Matthew 5

In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, He says that He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them.

Let's look at the passage:

Matthew 5:17-20, ESV: "¹⁷ Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

What did Jesus mean when He said He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets?

How does this relate to mankind as far as ethics, morality, and behavioral accountability before God is concerned? Are we still held accountable for obeying the Laws of the Old Testament, or are we held accountable only for obeying laws given to us in the New Testament?

This may seem elementary, but there is a lot of confusion and debate over this. Having an understanding of this is crucial for determining how we ought to live.

-Breck