What of Matthew 5:17? Is the Mosaic Law Still Valid?

The Mosaic Law & Its Application

The contention surrounding Matthew 5:17  is most often concerned with the words “abolish and fulfill”. The exegesis of the text reveals that Jesus came “not to sweep away the righteous demands of the law, rather to fulfill (bring the intended meaning) its righteous demands.”[1] While the Mosaic law was a critical component of daily living for the Israelites and their land, “Christians are in no way tied to either the land nor its laws,”[2] rendering the law non-binding. Christ Jesus is the standard for the gospel, moral teaching, and governance of the church,[3] not the Mosaic Law, especially because the New Covenant (Hebrews 8-9) renders the Mosaic Law obsolete. Christians are no longer under the Law (Gal. 3:25, 2:15-16; Rom. 7:4, 6:14-15; 1 Cor. 9:20; Eph. 2:15). The Law remains a guide to shed light on sin and the human nature, but the Christian is now bound to an internal governance by the Holy Spirit, his Word, and the fellowship of the church (Jer.31:31-33; Ezek. 36:24-28).