Matthew 5:19, in my opinion, was in effect until the resurrection. At the moment that Jesus said,
"It is finished", the veil in the temple was torn in two, and the law of Moses was fulfilled.
Not meaning to belabor the point, but please seriously consider what I am about to say. Mat. 5:19 starts with, "Whosoever THEREFORE ..." We should look at the previous verse to see why Mat. 5:19 is even being taught by Jesus. Mat. 5:18 says that the law would not be fulfilled until heaven and earth pass away, and this is why he says what he does in verse 19. Following is the passage for your consideration:
Matthew 5:17-19
(17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
(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.
(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.
So it seems to me that his statement of, "it is finished," could not be talking about the law of Moses being finished. I'm not even sure why you would insert that idea. Considering that the work of Jesus continued afterward, it seems to me that "it is finished" refers to his earthly work in the flesh. After this point in time, he would never again be in the weak Adamic flesh, but rather he would be in a glorified incorruptible body.
You know, Paul said something similar to the "it is finished" statement that Jesus said. It is found in 2 Timothy 4.
2 Timothy 4:6-7
(6) For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
(7) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Clearly Paul was not saying that the law of Moses was finished in this statement. Wouldn't it be reasonable to think that Jesus also meant something more in line with what Paul was communicating here in this passage?
Peace be with you.
David Miller.
---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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