What allows Christians to disregard selected parts of the Old Testament in light of this scripture?

Question

In Matthew 5:18 Jesus says:
"For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished."

I take "all is accomplished" to mean final judgement.

To my mind Jesus is referring to the entire old testament.

If he fulfilled the laws and established a new covenant, then why did he say not to abandon the OT?

Also, look at Isaiah 40:8, "the word of our God stands forever."

If you quote scripture which contradicts the one I quoted, then at best you have the bible as an inaccurate and contradictory book. Why did he say the OT is not to be disregarded if it's IS ok to disregard it. Is he lying?

Answer 1

John 19: 28 - 30 is an account of the The Crucifixion of Christ. it reads...

28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."

29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips.

30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.


When Jesus says: "For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not jot or tittle, will pass from the law until all is accomplished." He was referring to the spilling of the redemptive blood of the lamb, not the day of judgement.

Remember, it is in verse 17 of the reference that you cite that Jesus says..."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."

Answer 2

>>I take "all is accomplished" to mean final judgement.<<

The NAB footnotes are as follows:

[17-20] This statement of Jesus' position concerning the Mosaic law is composed of traditional material from Matthew's sermon documentation (see the note on Matthew 5:1-7:29), other Q material (cf Matthew 18; Luke 16:17), and the evangelist's own editorial touches. To fulfill the law appears at first to mean a literal enforcement of the law in the least detail: until heaven and earth pass away nothing of the law will pass (Matthew 5:18). Yet the "passing away" of heaven and earth is not necessarily the end of the world understood, as in much apocalyptic literature, as the dissolution of the existing universe. The "turning of the ages" comes with the apocalyptic event of Jesus' death and resurrection, and those to whom this gospel is addressed are living in the new and final age, prophesied by Isaiah as the time of "new heavens and a new earth" (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22). Meanwhile, during Jesus' ministry when the kingdom is already breaking in, his mission remains within the framework of the law, though with significant anticipation of the age to come, as the following antitheses (Matthew 5:21-48) show.

[19] Probably these commandments means those of the Mosaic law. But this is an interim ethic "until heaven and earth pass away."

Answer 3

Christians should use the whole bible. Jesus quoted from it often. There are many prophecies still not fulfilled in the "Old Testament" or Hebrew scriptures.
"ALL Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work." 2 Tim. 3:16

"All accomplished" would mean every promise or prophecy would be fulfilled that is written in the whole bible.

Answer 4

Isn't "till all be accomplished" referring to the fulfillment of OT prophecy? Many assume that this is a reference to the death and resurrection of Jesus, which has been "fulfilled" already, since it has already happened.

Don't you have something more constructive to do besides asking questions that you don't really want answered?

Answer 5

Jesus fulfilled the LAWS of the OT, and established a new covenant.

Answer 6

I'd suggest doing a study in the Old Test on verses about telling a person to Not follow the Law... and how we have a religion which tells you that very thing.

Answer 7

Basically a lot of them try to downplay the old testament because much of the old testament condones and in some passage outright encourages slavery, bigotry, rape, and killing. If they mentioned all of that good stuff You'd see religion for the blood thirsty enterprise it is.

Answer 8

I take "all is accomplished" to refer to the prophecies foretold in the OT.

Answer 9

Common sense. We don't abolish the ten commandments.

Answer 10

If you are referring to Old Testament laws regarding purification and sacrifices, that should be obvious. If you are referring to something else, please add details.