How Christ Fulfilled the Law

We all know and believe that Yeshua fulfilled the law, but rarely do we consider and ponder just what that fully entails. Does fulfilling scripture only mean that some prophecy has been accomplished, like foretelling a future event and then that event coming to pass? Is this what Yeshua meant when He declared that HE came to fulfill the law (MATTHEW 5:17)?  Or does fulfilling the law mean that all 900+ minutiae of the law have never been broken; always followed to the letter? Is this what He meant when He declared that He came to fulfill the law? Untethered from the traditions we have been taught, let us take a closer look at just what Yeshua meant when He proclaimed that He came to fulfill the law.

At the commencement of Yeshua's ministry, after reading from the scroll of Isaiah, he proclaimed, "This day is this scripture fulfilled [pleroo] in your ears" (LUKE 4:21). "Fulfilled in your ears" is the phrase that should have arrested our attention long ago. How can a scripture be accomplished in somebody's ears? Someone may claim that because they heard some prophecy proclaimed and then witnessed it being accomplished that it was therefore accomplished in their ears, but I'm not so sure that argument holds much water.

Maybe fulfilled doesn't mean "to accomplish" here at all. Fulfill, from the Greek word pleroo, also means to expound upon it, to elucidate (illuminate, illustrate), to explain, to give the full and true meaning, to bring to realization, realize (Thayer's Greek English Lexicon). Maybe Yeshua was referring to illuminating or expounded upon the scriptures, not accomplishing them.

There is a good Greek word which can mean "accomplish" or "come to pass". It is ginomai, and is used by GOD together with pleroo in several passages. Let us first consider some of these to help us distinguish between the two words. The first usage of either Greek word in the New Testament is found in a single verse, which in itself is quite curious. We will quote the entire context encompassing the incident.

MATTHEW 1:18-23 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.  Now all this was done [ginomai], that it might be fulfilled [pleroo] which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet [ISAIAH 7:13-14], saying,  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Reading the prophecy in ISAIAH one is presented with somewhat of a different picture than what we find "fulfilled" in MATTHEW. Most significant being that the Child's name in ISAIAH was to be Emmanuel while the Angel commanded Joseph that it was to be Jesus (actually Yeshua). Thus we understand that "fulfilling" prophecy didn't mean that exactly what was written by Isaiah was going to be exactly accomplished in the future. Rather, we see that what was accomplished (ginomai) in Yeshua, explained the full and true meaning (pleroo) of what Isaiah had written.

MATTHEW provides us with two more brilliant examples of how these two words interact.

MATTHEW 21:4 All this was done [ginomai, accomplished] that it might be fulfilled [pleroo, explained] which was spoken by the prophet....

 

MATTHEW 26:56 But all this was done [ginomai, accomplished], that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled [pleroo, explained]. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

 

The fourth Gospel also provides us with the necessary evidence to understand something of the relationship between these two Greek words.

JOHN 19:36 For these things were done [ginomai, accomplished] that the scripture should be fulfilled [pleroo, explained], A bone of him shall not be broken.

 

With this fresh understanding of the distinction between ginomai, (accomplishing) and pleroo (fulfilling), let us now consider another verse where pleroo is perhaps misunderstood. James, in his epistle wrote that "...the scripture was fulfilled [pleroo] which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness..." (JAMES 2:23). James was quoting from GENESIS 15:5, which was written by Moses. The problem is, that the verse in GENESIS is referring to Abraham believing GOD, which of course he had done long before Moses ever wrote the verse. In other words, long after Abram had already believed and after the LORD had already counted it to him for righteousness, Moses wrote the verse. So, how can a scripture be accomplished in the life of Abraham four centuries before it was even written by Moses? Obviously it can't. But, the event can be expounded upon at any time. This is what James was referring to; the scripture was being "given the full and true meaning".

Let's look at a few other passages where this Greek word pleroo is referring, not to something being fulfilled or accomplished but rather where something has been "expounded upon or realized".

LUKE 7:1 Now when he [Yeshua] had ended [pleroo] all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

Ending all His sayings didn't mean He was accomplishing them but rather, He had given unto the people the "full and true meaning" of His sayings. Here is another.

JOHN 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled [pleroo] with the odour of the ointment.

The fragrance permeated the house. Everyone knew, they realized from the fragrance of the perfume what Mary had done. It entered their noses, just as Yeshua's words had entered the ears of those in the verse from LUKE.

JOHN 16:6 But because I [Yeshua] have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled [pleroo] your heart.

When the disciples began to realize the true meaning of Yeshua's words, sorrow began to overtake and saturate their hearts. As Mary's ointment filled the room so sorrow was filling their hearts, causing them to realize the depth of that which He had been telling them. The only way sorrow could fill their hearts was if they indeed had began to realize the truth of His words.

ACTS 2:2 And suddenly there came [ginomai] a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled [pleroo] all the house where they were sitting.

Here again we have an example of something causing those present to be aware of an event. The "rushing mighty wind" caused every man to look, be aware and realize that a momentous event was transpiring. Being in the Temple at the hour of prayer the multitude most likely had their eyes closed. The "rushing mighty wind" caused them to pause and open their eyes and see the cloven tongues like fire. The rushing mighty wind, as it filled all the house (Temple) awakened them out of their meditations, so to speak.

ACTS 5:28 ....Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled [pleroo] Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

As the perfume in the house, the sorrow in the heart and the rushing mighty wind in the temple, now this "doctrine" is causing an awareness, a realization, an illumination to transpire throughout Jerusalem. Everywhere men were hearing the gospel and believing that which they heard.

ROMANS 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled [pleroo] in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

This is a very significant passage. The righteousness of the law is fulfilled, is illustrated, is realized by those who walk "not after the flesh, but after the spirit". The spiritual walk alone, which is to walk by faith, is the only way that the true nature of the law can be realized and be understood. There is a righteousness of the law, and that righteousness can only be given its full and true meaning by those who walk after the spirit.

ROMANS 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled [pleroo] the law.

Here again we are told that loving another is the only way to "give a full and true meaning" of the law. The law is spiritual. The law is holy. How else could it be understood, but by faith, which is energized by love (GALATIANS 5:6). One cannot understand the true nature of the law by just physically going through the motions. It has to be a heart obedience; a heart obedient to faith (ROMANS 1:5; 16:26).

ROMANS 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached [pleroo] the gospel of Christ.

This is a great example of exactly what we are trying to demonstrate. Pleroo often means just this, to "fully preach". Paul had expounded upon the gospel, he had given the full and true meaning of it.

GALATIANS 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled [pleroo] in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

As seen before (ROMANS 13:8), the law can only be "fulfilled" by loving your neighbor. "Loving your neighbor" in no way accomplishes all 900+ precepts of the law. Nor does loving your neighbor fulfill some scripture that was long ago written or proclaimed. Rather, loving your neighbor "demonstrates" the full and true meaning of the law of GOD. Thus, only by faith can we demonstrate the full and true meaning of the law.

COLOSSIANS 1:25 Whereof I am made [ginomai] a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil [pleroo] the word of God;

Now we can finally understand this verse which has been so wrongly interpreted for so long. Many translate pleroo in this verse to mean complete and teach that Paul was writing that the Bible is now complete. They then teach that nothing can be added and nothing can be taken away. Yet COLOSSIANS was not the last portion of the Book to be written. COLOSSIANS was not even the last epistle by Paul to be written, so how can they declare that this verse in COLOSSIANS is telling us that the Bible was then complete?

Actually, this verse in COLOSSIANS is not even talking about the Bible, but about the word of GOD. The two are not identical. Of course the Bible contains the words of GOD, but that is not the only place GOD has placed HIS words. No book, no matter how great, can possible contain all the words of GOD. The universe cannot contain them (PSALM 19:1-4). All eternity cannot contain them. How in the world can a single book contain them all?

Paul is writing in COLOSSIANS 1:25 that the dispensation of GOD, which was given to him, was for the purpose of expounding, of making known and causing us to realize the word of GOD.

Here is one last passage to consider before we apply what we have learned to just how Yeshua fulfilled the law.

COLOSSIANS 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete [pleroo] in all the will of God.

Our final example is one that fits perfectly with what GOD would have us to understand, HIS will! HE would have us realize HIS will. Epaphras prayed fervently that they might fully realize GOD's will for their lives, just as Paul declared they had in 1:9, "that ye might be filled [pleroo] with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding".

So now we come full circle to our verse in question. How did Yeshua fulfill the law? What exactly does it mean to fulfill the law? It means to elucidate it, to make it known, to cause one to realize its true meaning (see LUKE 24:44-45). As perfume might fill a room, so too Yeshua's teaching illuminates the law. That is how Yeshua fulfilled, pleroo the law.

MATTHEW 5:17-18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil [pleroo, to cause His followers to realize the true nature of the law]. 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 [ginomai].

Chapters 5-7 of MATTHEW contain Yeshua's "Sermon on the Mount". This is the context of our quest in 5:17 of just how Yeshua fulfilled the law. And in this "Sermon on the Mount" isn't this just what He was doing? And isn't this just what He had been doing? And isn't this just what He was continuing to do on that very "mountain"? He was teaching the people. He was causing them to understand. He was expounding the scriptures.

How often had He said, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time" and then give the full and true meaning by declaring, "But I say unto you..."? Six times in this one chapter (chapter 5) He so says. Six times at least He expounds, He elucidates, explains and gives the full meaning of the scriptures. And then at the close of the sermon, where He has so beautifully expounded unto them the scriptures, he presents them with a promise,

MATTHEW 7:24-29 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

For centuries the scribes had failed miserably to understand the true nature of the law. Yeshua was sent to teach that they might now understand. "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them...!" This is the reason He was elucidating unto them the scriptures, that when the rain descended, when the floods came and when the wind blew that they would not fall, but stand strong. By His doctrine and His teaching, He was fulfilling, He was expounding upon the law, He was giving its full and true meaning.

It  is commonly believed that to fulfill the law one must accomplish all 900+ precepts contained in the law. Howbeit, Scripture doesn't teach this. Yeshua certainly didn't teach this.

LUKE 10:25-28 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him [Yeshua], saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.  And he [Yeshua] said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

"What is written in the law? how readest thou?" Yeshua asked him what he understood the law to require that he might have life. His correct answer was love. Love GOD and love his neighbor. "This do!" Not the works of the law, but the works of the heart. Not to obey the law with your hands but obey the law with your heart! This is how the law is fulfilled, this is how the law is realized.

Nor did Paul teach that one must accomplish all 900+ precepts of the law to fulfill it.

GALATIANS 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled [pleroo] in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Works of love rather than works of the flesh is how the law is fulfilled, elucidated, expounded. As we noted before, "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled [pleroo] in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (ROMANS 8:4).

So then the question arises, as Paul thought it might when he wrote his epistle to the Roman believers, "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law" (ROMANS 3:31). How? Through faith! Only through faith can the law be established.

"The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good," (ROMANS 7:12), however, "the law is spiritual: but I am carnal" (ROMANS 7:14). The only way for the righteousness of the law to be realized, is when we act out of love, walking by the spirit, walking by faith.

This was Israel's great failing. They forgot love and determined to fulfill the law by works of the flesh. The fact that no man "by the deeds of the law...shall...be justified" (ROMANS 3:20) didn't dissuade them. "Some rabbis taught the consoling doctrine that if 51 per cent of man's deeds were good, the 49 per cent of evil would be overbalanced, and ultimate salvation would be sure" (pg 45, Life of Paul, Benjamin Willard Robinson). Once again, they did err, "not knowing the scriptures".

Yeshua's mission in fulfilling the law was to teach the truth regarding the law, that the law is spiritual and can only be realized by love.