Did Jesus destroy the Law of Moses?

1. Did Jesus Abolish the Law?
Matthew 5:17-18 says
Jesus did NOT come to
destroy the law
Ephesians 2:15 says that
the law was abolished
Is there a contradiction?

2. Matthew 5:17-18
"Do not think that I came to destroy
the Law or the Prophets. I did not
come to destroy but to fulfill. 18
For assuredly, I say to you, till
heaven and earth pass away, one
jot or one tittle will by no means
pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

3. Ephesians 2:14-16

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has
made both one, and has broken down the
middle wall of separation,

15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity,
that is, the law of commandments contained
in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one
new man from the two, thus making peace,

16 and that He might reconcile them both to
God in one body through the cross, thereby
putting to death the enmity.

4. Meaning of Words

Destroy (Matthew 5:17)

21 times in NT

Greek word from “to loose down”

Means – to render vain, deprive of success

Used in connection with laws – to deprive of force,
to invalidate

To take away the power or force of the law, make
the law no longer valid

5. Meaning of Words

Abolish (Ephesians 2:15)

44 times in NT

Greek word from “to remove from power”

Thayer – 1) to render idle, unemployed, inactivate,
inoperative; to cause a person or thing to have
no further efficiency; to deprive of force,
influence, power

Think of a TV – unplugged

Still a TV – but inoperative

Lost its ability to function

6. Meaning of Words

Jot - Tittle

In Hebrew there are very minor differences is some
letters

Tittle – the little swirl or extension

Jot – smallest letter in Hebrew alphabet

We would say – dot the “i” and cross the “t”

7. Meaning of Words

Jot - Tittle

Jesus said not a jot or tittle would pass
until ALL is fulfilled

This means – NOTHING of the law of
Moses would pass away until all was
fulfilled

NOTHING of the law was to fail until it had
completely accomplished its purpose.

8. Destroy / Abolish

Destroy = remove its force, render
vain, invalidate

Abolish = reduce to inactivity, render
idle

NOTE: Neither word means –
annihilate, totally destroy, erase from
existence

9. 2 “Tills”

Matthew 5:18 For assuredly, I say to you, till
heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one
tittle will by no means pass from the law till all
is fulfilled.

TILL heaven and earth pass away – end of time

TILL all is fulfilled – purpose of law is complete

Either / Or – EITHER the end of time OR the
law is fulfilled

10. IF Law is not fulfilled:

The Law is not done away

Law still has force – animal sacrifices, feast days,
atonement, Passover, clean and unclean foods,
new moons, Sabbath day, etc.

ALL of it is still in force -

Galatians 5:3 And I testify again to every man
who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to
keep the whole law.

James 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole
law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

11. The Law Ended

Amos 8:5, 9-10 – Sabbath, new moons ended

2 Corinthians 3:7-18 – 10 Commandments

Ephesians 2:14-17 – commandments contained
in ordinances

Colossians 2:14-17 – Do not judge food,
sabbaths, new moons

Romans 7:6-7 – Delivered from Covet law

Jeremiah 31:31-34 – Law replaced

12. Were parts were carried over?

NO – All was done away.

If any remained – All remained

All the “law of Christ” is NEW

Old = physical – murder adultery

New = spirit, mind – hate lust

13. Conclusion:

Matthew 5:17-18; Ephesians 2:15

Harmony between these passages

Purpose of the law – bring us to Christ

Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor
to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified
by faith.

When it was fulfilled by Christ – it was no longer
needed – nailed to cross, destroyed, abolished

14. Conclusion:

Consider all the facts

The law was destroyed - deprived of force,
made invalid

The law was abolished - deprived of force,
influence, or power

The law was not erased from existence

The law was “unplugged” - removed its power

15. Conclusion:

Matthew 5:17 Do not think that I came to
destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not
come to destroy but to fulfill.

Jesus' purpose was not to destroy
(unplug) the law

His purpose was to fulfill the law

Once fulfilled – It had served its purpose