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. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:17-20 NIV).
Christian Bibles consistently refer to "the Law," meaning the Law of Moses, as given in the first five books of the Bible. The Hebrew term for this is the Torah. However, the correct translation of "Torah," is not "law" (not in the western sense of the word). Rather, Torah is correctly translated as revelation or instruction from God.
Jesus did not come to earth to destroy the Law or the Prophets, meaning to "overthrow completely" or "abolish." Jesus came to fulfill the law, meaning, "to fill" or "to complete." The believer still have a relationship with the Law and the Prophets. We can look back to see where we came from. But Jesus takes it further with his birth, death, burial, and resurrection. He gives us a better way of living in the Spirit. This work in no way diminishes the authority of the Law, the words of God are ETERNAL. Now, we no longer just follow the letter of the Law, for it killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. JESUS IS THAT SPIRIT! Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
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