4. And this our Lord has abundantly performed in the preceding and subsequent parts of the discourse before us: in which he has not introduced a new religion into the world, but the same which was from the beginning: a religion, the substance of which is without question, “as old as the creation:” being coeval with man, and having proceeded from God, at the very time when _man became a living soul_: (the substance, I say, for some circumstances of it, now relate to man as a fallen creature.) A religion witnessed to both by the law, and by the prophets in all succeeding generations. Yet was it never so fully explained, nor so thoroughly understood, ’till the great Author of it himself, condescended to give mankind this authentic comment on all the essential branches of it: at the same time declaring it should never be changed, but remain in force to the end of the world.
II. 1. _For verily I say unto you_ (a solemn preface, which denotes both the importance and certainty of what is spoken) _’till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law ’till all be fulfilled_.
_One jot_――It is literally, _not one Iota_, not the most inconsiderable vowel, _or one tittle_, μία κεραία, one corner, or point of a consonant. It is a proverbial expression, which signifies that no one commandment contained in the moral law, nor the least part of one, however inconsiderable it might seem, should ever be disannulled.
_Shall in no wise pass from the law_: οὐ μὴ παρέλθη ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου· The double negative here used, strengthens the sense, so as to admit of no contradiction. And the word παρέλθη, it may be observed, is not barely _future_; declaring what _will_ be: but has likewise the force of an _imperative_; ordering what _shall_ be. It is a word of authority, expressing the sovereign will and power of him that spake: of him whose word is the law of heaven and earth, and stands fast for ever and ever.
_One jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass, ’till heaven and earth pass_; or as it is exprest immediately after, ἕως ἄν πάντᾳ γένηται· _’till all_, (or rather _all things_) _be fulfilled_, ’till the consummation of all things. Here is therefore no room for that poor evasion (with which some have delighted themselves greatly.) That “no part of the law was to pass away, ’till _all the law_ was fulfilled: but it has been fulfilled by _Christ_; and therefore now must pass, for the gospel to be established.” Not so; the word _all_ does not mean all the law, but all things in the universe: as neither has the term _fulfilled_, any reference to the law, but to all things in heaven and earth.
2. From all this we may learn, that there is no contrariety at all, between the law and the gospel; that there is no need for the law to pass away, in order to the establishing the gospel. Indeed neither of them supersedes the other, but they agree perfectly well together. Yea, the very same words, considered in different respects, are parts both of the law and of the gospel: if they are considered as commandments, they are parts of the law; if as promises, of the gospel. Thus, _Thou shalt love the_ Lord _thy_ God _with all thy heart_, when considered as a commandment, is a branch of the law: when regarded as a promise, is an essential part of the gospel: the gospel being no other than the commands of the law, proposed by way of promises. Accordingly poverty of spirit, purity of heart, and whatever else is injoined in the holy law of God, are no other, when viewed in a gospel light, than so many great and precious promises.
3. There is therefore the closest connexion that can be conceived, between the law and the gospel. On the one hand, the law continually makes way for, and points us to the gospel: on the other, the gospel continually leads us to a more exact fulfilling of the law. The law, for instance, requires us to love God, to love our neighbour, to be meek, humble or holy: we feel that we are not sufficient for these things: yea, that _with man this is impossible_. But we see a promise of God, to give us that love, and to make us humble, meek and holy. We lay hold of this gospel, of these glad tidings: it is done unto us according to our faith: And _the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us_, through faith which is in _Christ Jesus_.
*We may yet farther observe, that every command in holy writ, is only a covered promise. For by that solemn declaration, _This is the covenant I will make after those days, saith the_ Lord, _I will put my laws in your minds, and write them in your hearts_, God hath engaged to give whatsoever he commands. Does he command us then to _pray without ceasing_? To _rejoice evermore_? To be _holy as he is holy_? It is enough. He will work in us this very thing. It shall be unto us according to his word.