Did Jesus Fulfill and Finish All Of the Law? Chapter Three

MONEY CHANGERS 3

Did Jesus Fulfill and Finish All of the Law


When we find the answer to the question of whether or not Jesus fulfilled all of the Law, the question of whether or not we are still supposed to live by the Law of Moses will also be answered. After all, if the Law of Moses has been ended, we are not obliged to live by it any longer.

As we look into the Word of God, concerning this subject, we find some verses of scripture that might at first appear to contradict or oppose each other, but in reality, God, who is perfect, never opposes himself, nor will His Word.There are times, however, when the translations of Hebrew and Greek words do not come across as clearly to us of this generation, so at times it is helpful to look at the original word which was used and its meaning. By bringing together scripture and considering some meanings of the original written words, we should be able to clarify the true message. We'll examine a few such verses as we begin our study. Jesus, speaking concerning the Law, had this to say:

Matt. 5:17&18 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”
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.

Paul says in Romans 10:4 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH.” (emphasis mine)

Now in order to see that these verses do agree with each other, let's look at the difference in meaning between the words 'destroy' and 'fulfill'.

Destroy, in the Greek, is the word kataluo (kat-al-oo'-o), which means “to loosen down (disintegrate), that is, by implication, to demolish (lit.or fig.) ...” (Strong's')

Fulfill, in the Greek, is pleroo (play-ro'-o), The Strong's' Concordance gives many meanings to this word, including, - “to make repleat, that is, (lit.) to cram (a net), level up, (a hollow) ... ” satisfy, execute (an office), finish, (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction,) and even “accomplish, end, expire, fill (up)” etc.

Of course these are a lot of words and meanings, so let's simplify. The bottom line is this: the Law had a purpose to fulfill and could not be done away with until that purpose was completed entirely. When He came to earth, Jesus did not come to demolish, nor overthrow, nor disintegrate the Law. He came rather, to fulfill all of its purpose and thus bring it to completion.

Notice what it means “to make replete”. Replete means “completely fulfilled: thoroughly supplied” (Websters')

Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon gives the meaning for 'fulfill' as this: “Universally and absolutely, to fulfill, that is, to cause God's promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfillment”.

We will look at more scriptures on this subject, but first let me give you an example which may serve to simplify the meaning of coming to fulfill and not destroy.

Suppose, for example, there was a wealthy widow, and mother of a 12 year old boy, who discovered that she was terminally ill. Now suppose also, that this woman decided to make out a will, which would provide for her son both physically and emotionally after she was gone.

In her will she named a certain man who was a dear friend of the family and also very trustworthy. She stated in the will that this man was to inherit $1,000,000 on her son's 18th birthday, if he met certain stipulations, which she named specifically.

He would be obligated to spend one day per week with her son doing some type of activity which her son not only would enjoy, but which would also be good for his growth, mentally and emotionally into manhood. These duties would begin immediately upon the woman's death and end on the son's 18th birthday. If the friend were to do this without fail, he would receive the $1000,000 on that day.At that point the will, with it's stipulations, would be fulfilled and terminated.

Now suppose, further, that the friend, being very pleased and agreeing to this arrangement, were to show up for his first day out with the son, after his mother's death. It could be said that he had come to live up to, or fulfill, the obligations of the will. He had not come to get rid of, or destroy it. In fact, he looks forward to the reward which will be his in six years. He knows the will is signed and legal, and he knows that if he is faithful, and fulfills his part of the agreement, in time the reward will be his and the will, at that time, will be finished and be put away; kept only as a record of the previous agreement, and it's obligations done away with or no longer in effect.

The friend does, indeed, come faithfully every week, until the young man is eighteen years of age. Each time he comes, he comes to fulfill, not destroy, the will; yet he knows when the fulfilling is accomplished and completed, the will, will be finished once and for all. There will be no further need for it, except to serve as a record of the transaction, for what the mother had hoped to accomplish will, at that point, be done.

So it was with Jesus. Jesus came to earth with a purpose to fulfill. Yes, his purpose was to bring salvation, but in order to bring salvation, and to bring us into the life of grace, he had to first fulfill the Mosaic Law and bring it to completion. He did not come to earth to destroy the Law until he had first fulfilled his obligation so it could reach completion. And this he did do perfectly!

Jesus came to do, and be, what the Law represented. In the Law there were representations and reminders of a Savior to come, but until the actual Savior came, that Law could never be completed.

Jesus came to earth with a mission and he had every intention of fulfilling his mission. Praise be to God, he did not destroy the Law before fulfilling it, or all of us would be lost eternally!

We read in Heb 10:1 - “For the Law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”

And Rom. 3:20 says “ ... for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

So the Law showed man how unrighteous he was but could never make him perfect.

Romans 5:13 “(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.)”

Men were living in sin even before the law was given, but once the law came into effect sin was made obvious. Man could then clearly see what was being done against the commands of God.

A little child may lie, and even feel some guilt, but until someone tells that child that lying is wrong and harmful, he will not fully understand what he is doing is wrong, or what negative effects there can be. Nor will he understand how important it is for him to always speak the truth. When a parent tells his child not to lie, then corrects him when he does, things become a little clearer, for the law of the parent made it so.

So it was with the Law of Moses. It made sin evident. Also the various works of the Law illustrated and demonstrated better things that were to come.

For example. The sin sacrifice, represented the Savior who would come one day and die for the sins of mankind. There were many beautiful demonstrations done in the festivals and rituals that represented future events, but no matter how detailed or glorious the acts of the festivals were, or any other part of the Law, they could never show the full beauty and glory of what they represented.

It was like looking at a shadow of something beautiful. The shadow may give you an idea of the shape of the thing, though only a limited idea of it. It may give you an idea of what it is, but the shadow is still dark and colorless. It has no beauty at all in comparison to the real thing seen in full light.

The apostle Paul, in speaking of the Law of Moses and the New Testament, said it this way in 2 Cor. 3:10-11:

10 “For even that which was made glorious (old Law) had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.” (surpasses [Strong's'])
11 “For if that which is DONE AWAY (old law) was glorious, much more that which REMAINETH (the New Testament) is glorious. (parenthesis and emphasis mine)

Even our Lord Jesus himself. Who had come with the mission of fulfilling the Law so that it could be done away with, and a New Testament put in its place, had to live by the Mosaic Law until he completed his mission. He had come to earth in human form, and as long as he was a man, he had to obey the Law, as did every man, for to fail to do so would be to sin, and Jesus did no sin. What God had sent Jesus to do, he would do before he would ascend back to heaven.

Now let's look into the Word of God. We find our Lord Jesus Christ being described as the 'Word of God' in John 1:1-3. Verse fourteen of the same chapter this is said.

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Jesus then, is the living Word of God, and is called such in scripture. Going back into the Old Testament, we find God prophesying concerning what his Word was going to do:

Isaiah 55:10-11 “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and giveth seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void (ineffectually [Strong's]), but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (emphasis mine) (added notation)

It is Jesus who was sent from God. It is Jesus who is the Word of God. The Word (Jesus) is the seed which can be planted in the hearts of men. And it is the Word (Jesus) that is able to cleanse a man from all his sin.

Luke 8:11 “... The seed is the Word of God.”

John. 15:3 “Now are ye clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”

Eph. 5:26 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of the water by the word,” (emphasis mine)

So then, it was Jesus who was sent to accomplish the Father's will, and he did so perfectly! When he returned to the Father, he did not return VOID, or, that is, ineffectually. Jesus said himself, in John 4:34 -

“... My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to FINISH his work.”
(emphasis mine)

If he came to finish the work, dear reader, you can rest assured that he did what he came to do. He did not fail.!

Now consider what is said of Jesus while he was hanging on the cross;

John 19:28-30 “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scriptures might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

How clear scripture is! God sent Jesus, his only begotten son, and Jesus said of himself, -

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath SENT Me to heal the broken hearted ... to set at liberty them that are bruised,” (emphasis mine)

After bearing our sins in his own body, - (1 Pet. 2:24 ), he himself saw that at that point, ALL THINGS, not a few things, not part of the things, but ALL THINGS were accomplished, so that the scriptures might be fulfilled. When he declared, “It is finished” he did not lie!

The word 'accomplished', in the Greek, is the word teleo (tel-eh'-o), which means “to end, that is, complete, execute, conclude, discharge (a debt): accomplish, make an end, expire, fill up, finish, ...” etc. (Strong's')

After Jesus completed his mission, discharged our debt, and made an end of the Law, then he was able to say “It is finished.” Praise God!

As we have already read in Matt.5:18, on this subject, Jesus said “not one jot or tittle” was going to pass from the Law until ALL was fulfilled, and Paul said this -

Rom. 10:4 “For Christ is the END OF THE LAW for righteousness to EVERY ONE That believeth.”
(emphasis mine)

When it says in John 19:28 - “... all things were now accomplished,” the word 'now' in the Greek is hedista (hay'-dis-tah). Which means “with great pleasure: - most (very) gladly” (Strong's')

We can get an idea of what Jesus felt when he saw that this mission was completed. He had completed the old Law, and brought it to its conclusion so that man could now be saved by grace and not by works of the Law.

Rom. 11:6 “And if by grace, then it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace ... “

He had set at liberty those that were bruised. He had discharged our debt by paying it in full himself, and brought into effect a new and better covenant. And how did he feel? He felt great pleasure. We might say he was very glad to accomplish this, or that he was glad to have it finally accomplished, and both would be true. See what we are told in Hebrews.

Heb. 12:2 “ ... who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross ... “

For Jesus, the reward was worth the price! Oh, what love our Savior had, to consider our redemption worth such a cost! What praise and adoration he deserves!

Now consider for a moment the new covenant that Jesus gave us. It is called the New Testament. Testament is another word for 'will'. Jesus is the testator of this will, or in other words, the one who made the will and who died and left this will. A will does not go into effect until the one who wrote it dies. It took the death of Jesus to finish the Old Testament and put the new one into effect.

Hebrews 9:16&17 “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is if no strength at all while the testator liveth.”

We know our Savior did die, and thus, the New Testament became effective, opening the door to a life of grace, but we also know that after he died, he rose to life again. We find evidence of this in 1 Cor. 15:3 & 4

3 “... how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

And Heb.7:25 tells us - “Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

God deserves our love and our thanks for all he has done for us! Now look at what Rom. 6:14 says -

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

Does this verse say you are not under all of the law, only part of it? Does God's Word mean what it says? God's Word is clear, yet even so, there are believers who mistakenly believe that part of the Law was fulfilled and part was not.

Tithing is one of the things of the Law still believed to be in effect today. The idea seems to be that, since tithing was the means of support for the ministers of the old temple, this law is still to be used to support ministers in the new covenant. Even with this belief, however, it is not carried out today in all ways as it was then. Today there is no tithe taken for the widows, fatherless or the strangers, as was done in the Mosaic Law.

It is a very dangerous thing to say that Christ did not fulfill all of the Law, for then Jesus would not have completed his work, and we could not live in the New Testament. Such a belief could breed many kinds of false doctrines.

Scripture being very clear, let us refuse to confuse the issue. Notice how clearly it is said in the book of Hebrews.

Heb. 7:22 “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a BETTER testament.”
Heb. 8:6 “But now hath he (Jesus) obtained a MORE EXCELLENT ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a BETTER covenant, which was established upon BETTER promises (emphasis and parenthesis mine)

If you have ever heard it said that what Jesus fulfilled and finished were only those things that pertained to the sacrifices, then do not forget that it was tithing that supported those who had the job of handling the sacrifices. The Levites who were supported by tithes, no longer sacrifice for sins and no longer live their lives doing temple ministry.

Look at what we are told in Colossians 2:14-17 :

14 “Blotting out the HANDWRITING of ordinances that were against us, which was contrary to us, and TOOK IT OUT OF THE WAY, nailing to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let NO MAN therefore judge you in meat or drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; ... “ (emphasis mine)

Obviously the handwriting of the things that were against us were not just laws concerning sacrifices. The author here even mentions meat, drink, holydays, sabbaths, and new moons. There were many things contained in the Law that were ordinances. Ordinances are laws. We know that the Ten Commandments were written in stone, but we are also told in Ex. 24:12 -

12 “And the Lord God said unto Moses, come up to me in the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.”

God began in Ex. 25:2 and continued through 31:17 giving commands for making the tabernacle and its furnishings, as well as commands for the priesthood, and offerings, etc.

Ex. 31:18 “And he (God) gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tablets of testimony, tables of stone, WRITTEN WITH THE FINGER OF GOD.
(parenthesis and emphasis mine)

So God himself wrote these things, but notice what we are told in Rom. 3:19 -

“And now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are UNDER THE LAW ...” (emphasis mine)

The word 'what' in this verse is the word hosos (hos'-os) in the Greek, and means “all” (that) (Strong's'). So then, we know that ALL the things said in the Law are said to those who are under that Law, not SOME of what is said, but EVERYTHING that is said. We are not to pick and choose.

Rom. 3:20 & 21 “Therefore by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But NOW the righteousness of God WITHOUT the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.” (emphasis mine)

So do not let the words and teachings of men confuse you my friend. There is law and there is grace. If you choose to live by part of the old Law, you might as well live by it all, for we are told this in Galatians 3:10 -

“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in ALL things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” (emphasis mine)

Under law it was all or nothing. Deuteronomy which is the book of the Law, affirms this.

Deut. 27:26 “Cursed be he that confirmeth not ALL the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.” (emphasis mine)

Just prior to this statement, in chapter 26. verse 12, tithing to Levites, widows, fatherless and strangers was addressed in the Law. Tithing was one of those laws you either kept or were cursed, but praise be to our God, he tells us this good news in Galations 3:13 & 14

13 “Christ hath redeemed us from the CURSE OF THE LAW, being made a CURSE for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessings of Abraham might come on the Gentiles. Through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through FAITH.” (emphasis mine)

Just as we cannot live partly for God and partly for Satan, and live victorious lives, a man cannot live letting the Mosaic Law rule him in part, and live as victorious as God wants him to live. You cannot be ruled by both laws, for they do not agree. Jesus said in Matt. 9:16

16 “No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up (patch the hole) taketh from the garment, and the rent (split or gap) [Strong's'[) is made worse.” (added notation)

If you patch an old worn dress with a piece of new material, even if the patch is small, eventually the old threads cannot hold up to the newer, stronger threads. The old and the new do not mix well; something will happen that is not good. The old threads will pull away from the newer ones and the hole will become larger than it was to begin with. A little of the old Law being taught as any means of justification, or to gain a blessing and security, will effect the whole mind set and frustrate grace.

Look at what Paul had to say in Galations 2:21 -

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

My! What a strong statement Paul made! But it shows us the seriousness of the matter, does it not?

Oh, precious child of God, for whom Jesus gave his life, let us never insult, not lessen, nor make void, the work of our Lord and Savior at Calvary! Never call it a partial work, by saying he did not fulfill all of the Law, for indeed, as he felt the blows of the hammer, as the nails pounded into his hands and feet, he knew that the handwriting of those ordinances that were against us were being nailed with him to that cross. He became the curse so that you and I would not be cursed.

The ending of the Mosaic Law was demonstrated so dramatically that day when Jesus gave out his final cry!

Matt. 17:50 & 51 “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain (split in two, [see Strong's']) from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;” (parenthesis mine and added notation))

'Rent' here is the word schizo (skhid'-zo), and means “to split or sever (lit. or fig.) : -- break, divide, open, rend, make rent.” (Strong's')

Not only did Jesus loudly announce with his words, “It is finished”, but also the almighty God showed openly what ended, with an earthquake splitting rocks in two and the veil of the temple, that kept the people separated from the direct presence of God, being ripped in two from the top to the bottom. Never ever again would God have an earthly priest of the Levitical priesthood go behind a veil to approach God for us. Jesus had ended those procedures of the Law and ushered in a better way. He had made access for each of us individually into the presence of God.

Heb. 10:20 “By a new and LIVING way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the VEIL, that is to say, his FLESH;

Heb. 4:16 “let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (emphasis mine)

Let us honor our Lord and the work he has done! Let us not bring back upon ourselves a bondage that Jesus suffered to free us from.

Gal. 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

Today, it is those who make Jesus their Lord who are considered righteous, not those who keep every detail of the Mosaic Law. It is those who walk in the light, or, that is, those who walk in, (live in) Jesus himself, who is the light, and who cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:7 ”But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin.”

John. 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”