“Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.
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.
- KJV Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
- 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.
- 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 fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
- Luke 16:17But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one tiny stroke of a pen in the law to fall.
- Gal 4:4–5But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
- Rom 8:4that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
- Rom 3:31Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.
- Isa 42:21It pleased Yahweh, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the law, and make it honorable.
- Gal 3:17–24Now I say this. A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.
- Matt 7:12Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
- Ps 40:6–8Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire. You have opened my ears. You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.
- Heb 10:3–12But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins.
- Col 2:16–17Let no one therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
- Acts 6:13and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.
- Acts 18:13saying, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”
- Matt 3:15But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.
- John 8:5Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What then do you say about her?”
- Acts 21:28crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place. Moreover, he also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place!”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.