A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW     

JESUS CAME TO FULFILL GOD’S LAW – Part I  

Matthew 5:17 “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.” 

God’s Word never changes. It is the same yesterday, today, and remain so forever. What God says, He means. His Word, He says through the Psalmist in 119:105, is a “lamp for (your) feet and a light for (your) path.”   

When Jesus came into the world His hearers said of His teaching that no one had ever taught them as He did with authority. Jesus’ words captivated those who heard Him. Crowds gathered wherever He stopped to preach and teach. Perhaps the people were hoping He would present to them new teachings to replace the one’s of their Rabbi’s. That was not to happen. 

Jesus said, “I have not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets.” (The Old Testament) Jesus did say He came to fulfill what they taught. What did Jesus mean with the word “fulfill?” He meant that His ministry would bring to fruition God’s plan of salvation.   

The people then, as even today, often failed to remember these words of Jesus. That is why on Palm Sunday they attempted to place Him upon an earthly throne. They longed for an earthly King. They were enamored with Jesus’ teaching and especially His miracles. They wanted Him to be a King to rule over them to provide all they needed for their earthly lives.   

No, God promised throughout the pages of the Old Testament to send the Messiah, not an earthly king. He promised Jesus would be the Savior of the world who would completely and perfectly obey His Ten Commandments. In turn, God would credit His perfect obedience to all who believed in Him. Secondly, He would take the sins of the world as His very own, pay their terrible price with His death on Calvary’s cross, and rise on the third day to guarantee resurrection from the grave to all who believed in Him. Jesus came to “seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)  

Prayer: Grant unto me, O Lord, faith to believe Your Word that assures me that Jesus is the fulfillment of Your Word for my salvation. In His holy name. Amen. 

Almighty God, Your Word is cast Like seed into the ground;  
Now let the dew of heav’n descend And righteous fruits abound. 

Let not the sly satanic foe This holy seed remove,  
But give it root in ev’ry heart To bring forth fruits of love. 

Let not the world’s deceitful cares The rising plant destroy,  
But let it yield a hundredfold The fruits of peace and joy.  

So when the precious seed is sown, Life-giving grace bestow  
That all whose souls the truth receive Its saving pow’r may know.  (LSB 577)