Matthew 5:18

For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples and the crowd on the Mount, positioned between his declaration that he came to fulfill the Law (5:17) and his warning against teaching others to break it (5:19).

The words — ἀμὴν (amēn), "truly," is the word Jesus reserves for his own authoritative pronouncements; here it marks the statement as a divine guarantee rather than a rhetorical flourish.

The thread — Luke 16:17 restates the same permanence for a Pharisaic audience; Isaiah 40:8 and Psalms 119:89 supply the older claim that God's word outlasts creation itself.

Why it lands — The Law is not a provisional code awaiting replacement but a fixed standard that stands until its own purpose is fully realized, and the reader is placed under that standard now.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Luke 16:17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.
Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”
Psalms 119:89 Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens.
1 Peter 1:25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.
Matthew 24:34 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.
Isaiah 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth below; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and its people will die like gnats. But My salvation will last forever, and My righteousness will never fail.
Mark 13:30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.
Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.
Psalms 102:26 They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them, and they will be passed on.
Psalms 119:152 Long ago I learned from Your testimonies that You have established them forever.