“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. (Matthew 5:17 ESV)
The Definition of Fulfill
Here’s how Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines the use of “fulfill” (plēroō) in Matthew:
“plēroō means ‘to cause God’s will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be and God’s promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfillment:’ Matt. 5:17; cf. Weiss, Das Matthäusevang. as above with p. 146f (Compare: anaplēroō, antanaplēroō, prosanaplēroō, ekplēroō, sumplēroō).”
Thayer is not making either of the following two claims:
- Jesus obeyed the Torah, so you don’t have to
- “Jesus fulfilled the Torah so that it may be canceled.
He is saying:
- Jesus embodies the Torah’s intention
- Jesus brings to completion what the Prophets anticipated
That’s the heart of Matthew’s usage. Jesus’ perfect obedience fulfills God’s will as spoken through the prophets.
Many (most?) Evangelical and Protestant traditions believe this verse to be the proof text justifying the notion that Christians are to view the stipulations of the Torah as non-binding. But is this interpretation valid?
No!
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon provides the following definition of plēroō in Matthew 5:17.
God’s promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfillment:’ Matt. 5:17; cf. Weiss, Das Matthäusevang. as above with p. 146f (Compare: anaplēroō, antanaplēroō, prosanaplēroō, ekplēroō, sumplēroō).”
While the wording is obtuse, Thayer is not making either of the following two claims:
- Jesus obeyed the Torah, so you don’t have to
- “Jesus fulfilled the Torah so that it may be canceled.
He is saying:
- Jesus embodies the Torah’s intention
- Jesus brings to completion what the Prophets anticipated
That’s the heart of Matthew’s usage. Jesus’ perfect obedience fulfills God’s will as spoken through the prophets.
At the risk of over-explaining, here’s a more complete view: To this end, let’s see if we can reconcile the terms “uphold” and “fulfill.”
Jesus fulfills the Torah by living it to its fullest [perfect] expression, not by putting it aside. Thus, He upholds the Torah and, therefore, fulfills it. In other words, Thayer’s definition makes clear that what Jesus fulfills are God’s promises, not the Torah’s commands. The Torah is not abolished; rather, Jesus embodies it so fully that its purpose is revealed and its prophetic hopes are fulfilled. Fulfillment, in Matthew’s sense, means bringing the Torah to its intended expression—not rendering it obsolete.”
Conclusion:
Fulfillment is not abolition; fulfillment is living the Torah to its fullest purpose.
So, to what can this be compared?
Imagine a city with a set of traffic laws. These laws exist to promote safety, order, and the well‑being of everyone on the road.
Now imagine two very different ways someone might relate to those laws:
1. Abolishing the traffic laws
This would mean:
• removing the speed limits
• eliminating stop signs
• canceling right‑of‑way rules
• declaring the laws no longer binding
Chaos would follow. This is what Jesus explicitly denies when He declares, “I did not come to abolish.”
2. Fulfilling the traffic laws
This action does not mean canceling them.
It means driving in a way that makes the very purpose of the laws visible.
A driver who “fulfills” the traffic laws:
• obeys them
• embodies their intention
• models the kind of driving the laws were meant to produce
• shows what safe, wise, life‑giving driving looks like
In doing so, the driver doesn’t abolish the laws — he reveals their purpose.
SAMMARY
Jesus fulfills the Torah by living it to its fullest, perfect expression, not by putting it aside. In this sense, He upholds the Torah and therefore fulfills it. Thayer’s definition makes clear that what Jesus fulfills are God’s promises, not the Torah’s commands. The Torah is not abolished; rather, Jesus embodies it so fully that its purpose is revealed and its prophetic hopes are fulfilled. It is like a driver who fulfills the traffic laws not by canceling them, but by driving in such a way that the very purpose of the laws becomes visible. Fulfillment, in Matthew’s sense, means bringing the Torah to its intended expression—not rendering it obsolete.
Now, Go and Study