Holy Boldness

Chapter 12 B ringing the S criptures to fullness

After the Beatitudes, Jesus began to address the traditional un derstanding of the law. At first glance, Jesus seemed to be defending His teaching against the charge that it was antinomian, a doctrine that says that the law is unimportant. There was no point on which devout Jews were more sensitive than on any attempt to tamper with the Law, which was considered to be given directly by God Himself, and therefore perfect and unchangeable. As the ministry of Jesus moved forward and increas ingly challenged the status quo, He would often be accused of breaking the law and teaching others to do the same. Jesus asserted early on that His teaching was not a removal of the law but its fulfillment. Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17) The word translated “fulfill” is the Greek word “pleroō”. It is a very expressive word with lots of nuances. It is used numerous times in the Greek New Testament. It means t o fill up, to fill up to the full, to give fullness (completion) to carry out, ( of prophecies or other statements which are absolutely and completely confirmed by reality or actual occurrence), or of duties; I preach fully the gospel of Christ… (Romans 15: 19) 15 But what did Jesus really mean by this bold statement that he would fulfill the law? What did He really come to do? If ever there was a man whose life expounded and interpreted the meaning of His words, it was Jesus. The word “ fulfill” cannot be fully understood by looking up the definition. Jesus lived out the meaning of His words. The Sermon

Souter, Alexander (1966) Pocket Lexicon of the Greek New

15

Testament Oxford University Press p. 205

1 1 5