Until the heaven and earth pass away

[Robert_Sock]

17Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. 19He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
-Matthew 5:

Many say that all this was fulfilled in Christ’s death and resurrection, but how can that be when it clearly states that it will not be fulfilled until the heaven and earth pass away?

 

[Hawkmaid]

17Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. 19He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
-Matthew 5:

Many say that all this was fulfilled in Christ’s death and resurrection, but how can that be when it clearly states that it will not be fulfilled until the heaven and earth pass away?

I think you misread it. Note the part that it says Nothing shall pass OF THE LAW, till **all **be fulfilled at the passing of heaven and earth. That doesn’t mean some of most of it can’t pass.

 

[Vico]

17Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. 19He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
-Matthew 5:

Many say that all this was fulfilled in Christ’s death and resurrection, but how can that be when it clearly states that it will not be fulfilled until the heaven and earth pass away?

And Revelation 21 has something on the passing of heaven and earth:

1 Then I saw a new heaven, and a new earth. The old heaven, the old earth had vanished, and there was no more sea. 2 And I, John, saw in my vision that holy city which is the new Jerusalem, being sent down by God from heaven, all clothed in readiness, like a bride who has adorned herself to meet her husband. 3 I heard, too, a voice which cried aloud from the throne, Here is God’s tabernacle pitched among men; he will dwell with them, and they will be his own people, and he will be among them, their own God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, or mourning, or cries of distress, no more sorrow; those old things have passed away. 5 And he who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. (These words I was bidden write down, words most sure and true.)[1] 6 And he said to me, It is over. I am Alpha, I am Omega, the beginning of all things and their end; those who are thirsty shall drink—it is my free gift—out of the spring whose water is life.

 

[Robert_Sock]

So do we need to keep the law or not? If not, then why?

 

[Vico]

So do we need to keep the law or not? If not, then why?

The Catechism has this, that we should keep the law, the law of the new commandment:

**1967 **The Law of the Gospel “fulfills,” refines, surpasses, and leads the Old Law to its perfection.21 In the Beatitudes, the New Law fulfills the divine promises by elevating and orienting them toward the “kingdom of heaven.” It is addressed to those open to accepting this new hope with faith - the poor, the humble, the afflicted, the pure of heart, those persecuted on account of Christ and so marks out the surprising ways of the Kingdom.

1968 The Law of the Gospel fulfills the commandments of the Law. The Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, far from abolishing or devaluing the moral prescriptions of the Old Law, releases their hidden potential and has new demands arise from them: it reveals their entire divine and human truth. It does not add new external precepts, but proceeds to reform the heart, the root of human acts, where man chooses between the pure and the impure,22 where faith, hope, and charity are formed and with them the other virtues. The Gospel thus brings the Law to its fullness through imitation of the perfection of the heavenly Father, through forgiveness of enemies and prayer for persecutors, in emulation of the divine generosity.23

1969 The New Law practices the acts of religion: almsgiving, prayer and fasting, directing them to the “Father who sees in secret,” in contrast with the desire to "be seen by men."24 Its prayer is the Our Father.25

1970 The Law of the Gospel requires us to make the decisive choice between “the two ways” and to put into practice the words of the Lord.26 It is summed up in the Golden Rule, "Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; this is the law and the prophets."27

The entire Law of the Gospel is contained in the “new commandment” of Jesus, to love one another as he has loved us.28

 

[Robert_Sock]

The Catechism has this, that we should keep the law, the law of the new commandment:

**1967 **The Law of the Gospel “fulfills,” refines, surpasses, and leads the Old Law to its perfection.21 In the Beatitudes, the New Law fulfills the divine promises by elevating and orienting them toward the “kingdom of heaven.” It is addressed to those open to accepting this new hope with faith - the poor, the humble, the afflicted, the pure of heart, those persecuted on account of Christ and so marks out the surprising ways of the Kingdom.

1968 The Law of the Gospel fulfills the commandments of the Law. The Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, far from abolishing or devaluing the moral prescriptions of the Old Law, releases their hidden potential and has new demands arise from them: it reveals their entire divine and human truth. It does not add new external precepts, but proceeds to reform the heart, the root of human acts, where man chooses between the pure and the impure,22 where faith, hope, and charity are formed and with them the other virtues. The Gospel thus brings the Law to its fullness through imitation of the perfection of the heavenly Father, through forgiveness of enemies and prayer for persecutors, in emulation of the divine generosity.23

1969 The New Law practices the acts of religion: almsgiving, prayer and fasting, directing them to the “Father who sees in secret,” in contrast with the desire to "be seen by men."24 Its prayer is the Our Father.25

1970 The Law of the Gospel requires us to make the decisive choice between “the two ways” and to put into practice the words of the Lord.26 It is summed up in the Golden Rule, "Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; this is the law and the prophets."27

The entire Law of the Gospel is contained in the “new commandment” of Jesus, to love one another as he has loved us.28

Thanks! I’m surprised that the CCC does not mention that we need to love God with all our soul, heart, mind and strength. This is what I confess as sin when in the confessional; it’s a tough commandment to keep, and I think that most Catholics fail in fulfilling it!

 

[Vico]

Thanks! I’m surprised that the CCC does not mention that we need to love God with all our soul, heart, mind and strength. This is what I confess as sin when in the confessional; it’s a tough commandment to keep, and I think that most Catholics fail in fulfilling it!

Catechism

2055 When someone asks him, "Which commandment in the Law is the greatest?"8 Jesus replies: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets."9 The Decalogue must be interpreted in light of this twofold yet single commandment of love, the fullness of the Law:

The commandments: “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.10​

 

[jcrichton]

Thanks! I’m surprised that the CCC does not mention that we need to love God with all our soul, heart, mind and strength. This is what I confess as sin when in the confessional; it’s a tough commandment to keep, and I think that most Catholics fail in fulfilling it!

Hi, Robert!

I have not read the CCC so I cannot agree or disagree with your statement (content); but I remember that as a very young child during my catechism studies I learned: God is Divine, Three Persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and that I must obey, fulfill, the Commandments–first of which is Love God above all… every single child wanting to receive First Communion had to know, by heart, the basic catechism… I can’t imagine the unabridged CCC would teach otherwise.

The problem I find is that once we become initiates and receive our Confirmation both parish and home teaching and guidance basically stops. :crying::crying::crying:

…as for the fulfillment of the Law:

20 So then, no human being can be found upright at the tribunal of God by keeping the Law; all that the Law does is to tell us what is sinful. 21 God’s saving justice was witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, but now it has been revealed altogether apart from law: 22 God’s saving justice given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. (Romans 3:20-22)

23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the Law, locked up to wait for the faith which would eventually be revealed to us. 24 So the Law was serving as a slave to look after us, to lead us to Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come we are no longer under a slave looking after us; 26 for all of you are the children of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus, (Galatians 3:23-26)

Christ is the fulfillment of the Law and of the Prophets. He is God’s Love Personified!

Maran atha!

Angel