The Law

6. June 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: Our text for today is 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. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

In our above text, let me begin by defining some things.   Jesus is putting some very “well known” rumors to rest.  He opens up by saying “think not.”  There were many religious leaders who were making claims that Jesus was anti-law.  Jesus says; no, He is not against the law.  Don’t think that HE came to destroy the law, or the prophets: but to fulfill.   

First, let’s talk about what Jesus means when he says the “law” in this statement.   Jesus was not referring to any particular rule or regulation but actually a body of literature which is made up of the first five books of the bible.  It is called the Pentateuch or Torah.   The Pentateuch is a Greek word which means five books.  The word penta-meaning five and teuch- meaning volumes or books.    Torah is simply the Hebrew word for this same body of material.   The word torah means law or story.  Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and  Deuteronomony are the books that make up this word “law” in this passage.  While some think that when the word law is mentioned, it refers to the Ten Commandments.  The Ten Commandments is only one set of laws that finds its context in the Pentateuch and is often referred to as the “moral law.”  There were ceremonial laws, governmental laws, sanitary laws, dietary laws, etc.   

Jesus says; “think not that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets.”  The word prophets here refer to a body of literature which contained the writings of the prophets.  As you can see, Jesus was referring to a body of literature in the Old Testament which we know as the “word of God”, in particular the first five books of the bible and the books of the prophets.  Jesus goes on to say;  till  heaven and earth pass one “jot” or one “tittle” shall in no wise pass from the law until all be fulfilled.    A jot is the tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet which looks like a apostraphe ( ‘ ) .  It is the smallest or most minute part of the Hebrew language.  A tittle is the tiny marks used to accent the words.  It took is the smallest or most minute part of the language.  Jesus’ point was that God’s word was so important and so dependable that even the smallest part of the word will be fulfilled.  

 Oh!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This is just so powerful to me.  A jot or a tittle, ohhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!  That is just how faithful God is towards his word.  HE IS FAITHFUL.  His word shall not return to HIM void but it shall accomplish the thing that HE sent it to do.  POWERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!   IT CANNOT COME BACK VOID.   Okay, on Monday, we will begin our study on how Jesus fulfills the law and Jesus begins to correct false teachings.  There are some really hot topics coming up including marriage, divorce, adultery, fornication and remarriage.     YEAH!!!!!!!!!!  It get’s pretty heated.    Join me Monday.  Have a wonderful weekend.   

God Bless. 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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