Fulfillment of the law

One of the elements or applications of this passage (Matthew 5:16-20) we did not touch on Sunday was verse 18, “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.”  Jesus has told the hearers (then and now) that He is the fulfillment of all that the Law and Prophets always pointed towards, the Messiah and the plan of God for redemption.  He is not abolishing or tearing down the Law or Prophets but holding them up to the standard and fulfillment as God originally intended, but which has been “dumbed down” by the scribes and Pharisees.  

We did not touch on the aspect of verse 18 which teaches that part of that fulfillment is judgment. The law points us to God, to His separateness, His holiness, to our sinfulness and our separation from Him.  It sets and establishes an unattainable standard we cannot meet for a relationship with God without the saving work of Jesus in our lives.  Yet part of the whole plan is that while some will be saved, there are those who will reject (just as the majority of the Pharisees did) the truth as revealed in the life and teachings of Jesus. 

They could neither see nor accept Him as the Promised One, the Messiah for the Jews and all men.  Not one jot/dot of an “i” ((iota) or tittle/mark of a “t” (theta) will be changed.  Far too often in our culture today, people think they can establish the standards by which God will excuse or accept them, but the Law and the Prophets teach an absolute perfection, 100%, rate of keeping 100% of the commands of God.  We fail before we even get to the starting blocks.

God has clearly communicated to man what it means to obey, yet we rebel and thumb our noses at the design of God which is all for our good. 

For those of us who have fallen on the mercy and grace of God, let us not forget that the judgment of God is required in the fulfillment of God’s plan.  It will come to pass.  May this energize, compel and move our hearts to share the gospel, the good news of the plan of God, fulfilled in Christ Jesus, to save men from their sins.  There is no other way for men to be right with God (John 1:6) and to experience life as God has intended, in relationship with Him for eternity.

Pressing on…

Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor