When we say that Jesus “fulfilled the law,” it means that He completed or perfected the law through His life, teachings, death, and resurrection. This concept is significant in Christian theology and can be explored through various biblical references.
1. **Fulfillment of Prophecy and Law**: Jesus’ life and mission were deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where hundreds of prophecies pointed to the coming Messiah. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus states, “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.” Here, He emphasizes that His mission is not to dismantle the law but to realize its true intent and purpose.
2. **Perfect Obedience**: Jesus lived a sinless life, thereby embodying the law’s demands perfectly. Hebrews 4:15 highlights this aspect: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” His perfect obedience is fundamental to understanding how He fulfilled the law.
3. **Establishment of a New Covenant**: Jesus’ fulfillment of the law also implies the establishment of a new covenant, as seen in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and reiterated in Luke 22:20 when He shares the cup at the Last Supper: “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” The old covenant, with its sacrificial system, was transformed in light of Jesus’ sacrificial death, which serves as the ultimate atonement for sin.
4. **Righteousness through Faith**: After fulfilling the law, Jesus offers the gift of righteousness through faith, rather than through works. Romans 3:21-22 captures this well: “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” Thus, the reliance on the law for righteousness is shifted to faith in Christ.
5. **The Spirit of the Law**: In fulfilling the law, Jesus also reveals its deeper ethical and spiritual significance. In the Sermon on the Mount, He challenges superficial interpretations of the law and calls for a deeper inner transformation (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28). He’s teaching that true obedience goes beyond mere adherence to rules; it’s about the heart’s intent.
6. **Law as a Mirror**: The law served as a guide that pointed out humanity’s sinfulness and need for redemption (Romans 7:7). Jesus fulfills this role by providing the means for redemption through His atoning sacrifice, allowing believers to live in the freedom of grace rather than under the constraints of the law.
In summary, Jesus fulfilling the law means that He embodied its requirements through His life, established a new covenant through His sacrifice, and redefined the understanding of righteousness and obedience. He completed the historical and theological narrative of the law, demonstrating its ultimate purpose in leading humanity towards Him for salvation and transformation.