Sabbath Keepers always misquote Matthew 5:17 as a proof text, that the Sabbath will endure as long as the earth stands.

Matthew 5:17-18 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

Matthew 5:17-18 paraphrase: "the law and prophets will endure forever unless it be fulfilled first."

Adventist False Argument: A Seventh-day Adventist pastor actually wrote the following about a talk he had with a Christian minister. This same basic argument is used in ever "Revelation Seminar" run by Adventists:

"I remember one time talking to a preacher about this. I had given over 40 verses establishing God's law and the preacher clung to his two or three verses trying to say the law was abolished. Finally I said, "Okay preacher, I'll tell you what, stomp your foot on the ground." As he did I asked, "Is the earth still beneath you?" "Yes of course it is," he replied. Now look out the window, "Is the sun shining?" "Yes", he replied. "At night do the moon and stars still come out?" "Of course they do," he said. "Then go read Matthew 5:17-19. Jesus said till heaven and earth pass away not even a jot or tittle could pass from the law. You just told me heaven and earth were still here so God's law is still binding!"" (from "Revelation Seminar" book)

1. Sabbatarians do not believe what they think the verse is saying. If the Law endures forever, then "The prophets" will endure forever too! The expression "the prophets" is a reference to the "law of Moses" or the ceremonial law.
2. IF Sabbatarians can bind the prophets, they commanded keeping the entire law of Moses! Very little of their content deals with prophecy.

1. Mt 7:12 "Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
2. Mt 22:40 "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."
3. Lk 16:16 "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since then the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
4. Ro 3:21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
5. Mt 11:13 "For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John"
6. Acts 13:15 And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue officials sent to them,
7. Acts 28:13 "trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets"
8. Rom 3:21 "But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets"

1. Where do Sabbatarians get the idea that only the 10 commandments are spoken of here, it says "the smallest jot or tittle" of the law and the prophets".
2. This is obviously a reference to the entire Old Testament law including all the ceremonial laws!
3. According to Sabbatarian logic, this verse proves that we must still keep the ceremonial jots and tittles! Sabbatarians cannot have it both ways, but are dead wrong!

1. This verse is also used, in addition to Mt 5:17 to falsely teach that
2. The law, in this verse, includes the entire old Testament law, not just the 10 commandments.
3. None of the Law of Moses did fail! Christ fulfilled it 100%, then he nailed it to the cross! Col 2:14-16

1. Why did Jesus come? Answer: to fulfil the law and the prophets
2. Was Jesus successful in his mission to fulfil the law? Answer: Yes
3. What happens when Jesus fulfils the law and the prophets? Answer: Only then will the law be destroyed.
4. Did Jesus come to fulfill the Law of Moses? (They will answer yes)
5. Was the law of Moses abolished when Jesus fulfilled it? (They will answer yes)
6. Did Jesus fulfill the law and the prophets? (yes)

1. Christ clearly did change the law and the prophets: Gal 3:23-24; Heb 7:12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also"
2. Lk 24:25-26 And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures."
3. Lk 24:44 "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."

Read Carefully: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, [condition #1:] Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, [condition #2:] till all be fulfilled." Mt 5:17-18

Parent to child at dinner table: "You are going to sit there until you eat all your dinner. For until your bed time, not the smallest letter shall pass away from what I have said, until all your dinner is eaten.

Statement: sit at the table until either: 1. Bedtime or 2. Dinner is eaten.

Now we all understand this dinner table example. We know that the kid will sit at the table till bedtime, unless he eats all his dinner.

and it is exactly parallel to what Jesus said about the law in Mt 5:17

1. The verses are not parallel except for the fact that both contain the word "fulfill".
2. Jesus did not say "all righteousness will not pass away till all is fulfilled" But He did say the law would pass when it was fulfilled!
3. The word "fulfill" is used in Mt 5:18 is used also in these verses: Note: "fulfilled" the last word in v18 is identical to fulfilled in Mt 24:34; Lk 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

We Speak truth in LOVE
"you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth" Jn 8:40

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