The Law
Matthew 5:17

    The Law and the prophets are a shadow of what was and what shall be fulfilled by our Father YHWH and his Son Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ unravels the true meaning of the Law and the prophets because he is the reality of them. The Law provides us with a shadow of the basic principles on how to love YHWH our God and our neighbor properly. Moreover the prophets provide us with a divine warning about what shall occur to those who do obey and those who do not. The Laws commanded in Matthew Chapter 5, are all focused on love for our God and our neighbors (made in the image of God), and not so much focused on ritualistic practices required in the Old Testament. Let us first look at the two greatest commandments in the Law, because they succinctly cover the entire Law and the prophets.

Matthew 22:36-40 GNB "Teacher," he asked, "which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus answered, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the greatest and the most important commandment. 39 The second most important commandment is like it: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' 40 The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments."

    God cannot lie; therefore his Word must occur exactly as it is. A Greek version shown by B.F. Westcott and F. J. A. Hort has Matthew 5:18 as:

amen for I am saying to you, until likely might pass away the heaven and the earth, iota one or one little horn not not should pass away from the Law until likely all (things) should take place. 

Other versions render that translation something like: "until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or particle of a letter of the Bible will pass away until all things therein take place.” Below are a few examples from other translations.

Mat 5:18

(ASV) For verily I say unto YOU, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.

(BBE) Truly I say to YOU, Till heaven and earth come to an end, not the smallest letter or part of a letter will in any way be taken from the law, till all things are done.

(Darby) For verily I say unto YOU, Until the heaven and the earth pass away, one iota or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all come to pass.

(DRB) For amen I say unto YOU, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled.

(EMTV) For assuredly I say to YOU, until heaven and earth may pass away, one iota or one tittle shall by no means pass away from the law until all things are fulfilled.

   Whatever translation is correct we should realize the point, which is the unchangeableness of YHWH the Father and therefore the certainty of His Word. If God does not change, then how much more so should we, made in his image, "try" to do everything he teaches?  We should obey our Father to the very best of our ability, and the reward for doing so is great. Thus, if we are doing everything he commands, even down to the least of his commandments we will be considered 'great' in relation to the kingdom of the heavens. However even if we do most everything correctly, but fail to accomplish the very least of his commandments, and teach others to be that way as well, then we shall be considered the least in the kingdom of the heavens. Now this fact doesn't mean we do away with mercy toward others, for he without mercy will be judged without mercy, and it is impossible for us to obey the Law with perfection. Here are a few scriptures to help drive this point home:

James 2:10-13 GNB Whoever breaks one commandment is guilty of breaking them all. 11 For the same one who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not commit murder." Even if you do not commit adultery, you have become a lawbreaker if you commit murder. 12 Speak and act as people who will be judged by the law that sets us free. 13 For God will not show mercy when he judges the person who has not been merciful; but mercy triumphs over judgment.

Luke 16:10-13 GNB  Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones; whoever is dishonest in small matters will be dishonest in large ones.  11  If, then, you have not been faithful in handling worldly wealth, how can you be trusted with true wealth?  12  And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what belongs to you?  13  "No servant can be the slave of two masters; such a slave will hate one and love the other or will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

Luke 19:11-27 GNB While the people were listening to this, Jesus continued and told them a parable. He was now almost at Jerusalem, and they supposed that the Kingdom of God was just about to appear. 12 So he said, "There was once a man of high rank who was going to a country far away to be made king, after which he planned to come back home. 13 Before he left, he called his ten servants and gave them each a gold coin and told them, 'See what you can earn with this while I am gone.' 14 Now, his own people hated him, and so they sent messengers after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.' 15 "The man was made king and came back. At once he ordered his servants to appear before him, in order to find out how much they had earned. 16 The first one came and said, 'Sir, I have earned ten gold coins with the one you gave me.' 17 'Well done,' he said; 'you are a good servant! Since you were faithful in small matters, I will put you in charge of ten cities.' 18 The second servant came and said, 'Sir, I have earned five gold coins with the one you gave me.' 19 To this one he said, 'You will be in charge of five cities.' 20 Another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it hidden in a handkerchief. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take what is not yours and reap what you did not plant.' 22 He said to him, 'You bad servant! I will use your own words to condemn you! You know that I am a hard man, taking what is not mine and reaping what I have not planted. 23 Well, then, why didn't you put my money in the bank? Then I would have received it back with interest when I returned.' 24 Then he said to those who were standing there, 'Take the gold coin away from him and give it to the servant who has ten coins.' 25 But they said to him, 'Sir, he already has ten coins!' 26 'I tell you,' he replied, 'that to those who have something, even more will be given; but those who have nothing, even the little that they have will be taken away from them. 27 Now, as for those enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and kill them in my presence!' "

    Finally Jesus makes note of the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees, who took bribes, twisted the meaning of the scriptures and were unjust in their judgments. Jesus said that if anyone’s righteousness is less than the best of scribes and Pharisees that one would not enter into the kingdom of the heavens. Not a single scribe or Pharisee was worthy of the kingdom unless he did as Paul, Nicodemus, Joseph from the town of Arimathea, and others did for Messiah's sake.

2 Corinthians 11:21-27 GNB 21 I am ashamed to admit that we were too timid to do those things! But if anyone dares to boast about something---I am talking like a fool---I will be just as daring. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 23 Are they Christ's servants? I sound like a madman---but I am a better servant than they are! I have worked much harder, I have been in prison more times, I have been whipped much more, and I have been near death more often. 24 Five times I was given the thirty-nine lashes by the Jews; 25 three times I was whipped by the Romans; and once I was stoned. I have been in three shipwrecks, and once I spent twenty-four hours in the water. 26 In my many travels I have been in danger from floods and from robbers, in danger from my own people and from Gentiles; there have been dangers in the cities, dangers in the wilds, dangers on the high seas, and dangers from false friends. 27 There has been work and toil; often I have gone without sleep; I have been hungry and thirsty; I have often been without enough food, shelter, or clothing.

Let us be better in our obedience to the word then the best of the scribes and Pharisees.