So then the question might be: How did he or did he fulfill the Law? and also for
@metis
It's really important, but if a person doesn't really believe that Jesus existed as recorded, the question is moot.
Great questions.
Matthew 5:17-28
17,
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18, For truly I say to you,
Till heaven and earth pass, one stroke or one pronunciation mark shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19,
Whoever 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 whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20, For I say to you, That
except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21, You have heard that it was said of them of old time,
You shall not kill; and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22, But I say to you, That whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whoever shall say, You fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23, Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has ought against you;
24, Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25, Agree with your adversary quickly, whiles you are in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.
26, Truly I say to you, You shall by no means come out there, till you have paid the uttermost farthing.
27, You have heard that it was said by them of old time,
You shall not commit adultery:
28, But I say to you, That whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
I believe reading the scripture context is very important here and if you have some understanding of the old covenant laws of atonement as well as Gods 10 commandments there is actually two ways Jesus fulfills the law without destroying the laws requirements as stated in Matthew 5:17.
The Greek word used here in Matthew 5:17 πληρόω (G4137) translated "fulfill" in English means to complete or to accomplish, to perform and to execute or do or to accomplish.
So the context in Matthew 5:17 Jesus is saying to us "Do not even think that I have come to destroy or abolish the law or the prophets. That is do not even let that enter into your mind before I tell you anything else. He tells us the law is not destroyed or abolished but the reason why Jesus has come was to perfectly obey the law to complete and perform Gods law! The next question is how did Jesus complete, obey, perform Gods law? I believe that the scriptures are very clear and believe that there are two applications here.
The first application here to Jesus saying He fulfilled the law is in Jesus perfectly obeying the righteous requirement of Gods law including Gods 10 commandments. Jesus perfectly kept and obeyed Gods law and was sinless before God and man. Application here as also shown in the context of Matthew 5:17-28 is applying to Gods 10 commandments with the examples of right doing must exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees and Jesus later giving the examples of thou shalt not kill and thou shalt not commit adultery in Matthew 5:21 and Matthew 5:28. Jesus perfectly obeyed Gods law from the inside out making Him qualified to be Gods perfect sacrifice for our sins.
The second application to "fulfill" here is that Jesus fulfilled all the law and the prophets that foretold of His coming all the Mosaic shadow laws of atonement and all the prophets that were pointing to Jesus as Gods promised Messiah and Gods sacrifice for the sins of the world under a new covenant based on better promises are fulfilled in Christ to who these Mosaic laws of atonement were all teaching and pointed to are not fulfilled in Jesus. It was Gods Mosiac laws and the prophets that pointed to Jesus as Gods promised Messiah. All these laws of atonement and sin offerings are now fulfilled and continued in Jesus to who they all pointed to (see Hebrews 7:1-12; Hebrews 8:1-13; Hebrews 9:1-27 and Hebrews 10:1-22).
That said everyone of Gods 10 commandments are repeated in the new covenant as the standard for Christian living. This of course includes Gods Sabbath commandments which is one of Gods 10 commandments that give us the knowledge of what sin is when broken (1 John 3:4; James 2:10-11).
Take Care.