Table of Contents
Parent: JesusWordsOnly
Paul Contradicts Jesus Too
Jesus also emphasized the validity of the Law up through the passing away of Heaven and Earth, thus confirming its inspiration and ongoing validity. In (Matt. 5:17-19) we read:
(17) Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I
came not to destroy, but to fulfil.
(18) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away,
one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law,
till all things be accomplished [i.e., all things predicted appear
on the stage of history]. 20 (19) Whosoever therefore shall break
one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be
called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and
teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
(ASV)
- The Greek word is ginomai. Strong's 1096 defines it as "to become" i.e., "come to pass"; "to arise" i.e., "appear in history"; "to be made, finish." Some prefer to understand Jesus "finished" (which they read as 'completed') "all things" required by the Law. What Jesus means is until all things prophesied in the Law and prophets appear in history, i.e., they come to pass, the Law remains in effect. This is evident from verse 17 where Jesus says He came to "fulfill" the "law and the prophets." The word there is pieroo. It means "to make complete in every particular," "fulfil" or "carry through to the end." (Thayer's.) Thus, in context, Jesus first says He came to fulfill the prophesies (verse 17) and the Law and Prophecies remain in effect until "all things" prophesied "come to pass" or "appear in history." For more explanation, see the discussion in the text.
Thus, Jesus can never be accused of seducing any Christian from following the Law. Jesus cannot be a false prophet under (Deut. 13:5). Jesus said it remained valid until the Heavens and Earth pass away. This passing of heaven and earth occurs at the end of the Millennium. This is 1000 years after Christ's Second Coming, according to the Book of Revelation.
Some Paulunists respond by saying Jesus fulfilled all of the Law's demands at Calvary. They insist all the Law was dead letter thereafter. There are several fundamental impossibilities with this claim.
First, there are two "untils" in the same sentence: the Law shall not pass away " until the heaven and earth pass away. ..until all things be accomplished." One cannot ignore the first until, preferring to think instead the second until means the Law ends in just two more years at the cross.
Second, this Pauline spin ignores the Law contains a Messianic prophecy in (Gen. 3:15) which will only be fulfilled at the point that the heavens and earth will pass away. This predicts a death blow to Satan's head by Messiah. However, this remains unfulfilled until the end of the Millennium which point happens to also coincide with the passing of the heavens and the earth. (Rev. 20:7-10). Thus, this Messianic prophecy of Genesis 3:15 remains unfulfilled until the heavens and earth pass away. Thus, the Law remains in effect until all things prophesied, including Satan's final death blow, come to pass which is far off in our future.
This then proves the two until clauses were intended to identify the identical point. There is no less time signified by Jesus' adding the second until ("until all things be accomplished") as the Paulunist tries to spin the passage.
Third, Jesus clearly intended the commands in the Law to remain valid in toto until a point after Calvary. He combined His promise that not one jot or tittle will pass with His insistence that whoever teaches against following the least of the commandments in the Law would be least in the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:19)-the Christian epoch.
Thus, Jesus did not envision the Law expired a couple of years later at Calvary. Rather Jesus saw it continuing until the passing of the heavens and the earth. And doing His will on earth as in heaven meant keeping the Law.