"Jesus Came to Fulfill the Law, Not Abolish It!", Let's Study Matthew 5:17-20 Together To Know What That Means For You and Me

“I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” — Matthew 5:17

What was the purpose of the Mosaic Law?

The Law revealed God's holiness and character, showed Israel how He desired His people to live, set Israel apart among the nations, exposed humanity's sinfulness, and provided a way for forgiveness, worship, and covenant relationship with God.

It included moral commands, social laws, sacrifices, festivals, dietary regulations, and instructions for worship.

But the Law was never the final destination.

The sacrifices, priesthood, tabernacle, and prophetic writings all pointed forward to something greater—the coming Messiah.

That's why Jesus says:

“I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

Jesus didn't come to throw away everything God had revealed. He came to bring it to its intended completion.

Jeremiah had already promised that God would establish a new covenant, one in which His law would be written on His people's hearts (Jeremiah 31:31–34). Jesus fulfills this promise.

The Old Covenant revealed God's holiness and humanity's need for forgiveness.

The New Covenant brings forgiveness, transformation, and direct access to God through Jesus.

The Law says, “This is what holiness looks like.”

Jesus says, “Come follow Me, and I will transform you from the inside out.”

This is why Jesus can say that not even “an iota or a dot” will pass away until all is accomplished.

The goal was never simply external rule-following.

It was always relationship with God.

So what does Jesus mean when He says our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees?

The Pharisees were deeply committed to religious obedience and knew the Law well. But Jesus repeatedly exposed the difference between external righteousness and righteousness of the heart.

Paul later explains:

“Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ.” — Philippians 3:9

Our righteousness isn't something we earn by becoming religious enough.

We receive Christ's righteousness through faith.

And then that righteousness begins to transform the way we live.

Jesus doesn't save us so that we can remain unchanged.

He saves us so that we can become people who increasingly love what He loves, obey what He commands, and reflect His character to the world.

The Law pointed toward Jesus.

Jesus fulfilled the Law.

And now, through the Holy Spirit, God writes His ways on our hearts and empowers us to live differently.

So the question isn't simply:

“Am I following enough rules?”

It's:

“Is my life becoming a reflection of the One I say I follow?”

Righteousness still matters—not because our obedience earns God's love, but because God's love transforms us.

We don't obey so that God will love us.

We obey because we have been loved.

And perhaps that's what makes the Gospel so beautiful.

The son in Luke 15 didn't have to earn his way back into his Father's love.

He simply had to come home.

And when he did, the Father ran toward him.

Jesus fulfilled the Law so that we could come home—not merely to follow rules, but to know the Father, receive His forgiveness, be transformed by His Spirit, and live as people who carry His love into the world.