Body of christ Quote by Grant R. Osborne
““Jesus 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” (Mt 5:17). Yet Paul could say, “Christ is the end of the law” (Rom 10:4); “you also died to the law through the body of Christ” (Rom 7:4); and “Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law” (Gal 3:25). Hebrews states, “By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear” (Heb 8:13), and “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming” (Heb 10:1). The Matthew text is the key one, for Jesus is asserting that the Torah has not been abrogated and in fact is intact in him.””
About This Quote
Source Bible: New Testament, Matthew 5:17; Romans 10:4; Romans 7:4; Galatians 3:25; Hebrews 8:13; Hebrews 10:1
Jesus claims the Law remains valid and fulfilled in Him, while Paul and Hebrews describe the Law as a temporary shadow pointing to Christ’s covenant.
In simple terms: The Law isn’t cancelled; it points to Christ.
Recognize the continuity between Old and New Testament teachings.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- Sermon preparation
- Bible study groups
- academic theology
- personal devotion
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the concept of “fulfillment” affect Christian ethics?
- What aspects of the Law are considered timeless?
Some argue the Law’s moral commands are fulfilled, others see them as still binding; tension remains.