07/11/2008 Sabbath Meeting Transcript

Matthew 5:17 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Tonight, I would like to share some thoughts on a particular concept found in scripture that has resulted in a lot of confusion.

The following are some examples of statements or questions I have heard which indicate these misunderstandings:

"We don't have to keep the law because the Messiah fulfilled it"

"We don't do sacrifices because the Messiah fulfilled that"

"We don't keep the ceremonial law because the Messiah fulfilled that"

"Which parts of the law were fulfilled??"

Tonight, I would like to share some scriptures which reveal the true meaning of the concept of fulfillment.

The true meaning of "fulfill" is important because there are many examples where the Messiah is said to "fulfill" certain things.

Matthew 5:18 - 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.

A common notion in our modern age is that the Messiah "Fulfilled" all the law and prophets, so at this time we are in a situation where "one jot/tittle" has indeed passed from the law.

In verse 18, there is a little trick by the translators. In it they translates the word "fulfill" here again in verse 18 even though it does not come from the same Greek word as the "fulfill" in verse 17.

So "Fulfil" in verse 17 comes from a different word than the word translated "fulfilled" in verse 18. It is important to know this.

Because with this, they seem to want us to believe that since Messiah fulfilled the law, that one jot and one tittle has passed from the law (or been taken away).

But the Greek word in verse 18 translated "be" 253 times, "come to pass" 82 times and fulfilled 3 times. It is never used in reference to Yahushua fulfilling anything in the law and prophets.

Therefore the meaning of this is that not one iota of the law will pass away until everything "comes to pass." Clearly there is more to come.

For instance, Yahushua has yet to return, and set up the kingdom of Yahweh to reign on the earth for 1000 years.

So has everything come to pass? Not yet.

But when all is accomplished, there will be no need for a law to tell us to stop sinning. We will be incorruptible beings that will not sin.

And at that time, there will be a new heavens and a new earth.

1Timothy 1:9 - Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the wicked and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

Revelation 21:1 - Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

Revelation 21:2 - Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from YAHWEH, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Continuing in Matthew 5...

Revelation 21:17 - Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

Revelation 21:18 - The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

Revelation 21:19 - The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,

wrong book

Matthew 21:17 - And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

Matthew 21:18 - Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.

Matthew 21:19 - And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

Matthew 5:17 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Matthew 5:18 - 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.

Matthew 5:19 - Whosoever 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 whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

There :)

Before we analyze the scriptures here and their meaning, let's examine the Greek word translated "Fulfill" in verse 17.

The literal meaning found in Greek lexicons is to "Fill up" or "make full" (#3137 Pleroo).

This can be a bit confusing. How can a person "fill up" the Torah/Law?

One of the best ways of understanding the meaning of a word is to examine it in various contexts. So that is what we will do

Here are some examples found in scripture:

Romans 15:13 - Now the Elohim of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Here, "Pleroo" (#4137) is translated "fill" and is used in the context of Yahweh filling us with joy and peace. This certainly makes sense.

another instance..

Luke 2:40 - And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of YAHWEH was upon him.

In the above verse, "Pleroo" (#4137) is translated "filled". Yahushua was "filled" with wisdom.

Ephesians 5:17 - Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of YAHWEH is.

Ephesians 5:18 - And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

In this context, we are encouraged to be "filled" ("Pleroo) with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:19 - speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to YAHWEH,

Examples of being "filled with the Spirit" are "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to Yahweh". These certainly make sense in how they speak of a "filling up" something that was lacking.

Now in the following verse, the word is found in a little different context:

Luke 21:23 - But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

Luke 21:24 - And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Here we see that "time" can be fulfilled (Pleroo, times of the Gentiles).

There was a space of time that the Gentiles were appointed to trodden down Jerusalem, and there would be a completion or 'filling up' of this fixed time that Yahweh appointed.

We see this again in Luke 2:

Luke 2:41 - Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

Luke 2:42 - And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

Luke 2:43 - And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Yahushua tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

Here, there were certain days that Yahushua's parents had to "Fulfill". This can be somewhat related to keeping the Torah. The Torah requires the keeping of Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread:

Leviticus 23:5 - In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is YAHWEH's passover.

Leviticus 23:6 - And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto YAHWEH: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

So Yahweh's command to keep the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread was kept by Joseph and Miriam (Mary). They fulfilled the days, or filled up the space of time required by Yahweh to eat unleavened bread.

Yahweh said to eat unleavened bread for "Seven days" and they "fulfilled the days". In their fulfilling of these days, they kept Yahweh's commandment.

Now let's look at the example where John the Baptist's father Zacharias was given a prophecy about what would take place and what his son would do . Zacharias' response to the angel was:

Luke 1:18 - And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

Luke 1:19 - And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of YAHWEH; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

Luke 1:20 - And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

Here we see that words can be "fulfilled".

Zecharias has difficulty believing the words of the Angel when he said that they would have a son. When John the Baptist was born, Zacharias able to speak again.

So here we have some words that were spoken, but they were not "filled up". But when the words that Gabriel spoke were "fulfilled" or "fully filled", Zacharias was able to speak again.

If I say to another person that I am going to be obedient to Yahweh, my words are "empty words" unless I "fulfill" or "fully fill" them by being obedient to Yahweh.

If I tell my son to bring me a glass of water and he does not do it, then my words were just empty words because my request was ignored. They were words lacking fulfillment.

But if I tell my son to bring me a glass of water and he does it, then my words were "fulfilled" or "Fully filled" because my will came to pass. My son "fulfilled" my request to bring me a glass of water.

In the case of Zecharias and Gabriel, Gabriel said that they would have a son, but Zecharias had difficulty believing that Gabriel's words would be "Fulfilled" or "Fully filled".. but when it happened Zecharias was able to speak again

We must believe Yahweh's words are not empty even when they haven't been "Fully filled" as of yet. When Yahweh says something, it is as good as done!

When Yahweh speaks, there are some who will fulfill His words and some who will not.

Those who are disobedient will refuse to fulfill His commands. Those who are obedient are fulfilling His commandments.

We must be among those who, like Yahushua, are willing to fulfill His commandments!

In various places, there were prophets who made predictions by the word of Yahweh. Yahushua is the one who obeyed them:

Luke 4:16 - And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Luke 4:17 - And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

Luke 4:18 - The Spirit of YAHWEH is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Luke 4:19 - To preach the acceptable year of YAHWEH.

Luke 4:20 - And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

Luke 4:21 - And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

So here, we see that Yahweh predicted something would come to pass and Yahushua declared that these words were "fulfilled" that day.

We know that He "fulfilled" many other prophecies by His obedience:

Matthew 26:51 - And, behold, one of them which were with Yahushua stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.

Matthew 26:52 - Then said Yahushua unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Matthew 26:53 - Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Matthew 26:54 - But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

He knew that He had to fulfill His Father's commands, and He did

Others also fulfilled Yahweh's word, though not in a good way:

John 12:37 - But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

John 12:38 - That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, YAHWEH, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of YAHWEH been revealed?

John 12:39 - Therefore they could not believe, because that Isaiah said again,

John 12:40 - He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Here, we see where Yahweh predicted that the people of the Messiah's generation would not believe in Him. Yahweh's prediction about others were obeyed or fulfilled because Yahweh knows the end from the beginning

This prophecy is found in Isaiah 53 where the Messiah is said to be rejected by men. These words were "fulfilled" when the people failed to believe in the Messiah despite the many miracles He did.

A study into the Tanakh/Old Testament will reveal that the Hebrew word "maleh" or "malah" (#4390) carries the same basic meaning as "Pleroo" (Fulfill) and is used in the same way.

For instance, "Maleh" or "Malah" speaks of filling the land and sea:

Genesis 1:22 - And Elohim blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

Here, the word speaks of filling up a space of time:

Numbers 6:13 - And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:

And here it speaks of "fulfilling" or "fully filling" a word spoken by Yahweh:

2Chronicles 36:20 - And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:

2Chronicles 36:21 - To fulfil the word of YAHWEH by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.

Additional evidence to this is found in the Septuagint (An ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament/Tanakh), where the word "Maleh" is translated "Pleroo" in each of the above verses.

Now, let's look again at Matthew 5 where Yahushua says that He has come to fulfill the law and the prophets:

Matthew 5:17 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

In the Torah/law, Yahweh commanded that certain things be done. They were not only commanded for the Messiah, but for all. Up to that point, nobody had fulfilled the Torah.. because nobody had ever kept Yahweh's law perfectly.

But Yahushua "Fully filled" Yahweh's word in the Torah. He did not fail to adhere to any of the commandments in the Torah, but followed them perfectly and blamelessly.

He is the only man who has ever truly fulfilled the Torah.

Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

And what is sin? In scripture, we see that sin is transgression of the law:

1John 3:4 - Whoever commits sin trangresses also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.

So it is very clear that in this sense, Yahushua "fulfilled" the law, as well as the prophets.

When Yahweh spoke, Yahushua fulfilled the words.

There is not a shred of evidence anywhere in scripture that "Fulfill" means "abolish/set aside/do away with."

Getting back to Matthew 5:17-18, we see from Yahushua's words here that nothing is going to 'pass' from the law until all 'Come to pass' as we examined earlier.

How about now? Do we need to fulfill the law as Yahushua fulfilled it?

Or should we be disobeying the law because Yahushua fulfilled it?

What does scripture say?

Romans 13:8 - Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Galatians 5:14 - For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Brethren, who could say that we don't need to also fulfill the law after reading scriptures such as these?

It is so clear!

We are also to fulfill the law!

Fulfilling the law/Torah isn't just something that Yahushua alone is to supposed to do. It is something that WE ALL are supposed to do.

But why is it that we fulfill the law by only loving our neighbor? Shouldn't we also love Yahweh?

Scripture declares that we cannot love our neighbor unless we love Yahweh.

1John 5:2 - By this we know that we love the children of YAHWEH, when we love YAHWEH and keep His commandments.

Therefore, if anyone says that we need not fulfill the law because Yahushua already did it, it is actually the same thing as saying that we don't need to love Yahweh or our neighbor because Yahushua already did!

As we examined last week, every commandment in the law has to do with showing us how to love Yahweh and/or our neighbor. We should seek to fulfill His commandments.

Matthew 22:35 - Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

Matthew 22:36 - Rabbi, which is the great commandment in the law?

Matthew 22:37 - Yahushua said unto him, Thou shalt love YAHWEH thy Elohim with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Matthew 22:38 - This is the first and great commandment.

Matthew 22:39 - And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Matthew 22:40 - On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Yahushua was saying that every commandment in the law and every word spoken by the prophets were about loving Yahweh and loving one another. We can't cut the law and the prophets off of the two great commandments upon which they hang

Doing results in our own twisted definitions of love

Doing so results in our own twisted definitions of love

When we say Yahushua fulfilled the law, we are saying that Yahushua loved Yahweh and each of us perfectly.

It is for this reason that Paul wrote:

Romans 13:8 - Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Many say that "we have a new law now, we don't keep the Torah (Law).. we just love Yahweh and our neighbor". They lack understanding.

Keeping His commandments are evidence that we DO love Him and we DO love our neighbor. That's why all the law is "fulfilled" when we love our neighbor in the first place!

Now let's look at Matthew 5:17-19 one last time:

Matthew 5:17 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Matthew 5:18 - 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.

Until all things come to pass. Yahushua has much more to accomplish, my brethren!

Until the last enemy is destroyed: Death

1Corinthians 15:25 - For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

1Corinthians 15:26 - The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

1Corinthians 15:27 - For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

1Corinthians 15:28 - And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that YAHWEH may be all in all.

But if there is ever any question as to what Yahushua meant here in Mat 5:17-18.. simply look at the next verse:

Matthew 5:19 - Whosoever 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 whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

The words in Greek that are translated "therefore" literally means "because of this".

"whoseover therefore... (because of what I just said)

So when Yahushua said -- "Because of this" (or "because of what I just said") " breaks one of THESE least commandments" - it would be referring to the commandments He just spoke about in the law and prophets. The commandments that He was to fulfill rather than destroy.

Furthermore, He said that if we desire to be among the great in the kingdom of heaven, we must do and teach THESE commandments rather than failing to do them and teaching men so (as is commonly seen today!).

"These" commandments could be none other than the commandments in the law and the prophets. That's the context of what He is saying.

So, clearly Yahushua's fulfillment doesn't mean that we don't have to do it anymore. Rather, He fulfilled the law as an example for us to live by!

1John 2:6 - He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

If the Messiah fulfilled the Sabbath or any other command with the result being that we don't need to keep them anymore, then neither do we need to keep any other commandment.

Even a homosexual could conceivably make the same argument "hey the Messiah fulfilled that old law, we don't have to keep it anymore" (and they do)!

It is time to forsake this foolish idea that "Fulfill" means to "do away with." Let's seek Yahweh's ways and commandments, and let's seek to be like our Master Yahushua the Messiah!

For we are clearly told:

1John 2:4 - He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

He called to remembrance and repeated the commandments to love Yahweh and our neighbor.

Paul clearly said that we should also fulfill the Torah, just as Yahushua did.

John also confirms it.

Therefore, let's allow the love of Elohim be perfected in us by following His example fully. Let's allow Him to keep those commandments in us that He kept while on the earth.

Let's forsake these common false notions and lets embrace the full word of Yahweh rather than excusing away certain portions as "fulfilled!'

For if we understand fulfillment properly, we will say..

"Let's keep His word and fulfill the law like Yahushua did, with His strength, His Spirit abiding in us!"

1John 2:5 - But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of YAHWEH is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

When we fulfill the law as He did, it is evidence that Yahweh's law of love is perfected in us, and we are abiding in Yahushua.

Hear the words of Yahushua our Master!

John 14:4 - And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

John 15:4 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

John 15:5 - I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

John 15:6 - If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

John 15:7 - If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

John 15:8 - Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Let's be His disciples, His taught ones, shall we?

Yahushua looks to and fro throughout the earth, seeking the ones in whom He can abide and do the things He did on earth

1John 2:6 - He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Let's be that vessel for His glory, let's walk as He walked

Allowing Him to keep Yahweh's work in us by His Spirit being in us...

Fulfilling the Torah!

May Yahweh bless you and may He have mercy on us all!