How Jesus Fulfilled the Law in His Life

“I have not come to abolish [the Law or the Prophets] but to fulfill them.” MATTHEW 5:17

Jesus came into the world to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, and He did this in His birth and in His life.

The prophets had spoken about the One who was to come, on whom the hope of the world depends. The prophet Isaiah said that a virgin would conceive and bear a son (Isa. 7:14), and when Mary bore Jesus, this prophecy was fulfilled. The prophet Micah said that the One who would rule and shepherd God’s people would come out of Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2, 4), and when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, this prophecy was fulfilled.

The law tells us what God’s revealed will is for us. Jesus said to the disciples on one occasion: “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (John 4:34). Jesus loved doing the Father’s will. It was food to Him, and He could say supremely, “I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart” (Psa. 40:8).

Another time Jesus said, “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38). He also said, “He who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him” (John 8:29).

By God’s grace, we can sometimes say that we do things that please the Father, but only Jesus could say, “I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” Jesus could honestly say, “I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love” (John 15:10). Jesus fulfilled—lived out—everything that the law requires of us.

Can you imagine how much joy and peace Jesus must have had, knowing that He was fulfilling everything that His Father required of Him?