Matthew 5:17-18: Not One Jot or Tittle

In Matthew 5:17, Jesus tells us two times that He did not come to destroy the law and the prophets, but that He came to fulfill them. He amens (truly) this in verse eighteen and uses the words “jot” and “tittle” to explain what He is teaching us—the jot (yod in Hebrew Grammar) is the smallest letter in Hebrew; it’s also the tenth letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. The tittle is simply the stroke of a letter in Hebrew Grammar, no matter how little it is. The word “until” (Strongs #2193) in verse eighteen is difficult. While the English definition is simple, not so in the translation from the way Jesus used the word in the Greek. Until in this verse is a conjunction, not a limit to what Jesus is saying. In this case, it is a continuation of fulfillment. Jesus is giving us a visual (picture) of His word. His word is forever settled in heaven. It’s not a changing word, and it's not going away. We can rejoice in the fact that we serve a God who never changes or goes back on His word.

It's also no coincidence that Jesus used the 10th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Ten in the bible is the number of divine authority. The ten commandments, the tithe. “God said” is written ten times in Genesis Chapter 1. In Exodus 12:3, the Passover lamb was selected on the 10th day of the month. (The 1st month). Please let that settle in our hearts. This is the same lamb that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The day of atonement is also on the 10th day of the 7th month (Leviticus 23).What is the number seven in the bible? Jesus is our atonement; He paid for our sins when He washed us in His blood at the cross. There is no greater Love than this. To lay his life down for his friends (John 15:13). As the body of Christ, are we doing this for one another? That’s true love, the sacrificial love of God (Agape-Strongs #25).

Before I wrap this up, I want to talk about the fire of God in the bible. For this occasion, lets look at the response of two men whom God chose to do His work. The 1st man is Moses. When Moses turned to look at the burning bush, God called his name. “Moses, Moses”. Moses' response is the most glorious response any of us can have. He answered God. “Here I am.” He is then instructed not to approach the burning bush until he removes his sandals, as the ground he was standing on was Holy (God was the fire in that bush).

In Acts 9, Paul has the same response to the light of Christ. In both Exodus 3 and Acts 9, God has to explain to each man who He is. Both men responded with obedience to whom they were hearing. Moses wasn’t told to remove his sandals because they were dirty. We can see this from what Paul writes in Ephesians 6:15, that we are to have our feet shod (bind under our feet with readiness) with the gospel of Peace. God does not want anything separating us from Him or His presence. We can see why God told Moses to remove his sandals. He gives us all of our garments, including our good news shoes.

Both men were obedient to what God said. There are many false prophets in the world today (1 John 4:1). They use the word fire to show the authority and power of holy spirit. Doesn’t that bring us a false sense of spiritual authority and make us feel good? That’s all it does; it is not the gospel message. These men and women are preparing those who listen to their words of a different gospel than the words of Christ. Please don’t take my word for it, but research it. In Revelation 13:13, it is the beast who makes fire come down from heaven.

The Holy Spirit is part of the Full Counsel of God. He declares only what He hears, and he leads us to all truth. Truth is singular. We see that Jesus is only one person (singular), but He is the Truth the Holy Spirit speaks of. The Holy Spirit of God guides us to obedience to Jesus through His word (John 16). He is the Spirit of God. Quit calling Him “Holy Spirit” and give our GOD the Father the reverence He is worthy of through the recognition of His Spirit with the definite article “The” Holy Spirit of God. Please do a study of the Holy Spirit.

I’m not stoic, I too love the presence of God, but I would rather preach one message of the gospel, like Stephen in Acts 7, than to mislead God's people. Moses spent just shy of eighty years in the wilderness and died, and Paul was beheaded for the gospel he preached, but both men walked in obedience to the words of God. In both the Old and New Testaments, the word obedience has to do with hearing what is being said. The bible may contain the two testaments of God, but we must remember that the LORD our God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4).

5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

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