WHAT ABOUT "MATTHEW 5:17-18"?

I've been asked on many occasions for my take on the above scripture, so in today's study I want us to see if we can get a clear picture of what brother Jesus  was teaching, Whether He was teaching us to keep the Law and fulfill it or He has come to fulfill it on our behalf.

For me not to take much of your time, I will like to make my explanation short but am expecting you to use it as a guide to go back and study chapter 5-7 on your own.

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law and the prophets.......but to fulfill it".( verse 17)

Now the preceding verses were so opposed to the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees that some might assert that He was a destroyer of the law. He replies that he has not come to destroy it, but to fulfil. He does not say that he has come to perpetuate the law but fulfil it; to complete its purpose. He was the end of the law. The law was a "schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, but "after faith is come we are no longer under the schoolmaster."(Gal 3:24-25

One jot or tittle (verse 18). Jot means the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet, while tittle refers to a simple turn by which one letter is distinguished from another. The expression, "jot or tittle," was proverbial for the smallest part. Till all be fulfilled. "Till," implies that after the great events of Christ's life, and the establishment of His kingdom, the old dispensation, as a dispensation of the letter and yoke of bondage, as a system of types and shadows, will pass away, and has passed away (Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14; Heb. 8:13); while the spirit and substance of the law, i. e., love to God and man, will last forever.

Understand that Matthew 5:17-18 is not teaching the continuation of the law of Moses. "Albright, Why should I ?" because “to stand until fulfilled” is NOT the same as “to stay in force forever.”

Those who preach the law from this passage are taking Jesus’ words here to mean that the law of Moses will always and ever be in force — that it is unchangeable and therefore binding, today and forever.

The passage says nothing of the kind. Nor does it say that every jot and tittle of the law will stand till heaven and earth pass away.

Read the passage carefully, and you will see that it says that the law will endure UNTIL something ELSE happens — NOT that it will endure forever. Jesus clearly states that every tiny detail of the law will remain UNTIL it is all FULFILLED. He has just stated that he came to fulfill it, and he further states that, UNTIL he DOES completely fulfill it, it will remain.

But this just as clearly states that when He DOES fulfill it completely, it WILL pass away! Look at it again:

“Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to destroy them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not one jot or one tittle will by any means disappear from the Law UNTIL everything is accomplished.”

His point is very clear: none of the law will pass away UNTIL he fulfills it. This teaches that at some point it WILL all be fulfilled — and THEN IT WILL PASS AWAY! The idea is NOT that the law will last until heaven and earth pass away — but that SOONER would heaven and earth pass away than that one letter of the law would fail to be fulfilled.

After taking time to make this explanation, if you are still not satisfied and you believe the law is meant for you to fulfill, then you need to read this; Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes (Roms 10:4). Again, if you are still not satisfied, fine! I wouldn't debate with you because the truth is undebatable.

Shalom.