I am a Jesus Pusher! “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). Some view “to fulfill” as “to fill out” or “fill full.” They understand the rest of the chapter (Matthew 5:21-48) as Jesus canceling the moral law of the Old Testament. He canceled it and established a new interpretation of this moral law; in other words, He added to it. Jesus leaves no doubt about what He is saying. “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). Considering this statement, Jesus says the oral traditions of the scribes and Pharisees are over against the real intent and heart of the Scriptures. Jesus never intends to destroy, cancel, or add to the Scriptures. He reveals, clarifies, and focuses us on the truth of the Scriptures.
There is no place in the Scriptures where the idea of “filling out” can be applied to the law, even when the Scriptures express the spirit of the law. In each case, the statement uniformly means “to fulfill.” Paul said, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8). The use of the language demands “has fulfilled” must be understood as taking what is (the law) and completing it. Therefore, we must not think of “to fulfill” as “to fill out.” we must understand that Jesus said He came not to fill out or to supplement the Law by additional elements, but “to fulfill” it, by obeying it and being made under it. His presence does this in my life! I am a Jesus pusher!