"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 5:17-19)
The people of Israel had many teachers of law and the covenant. There were prophets. At the time of Jesus there were Pharisees and the scribes. They taught the Israelites the way of being faithful to God, a way of behaving in accordance with God’s covenant. The teachers of the law and the interpreters of the law were helping the listeners to be more faithful to God.
Jesus was thought to be another teacher of the law. But Jesus was not intending to abandon the law and the prophets. Israel’s whole story, commandments, promises were all going to be fulfilled in him. Kingdom of heaven was breaking in; God’s covenant was becoming a reality. This was changing their lives; a behavioural change not just by teaching but by a change of heart.
This change was seen in Jesus and the change was a reality in Jesus. Every law and promises were fulfilled in Jesus and Jesus wanted his disciples also to be like him. Everyone should be a reality like Jesus in whom the laws and the prophets would be seen and experienced.
