Post by Mark on Nov 17, 2008 6:49:41 GMT -8
When sharing with Christian folk, often teachers and seminary trained scholars, that we are a 
observant Messianic community, one of the most common responses I get is, "but, Jesus fulfilled the Law." This statement is, of course, true. Messiah said in Matthew 5:17-18,
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
There are two separate statements that Messiah is making. The antinomian (anti-/Law) perspective that pervades the Christian Church generally confuses them into one. Messiah said plainly that He did not come to destroy the Law, but rather to fulfill. The Christian answer is, "not yet." However, such a conclusion defies what Messiah will continue to say in Matthew 5:19, that "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." In Matthew 24:35, Messiah Yeshua will boldly assert, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." To Christian logic, He must have meant all of His words except Matthew 5:19. When He commanded His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20, to go out into all the world and teach them all things whatsoever Messiah Yeshua had commanded them, He must not have meant to include Matthew 5:19.
Much of the confusion comes from the use of the words that have been translated "fulfill" in Matthew 5:17-18. Messiah came to fulfill, and the Law will not pass until all has been fulfilled. An easy conclusion is that when Messiah’s redemptive work on the cross was completed, then the value of the ceased. This perspective is bolstered by a few Pauline statements which are taken out of context, "that we are not under the Law but under grace" (Romans 6:14) or "the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ" (Galatians 3:24). Both of these statements ignore the context of the message being taught and place the writer in immediate contradiction. In Romans 3:31, Paul declares that our faith confirms the value of in our lives. In Galatians 6:6, Paul encourages those who are knowledgeable in "the Word", (which at this point would only refer to the Old Testament and Prophets) to teach the others. (To answer further questions on what Paul was actually saying, visit www.ahavatelohim.com or http://www.torahresource.com; or give me a call and I can send you further material on that subject.)
Many are surprised to learn that the words translated fulfill in Matthew 5:17-18 are not the same word. When Messiah said that He came to fulfill the Law, the word recorded in Greek is the word, "play-roo". It means to level up or to do one’s part. The word used in verse 18, when all is fulfilled is "ginomai". It simply means completed or done.
observant Messianic community, one of the most common responses I get is, "but, Jesus fulfilled the Law." This statement is, of course, true. Messiah said in Matthew 5:17-18, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
There are two separate statements that Messiah is making. The antinomian (anti-
/Law) perspective that pervades the Christian Church generally confuses them into one. Messiah said plainly that He did not come to destroy the Law, but rather to fulfill. The Christian answer is, "not yet." However, such a conclusion defies what Messiah will continue to say in Matthew 5:19, that "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." In Matthew 24:35, Messiah Yeshua will boldly assert, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." To Christian logic, He must have meant all of His words except Matthew 5:19. When He commanded His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20, to go out into all the world and teach them all things whatsoever Messiah Yeshua had commanded them, He must not have meant to include Matthew 5:19. Much of the confusion comes from the use of the words that have been translated "fulfill" in Matthew 5:17-18. Messiah came to fulfill, and the Law will not pass until all has been fulfilled. An easy conclusion is that when Messiah’s redemptive work on the cross was completed, then the value of the
ceased. This perspective is bolstered by a few Pauline statements which are taken out of context, "that we are not under the Law but under grace" (Romans 6:14) or "the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ" (Galatians 3:24). Both of these statements ignore the context of the message being taught and place the writer in immediate contradiction. In Romans 3:31, Paul declares that our faith confirms the value of in our lives. In Galatians 6:6, Paul encourages those who are knowledgeable in "the Word", (which at this point would only refer to the Old Testament and Prophets) to teach the others. (To answer further questions on what Paul was actually saying, visit www.ahavatelohim.com or http://www.torahresource.com; or give me a call and I can send you further material on that subject.)Many are surprised to learn that the words translated fulfill in Matthew 5:17-18 are not the same word. When Messiah said that He came to fulfill the Law, the word recorded in Greek is the word, "play-roo". It means to level up or to do one’s part. The word used in verse 18, when all is fulfilled is "ginomai". It simply means completed or done.
