Fulfill – As in ‘Did Jesus Fulfill the Law’

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Definition: ‘Fulfill’ as in “Did Jesus Fulfill or bring to end the Mosaic Law?”

Yeshua (Jesus Christ):

  1. Matthew 5:17–18 — The Saying
  2. Destroy (G2647 • katalyō) — What it means
  3. Fulfill (G4137 • plēroō) — What it means
  4. Why it matters — Summary
  5. Has heaven or earth passed away yet? (Implications of v.18)
 

A. Matthew 5:17–18 — The Saying

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” (Matthew 5:17–18)

This sets Jesus’ program: not abolishing Torah or the Prophets, but bringing them to fullness—obedience realized and promises accomplished.

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B. “Destroy” — G2647 katalyō

Senses (outline):

  • Literal: dissolve, demolish, disunite; tear down (e.g., a building).
  • Metaphorical: overthrow, nullify, render vain, deprive of force or validity; annul/abrogate; bring to nothing.

Implication in Matt 5:17: Jesus denies any mission to dismantle or invalidate God’s Law or the Prophets.

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C. “Fulfill” — G4137 plēroō

Senses (outline):

  • to fill, make full; bring to completion or maturity;
  • to cause God’s will (as made known in the Law) to be obeyed as it should be;
  • to bring God’s promises (spoken through the Prophets) to realization.

Implication in Matt 5:17–18: Jesus consummates Scripture—He embodies Torah’s intent, teaches its true demands, and brings prophetic promises to their goal.

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D. Why it matters — Summary

  • No abolition: “Destroy” denies dissolving or annulling God’s Law.
  • Active completion: “Fulfill” is not doing away with, but bringing to fullness—obedience realized and promises accomplished.
  • Durability: “Till heaven and earth pass” frames Torah’s enduring validity until the divine plan is fully achieved.

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E. Has heaven or earth passed away yet? (Implications of v.18)

Has earth or heaven passed away yet? No? Then, by Jesus’ own words (“till heaven and earth pass away… one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled”, Matt 5:18), not a single “jot” or “tittle”—the smallest marks of the written text—will drop from God’s Law until His plan reaches completion.

  • Put differently for teaching: if heaven and earth remain, then not even one “vowel” or “consonant” (smallest written elements) passes away from God’s Law until all receives fulfillment.

Application point:

  1. Jesus did not abolish the Ten Commandments. (He ended reliance on circumcision/sacrificial law as a pathway to righteousness, so that we would live out obedience to the Ten Commandments in the way He commands and empowers.)

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