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Matthew 5:17-20 is one of the most important passages for understanding how Jesus speaks about the Law and the Prophets. In this message, we consider what Jesus meant when He said He did not come to destroy the Law, but to fulfil it. This is not a small side issue in the Sermon on the Mount. It shapes how we understand righteousness, obedience, Scripture, and the relationship between the Old and New Testaments.
The message explains that fulfilment does not mean the Word of God becomes unimportant. Rather, Christ brings the Law and the Prophets to their intended goal. The Scriptures point to Him, reveal the righteousness of God, expose sin, and show our need for a righteousness greater than outward religious performance. The scribes and Pharisees could appear righteous before men, but Jesus presses deeper into the heart.
This teaching calls us to read the whole Bible with Christ at the centre. We are not saved by law-keeping, yet we are not called to treat God’s commands lightly. In Christ, righteousness is received by faith and then worked out in a life of obedience, love, and holiness. The passage reminds us that true kingdom righteousness is not appearance before people, but a heart made new before God.