Not The Least Stroke Of A Pen

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Monday May 19, 2008

Matthew 5:17,18 (NIV) (Jesus speaking)
17. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."

Jesus made two interesting statements here. First, He said He did not come to abolish the law or the prophets but to fulfill them! We know He wasn't saying that the law itself would still stand AFTER He went to the cross:

Colossians 2:13,14 (NIV)
13. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14. having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

God CANCELED the written code of the law by nailing it to the cross with Jesus! Hebrews tells us that the old covenant is OBSOLETE:

Hebrews 8:13 (NIV)
By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one OBSOLETE; and what IS obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

So what was Jesus saying when He said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" ?

Jesus fulfilled countless prophecies when He came to the earth, died, and arose from the dead. But then He went up to Heaven; where He is NO LONGER personally fulfilling Old Testament prophecies! In the same way, He is no longer fulfilling the Law; HE ALREADY DID fulfill it! So much so that God saw no use for having it around any more and cancelled it!

Then Jesus continued on in verse 18 to make a second statement that is often misinterpreted because of the misinterpretation of the first statement:

Matthew 5:18 (NIV) (Jesus speaking)
18. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."

Here Jesus tells us that not even one pen stroke of the Law will disappear until everything is accomplished!

The greek word translated "until" is "an"; which according to Strong's concordance is "a primary particle, denoting a SUPPOSITION, WISH, POSSIBILITY OR UNCERTAINTY."

Jesus wasn't saying that the Law would actually REMAIN UNTIL Heaven and earth disappear; He was saying that Heaven and earth would have to disappear in order for anything written in the Law to disappear or remain unaccomplished! In other words, Jesus was stating how DEFINITE it was that everything in the Law would be accomplished!

The last part of Jesus' statement clarifies this: "not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law UNTIL everything is accomplished." Well, guess what? According to Colossians 2:13,14 the written code WAS cancelled! Jesus Himself told us when the things written in the Law WERE accomplished:

John 19:30 (NIV)
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus made sure to say at the moment of His death, "IT IS FINISHED!" The greek word translated "finished" is "teleo". Are you ready for the definition of the word? TO END, COMPLETE, EXECUTE, CONCLUDE, DISCHARGE (A DEBT)! TO ACCOMPLISH, MAKE AN END, EXPIRE, FINISH, PAY.

Jesus FULFILLED the Law (past tense) and it is now OBSOLETE and CANCELED! We now live by the NEW way of the Spirit:

Romans 7:6 (NIV)
But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and NOT in the old way of the written code.

It someone tries to tell you that you are bound by the law, you can tell them, "No, according to the Word, the law BOUND US, and I'm set free from the law that bound me, and I now serve God in the NEW WAY of the Spirit!"

PRAYER
Thank You Father for Your wonderful, life-giving Word. Help me to not allow myself to be law-minded, but rather help me to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit's leading inside me. Help me comprehend Your Word and rightly divide it so I can allow You to govern my life completely.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

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