How Jesus Fulfilled the Law: A Pronomian Pocket Guide to Matthew 5:17-20

by David Wilber

What did Jesus teach about the Law of Moses? Did he say that he came to bring it to an end, or did he want his followers to obey it? Matthew 5:17-20 is a key text that addresses this issue. In this passage, Jesus tells us exactly what he came to do with the he came to "fulfill" it. But what does that mean?

In this short book, David Wilber explores this question. Through a detailed study of Matthew 5:17-20, you will learn how Jesus fulfilled the Law and what this means for Christians today.

93 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2024

About the author

David Wilber is an author, Bible teacher, and CEO of Pronomian Publishing LLC. He has written several books and numerous theological articles, with his work appearing in outlets such as the Christian Post, the Journal of Biblical Theology, and the E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies. David has spoken at churches and conferences across the nation and has served as a researcher and Bible teacher for a number of Messianic and Christian ministries. David earned his BA in Biblical Studies from Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary, where he had the honor of being chosen as Valedictorian of his graduating class. He is currently working toward his MA in Religion at Southern Evangelical Seminary.

Reviews

[Tim Sivils · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've read any of David Wilber's other books, then you know what to expect in this one. It is well-written, easy to follow, and loaded with helpful documentation and footnotes. This book more concisely and precisely defends the pronomian interpretation of Matthew 5:17-20 than anything else I have read. It is short and to the point; I easily read it in a day. If you consider yourself "serious" about your faith in the God of the Bible, I highly recommend it. This book could have important and life-changing ramifications to your Christian walk.

[AC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this pocket guide

The verses addressed is causing several arguments, but the passages are clear and David made good points strengthening the validity of the Torah still in place. David clearly explains each verse and reference are listed for self-research. Great pocket guide from David.

[Brittany London Gingerich · Rating 5 out of 5]

David points out the harmony between the Old and New Testaments in his latest book, How Jesus Fulfilled the Law. Excellently researched and well written, this book will help clear up any confusion in a concise manner.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the history this author gave on how Christians came to be taught that the law was fulfilled at the cross. And, I agree with him that God's plan extended beyond the cross to the establishment of His kingdom. I thought his commentary on why the law still stands until God's kingdom comes was well-written, but I also thought things were missing.

I believe Yeshua was sent by God to be a sacrifice for our sins. I believe He came in the flesh to conquer sin, but also to live out God's laws perfectly by the Spirit and be a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

I agree with this author that the law stands until God's kingdom comes and heaven and earth pass away. At that time we'll be changed to be like God so no laws will be necessary to keep our sins under control. I also agree with the author that Yeshua came to renew the Jews' understanding of God's laws and remove the parts that men added. However, I think the author didn't place enough emphasis on the Holy Spirit empowering Yeshua or us to keep God's law.

Also, in the discussion of Ephesians 2:15, the author skipped over the word enmity. It's the enmity that was abolished. One Bible I have (the scriptures), says that the enmity means the dogma of the Torah's commands. Maybe that does mean the ordinances added by men as the author said? Or does that mean the condemnation of the law since Torah shows us our sin and condemns us to death? Doers of the Torah are declared right (Romans 2:13). Yet no one is able to keep Torah in their flesh (Romans 3:20). Romans 3:22-25 and Galatians 2:16 say a man is not declared right with God by works of the law but through belief in Messiah. Romans 7:6 says we've been released from Torah (the condemnation 8:1) having died with Yeshua so we may serve in newness of Spirit, not the letter of the law (dogma). I think enmity means the power of the law to condemn us to death for our sins.

I think chapter 4 on having a righteousness better than the Scribes and Pharisees had good points to make, but missed the spiritual meaning of the passage. Matthew 5:20 says to obey law better than the leaders, but there's no discussion of the leaders being unbelievers. In John 8:24 Yeshua admonishes the Jews that they'll die in their sins for not believing that He is Messiah. Their righteousness is from works of the law without believing in Messiah or depending on the Holy Spirit. They're not born again. To have a righteousness better than theirs we must believe first and then practice righteousness by walking in the Spirit's power and new life. The author only discussed obeying the law of God, removing the laws of men, and obeying Torah but didn't discuss the importance of believing in Messiah and having the power of the Holy Spirit empowering us to keep the law.

A good and rare discussion about the laws of Moses, but not enough emphasis on the Holy Spirit and what Messiah overcame to allow us to keep the law.

[Pronomian Zoomer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christians who view the Torah as a superseded system of bondage tend to squirm when confronted with Matthew 5:17-20. This is because Jesus explicitly says there (1) that He did “not come to destroy, but to fulfill” His Father’s law (v. 17), (2) that not “one jot or one tittle” of it would go away while heaven and earth exist (v. 18), and (3) that even the “least commandments” should be practiced and taught by believers (v. 19). These statements must be reinterpreted to fit antinomians’ doctrines. After all, they say, Jesus couldn’t have not come to abolish the Torah since He obviously did so. What could the “abolished... law of commandments contained in ordinances” (Ephesians 2:15) or the decaying “old covenant” (Hebrews 8:13) be other than the Torah? Matthew 5:17-20 clearly must mean something other than what it seems to say... or must it? What if the passage actually does mean what it says? What if it is the antinomian doctrine that must bend to Scripture, rather than the other way around? David makes a case for the affirmative in A Pronomian Pocket Guide to Matthew 5:17-20.

Wilber’s book may only be 75 pages long, but every single paragraph within those pages is full of profound information about how God’s law is depicted in the New Testament. It contains four chapters, each one dedicated to exegeting a verse within Matthew 5:17-20. It also includes an appendix rebutting R.L. Solberg’s erroneous “interpretation of certain passages in Hebrews and Paul’s epistles” (p. 51). Wilber’s scholarly analysis of the subject should be noted as well, as he has compiled 76 sources in the bibliography of his book. However, he has at the same time made sure that his work is easy to read in order that it may be more accessible to the layman.

At a time when the Torah is mainly viewed in a negative, Marcionite context, writings like A Pronomian Pocket Guide to Matthew 5:17-20 are very much needed. While all three (as of 2025) of the Pronomian Pocket Guide books are invaluable reads, this one is the best as it is the easiest to read in my opinion. To twist Douglas Wilson’s quote about Christian nationalism: If you’re an antinomian and you want to confront pronomianism seriously, you’re going to have to contend with this book. I look forward to reading other works by David Wilber in the near future.

[Tre Brickley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent summary on a crucial passage in the New Testament. Make sure to get a copy and use it as a discussion tool for those who disagree with the pronomian position.