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Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law of the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). So did Jesus take away the old law, the law given through Moses? Was the Old Testament taken away?
Well, it cannot be taken away because it is a reality in history. It exists as a part of human existence. Jesus was being accused of breaking and violating the law of Moses. So he speaks clearly his respect for the law of Moses. He says that he did not come to destroy it. Rather, he emphasized that even the most insignificant parts of the Law would not pass away until ALL was fulfilled. Jesus said that breaking the least of the commandments was an offense. He emphasized that the people needed to do better than the best law-keepers of the day (Pharisees) or they would not enter the kingdom. Jesus respected and upheld all the law given through Moses.
Still, in this text, he speaks of the fulfillment of the law. He is not only talking about the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies; he speaks of fulfilling the law. Jesus came to fulfill (v.17). Nothing would pass from the law until all is fulfilled (v.18). God’s purpose in and use of the law given through Moses would fully and completely be accomplished. Fulfilled.
Did Jesus teach that the law would be set aside when all was fulfilled? Would that covenant no longer be in effect? Consider Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well. She asked Jesus, “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship. Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father…” (John 4:20-24). Jesus taught that the time was coming soon that the instructions about worship in the law given through Moses would no longer matter. The law was designed to bring humanity to Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:19-25). When God fulfilled that purpose, that law would then be nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14). Jesus knew that time was coming soon and taught people to prepare.
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