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 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

15Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall 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 16:17And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.
• John 8:5Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”
• Acts 6:13They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law;
• Acts 18:13saying, “This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”
• Acts 21:28crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”
• Romans 3:31Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
• Romans 10:4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
• Galatians 3:17And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
• Matthew 3:15But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
• Psalms 40:6Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
• Isaiah 42:21The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will exalt the law and make it honorable.
• Romans 8:4that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
• Galatians 4:4But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
• Colossians 2:16So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
• Hebrews 10:3But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every 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