The Law Fulfilled

The Commandments of Christ · The commandments of Moses as Christ takes them up · 1–28

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Jesus did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfil them. Here are the places where He takes up a commandment of Moses, names it, and carries it to its root: from the deed to the heart, from the letter to the will of the Father. Each entry stands beside the numbered commandments it concerns.

On this page: The Law and the Prophets · You Heard That It Was Said, but I Tell You · Marriage · The Sabbath · Clean and Unclean, and the Tradition of the Elders · The Commandments and the One Thing Lacking · Temple, Offerings and Tithes · Done to Be Seen

The Law and the Prophets

1. Not to suppose that He came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; to do and teach even the least of these commandments, with a righteousness greater than that of the scribes and Pharisees.

Do not suppose that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one iota or one stroke will pass from the Law until everything happens. Therefore, whoever loosens one of these least commandments and teaches people accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of the heavens. For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of the heavens.
Matthew 5:17–20

See also: Luke 16:17
In the Law: 580. Not to add to the commandments · 581. Not to take away from them

2. The first commandment of all: to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, with your whole mind, and with your whole strength.’
Mark 12:29–30

See also: Matthew 22:37–38
In the Law: 3. To know that He is One · 4. To love Him

3. The second, like it: to love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.

A second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:39–40

See also: Mark 12:31 · Luke 10:27–28
In the Law: 13. To love your neighbor as yourself

4. To do to others whatever you wish them to do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

So in everything, whatever you wish people to do for you, you also do likewise for them; for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:12

See also: Luke 6:31
In the Law: 13. To love your neighbor as yourself

You Heard That It Was Said, but I Tell You

5. Murder: whoever is angry with his brother, insults him or calls him a fool is liable to judgment.

You heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I tell you that everyone angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘Fool,’ will be liable to the Gehenna of fire.
Matthew 5:21–22

In the Law: 482. Not to murder · 15. Not to hate your brother in your heart

6. To be reconciled with your brother before you bring your gift to the altar, and to come to terms quickly with your accuser.

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your adversary while you are with him on the way, lest the adversary hand you over to the judge, the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
Matthew 5:23–25

See also: Luke 12:58
In the Law: 482. Not to murder

7. Adultery: whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery in his heart; better to lose an eye or a hand than to be thrown into Gehenna.

You heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that everyone looking at a woman in order to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you; for it is better for you that one of your members perish than that your whole body be thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you that one of your members perish than that your whole body go into Gehenna.
Matthew 5:27–30

See also: Matthew 18:8–9 · Mark 9:43–47
In the Law: 160. Not to lie with your neighbor’s wife · 476. Not to covet

8. Divorce: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery.

It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that everyone divorcing his wife, except on account of sexual immorality, causes her to undergo adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Matthew 5:31–32

9. Oaths: not to swear at all; let your word be Yes, yes, or No, no.

Again, you heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall fulfill your oaths to the Lord.’ But I tell you not to swear at all: neither by heaven, because it is God’s throne, nor by the earth, because it is the footstool of His feet, nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, yes,’ or ‘No, no’; what goes beyond these comes from evil.
Matthew 5:33–37

10. An eye for an eye: not to resist the evil person; to turn the other cheek, give the cloak also, go the second mile, and give to the one who asks.

You heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. Instead, whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also. And to the one wishing to sue you and take your tunic, leave your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to the one asking you, and do not turn away the one wishing to borrow from you.
Matthew 5:38–42

11. Love of neighbor: to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so as to be sons of your Father in the heavens; to be perfect as He is perfect.

You heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those persecuting you, so that you may become sons of your Father in the heavens, because He makes His sun rise upon evil and good people and sends rain upon righteous and unrighteous people. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:43–48

Marriage

12. What God has yoked together, no human being is to separate. Moses permitted divorce because of hardness of heart, but from the beginning it was not so.

He answered, “Have you not read that the Creator from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has yoked together, let no human being separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command giving a certificate of divorce and divorcing her?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so. I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except on account of sexual immorality, and marries another commits adultery; and the one who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
Matthew 19:4–9

The Sabbath

13. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: how he entered God’s house in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the loaves of presentation, which only priests may lawfully eat, and also gave them to those who were with him?” He said to them, “The Sabbath came into being for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Mark 2:25–28

14. It is lawful to do good on the Sabbaths: to save life, to lift out the sheep, to loose a daughter of Abraham from her bond.

He said to them, “Who among you, if he has one sheep and it falls into a pit on a Sabbath, will not grasp it and lift it out? How much more valuable, then, is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on Sabbaths.”
Matthew 12:11–12

15. Not to judge according to appearance, but to judge the righteous judgment: a man is circumcised on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses may not be broken.

For this reason Moses has given you circumcision—not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers—and on a Sabbath you circumcise a person. If a person receives circumcision on a Sabbath so that the Law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a whole person well on a Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
John 7:22–24

Clean and Unclean, and the Tradition of the Elders

16. Not to set aside the commandment of God for the sake of tradition: honor your father and mother is not annulled by a vow of offering.

He said to them, “You set aside God’s commandment very well indeed, so that you may keep your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Let whoever speaks evil of father or mother surely die.’ But you say, ‘If a person says to his father or mother, “Whatever benefit you might receive from me is Corban”—that is, a gift—’ you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or mother, making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. You do many similar things.”
Mark 7:9–13

17. Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him; what comes out of the heart defiles.

Calling the crowd to Him again, He said to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand. There is nothing outside a person that, by entering him, can defile him. Rather, the things coming out of a person are what defile the person.” When He entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him about the parable. He said to them, “Are you also so lacking in understanding? Do you not grasp that everything entering a person from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and goes out into the latrine?”—thus cleansing all foods. He said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles the person. For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil reasonings, acts of sexual immorality, thefts, murders, adulteries, acts of greed, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, slander, arrogance, foolishness. All these evil things come out from within and defile the person.”
Mark 7:14–23

18. To give as alms what is within, and everything is clean for you; woe to those who cleanse the outside of the cup.

And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, but your inside is full of plunder and wickedness. Fools! Did not the One who made the outside also make the inside? But give what is within as alms, and behold, everything is clean for you.
Luke 11:39–41

See also: Matthew 23:25–26

The Commandments and the One Thing Lacking

19. If you wish to enter life, keep the commandments: you shall not murder, commit adultery, steal, or bear false witness; honor your father and mother; love your neighbor as yourself.

He said to him, “Why do you ask Me about what is good? One is good. But if you wish to enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor father and mother’; and ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Matthew 19:17–19

20. One thing you lack: sell what you have, give to the poor, and come, follow Me.

Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing. Go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
Mark 10:21

See also: Matthew 19:21 · Luke 18:22
In the Law: 250. To open your hand to the poor

Temple, Offerings and Tithes

21. I desire mercy and not sacrifice: go and learn what this means.

Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call righteous people, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:13

See also: Matthew 12:7

22. To the cleansed leper: show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.

Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift Moses commanded as a testimony to them.”
Matthew 8:4

23. My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations; not to make the Father’s house a house of trade.

He taught and said to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”
Mark 11:17

See also: Matthew 21:13 · Luke 19:46 · John 2:16
In the Law: 304. To revere the sanctuary

24. The sons are free; yet, so as not to give offense, to pay the temple tax.

He said, “Yes.” When he entered the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect duties or tribute—from their sons or from outsiders?” When he said, “From outsiders,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. But so that we may not cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. When you open its mouth, you will find a stater. Take it and give it to them for Me and you.”
Matthew 17:25–27

In the Law: 119. Each man is to give the half-shekel

25. To tithe mint, dill and cumin without leaving aside the weightier matters of the Law: justice, mercy and faithfulness.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, but have left aside the weightier matters of the Law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness! These you ought to have done without leaving those aside.
Matthew 23:23

26. The hour is coming when the Father will be worshiped neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem, but in spirit and truth.

Jesus said to her, “Believe Me, woman, an hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, because salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father seeks such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 4:21–24

In the Law: 369. To bring all offerings to the place the Lord chooses

Done to Be Seen

27. To do what the scribes and Pharisees say from Moses’ chair, but not according to their works; they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their fringes to be seen.

saying, “The scribes and Pharisees have seated themselves in Moses’ chair. Therefore do and observe everything they tell you, but do not act according to their works, for they say and do not do. They bind heavy burdens and lay them upon people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with their finger. They do all their works to be seen by people. They broaden their phylacteries and enlarge their fringes. They love the foremost place at dinners and the foremost seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and being called ‘Rabbi’ by people.
Matthew 23:2–7

28. The widow’s two small coins: she put in more than all of them.

He called His disciples to Him and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those putting into the treasury. For they all put in from their surplus, but she, from her need, put in everything she had—her whole livelihood.”
Mark 12:43–44

See also: Luke 21:3–4
In the Law: 250. To open your hand to the poor

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Saints Translation · The Commandments of Christ · gathered from His own words in the four Gospels; statements in our own words; passages quoted from the Saints Translation with His words in red · working draft awaiting specialist review.