True Christian Religion (Chadwick) n. 262

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

262. It is plain that the Lord fulfilled everything in the Word from a consideration of the passages where it is said that the Law and the Scripture were fulfilled by Him, and that everything was brought to completion, as in these where Jesus said:

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets. I have come not to abolish, but to fulfil. Matt. 5:17, 18.

Jesus entered the synagogue, and got up to read. Then there was handed to Him the book of the prophet Isaiah; and He unrolled the book and found the passage where it is written: The spirit of Jehovah is upon me, because He has anointed me; He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to heal the broken in heart, to bring good news of release to those who are in bonds, and sight to the blind, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Afterwards He rolled up the book and said, To-day this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Luke 4:16-21. That the Scripture should be fulfilled, He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel upon me. John 13:18.

None of them has perished, but the son of perdition, that the Scripture should be fulfilled. John 17:12.

That the word should be fulfilled which said, Of those you gave me, I have not lost one. John 18:9. Jesus said to Peter, Put your sword away in its place. How then could the Scripture be fulfilled, which says that it must be thus. This was done so that the Scripture might be fulfilled. Matt. 26:52, 54, 56.

The Son of Man goes away, as it is written of Him, so that the Scriptures should be fulfilled. Mark 14:21, 49.

Thus the Scripture was fulfilled which said, He was counted with the irreligious. Mark 15:28; Luke 22:37.

That the Scripture might be fulfilled, they divided my* garments among them, and cast lots for my tunic. John 19:24.

After this Jesus knowing that all things were now completed, that the Scripture should be fulfilled. John 19:28.

When Jesus had received the vinegar, He said, it is completed (that is, fulfilled). John 19:30.

These things were done so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, A bone you shall not break in him; and again another Scripture says, They shall see him whom they pierced. John 19:36, 37.

He also taught His disciples, before He went away, that the whole Word was written about Him, and that He had come into the world to fulfil it, in these words:

He said to them, Foolish people and slow at heart to believe all that the Prophets have said! Surely this is what Christ ought to suffer, and enter into glory? Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them the references to Himself in all the Scriptures. Luke 24:25-27.

Further, Jesus said that all things ought to be fulfilled which are written in the law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms about me (Luke 24:44, 45).

It is plain from the Lord's words that, while He was in the world, He fulfilled everything in the Word down to the last details:

Amen I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all things are done. Matt. 5:18.

This will now make it possible to see clearly that by the Lord fulfilling everything in the Law is not meant fulfilling all the Ten Commandments, but everything in the Word. These further passages will establish that the Law means everything in the Word:

Jesus said, Is it not written in your law, I said, You are gods. John 10:34.

This is written in Psalm 82:6.

The crowd replied, We have heard from the law that the Christ shall remain for ever. John 12:34.

This is written in Psalm 89:30[, 37]; Psalm 110:4; Daniel 7:14.

That the word should be fulfilled which is written in their Law, They hated me without cause. John 15:25.

This is written in Psalm 35:19.

It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one dot of the Law to be lost. Luke 16:17.

The Law here, as in many other passages, means the whole of Sacred Scripture.

* A correction of the author's copy for 'his.'


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church