Pass From The Law

I heard a lesson the other day on Matthew 5:17-18 that said the law would not be done away until all prophecies are fulfilled. The theory being that there are still remaining prophecies such as the end of the world that have yet to be realized, thus the law is still in force.

It isn't in force as a covenant. Jesus doesn't say in the verse the law would stand as a covenant till heaven and earth pass, he talks about the Jots and tittles making up the law as a standing document. God would preserve it as a document. He wouldn't destroy it as a document with a purpose.

Done away is different wording than pass away, so we shouldn't confuse the meaning.

Mat 5:17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 

Mat 5:18  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. 

1. Christ did fulfill the moral code of the law, becoming our righteousness.

2. The Old Testament worship copies were fulfilled on the cross.

3. All the prophesies of Christ's life, death, and resurrection were fulfilled, including his coronation in heaven.

4. The law has passed as a standing covenant. Jer 31:31-34 That is fulfilled.

At the time Jesus spoke the verse all of these were still unfulfilled, so we know these were progressively fulfilled later. All would be fulfilled and not pass being unfulfilled.

The wording of Jesus is important, one jot won't pass from the document, but the whole document will not be a covenant.

We are not still under the law as a covenant, but the law hasn't passed away either, it is still a standing document we are expected to learn as a document of faith. God has preserved the Old Testament for our learning, as a tool toward faith and comfort. There is a difference between a standing covenant and a standing document.

Paul in all of his writings refers to the law as a visible and standing document. The law is read every sabbath in the synagogues Acts 15. The Gentiles are very aware of the Law and prophets as we are today.

The Greek word pass means to come by and then go so that it is no longer in view, as two may pass each other on a road. The law is still very much in view and we can read about it anytime we want. It is still in our presence.

The Church of God Pentecostal still believes we are under the law as a moral code, they see only the sacrificial worship system being fulfilled, but they are incorrect. Many purposes of the law are fulfilled, but it is still in view. It hasn't passed. The law provides us moral instruction, but each element or remedy may not be binding. We may not be bound to restore 4 Oxen if we kill 1.

All scripture provides instruction in righteousness, according to what Paul wrote Timothy. So, changing a jot or tittle can change application. An example would be divorce and remarriage, a lot of arguments over the years stem from trying to redefine concepts and terms. The law has application in defining terminology.

I would not have known covetousness if the law had said "thou shalt not covet", the scripture brings it forward for definition.

It is just not a standing covenant.

So, what might Christ be referring to in the next verse. Is he saying the commandments of the law must be adhered to as Christians? I don't believe so. Is he saying to keep all till each element is fulfilled. I doubt it. They can be progressively fulfilled and with the fulfillment can be a change in law as a covenant.

Mat 5:19  WhosoeverG3739 G1437 thereforeG3767 shall breakG3089 oneG3391 of theseG5130 leastG1646 commandments,G1785 andG2532 shall teachG1321 menG444 so,G3779 he shall be calledG2564 the leastG1646 inG1722 theG3588 kingdomG932 of heaven:G3772 butG1161 whosoeverG3739 G302 shall doG4160 andG2532 teachG1321 them, the sameG3778 shall be calledG2564 greatG3173 inG1722 theG3588 kingdomG932 of heaven.G3772 

Is he speaking of the Old law or Christian law, or any commanded usage of either.

If Christ commanded the document to be learned as a distinct practice then men who totally disannul it and destroy it, or make it totally pass would be guilty. Early Gnosticism would practice this, some refused to teach from the Old Testament. The sermon on the mount commands would certainly be in view.

The entirety of God's word would be preserved, Old Testament is still scripture, but we must rightly divide it. God didn't destroy half his document.