago by a master architect. The original blueprints are intricate and beautiful. Over time, however, people have built shacks and lean-tos against the cathedral walls. They’ve added their own rules and decorations, obscuring the original design. They’ve become so focused on maintaining their additions that they’ve forgotten the point of the cathedral itself.

Then, the architect’s own son arrives. He starts clearing away the shacks and the clutter. The people who live in those shacks are furious! “You’re destroying our heritage! You’re tearing down the cathedral!” But the son replies, “I’m not here to destroy the cathedral. I’m here to finish it according to my Father’s original plan. All these extras you’ve added are actually preventing its completion.”

That’s what Jesus is doing. He isn’t abolishing the architect’s blueprint (the Law and the Prophets). He is removing the human additions and fulfilling the original, perfect design.

II. The Mission: “I have come… to fulfill them.”

This is the heart of the passage. The word “fulfill” is rich with meaning. Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets in at least three ways:

1. By Obeying It Perfectly: Where Adam, Israel, and all of us failed, Jesus succeeded.

He lived a sinless life, perfectly fulfilling the righteous requirements of the Law in His actions. He was the spotless Lamb without blemish.

2. By Unveiling Its Full Meaning:

In the verses that follow our passage (Matthew 5:21-48), Jesus takes the Law to its deepest level.

It’s not just “You shall not murder,” but “don’t harbor hatred.”

It’s not just “You shall not commit adultery,” but “guard your heart from lust.”

He shows that the Law was always about the heart, not just external behavior.

He is the ultimate interpreter of God’s will.

3. By Being Its Ultimate Subject:

The entire Old Testament points to Him.

The sacrifices point to His atoning death.

The priesthood points to His mediation.

The prophecies point to His life, death, and resurrection.

He is the fulfillment of all the promises, the substance of all the shadows.

As He would later say to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, “Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44).

III. The Authority: “Until heaven and earth pass away…”

To underscore the permanence of God’s Word, Jesus makes an astonishing statement about its durability.

He uses the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet, the *iota* (like the dot of an ‘i’), and a tiny pen stroke that distinguishes one letter from another (a ‘dot’).

His point is breathtaking: **The universe itself is less permanent than the Word of God.**

The mountains will crumble, the stars will fade, but God’s moral law, His promises, and His purposes will stand completely accomplished.

The Law’s function as a guardian pointing to our need for a Savior would be completed in Christ (Galatians 3:24), but its truth, its righteousness, and its revelation of God’s character are eternal.

Application: What Does This Mean for Us Today?

How do we live in light of a fulfilled Law?

1. See the Old Testament Through the Lens of Jesus. Don’t neglect the Old Testament!

Read it with new eyes, looking for Christ. See how the stories, the laws, and the songs all point to the redemption He accomplished.

The Bible is not two separate books; it’s one unified story of salvation, with Jesus as the climax.

2. Embrace Grace, Not Legalism.

If Jesus fulfilled the Law for us, we are free from the curse of trying to earn God’s favor by our own rule-keeping.

Our standing with God is based on Christ’s perfect fulfillment, not our imperfect performance.

This is the foundation of grace. We don’t follow rules to be saved; we follow Christ because we are saved.

3. Pursue a Heart-Deep Righteousness.

The goal of the Law was always to create a people whose hearts belong to God.

Now, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are called to live out the true intent of the Law—to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

The Christian life is not about lowering God’s standards to our level (as the Pharisees did), but about asking the Spirit to raise our hearts to His.

Conclusion

Jesus did not come to give us a lighter set of rules.

He came to give us a new heart capable of living according to the law of love.

He didn’t abolish the standard; He met it on our behalf, and then offers us His power to live it out.

The Law was like a perfect mirror, showing us the smudges and dirt on our faces. But the mirror can’t wash us.

Jesus, the fulfiller of the Law, doesn’t just show us our sin; He is the living water that cleanses us.

He is the completion of God’s great project of redemption.

So today, come to Him. If you feel the weight of not measuring up, find rest in the one who fulfilled all righteousness for you.

And if you know His grace, let it propel you into a life of joyful obedience, not to earn love, but because you have been overwhelmingly loved.

Let’s pray.