“For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:18).

Some people have read the end of this verse and concluded that Christians today are still obligated to follow the Law of Moses. They take the “until everything is accomplished” to mean “until the end of the world,” meaning until then the Law is still in effect.

Think about the practical implications of that, especially for guys who were not circumcised at birth. Ask Timothy, Paul’s protégé, about it. He was already an adult when Paul circumcised him. I think it’s safe to say that if we are concerned about men being AWOL in the church now, the situation would be exponentially worse if discipleship required “defleshship.” Think about sharing the gospel with another guy and having to transition from “God has a wonderful plan for your life” to “and that plan includes circumcision.” Not even the JW’s could sweeten that deal!

Okay, let’s get serious now. That expression must mean something else. Paul gives us a clue in Romans 10:4 when he said, “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”

Notice, Paul did not say “Christ is the end of the Law,” as so many incorrectly quote this passage. The text says, “Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness.” The Law didn’t end with Christ, for even today it still serves a purpose of showing us our sinfulness and our need of a Savior. But the Law took on a new meaning after Christ.

Here is what I mean. The Law was no more than a pointer, reminding us that we need God’s righteousness. And in this sense, Christ is the “end” (Greek “telos,”) to which the Law pointed. He was like the red dot on your GPS display signaling your destination.

So, with that in mind, it’s safe to say that “until everything is accomplished” refers to the Messianic age, beginning with the advent of Christ outside of Bethlehem, all the way to His future coming in glory to set up the new heavens and the new earth. In Christ the purpose of the Law was painted in high definition, ultra 4d resolution type of screen. He disclosed the full meaning and purpose of the Law.

But the best is yet to come. God will bring every little detail that Moses and the prophets wrote about to fruition. His justice will cover the earth. His dominion will have no limits. His enemies will be conquered and His Son will reign supreme for eternity. And that’s His story and He’s sticking to it.

And my friend, if that doesn’t excite you, I don’t know what will!

Pastor Ivanildo da Costa Trindade

Lead Pastor, Grace Church, Lititz, PA