3rd Week in Lent, Wednesday – 10th March 2021 – Mt 5,17-19
Perfect Fulfillment
The word “fulfill” means to make complete, or to supply what is lacking. It is in this sense that Jesus fulfilled God’s law in every area of His life. He fulfilled it in His birth because He was “born under the law” (Gal 4,4). Every prescribed ritual for a Jewish boy was performed on Him by His parents (Lk 2,24). He always did what God commanded in the law. And the Father was “well pleased” with His Son (Mt 3,17; 17,5). When He began His ministry, Jesus opened the Word to the people in a new and living way. He also fulfilled the law in His teaching. It was this that brought Him into conflict with the religious leaders. Jesus demonstrated His fulfilment as the law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah) at the Transfiguration (Mt 17,3; Lk 9,28-36). Finally, it was in His death and resurrection that Jesus truly fulfilled the law. He bore the curse of the law (Gal 3,13). All the promises that God made to his people throughout salvation history and recorded in OT were accomplished in Jesus: “For in him every one of God’s promises is a “Yes” (2 Cor 1,20). Thus He came not to abolish the law but to fulfill them.
