Matthew 5:17

Think not. Spies were present, whispering that Jesus was making light of the law (DA 307; MB 47). Jesus read their thoughts (DA 307) and answered, evidencing His divinity.

Am come. Refers to Jesus’ coming from the Father into the world (John 16:28; 18:37).

Destroy. Greek kataluo, “to loosen down,” “to abolish,” “to annul.” Jesus, who proclaimed the law on Sinai, would not annul it (PP 366; Matt. 23:23).

The law. Greek nomos, equivalent to Hebrew torah, encompassing all God’s revealed will (Ps. 119:1,33; Prov. 3:1). “The law and the prophets” represents the OT Scriptures (Matt. 7:12; 11:13; 22:40; Luke 16:16; John 1:45; Rom. 3:21). Jews commonly divided the Scriptures into Law, Prophets, and Psalms (Luke 24:44). Jesus likely refers primarily to the moral law and civil statutes in Moses’ books, confirmed by the prophets (DA 307; MB 45).

Christ clarifies that He did not destroy the law but that the scribes destroyed it by their traditions (Matt. 15:3,6). His discussion in Matt. 5:21-47 selects precepts from the Ten Commandments and Mosaic laws, contrasting His interpretation with the scribes’ (p. 55; Mark 1:22,44; 2:19,24; 7:1-14; Luke 6:9).

To fulfil. Greek pleroo, “to make full,” “to fill full.” Jesus clarified the law’s true meaning and how it applies to kingdom citizens (Isa. 59:7). He reaffirmed Sinai’s pronouncements as binding and warned that anyone annulling them would not enter the kingdom (Matt. 5:20).

The idea that fulfilling the law abrogates it contradicts the context. Christ did not come to destroy but to fill the law with meaning, giving an example of perfect obedience so the law might be fulfilled in us (Rom. 8:3,4).