Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.
In this saying, Jesus clarifies the purpose of his mission, noting that he did not come to abolish or change God’s laws or the teachings of the prophets, but to fulfill and complete them. The laws and prophecies of the Old Testament were established by God, and Jesus is not against them. By following him, people should continue to honor the moral demands of the law; yet Jesus brings these laws to fullness by explaining their deeper meaning and showing how they are to be harmonized in love and truth. Through his life and teachings, Jesus fulfills the promises of the prophecies and makes the message of the law more complete, emphasizing not only outward actions but also inner purity, love, and righteousness. Thus, the coming of Jesus aims not to tear down the spiritual traditions of the past, but to reveal and complete them in a new light, showing the depths and fullness of God’s will.