"Do not think that I came to destroy [abolish] the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy [abolish] but to fulfill. 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. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-20
Jesus made it clear that He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. How did Jesus fulfill the law?
First, Jesus was “born under the law” (Galatians 4:4). This means that from birth Jesus was under obligation to keep the law, observing every ritual and obeying every ordinance. Though every Jewish person was also born under the Law, Jesus is the only person—ever, to actually succeed in keeping God’s law flawlessly.
Second, Jesus obeyed the Law in every conceivable way to earn the reward due those who are perfectly righteous. Other than Jesus, there has never been, nor will there be, another who is perfectly righteous. Jesus did not earn that reward for Himself, since being God, He was already intrinsically righteous. He earned the reward due the righteous to give that reward to those He came to save namely, those who—though unrighteous—trust in Him for salvation (Galatians 4:5).
Third, since all of the ceremonial law pointed to the Jesus as Messiah, because He fulfilled it all, the ceremonial law is no longer required. By offering Himself as the one and only sinless sacrifice that actually takes away the sins of His people, the Old Testament sacrificial system has ended. By serving as the one and only Great High Priest, the Old Testament priesthood has ended. By offering His sacrifice on Calvary, the Old Testament Temple has ended.
Instead of offering sacrificial animals, etc., those who trust in Christ offer “the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15). Instead of looking to mere human priests, we look to our one and only Great High Priest, the God-Man, Jesus, who “ever lives to make intercession” for us (Hebrews 7:25). Instead of worshiping in a temple building, those who trust in Christ Jesus are the temple of God (1 Peter 2:5, Ephesians 2:19-22).
Jesus “fulfilled the law,” but He did not “abolish the law.” What are the uses of the Law for New Testament believers? Next time.