New Living Translation
Matthew 5:17
17“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.
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 then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. “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. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. 19So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Read all of Matthew 5Matthew 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 that doesn’t mean that the law has lost its force. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest point of God’s law to be overturned.
- John 8:5The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
- Acts 6:13The lying witnesses said, “This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses.
- Acts 18:13They accused Paul of “persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to our law.”
- Acts 21:28yelling, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who preaches against our people everywhere and tells everybody to disobey the Jewish laws. He speaks against the Temple—and even defiles this holy place by bringing in Gentiles.”
- Romans 3:31Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
- Romans 10:4For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.
- Galatians 3:17This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise.
- Matthew 3:15But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.
- Psalms 40:6You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand— you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
- Isaiah 42:21Because he is righteous, the Lord has exalted his glorious law.
- Romans 8:4He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
- Galatians 4:4But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.
- Colossians 2:16So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
- Hebrews 10:3But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their 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
In the dictionaries
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
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