Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 20 I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks about the place of the Law in the life of His followers. Some people may have thought that His teaching represented a rejection of the Law given through Moses. Jesus directly addresses that misunderstanding at the beginning of this passage. During Lent, the Church calls us to this same point of clarity: not a religion of outward appearance, but a deeper conformity to the will of God.
He says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill” (Mt. 5:17). The phrase “the law and the prophets” was a common way of referring to the whole of God’s revelation in the Old Testament. Jesus is therefore speaking about the entire body of Scripture that Israel had received from God.
To “fulfill” the Law does not mean to discard it or replace it. Rather, it means to bring it to completion and reveal its full meaning. The Old Testament pointed forward to God’s saving plan, and Jesus brings that plan to its intended goal. He perfectly carries out the will of the Father and reveals the deeper meaning of the commandments. In doing so, He shows that the Law was always meant to lead God’s people toward a life fully aligned with God’s will.
Jesus emphasizes the seriousness of the Law when He says that “not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place” (Mt. 5:18). In the Hebrew alphabet the smallest letter was the yod, and even the smallest stroke of a letter could change its meaning. By using this image, Jesus teaches that God’s revelation is not to be treated lightly or dismissed.
Because of this, Jesus warns that even the least of the commandments should not be ignored. “Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:19). At the same time, those who both obey and teach the commandments will be called great in the kingdom. The point is not merely external observance but faithful living that reflects God’s will.
Jesus then concludes with a striking statement: “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:20). The scribes and Pharisees were known for their careful observance of the Law, so this statement would have been surprising. Jesus is not asking for stricter legalism. Instead, He calls for a deeper righteousness that goes beyond outward conformity and reaches the heart. That is one reason this passage fits Lent so well: the season calls us not only to practice prayer, fasting, and charity, but to let God renew the heart from which those actions come.
The rest of the Sermon on the Mount will show what this means. Jesus will take familiar commandments and reveal their deeper implications. The commandment against murder includes anger and hatred (Mt. 5:21-22). The commandment against adultery includes the intentions of the heart (Mt. 5:27-28). In this way Jesus uncovers the full depth of God’s law and calls His followers to live it from within.
Seen in this light, the Law is not abolished but brought to its true purpose. What was once expressed primarily in external commandments is now understood in its deepest meaning: a life shaped by love of God and love of neighbor (Mt. 22:36-40). Jesus fulfills the Law by perfectly living it and by revealing how it is meant to guide the lives of His followers.
For Christians, this teaching reminds us that God’s commandments are not simply rules to be followed outwardly. They are meant to shape the whole person - mind, heart, and actions - so that our lives reflect the will of God.
Lord God, help us to understand the fullness of your teaching. Give us hearts that seek not only to know your commandments but to live them faithfully. May our lives reflect the righteousness to which you call us, so that we may walk in the path that leads to your kingdom. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Sources and References
- New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE), Mt. 5:17-20 and notes.
- Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, New Testament, commentary on Mt. 5:17-20, p. 15.
- The Navarre Bible: The Gospel of St. Matthew, commentary on Mt. 5:17-20, pp. 62-63.
- Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy, eds., The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, commentary on Mt. 5:17-20, p. 641, paras. 26-28.
- Donald Senior, John J. Collins, and Mary Ann Beavis, eds., The Jerome Biblical Commentary for the Twenty-First Century, commentary on Mt. 5:17-20, pp. 1182-1183.
- Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., ed., Paulist Biblical Commentary, commentary on Mt. 5:17-20, p. 920.
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