Matthew 5:17

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (THINK NOT THAT I AM COME - `that I came' [ eelthon (G2064)] TO DESTROY THE LAW, OR THE PROPHETS - that is, 'the authority and principles of the Old Testament.' (On the phrase, see Matthew 7:12; Matthew 22:40; Luke 16:16; Acts 13:15.) This general way of taking the phrase is much better than understanding "the Law" and "the Prophets" separately, and inquiring, as many good critics do, in what se...

Matthew 5:17._Think not. _With regard to the perfection of his life, Christ might justly have maintained that he _came to fulfill the law: _but here he treats of doctrine, not of life. As he afterwards exclaimed, that “_the kingdom of God is come_, ” (Matthew 12:28,) and raised the minds of men with unusual expectation, and even admitted disciples by baptism, it is probable, that the minds of many were in a state of suspense and doubt, and were eagerly inquiring, what was the design of that novelty. Christ, therefore, now declares, that his doctrine is so far from being at variance with _the law, _that it agrees perfectly with _the law and the prophets, _and not only so, but brings the complete _fulfillment _of them. There appear to have been chiefly two reasons, which induced him to declare th

17-20 Let none suppose that Christ allows his people to trifle with any commands of God's holy law. No sinner partakes of Christ's justifying righteousness, till he repents of his evil deeds. The mercy revealed in the gospel leads the believer to still deeper self-abhorrence. The law is the Christian's rule of duty, and he delights therein. If a man, pretending to be Christ's disciple, encourages himself in any allowed disobedience to the holy law of God, or teaches others to do the same, whatever his station or reputation among men may be, he can be no true disciple. Christ's righteousness, imputed to us by faith alone, is needed by every one that enters the kingdom of grace or of glory; but the new creation of the heart to holiness, produces a thorough change in a man's temper and conduct....

Verse Matthew 5:17. _THINK NOT THAT I AM COME TO DESTROY THE LAW_] _Do not_ _imagine that I am come to violate the law_ καταλυσαι, from κατα, and λυω, _I loose, violate_, or _dissolve _- I am not come to make the law of none effect-to _dissolve_ the connection which subsists between its several parts, or the obligation men are under to have their lives regulated by its moral precepts; nor am I come to _dissolve_ the _connecting_ reference it has to the _good things_ _promised_. But I am come, πληρωσαι, to _complete _- to perfect its connection and reference, to accomplish every thing shadowed forth in the Mosaic _ritual_, to fill up its great design; and to give grace to all my followers, πληρωσαι, to _fill up_, or _complete_, every moral duty. In a word, Christ completed the law: 1st. In _itself_, it was o

THINK NOT THAT I AM COME ... - Our Saviour was just entering on his work. It was important for him to state what he came to do. By his setting up to be a teacher in opposition to the scribes and Pharisees, some might charge him with an intention to destroy their law, and to abolish the customs of the nation. He therefore told them that he did not come for that end, but really to fulfill or accomplish what was in the law and the prophets. TO DESTROY - To abrogate; to deny their divine authority; to set people free from the obligation to obey them. “The law.” The five books of Moses called the law. See the notes at Luke 24:44. THE PROPHETS - The books which the prophets wrote. These two divisions here seem to comprehend the Old Testament, and Jesus says that he came not to do away

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 5:1 AND SEEING THE MULTITUDES; _i.e. _those spoken of in Matthew 4:25—the multitudes who were at that point of time following him. HE WENT UP. From the lower ground by the lake. INTO A MOUNTAIN; Revised Version, _into the mountain _(εἰς τὸ ὄρος);_ i.e. _not any special mountain, but "the mountain nearest the place spoken of—the mountain near by" (Thayer); in contrast to any lower place, whether that was itself fairly high ground (as probably Luke 9:28) or the shore of the lake. The actual spot here referred to may have been far from, or, and more probably ...

THINK NOT THAT I AM COME TO DESTROY THE LAW OR THE PROPHETS,.... From verse 3 to the 10th inclusive, our Lord seems chiefly to respect the whole body of his true disciples and followers; from thence, to the 16th inclusive, he addresses the disciples, whom he had called to be ministers of the word; and in this "verse", to the end of his discourse, he applies himself to the whole multitude in general; many of whom might be ready to imagine, that by the light of the Gospel, he was giving his disciples instructions to spread in the world, he was going to set aside, as useless, the law of Moses, or the prophets, the interpreters of it, and commentators upon it. Christ knew the thoughts of their hearts, that they had taken up such prejudices in their minds against him; wherefore he says, "think not"; he was sensible what objections they were forming, and what an improvement they would make of...

Matthew 5:1. _And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,-_ Our Saviour soon gathered a congregation. The multitudes perceived in him a love to them, and a willingness to impart blessing to them, and therefore they gathered about him. He chose the mountain and the open air for the delivery of this great discourse, and we should be glad to find such a place for our assemblies; but in this variable climate we cannot often do so. «And when he was set.» The Preacher sat, and the people stood. We might make a helpful change if we were sometimes to adopt a similar plan now. I am afraid that ease of posture may contribute to the creation of slumber of heart in the hearers. There Christ sat, and «his disciples came unto him.» They formed the inner circle that was ever nearest to hi

I AM NOT COME TO DESTROY Christ's relation to the law of Moses may be thus summarized: (1) He was made under the law (Galatians 4:4). (2) He lived in perfect obedience to the law (John 8:46); (Matthew 17:5); (1 Peter 2:21). (3) he was a minister of the law to the Jews, clearing it from rabbinical sophistries, enforcing it in all its pitiless severity upon those who professed to obey it (for example) (Luke 10:25) but confirming the promises made to the fathers under the Mosaic Covenant ...

5. THE PROCLAMATION OF THE KING CONCERNING HIS KINGDOM. CHAPTER S 5-7 _ 1. The Characteristics of the heirs of the Kingdom.(Matthew 5:1 .) 2. The Confirmation of the Law and its Expansion.(Matthew 5:17 .)_ CHAPTER 5 In the closing of the last chapter we saw our Lord Jesus Christ surrounded by a great multitude of people, which followed Him and who were attracted by the King's presence, before whom the various diseases had to flee. If we turn to the eighth chapter we find the continuation of these scenes we had in the last half of the fourth chapter. Between these two Chapter s are three very important ones, which are as such found only in this Gospel. The contents of the fifth, sixth and seventh Chapter s are in the form of a continued discourse of our Lord, commonly called “t