| Matthew 5:17: "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." ANALYSIS: The original Greek word for fulfill is pleroo, Strong's number 4137, which does not mean to replace, abolish, substitute, or perform for other Christians. It overwhelmingly means to "make replete, level up, be full, perfect, fully preach, complete, or to fill." Fulfill means to fill to the full in verse 17, to fill full, or fill fuller. Pleroo means basically "to add to," or "supplement." Joseph H. Thayer, famous Bible word expert, includes the following words in his definition of pleroo: "to furnish or supply liberally," "liberally supplied," "to render full," "to fill up to the top," "so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim," "to make complete in every particular," and "to render perfect." The same pleroo word was used in Matthew 13:48 in which nets were filled up with fish. Jesus added to and improved the law. For example, He added new divorce and remarriage laws. He told us that merely looking at women adulterously is now a sin, another new law He added. He also told us not to swear and not to call others fools or become unjustifiably angry with others, refining further the law prohibiting murder. The following reputable translations help show that Jesus DID NOT "fulfill" the law in a way that clearly no longer required us to obey the law. He simply made the law better, adding to it, and refined it further. We still need to diligently observe many Mosaic laws. Matthew 5:17: "You folks should not infer from customary presumption or from established supposition that I came to loosen-down or demolish the Law (or: Torah) or the Prophets. I did not come to loosen-down or demolish, but to the contrary, to fulfill (or: fill up) and make full." --- Jonathon Mitchell New Testament. Matthew 5:17: "Do not think that I have come to set aside the law and the prophets; I have not come to set them aside, but to bring them to perfection." --- Knox New Testament. Matthew 5:17: "Do not for a moment suppose that I have come to abrogate the Law or the Prophets: I have not come to abrogate them but to give them their completion." --- Weymouth New Testament. Mainstream Christians misinterpret pleroo to mean that Jesus has discharged Christians from the obligation to continue closely obeying the Mosaic laws. For further study click ucg.org/bsc/09/spiritoflaw.htm. | |