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how does this teaching resonate with or challenge other biblical understandings of law and covenant?

Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Matthew 5:17-20

““Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle will in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do so, will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.””

This passage is part of Jesus's 'Sermon on the Mount,' one of his most famous and extensive teachings. He is speaking to his disciples and a larger crowd, outlining the character and ethics of those who follow him and live in God's kingdom.

What might it mean for your own life to 'fulfill' a law or expectation, rather than merely following it outwardly?

Then — the setting

This passage comes from the Gospel of Matthew, likely written in the late 1st century CE, perhaps for a Jewish-Christian audience. Jesus's statements here directly address concerns within early Jewish Christianity about his relationship to the Torah (the Law) and the prophetic tradition. Many Jewish people at the time understood the Law as central to their identity and covenant with God. The scribes and Pharisees, mentioned by Jesus, were influential groups known for their meticulous adherence to and interpretation of the Law, both written and oral. Jesus is not discarding their tradition but re-interpreting its intent and demanding a deeper, internal righteousness.

Across the Testaments

In the Old Testament, the Law (Torah) given through Moses is presented as a covenant between God and Israel, defining their relationship and way of life. It’s a gift, meant to bring life, blessing, and wisdom. Jesus, in Matthew 5, affirms the enduring validity of this Law and the Prophets, stating he came to 'fulfill' them, not abolish them. This concept of fulfillment is key; it implies bringing the Law to its intended purpose and demonstrating its ultimate meaning, often by internalizing its spirit rather than just observing its letter. The New Testament, particularly through Paul's letters (e.g., Romans, Galatians), further explores the Law's role, arguing that while it reveals sin and points to God's standards, it cannot ultimately provide salvation or a right standing with God. Instead, faith in Christ is presented as the means by which righteousness is attained, fulfilling the Law's ultimate aim and establishing a 'new covenant' prophesied in the Old Testament (e.g., Jeremiah 31). Both Testaments agree on the Law's divine origin and moral authority, but the New Testament emphasizes that true righteousness and covenant relationship come through Christ's work and an internal transformation, rather than solely through external legal observance.

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Deuteronomy 6:5
This verse from the Torah emphasizes the internal disposition of love for God as the foundation of obedience.
Romans 3:20-22
Paul discusses how humanity cannot be justified by law, pointing to faith in Christ as the path to righteousness.
Jeremiah 31:31-34
This prophecy speaks of a 'new covenant' where God's law is written on hearts, anticipating an internal transformation.

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