What does Jesus mean when He says He came to fulfill the law and the prophets?

When Jesus says He came to fulfill the law and the prophets, He is saying that His life and teaching bring out their full meaning and complete what they pointed to. He perfectly obeys God’s commands in every way and also brings to pass the promises and prophecies written about Him. The moral law is not set aside but shown in its true depth. In Jesus, we see what real obedience looks like, not only in outward actions but in a heart fully devoted to God’s will.

Why does Jesus say that not one jot or tittle will pass from the law?

A “jot” and a “tittle” are tiny marks in the written text, so Jesus is saying that not even the smallest part of God’s law will fail until everything God intends is completed. This stresses that God’s word is firm and reliable. He is pushing back against any idea that His message makes God’s earlier commands empty or unimportant. Instead, every part has its place in God’s plan, and Jesus comes so that all of it reaches its full purpose.

What are the "least commandments" that Jesus talks about in this passage?

When Jesus speaks of the “least commandments,” He is talking about commands that might seem small or unimportant in people’s eyes. His point is that none of God’s commands should be treated as trivial. Those who lightly set them aside, or teach others that obedience does not matter, show by this that they are small in God’s kingdom. By contrast, those who both do what God says and teach others to do the same are honored. Obedience and teaching go together in His eyes.

Why must our righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees?

The scribes and Pharisees were known for strict outward obedience, but their righteousness often stayed on the surface. Jesus says that to enter the kingdom of heaven, a person needs a different kind of righteousness, one that goes deeper than outward rule-keeping. It includes the heart, motives, and love for God and neighbor. He is not calling for more showy religious effort, but for real inner obedience that comes from a changed heart and trusts what God provides through Him.

How does this passage show the difference between outward religion and true righteousness?

In this passage, Jesus keeps the law in full honor while at the same time exposing shallow obedience. Outward religion focuses on looking good, keeping certain rules, and gaining praise from people. True righteousness cares about what God sees: the heart, intentions, and a life that matches His will. Jesus speaks of doing and teaching the commandments and of a righteousness that goes beyond that of the scribes and Pharisees. This shows that God wants both correct teaching and a sincere, obedient heart.

Does Jesus set aside the Old Testament law in this teaching?

No, Jesus clearly says He has not come to destroy the law or the prophets. He came to fulfill them. That means He confirms their truth, brings their promises to completion, and shows how God’s commands are to be understood and lived out. He warns against treating even the least command as unimportant. At the same time, He will go on to show that some parts pointed forward to Him and find their full meaning in Him, while the moral demands on our hearts remain and are even deepened.

Why is this passage sometimes hard to understand for Christians today?

This passage can feel difficult because Jesus strongly upholds the law while also preaching grace and the kingdom. People wonder how law and grace fit together. Some focus on the lasting weight of every command, while others stress how Jesus completes and reshapes our relationship to the law. Faithful readers have expressed this in different ways, but the core is clear: God’s word does not fail, Jesus fulfills it fully, and those who belong to His kingdom are called to real, heart-level obedience that trusts in Him.

How should believers today respond to Jesus’ warning about breaking and teaching the least commandments?

Believers today should take Jesus’ words seriously by refusing to treat any part of God’s revealed will as unimportant. This means not only avoiding open disobedience but also avoiding a casual attitude that tells others obedience does not matter. Instead, we are to aim to practice what God commands and to pass it on clearly and humbly to others. Jesus joins doing and teaching together. Our lives and our words should both show that we respect what God has said and that we want to follow it from the heart.

Matt.5.17

Matthew 5:17

KJV Jesus

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

The Fulfillment of the Law

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.