SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:17
¶ No pensis que he venido para desatar la ley o los profetas; no he venido para desatarla, sino para cumplirla.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:17
Verse 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law] Do not imagine that I am come to violate the law katalusai, from kata, and luw, I loose, violate, or dissolve-I am not come to make the law of none effect-to dissolve the connection which subsists between its several parts, or the obligation men are under to have their lives regulated by its moral precepts; nor am I come to dissolve the connecting reference it has to the good things promised. But I am come, plhrwsai, to complete-to perfect its connection and reference, to accomplish every thing shadowed forth in the Mosaic ritual, to fill up its great design; and to give grace to all my followers, plhrwsai, to fill up, or complete, every moral duty. In a word, Christ completed the law: 1st. In itself, it was only the shadow, the typical representation, of good things to come; and he added to it that which was necessary to make it perfect, HIS OWN SACRIFICE, without which it could neither satisfy God, nor sanctify men. 2dly. He completed it in himself by submitting to its types with an exact obedience, and verifying them by his death upon the cross. 3dly. He completes this law, and the sayings of his prophets, in his members, by giving them grace to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and their neighbour as themselves; for this is all the law and the prophets. It is worthy of observation, that the word rmg gamar, among the rabbins, signifies not only to fulfill, but also to teach; and, consequently, we may infer that our Lord intimated, that the law and the prophets were still to be taught or inculcated by him and his disciples; and this he and they have done in the most pointed manner. See the Gospels and epistles; and see especially this sermon on the mount, the Epistle of James, and the Epistle to the Hebrews. And this meaning of the word gives the clear sense of the apostle's words, Colossiansi. 25. Whereof I am made a minister, plhrwsai tov logon tou qeou, to fulfill the word of God, i.e. to teach the doctrine of God.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets , etc.] From verse 3 to the 10th inclusive, our Lord seems chiefly to respect the whole body of his true disciples and followers; from thence, to the 16th inclusive, he addresses the disciples, whom he had called to be ministers of the word; and in this verse, to the end of his discourse, he applies himself to the whole multitude in general; many of whom might be ready to imagine, that by the light of the Gospel, he was giving his disciples instructions to spread in the world, he was going to set aside, as useless, the law of Moses, or the prophets, the interpreters of it, and commentators upon it. Christ knew the thoughts of their hearts, that they had taken up such prejudices in their minds against him; wherefore he says, think not; he was sensible what objections they were forming, and what an improvement they would make of them against his being the Messiah, and therefore prevents them, saying, I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil . By the law is meant the moral law, as appears from the whole discourse following: this he came not to destroy, or loose mens obligations to, as a rule of walk and conversation, but to fulfil it; which he did doctrinally, by setting it forth fully, and giving the true sense and meaning of it; and practically, by yielding perfect obedience to all its commands, whereby he became the end, the fulfilling end of it. By the prophets are meant the writings of the prophets, in which they illustrated and explained the law of Moses; urged the duties of it; encouraged men thereunto by promises; and directed the people to the Messiah, and to an expectation of the blessings of grace by him: all which explanations, promises, and prophecies, were so far from being made void by Christ, that they receive their full accomplishment in him. The Jews pretend that these words of Christ are contrary to the religion and faith of his followers, who assert, that the law of Moses is abolished; which is easily refuted, by observing the exact agreement between Christ and the Apostle Paul, ( Romans 3:31 10:4) and whenever he, or any other of the apostles, speaks of the abrogation of the law, it is to be understood of the ceremonial law, which in course ceased by being fulfilled; or if of the moral law, not of the matter, but of the ministry of it. This passage of Christ is cited in the Talmud f262 , after this manner: it is written in it, i.e. in the Gospel, I Aven, neither to diminish from the law of Moses am I come, but, or nor (for in the Amsterdam edition they have inserted alw between two hooks), to add to the law of Moses am I come.
Which, with their last correction, though not a just citation, yet tolerably well expresses the sense; but a most blasphemous character is affixed to Christ, when they call him Aven; which signifies iniquity itself, and seems to be a wilful corruption of the word Amen, which begins the next verse.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 17-20 - Let none suppose that Christ allows his people to trifle with an commands of God's holy law. No sinner partakes of Christ's justifyin righteousness, till he repents of his evil deeds. The mercy revealed in the gospel leads the believer to still deeper self-abhorrence. The la is the Christian's rule of duty, and he delights therein. If a man pretending to be Christ's disciple, encourages himself in any allowe disobedience to the holy law of God, or teaches others to do the same whatever his station or reputation among men may be, he can be no tru disciple. Christ's righteousness, imputed to us by faith alone, i needed by every one that enters the kingdom of grace or of glory; but the new creation of the heart to holiness, produces a thorough chang in a man's temper and conduct.
Greek Textus Receptus
μη 3361 PRT-N νομισητε 3543 5661 V-AAS-2P οτι 3754 CONJ ηλθον 2064 5627 V-2AAI-1S καταλυσαι 2647 5658 V-AAN τον 3588 T-ASM νομον 3551 N-ASM η 2228 PRT τους 3588 T-APM προφητας 4396 N-APM ουκ 3756 PRT-N ηλθον 2064 5627 V-2AAI-1S καταλυσαι 2647 5658 V-AAN αλλα 235 CONJ πληρωσαι 4137 5658 V-AAN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
17. To destroy (katalusai). Lit., to loosen down, dissolve; Wyc., undo.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:17 {I came not to destroy, but to fulfil} (ouk elqon katalusai alla plerwsai). The verb "destroy" means to "loosen down" as of a house or tent (#2Co 5:1). Fulfil is to fill full. this Jesus did to the ceremonial law which pointed to him and the moral law he kept. "He came to fill the law, to reveal the full depth of meaning that it was intended to hold" (McNeile).
