Matthew 5:17 (YLT)

Passage

`Do not suppose that I came to throw down the law or the prophets--I did not come to throw down, but to fulfil;

Nearby Context

Matthew 5:15 nor do they light a lamp, and put it under the measure, but on the lamp-stand, and it shineth to all those in the house;

Matthew 5:16 so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father who <FI>is<Fi> in the heavens.

Matthew 5:17 `Do not suppose that I came to throw down the law or the prophets--I did not come to throw down, but to fulfil;

Matthew 5:18 for, verily I say to you, till that the heaven and the earth may pass away, one iota or one tittle may not pass away from the law, till that all may come to pass.

Matthew 5:19 `Whoever therefore may loose one of these commands--the least--and may teach men so, least he shall be called in the reign of the heavens, but whoever may do and may teach <FI>them<Fi> , he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "suppose", "came", "throw", "down", "prophets--i", and "come". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "suppose" and "came", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "so let your light shine before men..." into verse 18's "for verily I say to you till...", so "suppose" and "came" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "suppose" and "came" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.