THE perpetuity of every jot and tittle of God's law, is supported by the use of two tills. 1. Till heaven and earth pass. This is quite strong, and carries the mind to a period of time which is still in the future. On this, I think there can be no disagreement. 2. Till all be fulfilled. Here is the disputed ground. We are told that this reaches only to the crucifixion.—That Christ fulfilled all the law, and nailed it to his cross. But we should think it most natural to reserve the stronger expression for the final one. Let us read the text to suit the views of our opponents. According to their interpretation, the Lord wished to assure his hearers that no part of the law would pass, till the crucifixion, which was nearly three years and a half in the future. Then it would stand like this. After cautioning the people not to think he had come to destroy the law or the prophets, he would say, 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 three years and a half. It has often been shown, that to fulfill a law is to obey it, not to abolish it. But leaving this point, I remark that, the subject of discourse includes something besides the law, namely, the prophets. He says, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets : I am not come to destroy but to fulfill." He came in fulfillment of the prophecies. But have all the prophecies been fulfilled? Nay, verily. Heaven and earth must not only pass, but new heavens and earth must be created before all is fulfilled. The prophet Isaiah says, "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord." This must be fulfilled before even the fourth commandment of the law can pass. I conclude, then, that the second till is the stronger of the two. The first reaches to the passing of the present heavens and earth ; the second, not only to the making of the new heavens and earth, but to the unlimited extent of their duration.
R. F. C.