Jesus and Moses   Matthew 5:17-19

This post clarifies how Jesus viewed the Law of Moses.

Jesus and Moses describes Jesus’ relationship with the Old Testament, Matthew 5:17-19. “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… not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all …accomplished.” Earlier, Jesus and the Pharisees had been at odds over the Pharisees’ twisting of the Law into the Tradition of the Elders (see Luke 6:1-11; Mark 2:23-3:6; John 5:2-11).

So, Jesus explains that He had come, not to abolish but to fulfill the Old Testament Law.

In life, Jesus did just that. He fulfilled all the promises and laws given in the Old Testament. Thus, with Jesus, the Old Testament finds itself completed. Now, we listen to Jesus, Hebrews 1:1-2. “… God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,”

Jesus plainly condemned the Tradition of the Elders. The Pharisees objected to Jesus’ disciples not washing their hands before eating. At that point, Jesus criticized their twisting of the Law, Matthew 15:3. “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? So, by their tradition they voided God’s word.

Therefore, these verses show:

1.Jesus believed in the God of the Old Testament and every word of it. 2.The greatness of Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament becomes evident.

The Apostle Paul calls the Old Law a death at the cross, Romans 7:4. “…have died to the law through the body of Christ…”

So, what did we learn?

1.Jesus validated the Old Testament which He came to fulfill.

2.The Old Testament is no longer applicable due to the cross of Jesus.

3.Jesus condemned the Tradition of the Elders.

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