Does Paul’s Teaching Contradict Jesus’ Teaching on the Law?

Understanding Jesus’ Statement on the Law

To fully comprehend Jesus’ stance on the Law, we turn to Matthew 5:17-18, where Jesus stated, “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. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” In this passage, Jesus clarified that His purpose was not to nullify the Law but to fulfill it. The Greek term for “fulfill” (πληρόω, plēroō) carries the sense of completing or bringing to full expression. By fulfilling the Law, Jesus embodied and perfected the very principles and prophecies contained within it.

In fulfilling the Law, Jesus addressed the Law’s prophetic and ceremonial aspects, bringing completion to the many elements within the Law that pointed forward to the Messiah. The ceremonial components, such as sacrifices and purification rituals, were shadows of the redemption to come, which was realized in Christ (Hebrews 10:1-4). Jesus’ statement indicated that while the Law held validity and purpose, His ministry would complete its requirements and fulfill its ultimate objectives.

Paul’s Perspective on the Law: Abolition or Transformation?

Paul’s writings on the Law are often misunderstood. Paul, as a former Pharisee and one with a deep understanding of the Law, spoke about its role within the framework of the New Covenant. In Ephesians 2:15, Paul stated that Christ “abolished in his flesh the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace.” Here, Paul’s reference to the abolition of the Law pertains specifically to the ceremonial aspects that separated Jew from Gentile.

It is essential to recognize that Paul did not suggest the moral principles of the Law were nullified. In Romans 3:31, Paul affirmed, “Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” Here, Paul emphasized that faith in Christ upholds the ethical and moral standards embodied in the Law. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, believers live out the righteousness intended by the Law, not by adhering to its ceremonial ordinances but by embodying its moral truth in their lives (Romans 8:4).

The Law’s Role: A Tutor Leading to Christ

Paul described the Law as a “tutor” (παιδαγωγός, paidagōgos) in Galatians 3:24-25, saying, “So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.” The term “tutor” or “guardian” illustrates the Law’s function as a guide that points people toward their need for salvation. Its primary role was to reveal sin and lead individuals to Christ by showing them their inability to achieve righteousness through their own efforts.

The Law could expose sin but not save from it; salvation required a perfect fulfillment of the Law’s righteous demands, which was accomplished only through Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:21). Paul’s description highlights that, while the Law was essential for a time, it was intended to bring people to a point of realizing their need for a savior. Once Christ arrived and fulfilled the Law, believers were no longer bound by the Law as a system of justification.

Distinguishing Between Ceremonial and Moral Laws

Paul’s teaching clarifies a distinction between the ceremonial laws, which were fulfilled and abolished in Christ, and the moral laws, which continue to have relevance for guiding Christian conduct. The ceremonial laws encompassed aspects such as sacrifices, festivals, dietary restrictions, and ritual purity. These laws were symbolic of the holiness and separateness of God’s people, yet they found their completion in Christ’s perfect sacrifice, which rendered further sacrifices unnecessary (Hebrews 9:11-14).

Conversely, the moral aspects of the Law, such as prohibitions against murder, theft, and adultery, reflect the eternal, unchanging character of Jehovah and continue to be relevant. Jesus summarized the moral essence of the Law in Matthew 22:37-40: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Jesus’ statement underscores that the moral law’s foundation remains intact, centering on love for God and neighbor.

Christ’s Fulfillment of the Law and Believers’ Freedom in Christ

When Jesus fulfilled the Law, He liberated believers from the need to adhere to the ceremonial laws that were shadows of His redemptive work. Colossians 2:16-17 explains, “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” Here, Paul reinforces that the rituals of the Law were anticipatory, pointing forward to Christ’s atoning work, and are no longer binding on believers.

In Romans 7:6, Paul further expounds, “But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.” The release from the Law refers to liberation from the Law as a means of attaining righteousness. Through Christ, believers receive the righteousness of God by faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live in accordance with God’s moral standards. The Law’s role as a strict code for righteousness has been transformed into a life guided by the Spirit, where the principles of the Law are written on the believer’s heart (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10).

Examining Key Misunderstandings: Abolishment vs. Fulfillment

Some argue that Paul’s language about abolishing the Law conflicts with Jesus’ statement that He did not come to abolish but to fulfill it. However, this understanding fails to account for the different aspects of the Law being addressed. Jesus’ fulfillment of the Law means He completed its requirements and embodied its highest moral ideals. When Paul speaks of abolishment, he addresses the ceremonial and civil codes that created divisions and barriers, which Christ’s sacrifice effectively dismantled.

In Ephesians 2:14-15, Paul elaborates, “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances.” These ordinances included various rites and regulations that distinguished Jews from Gentiles, but in Christ, such distinctions are removed. This abolition does not contradict Jesus’ fulfillment but rather completes the purpose of the Law by establishing unity and peace through Christ.

The Purpose of the Law in the New Covenant

Under the New Covenant, the Law no longer serves as a means of justification. Romans 10:4 states, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” This verse shows that Christ has accomplished what the Law was pointing toward—justification by faith. The purpose of the Law is fulfilled in bringing believers to the righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus, not through adherence to ritualistic practices.

While believers are no longer bound to the Law for righteousness, the moral and ethical guidance of the Law remains valuable. Paul’s writings affirm that the Law’s moral dimensions reveal the character of God and His standards for holy living. The Law’s teachings align with the believer’s new life in the Spirit, not as a system of merit but as a guide reflecting God’s holiness.

Living by the Spirit: The New Way of Obedience

Through Christ, believers enter a relationship with God that transcends the written Law. Galatians 5:18 proclaims, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” The believer’s relationship with God is no longer mediated by adherence to the Law’s ordinances but through the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, who enables believers to walk in righteousness.

Paul’s assertion that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23) reveals that the Holy Spirit cultivates virtues that fulfill the Law’s righteous requirements. In this new way of living, the believer’s life reflects God’s character without reliance on ceremonial practices, as the Spirit directs them in alignment with God’s moral law.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).