Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill.
- BSB Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.
- NKJV “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
- NASB “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.
- NLT “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus came not to abolish the Law or Prophets but to fulfill them. It affirms the abiding authority of Scripture and Christ's role in completing it.
Overview
Far from setting aside the Old Testament, Jesus brings it to its intended goal, obeying its commands, embodying its types, and fulfilling its prophecies. He upholds the Law's authority while interpreting it rightly against the distortions of His day. The whole of Scripture points to and is fulfilled in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Rom 10:4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
- Luke 16:17And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
- Gal 4:4–5But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
- Rom 8:4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
- Rom 3:31Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
- Isa 42:21The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
- Gal 3:17–24And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
- Matt 7:12Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
- Ps 40:6–8Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
- Heb 10:3–12But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
- Col 2:16–17Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
- Acts 6:13And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
- Acts 18:13Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
- Matt 3:15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
- John 8:5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
- Acts 21:28Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 5:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.