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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.

Context of Matthew 5:17

15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. “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. 18For truly I tell you, 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. 19Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices 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 16:17It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.
• John 8:5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”
• Acts 6:13They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.
• Acts 18:13“This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”
• Acts 21:28shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”
• Romans 3:31Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
• Romans 10:4Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
• Galatians 3:17What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.
• Matthew 3:15Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
• Psalms 40:6Sacrifice and offering you did not desire— but my ears you have opened— burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
• Isaiah 42:21It pleased the Lord for the sake of his righteousness to make his law great and glorious.
• Romans 8:4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
• Galatians 4:4But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
• Colossians 2:16Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
• Hebrews 10:3But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.

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