Gospel of Matthew Chapter 5 Vs. 17

 Christ Came to Fulfill the Law

Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

Think not that... The 5th New Testament prophecy in Matthew (Mat. 5:17-19; Mat. 5:17-18 are fulfilled; Mat. 5:19 is being fulfilled). Next, Mat. 7:21. Jesus was neither giving a new law nor modifying the old, but rather explaining the true significance of the moral content of Moses’ law and the rest of the Old Testament.

Having laid the foundation of the message in the summary statements of the Beatitudes, Jesus now proceeds to show the superiority of His message to that of the Law of Moses. He makes it clear that He had “not … come to destroy the law.” That is, the New Testament gospel is not contradictory to the Old Testament Law; rather it is the ultimate fulfillment of the spiritual intention of the law.

Where the law had degenerated into legalism among the Pharisees, Jesus now takes the law beyond mere outward observance to the inner spiritual intention of God.

destroy the law... Finally two witnesses agreed that Jesus had once said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days. Jesus had said that approximately three years earlier at the outset of His ministry (John 2:19), referring not to the temple building, but to His body. It is interesting that this statement was here recalled soon before His crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus refused to answer any of the charges brought against Him because He was never officially charged with any crime. Destroy (pull down) as in Mat. 26:61.

or the prophets... First of 15 times Christ used this term (Mat. 5:17-18; 7:12; 11:13; 12:5; 22:40; 23:23; Luke 10:26; 16:16-17; 24:44; John 7:19-23; 8:17; 10:34; 15:25).

but to fulfil... Greek: pleroo, to satisfy, expire, and to end by fulfilling like other prophecies when fulfilled (Mat. 1:22; 2:15, 2:17, 2:23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17; 13:35). This speaks of fulfillment in the same sense that prophecy is fulfilled. Christ was indicating that He is the fulfillment of the law in all its aspects. He fulfilled the moral law by keeping it perfectly. He fulfilled the ceremonial law by being the embodiment of everything the law’s types and symbols pointed to. And He fulfilled the judicial law by personifying God’s perfect justice (12:18, 20).

The Substance Of His Message

This section presents the heart of Jesus’ message, for it demonstrates His relationship to the Law of God. Jesus was not presenting a rival system to the Law of Moses and the words of the Prophets, but a true fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets - in contrast with the Pharisees’ traditions. “The Law and the Prophets” refer to the entire Old Testament (cf. Mat. 7:12; 11:13; 22:40; Luke 16:16; Acts 13:15; 24:14; 28:23; Rom. 3:21). I tell you the truth is literally, “Surely (or Verily, KJV) I say to you.” “Surely” renders the word “Amen” (Gr. amēn, transliterated from the Heb. 'āman, “to be firm, true”). This expression, “I tell you the truth,” points to a solemn declaration that the hearers should note. It occurs 31 times in Matthew alone. (In the Gospel of John this Gr. word always occurs twice: “Amen, Amen.” Cf. see John 1:51.)