Μὴ νομίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι τὸν νόμον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας· οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαι ἀλλὰ πληρῶσαι. (Matthew 5:17)
Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
Exegetical Analysis
The imperative Μὴ νομίσητε (“Do not think”) is aorist active subjunctive with a negative particle, forming a prohibitive construction often used to correct false assumptions. The verb νομίζω implies supposing or presuming; Jesus is preemptively dismantling a possible misunderstanding of his mission. The infinitive construction ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι (“that I came to abolish”) follows as the content of the mistaken thought. The verb καταλῦσαι (aorist active infinitive of καταλύω) means “to destroy,” “to dismantle,” or “to annul,” particularly in legal or covenantal contexts. What is not to be assumed as Jesus’ mission is the abolition of either τὸν νόμον (“the Law”) or τοὺς προφήτας (“the Prophets”), a phrase that together represents the Jewish Scriptures. The parallel negation and affirmation – οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαι ἀλλὰ πληρῶσαι – uses rhetorical repetition to emphasize the contrast. The verb πληρῶσαι (aorist active infinitive of πληρόω) means “to fulfill,” “to complete,” or “to bring to fullness.” The repetition of ἦλθον (“I came”) further underscores intentionality and mission. The parallelism and tight word structure amplify the theological significance.
Interpreting the Sacred Patterns
This verse functions as a hermeneutical key for the entire Sermon on the Mount—and perhaps for Jesus’ relationship to Torah in general. The verb πληρῶσαι has been the subject of centuries of debate. Does it mean to obey, to amplify, to bring to completion, or to reveal the true meaning? The ambiguity may be intentional. Jesus does not merely affirm Torah – he reorients its interpretation around Himself. The negated verb καταλῦσαι is decisive: He is not dismantling the Law or the Prophets. The Law is not discarded in favor of grace; rather, grace is what the Law pointed toward. The phrase τὸν νόμον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας suggests Jesus is speaking of the entirety of Scripture, not isolated rules. Theologically, this implies continuity and transformation – Jesus fulfills not by erasing but by embodying and completing the redemptive trajectory of the Hebrew Scriptures. In this way, Matthew 5:17 safeguards against antinomian misreadings of the Gospel.
Where Word Meets Worship
Jesus does not present Himself as a rebel prophet but as the telos of sacred history. The Law and the Prophets are not obstacles to His mission but the very fabric from which it is woven. The verb πληρῶσαι invites worshipful awe: fulfillment is not mechanical obedience, but divine embodiment. Jesus’ fulfillment of Torah is not in merely keeping its commandments, but in revealing its deepest intent – love, justice, mercy, and holiness. In worship, this changes how we approach both Old and New Testaments. The Law is not the opposite of Christ; it is His shadow and anticipation. And to follow Jesus is not to walk away from Torah, but to walk in its light as interpreted by the Messiah. The one who worships Christ rightly will not dismiss the Law but will see it transfigured in Him.
Exegetical Feature Table
| Greek Word | Form | Lexical Meaning | Interpretive Role | Exegetical Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Μὴ νομίσητε | Aorist active subjunctive, 2nd person plural with negative particle | “Do not suppose” | Imperative command | Prevents misinterpretation of Jesus’ mission |
| καταλῦσαι | Aorist active infinitive | “to abolish, to dismantle” | Negated purpose | Used twice for rhetorical emphasis; stresses continuity with Scripture |
| πληρῶσαι | Aorist active infinitive | “to fulfill, complete, bring to fullness” | Positive purpose | Key theological term; implies transformation and completion |
| τὸν νόμον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας | Accusative object phrases | “the Law or the Prophets” | Scope of fulfillment | Represents the Hebrew Bible as a whole |
From Presumption to Fulfillment
This verse dismantles a false dichotomy that has long plagued Christian theology: that grace replaces law, or that Christ cancels Torah. Jesus Himself says otherwise. He comes not to erase but to fulfill – πληρῶσαι. And in doing so, He not only completes the narrative arc of Scripture but reframes obedience around His person. The Law without Christ is incomplete; Christ without the Law is unanchored. Worship begins when presumption ends –Μὴ νομίσητε. We do not define Jesus’ mission for Him. He tells us plainly: He came in harmony with Scripture, as its goal, as its light, as its life. To follow Him, we must hear Torah again – this time with Messiah’s voice echoing through its every line.
