thinking bible.
Explore Ask another

You asked

what were the common Jewish understandings of 'the law and the prophets' in Jesus' time?

PlainDeeperStudy

Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Matthew 5:17-18

““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, one jot or one tittle will in no way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.””

Jesus is delivering the Sermon on the Mount, a central teaching moment. He has just finished speaking about blessings and the calling of his followers to be salt and light, and now addresses his relationship to the foundational texts of Judaism.

How does understanding the diverse Jewish perspectives on 'the Law and the Prophets' in Jesus' day shape your reading of this passage?

Then — the setting

In Jesus' time, 'the Law and the Prophets' (Torah and Nevi'im) referred to the primary divisions of the Hebrew scriptures, often encompassing all of them. These texts were central to Jewish identity and daily life, revered as God's revelation. However, there was no single, monolithic understanding of their meaning or application. Different groups—like the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and various priestly factions—had distinct interpretations of how the Law should be lived out, its flexibility, and its ultimate purpose, often leading to fervent debate about correct practice and belief.

Across the Testaments

This passage is from the New Testament, where Jesus affirms the enduring significance of the Old Testament's 'Law and Prophets.' The New Testament consistently presents Jesus as the fulfillment, rather than the abolition, of these scriptures. While the Old Testament establishes the covenant and God's expectations for Israel, the New Testament, particularly through Jesus' teachings and the apostles' writings, articulates how Christ embodies and completes these expectations, offering a new covenant that reinterprets and extends their meaning for a broader community.

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

  • Luke 24:44

    Jesus speaks of 'everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.'

  • Acts 24:14

    Paul states he worships God according to 'the Law and the Prophets' while following 'the Way.'

  • Romans 3:21

    Paul speaks of 'the righteousness of God... testified by the Law and the Prophets.'

Ask your own follow-up