In English we have over 500 translations of the bible. Think about this, after 499 versions where made someone came along and said I don't like how they are interpreted I think we need another one. But don't end the thought there, ask yourself this question: "can a language be translated properly without first explaining the meaning behind the construct of a word"? For example, if one has never seen snow, or felt it, can they have an idea of what it is? The word translated fulfill actually comes from a Greek word that has absolutely no similarities to our English word fulfill. In other words that word fulfill in Matthew 5:17 doesn't even closely resemble the Greek word used.
So here is the Greek word translated fulfil:
G4137
πληρόω
plēroō
play-ro'-o
From G4134; to make replete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up...
Now in order to understand the meaning of the word translated fulfil let's look at the root word it is derived from(G4134):
G4134
πλήρης
plērēs
play'-race
From G4130; replete, or covered over...
Now we don't really use the word replete much, actually I had to get my dictionary out and look up the word. Here is what Webster's stated:
Replete
Webster's 1913 Dictionary
Re`plete´ Pronunciation: r?-pl?t´
a. 1. Filled again;
completely filled;
full;
charged;
abounding.
Now this Greek word comes from G4130
G4130
πλήθω
plēthō
play'-tho, pleh'-o,
A prolonged form of a primary word πλέω pleō (which appears only as an alternate in certain tenses and in the reduplicated form of πίμπλημι pimplēmi to “fill”
So we see that the word actually means to fill something up, like a barrel with dirt, or a cup with water. But it is not the act of filling, but rather it is to level something up to the top. Why is this important? Because most people say Jesus came to complete the law, but actually Jesus came to raise the standards of Righteousness.
Here is the Greek text and the Greek text with Strong's numbering:
(GNT-TR) μη νομισητε οτι ηλθον καταλυσαι τον νομον η τους προφητας ουκ ηλθον καταλυσαι αλλα πληρωσαι
(GNT-TR+) μηG3361 PRT-N νομισητεG3543 V-AAS-2P οτιG3754 CONJ ηλθονG2064 V-2AAI-1S καταλυσαιG2647 V-AAN τονG3588 T-ASM νομονG3551 N-ASM ηG2228 PRT τουςG3588 T-APM προφηταςG4396 N-APM ουκG3756 PRT-N ηλθονG2064 V-2AAI-1S καταλυσαιG2647 V-AAN αλλαG235 CONJ πληρωσαιG4137 V-AAN
Now if we look at this text in Matthew 5:17 and break it down word by word, we have it reading something like this:
"Don't think I came to free you from the (moral) grazing pasture (Law: this is not a reference only to the law given by Moses, but rather the obligation of men to live right) and the foretellers (Prophet's), no instead of setting you free (I came to) fill-up (raise the standards)."
Now if we continue to read on in English, from Matthew 5:17, it makes perfect sense:
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law
(Jesus's law), till all be (scratch out this word added by the translators "fulfilled: it is not in the Greek").
Jesus was referring to the raised Law he was about to proclaim...
Mat 5:19 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.
Mat 5:20 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.
Mat 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
Mat 5:22
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Mat 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
Mat 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
See how he raised the standards!
Mat 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Mat 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Mat 5:28
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Mat 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Mat 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Again He RAISES the standards!
Mat 5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
Mat 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Mat 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
Mat 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
Mat 5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Mat 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Mat 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
And Yet AGAIN!
Mat 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Mat 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Mat 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Mat 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Mat 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Mat 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Jesus did not come to complete the old, he came to established the New Terms of a Totally New Covenant: the Old standards were to low and now that Jesus was going to reveal how to live right, by forgiveness and loving your enemies, a true change of Heart could be embraced, and the impediment could now be removed from man: by men repenting (turning) from the hatred in their hearts to receiving God's mercy by showing mercy and thus they could obtain hearts of flesh instead of stone.
Blessings