I Came to Perform the Law: A Study on the Meaning of Pleroo ("Fulfill") in Matthew 5:17 - Paperback

by C. M. Hegg (Foreword by), Eitan Ben Levi (Author)

For most of church history, readers of Scripture have understood Jesus' statement in Matthew 5:17 that He came to "fulfill" the Law and the Prophets to mean that He brought about significant changes in how His followers relate to the Old Testament. In recent years, however, some interpreters have challenged this traditional perspective. They argue that in Matthew 5:17 Jesus is not setting aside the Law and the Prophets but affirming them, calling His followers to continued obedience "until heaven and earth pass away." Which reading best reflects the meaning of "fulfill" in this text?

In this study, Eitan ben Levi takes an in-depth look at Jesus' teaching, carefully examining which interpretation of Matthew 5:17 aligns most consistently with the words of Messiah. By paying close attention to the grammar and context of the verse-as well as Jesus' use of the term pleroo elsewhere in the Gospels-ben Levi proposes an interpretive key that sheds new light on Jesus' words. The result is a compelling argument that Jesus envisioned a post-resurrection community that would uphold the Old Testament Law as foundational for Christian life and practice.