Brentwood Church of Christ

This text is often used to attempt to prove that the ten commandments are still in force today. But actually the text “proves too much.” If it proves that the ten commandments are still in force, it also proves that the “law and prophets” are still in force today. In fact, the text proves neither. Of the word “destroy” Thayer says it means, to overthrow i.e. render vain, deprive of success, bring to naught, to deprive of force, annul, abrogate, discard. Jesus did not come to destroy the impact and purpose of the Law and the prophets, but to fulfill their purpose. Notice that Jesus does say that once the Law and prophets were fulfilled, they would pass away. Even the passing away of the heaven and earth would not stop the fulfilling of every part of the law. In Luke 24:44, Jesus said that all things written of Him in the Law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Once fulfilled, the Law and the prophets were no longer in force. Romans 10:4 states the same principle when it says, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” Christ has brought the law to its natural completion by bringing all men to righteousness.