Did Jesus abolish the law?

One of the most debated theological topics is whether Jesus Christ abolished the law of God. Many believe that because we are under grace, the law is no longer applicable. However, Jesus never abolished the law; instead, He honored it, obeyed it, and fulfilled its requirements.

God’s law is a reflection of His unchanging character (Malachi 3:6), and Jesus Himself stated that He did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17-18). Moreover, He summarized the Ten Commandments in two principles:

Love for God and Love for Others

Jesus summarized the law with:

• Love for God (which sums up the first four commandments – Exodus 20:1-11).
• Love for fellow man (which sums up the last six commandments – Exodus 20:12-17).

Jesus’ Own Words on the Law

Jesus Himself made it clear that He did not come to abolish the law.

Matthew 5:17-18 (NKJV) – “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

Jesus states clearly that:

1. He did not come to destroy the law.
2. The law will not pass away until heaven and earth disappear.
3. He came to fulfill, meaning to complete and uphold the true meaning of the law.

Some misunderstand the word “fulfill” to mean abolish, but Jesus’ own words contradict this. The Greek word plēroō means to “fill up” or “bring to full meaning”-not to abolish.

Matthew 5:19 (NKJV) – “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus even warned that those who teach against the law will be considered least in God’s kingdom! This shows how serious He was about upholding the law.

God’s Law Reflects His Unchanging Character

Malachi 3:6 (NKJV) – “For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.”

Since God does not change, His law also does not change. It is an expression of:

• His holiness (Leviticus 11:44)
• His righteousness (Psalm 119:172)
• His love (Romans 13:10)

If God’s law could change, then God Himself would change-but the Bible says He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Jesus Honored the Law by Keeping It

Jesus did not only preach about keeping the law; He personally obeyed it to show us the example to follow.

John 15:10 (NKJV) – “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”

1 Peter 2:21-22 (NKJV) – “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.’”

Jesus was sinless, meaning He perfectly obeyed all of God’s commandments. If He had broken even one commandment, He would have sinned-because sin is the breaking of God’s law.

1 John 3:4 (NKJV) – “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”

Since Jesus never sinned, He never broke the law of God.

Jesus Summarized the Law as Love

Some believe that because Jesus summarized the law into love for God and love for man, this means we no longer need to keep the Ten Commandments. But this is incorrect; Jesus was showing the foundation of the law.

Matthew 22:37-40 (NKJV) – “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Jesus was quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. These two great commandments do not replace the Ten Commandments; they summarize them.

• The first four commandments (Exodus 20:1-11) define how to love God.
• The last six commandments (Exodus 20:12-17) define how to love others.

Paul confirms this:

Romans 13:9-10 (NKJV) – “For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Paul does not say the law is abolished; he says love is its fulfillment because when you truly love, you will naturally obey God’s law.

Is the Law Still Relevant Today?

Yes! The law remains in effect because:

A. We Are Saved by Grace, But Grace Leads to Obedience

Salvation is by grace through faith-not by the law. However, grace does not cancel the law; it empowers us to keep it.

Romans 6:1-2 (NKJV) – “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

B. Faith Does Not Nullify the Law

Romans 3:31 (NKJV) – “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”

Faith establishes the law in our lives, making us obedient through the power of the Holy Spirit.

C. The Law Will Be the Standard of Judgment

James 2:10-12 (NKJV) – “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.”

James affirms that the Ten Commandments remain the standard of God’s judgment.

Conclusion

Jesus did not abolish the law; He honored it, kept it, and taught others to keep it.

• God’s law is eternal and reflects His unchanging character.
• Jesus lived in perfect obedience to the law as our example.
• The law is summed up in love but remains valid for believers.
• Faith in Christ does not nullify the law; it establishes it in our lives.

John 14:15 (NKJV) – “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

Keeping God’s law is not legalism; it is the natural result of loving Jesus. Instead of abolishing the law, Christ magnified it (Isaiah 42:21), showing us how to live righteously through faith and love.