As Torah followers, we try to tell any Christian, both friends and family, about the importance of obedience to Yahuah’s laws and the prophets. Almost 100% of the time the first verse that is thrown back in at us is a fragment of a verse from Matthew 5:17, “but Jesus came to fulfil the law so we no longer have to obey it right?”. I wanted to go through this section of the chapter line by line to have better clarity of what it is saying. 

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. – Here in the very same verse that people try to say that Yeshua did away with the law He is stating in black and white that the law or the prophets is not abolished/destroyed. But what exactly does this mean…Let’s continue!

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. – In the very next verse Yeshua states not even the stroke of a pen of the law will in no wise pass until heaven and earth have passed. My question to you is “has heaven and earth passed?” If not then wouldn’t the law still be in effect? But if this doesn’t resonate yet, let’s continue further…

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. – In this very next verse, Yeshua states whoever breaks one of these commandments and teaches others to do so shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. Why are preachers teaching their congregations to break the law? Some Christians will say their pastor does not preach this however what are they eating at every church potluck…generally pork hot dogs, sausage links, bacon, etc. Below are a couple of verses from Isaiah about eating pig meat:

Isaiah 65:3-5:

A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day

Isaiah 66:17

They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord.

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. – I thought the pharisees were bad? But here Yeshua tells us our righteousness must exceed that of the pharisees? Lets look to Matthew 23:3 to get a glimpse of what He may mean: Matthew 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. – So Yeshua is telling us to do what the pharisees say and not what they do. The pharisees said to obey the law however their hearts were not in the right place and their actions reflected that. 

In these next verses Yeshua takes the old testament law and expounds upon it even further:

21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 

25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:

35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. – Yeshua is telling us here to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect. By what standard is He referring to? There has to be a standard and that standard is the law as Yeshua started this passage out in verses 17-20. Yeshua fulfilled the law with His HEART and with His ACTIONS. He came to show us how to live.

1 John 2:5-6

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.