How do you understand these two verses?
Matthew 5:18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. John 19:28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.”
Firstly we cannot separate scripture from it's contexts. So we must read what the scriptures are saying in regards to the contexts and their subject matter (topical study) of course prayerfully seeking God's guidance for His Spirit to be our guide and teacher.
Let's start with Matthew 5:18 by adding in all the surrounding scripture context and see what the scriptures are referring to...
Matthew 5:17-20
[17], THINK NOT THAT I AM COME TO DESTROY THE LAW, OR THE PROPHETS: I AM NOT COME TO DESTROY, BUT TO FULFIL.
Note: Right off we see Jesus making it very clear here that before he says anything that he is
not talking about abolishing or destroying the law and the prophets, so what Jesus says is
not about getting rid of the law it is about Him fulfilling all aspects of the law. That is all the Mosaic shadow laws for remission of sins that point to him under the Mosiac laws of the Levitical Priesthood but as well as this His perfect obedience to God's standard of righteousness (10 commandments Psalms 119:172) as Gods' sacrificial lamb for the sins of the world (see John 1:29; 36; Hebrews 7:1-25; Hebrews 8:1-13; Hebrews 9;1-27 and Hebrews 10:1-22; see also; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 2:22).
[18], For verily I say unto you, TILL HEAVEN AND EARTH PASS, ONE JOT OR ONE TITTLE SHALL IN NO WISE PASS FROM THE LAW, TILL ALL BE FULFILLED.
Note: Jesus reinforces what he said earlier in Matthew 5:17 not until heaven and earth shall pass one jot or title shall in no wise pass from the law until
all be fulfilled. The new covenant for example does not abolish the old covenant laws for remission of sin. They are fulfilled in Christ to who they point to (see John 1:29; 36; Hebrews 7:1-25; Hebrews 8:1-13; Hebrews 9;1-27 and Hebrews 10:1-22) and are continued in Him based on better promises *Hebrews 8:1-6.
[19], WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL BREAK ONE OF THESE LEAST COMMANDMENTS, AND SHALL TEACH MEN SO, HE SHALL BE CALLED THE LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: BUT WHOSOEVER SHALL DO AND TEACH THEM, THE SAME SHALL BE CALLED GREAT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
Note: Jesus reinforces what he said earlier in Matthew 5:17 he is not talking about destroying or abolishing Gods' law he is talking about fulfilling them or obeying them and those who break the least of God's laws will be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven while those who keep and teach them will be called great in Gods' Kingdom. The least in God's kingdom by the way are those who do not go there.
[20], For I say unto you, That EXCEPT YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL EXCEED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, YE SHALL IN NO CASE ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
Note: Matthew 5:20 is interesting because on the outside the Scribes and Pharisees as JESUS taught appeared righteous to men. Outwardly blameless in regards to following God's 10 commandments but inwardly Jesus says they were full of SIN (breaking God's LAW) *
Matthew 23:27-28. JESUS says; For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven *
Matthew 5:20. The scripture in
Isaiah 42:21 was posted to show that Jesus came to teach the true meaning of God's Law and that is it is to be applied to the inside out not for appearance to appear righteous to men but being inwardly full of sin and dead mans bones. God reads the heart and knows we are all sick with sin *
Matthew 15:19-20;
Matthew 12:34-35;
Jeremiah 13:23;
Jeremiah 17:9-10;
Matthew 15:19-20;
John 5:42 and in need of a Saviour from SIN. Many do not know the meaning here
Matthew 9:12-13.
This is leading to the new covenant promise of a new heart to love *
Hebrews 8:10-12;
John 5:42;
1 John 5:17-19;
1 John 4:16;
1 John 5:3;
1 John 4:8. We do not have the love of God in us *
John 5:42. We need to be born of god to love *
1 John 4:7 and partake of the new covenant promise. This is why Jesus teaches in *
John 3:3-7 that unless we are made clean from the inside out and born again to love we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. This is what Jesus is talking about in
Matthew 5:20 when discussing the Scribes and the Pharisees teaching the application of God's law from the inside out. Whosoever is born of god to love in the new covenant *
Hebrews 8:10-12 does not knowingly practice sin *
1 John 3:9;
Romans 13:8-10;
James 2:8-12;
Romans 3:31;
Matthew 22:36-40. This is the good news of the gospels in the new covenant we have a saviour to save us from sin (not in sin) but we have to be made new to walk in God's Spirit *
Galatians 5:16;
Romans 8:1-4.
1 John 3:3-10 is talking about all those who are born again to love and it is love that fulfills God's law in all those who believe and follow God's word in the new covenant *
Hebrews 8:10-12;
Romans 13:8-10. this results in a people that keep God's law (10 commandments) from the inside out. *
Revelation 14:12;
Revelation 22:14;
1 John 2:3-4;
1 John 3:3-10;
Romans 13:8-10; R
omans 3:31;
Hebrews 8:10-12. Unless we are born again to love we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven *
John 3:3-7.
.................
John 19:28
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.”
Well most of this is already answered above but Jesus is continuing to fulfill the scriptures from the law and the prophets where it is written...
Psalms 22:1-15
[1],
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
[2],
O my God, I cry in the day time, but you hear not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
[3],
But you are holy, O you that inhabit the praises of Israel.
[4],
Our fathers trusted in you: they trusted, and you did deliver them.
[5],
They cried to you, and were delivered: they trusted in you, and were not confounded.
[6],
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
[7],
All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
[8],
He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
[9],
But you are he that took me out of the womb: you did make me hope when I was on my mother's breasts.
[10],
I was cast on you from the womb: you are my God from my mother's belly.
[11],
Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
[12],
Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
[13],
They gaped on me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
[14],
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the middle of my bowels.
[15],
My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue sticks to my jaws; and you have brought me into the dust of death.
Take Care.