Matthew 5:17

Matthew 5:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
• New International Version (NIV)“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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

Context of Matthew 5:17

15No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:17 word by word

Μὴ νομίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι τὸν νόμον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας· οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαι ἀλλὰ πληρῶσαι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thinkνομίζωnomizō · to thinkG3543
• notμήmē · notG3361
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• I am comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• to destroyκαταλύωkataluō · to destroy/lodgeG2647
• the lawὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• orἤē · orG2228
• the prophetsπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
• notοὐou · noG3756
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• to fulfilπληρόωplēroō · to fulfillG4137

Cross-references for Matthew 5:17

• Luke 16:17But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter in the law to drop out.
• John 8:5In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”
• Acts 6:13They also presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the law.
• Acts 18:13“This man,” they said, “is persuading people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”
• Acts 21:28shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place. What’s more, he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”
• Romans 3:31Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
• Romans 10:4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes,
• Galatians 3:17My point is this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously established by God and thus cancel the promise.
• Matthew 3:15Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.
• Psalms 40:6You do not delight in sacrifice and offering; you open my ears to listen. You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering.
• Isaiah 42:21Because of his righteousness, the Lord was pleased to magnify his instruction and make it glorious.
• Romans 8:4in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
• Galatians 4:4When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
• Colossians 2:16Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.
• Hebrews 10:3But in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year.

Commentaries on Matthew 5:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Think not that I am come to destroy the law - Do not imagine that I am come to violate the law , from , and , I loose, violate, or dissolve - I am not come to make the law of none effect - to dissolve the connection which subsists between its several parts, or the obligation men are under to have their lives regulated by its moral precepts; nor am I come to dissolve the connecting reference it has to the good things promised. But I am come, , to complete…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Think not that I am come … - Our Saviour was just entering on his work. It was important for him to state what he came to do. By his setting up to be a teacher in opposition to the scribes and Pharisees, some might charge him with an intention to destroy their law, and to abolish the customs of the nation. He therefore told them that he did not come for that end, but really to fulfill or accomplish what was in the law and the prophets. To destroy - To…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-20Verses 17-20 Let none suppose that Christ allows his people to trifle with any commands of God's holy law. No sinner partakes of Christ's justifying righteousness, till he repents of his evil deeds. The mercy revealed in the gospel leads the believer to still deeper self-abhorrence. The law is the Christian's rule of duty, and he delights therein. If a man, pretending to be Christ's disciple, encourages himself in any allowed disobedience to the holy law…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17To abolish would mean to remove and replace the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets (that is, the whole Old Testament) as God’s revelation of his will. until everything is accomplished: This could mean to obey the Old Testament perfectly, complete their teachings, or fulfill their prophecies (see Matthew 1:22; 2:15, 17, 23). Jesus himself embodies everything the Prophets and the Law taught and expected. Now that Christ has arrived, who fulfills…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. Think not that I am come--that I came. to destroy the law, or the prophets--that is, "the authority and principles of the Old Testament." (On the phrase, see Mt 7:12; 22:40; Lu 16:16; Ac 13:15). This general way of taking the phrase is much better than understanding "the law" and "the prophets" separately, and inquiring, as many good critics do, in what sense our Lord could be supposed to meditate the subversion of each. To the various classes of His…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 5:17

• Instruction
• Jesus, the Christ
• Judaism
• Law
• Religion
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Agree
• Bible
• Communication
• Decalogue
• Despitefully
• Enemy
• Fornication
• Forswear
• Gift
• Hunger

Commentaries on Matthew 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings