What does matt 5: 18 mean? What does "it's purpose" mean?

Question

I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.
...and how does it apply to this ...
http://www.allaboutgod.com/plan-of-salvation.htm

Answer 1

Essentially you cannot confess your sins unless you know what they are, you cannot repent of those sins either and you sure can't remain in the will of God if you are continuing in sin so the Law of God does its work by showing us our nature and how we are to worship Him, comport ourselves and what to watch out for by way of temptation. Read the whole Chapter and Jesus will show you that our hearts are what will change as He is fulfilled in us through trust and obedience. The 10 Commandments are essential to being a faithful and loving servant to our God. Without the Blood of Christ we can't be redeemed...we have it. Without the Law of God we cannot remain in Him...we have it through the Word of God. Love in Christ, ~J~

Answer 2

First off, you need to realize that it can be proven from the Bible that Christ is the One who gave the Law to Moses. So, when He is talking about the Law not disappearing it is not just the 10 Commandments, it is the entire estimated 613 Laws of the Torah. Now, some of those Laws, and they are mentioned specifically in the New Testament, are changed. However, most of those Laws are principles that can be applied and are in force, in the life of any Believer in Yeshua.

What is the purpose of the Law? Again, like Yeshua, Paul is not just talking about the 10 Commandments.

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What is sin?

1John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

From these few verses and many others, we learn that the Law is designed to teach us what sin is, to convict us of sin so we see the need for a Savior, as Paul says:

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Now, most folks read verse 25 to mean that the Law is done away and that followers of Yeshua no longer have to obey the precepts of that Law. Is this really what Paul is saying? Based on the whole body of his writings, no, it is not. And even based on physical carnal reasoning, it makes no sense. If we go to kindergarten and learn 1+1=2, when we get to Graduate school does this equation suddenly change? The answer is obvious. So it is with the Law being the schoolmaster that leads us to Christ, once we have Christ, the things we learned from the schoolmaster still apply in our lives.

Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. (Remember 1 John 3:4 above)

Romans 6:1 What may we say, then? are we to go on in sin so that there may be more grace?
2 In no way. How may we, who are dead to sin, be living in it any longer?

And later in the same chapter he says:

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The purpose of the Law is to lead all mankind to Christ, and it is designed to show mankind why they need Christ. As such, it's purpose is far from being fulfilled. And, given the time frame of "heaven and earth" disappearing before the Law does means that it will be with us, and apply to us, for a long time to come.

Answer 3

The ten commandments are generally considered God's laws. It's purpose is to identify what sin is, and that by His law all of us are guilty. His plan of salvation is the fulfillment of the law. Finding righteousness by following the law is impossible. God's mercy and grace through Christ fulfills the laws for righteousness.

Answer 4

From what I understand there is two laws; that of Moses (sacrificial law) and that of God's (the ten commandments) The law they speak of here is God's.

Answer 5

We still need the holy scriptures here on earth. I don't think we'll need them anymore after the New Kingdom has come. I think that's it.