To Fulfill Them

Matthew 5:17-19 ESV

17   “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. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19   Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 

The law embodies the Spirit of God, but its power had been weakened and made ineffective for salvation by man. We are freed from the judgment of the law because we can meet the requirements of the law through our faith in Jesus. He goes on to say the one who relaxes the least of the laws will be least in the kingdom of heaven. 

One of the purposes of the law was to allow us to approach God. Jesus makes that possible, thus fulfilling the law. 

The law is still the law of the kingdom. Jesus said all the law is contained in the commandment to love, the Father and each other. Love is the measure.