Unlocking the Fulfillment of Scripture
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made a profound statement that has far-reaching implications for our understanding of the relationship between the Old and New Testaments: “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” (Matthew 5:17). But what does it mean for Jesus to “fulfill” the scriptures?
The Unity of the Old Testament
To grasp Jesus’ words, we need to understand the unity of the Old Testament. The entire Old Testament, including its commands, covenants, poems, and prophecies, is a cohesive whole that prophetically anticipated Jesus and his kingdom. This is evident in Jesus’ use of the phrase “the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 5:17; 7:12; 11:13; 22:40), which encompasses the entirety of the Old Testament.
Fulfillment, Not Abolition
Jesus did not come to abolish the scriptures, nor did he come to simply keep, restate, or reestablish them. Instead, he came to bring the entirety of the scriptures to their appointed goal. The Old Testament told a story awaiting an ending, and Jesus came to complete it. Every command, every prophecy, and every promise finds its intended destination in him.
The Dawn of a New Age
So, how does Jesus bring this fulfillment? By inaugurating the long-awaited age that fulfills all the ancient promises. With the arrival of Jesus, this new age of fulfillment has dawned. We no longer live in the old covenant era of anticipation but in the new covenant era of fulfillment.
Relating to the Old Testament
As New Testament Christians, how do we relate to the Old Testament scriptures? We seek to keep the scriptures in two ways: as they are fulfilled in Jesus and with heart-rooted and holistic obedience. We see the Old Testament stories and instructions related to the temple, for example, as finding their fulfillment in Jesus, who is the true temple, high priest, and final sacrifice.
Avoiding Extremes
This understanding helps us avoid two extremes in relation to the Old Testament. We neither ditch the Old Testament altogether nor seek to follow it apart from its fulfillment in Jesus. Instead, we recognize that Jesus is the king of God’s long-anticipated kingdom, and he has come to fulfill the scriptures, not abolish them.
A Deeper Obedience
As we follow Jesus, we are enabled to obey from the heart, giving a deeper and holistic obedience. The command to not murder, for instance, is fulfilled in God’s people as they renounce hatred. The command against adultery is fulfilled as his people renounce even lustful thoughts. Every command is caught up in this bigger story that finds its fulfillment in Jesus’ kingdom and the heart-level transformation he brings.
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