Jesus – The Fulfilment of the Law
- Ps David Jones
- Jul 14
- 3 min read
Pastor David Jones
Sunday Morning’s Message – 12th July 2026
Theme:
Jesus did not abolish God's Law—He fulfilled it, making us righteous through faith and writing His truth on our hearts
Leader Guide:
Please choose what best suits your group and fits the time well. You do not need to discuss every question. Create your own questions that fit your group. Choose two or three areas to discuss.
Have fun, Jesus people!
Connect group Discussion
Read together Matthew 5:17–20
Many people think Jesus came to replace the Old Testament or make God's Law irrelevant. Yet Jesus made a surprising statement:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them"'Matthew 5:17
What did He mean?
The Law was God's gift to Israel. It revealed His holy character, showed people how to live, and pointed them towards the coming Messiah. It included moral laws (such as the Ten Commandments), ceremonial laws involving sacrifices and worship, and the writings of Moses and the Prophets.
By Jesus' day, many religious leaders had added hundreds of man-made traditions to God's commands. Instead of helping people know God, these extra rules often became a burden. Jesus challenged this legalism and brought people back to the heart of God's Word.
Question - Why do you think the religious leaders became more focused on rules than on loving God and loving people? Do we fall into the same trap as believers?
Jesus didn't lower God's standard—He fulfilled it.
He perfectly obeyed God's Law.
He fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.
He became the final sacrifice for sin, bringing the ceremonial law to completion (Hebrews 10:1–14).
He offers His righteousness to everyone who trusts in Him.
Because of Jesus, we are not made right with God by keeping rules but by placing our faith in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21 - "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Matthew 22:37–40.
Question and Discuss - How do these two commandments summarise the entire Law?
Question and discuss - How does knowing that Jesus fulfilled the Law change the way you relate to God?
(Leaders – Other scriptures if needed: Philippians 3:9, Colossians 2:13-14)
So, what happened to the Law?
(Leader: This is important to understand)
Under the New Covenant, God didn't discard His Law—He transformed how it works in the lives of His people. Instead of His commands being written only on stone tablets, God promises, "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts" (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10; 10:16). Through the Holy Spirit, God's will becomes an inward desire rather than merely an outward obligation. The Law is no longer something we strive to keep in our own strength to earn God's acceptance; instead, God changes us from the inside out, enabling us to live in obedience because we belong to Christ. As Paul writes, believers become "a letter from Christ... written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts" (2 Corinthians 3:3; see also Romans 2:14–15)
Key Truth
The Law reveals God's holiness and our need for a Saviour. Jesus fulfilled everything the Law pointed towards, accomplished what we never could, and offers His righteousness to everyone who believes in Him.
We are not saved by keeping the Law—we are saved by the One who fulfilled it.
Question and encouragement - What is one practical way you can live this week from gratitude for what Christ has already accomplished, rather than trying to earn God's acceptance?
Prayer
Thank You, Jesus, that You fulfilled the Law perfectly on our behalf. Thank You that we are made righteous through faith in You and not through our own efforts. Help us to love Your Word, walk in obedience, and live each day in the freedom and grace You have given us. Amen
Notes
