A Jot or a Tittle יוד

[David Koberstein]

יוד
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Matthew 5:18

If you grew up reading the King James Version of the Bible, you would have read the passage a above with the words "one jot or one tittle." Perhaps you learned that this was some type of punctuation mark above with the words "one jot or one tittle." Perhaps you learned that this was some type of punctuation mark equivalent to our English apostrophe. The "jot" that Jesus was referring to was the Hebrew letter yod.
It is the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Just half a line long.
The Yod is often written with a small line at the top - like a little capital "L" rotated 180 deg. What we translate as "tittle" or "stroke of a pen" is just the small curve at the top of the letter the slight embellishment on the yod. It was called the thorn of the yod.
So what Jesus was saying was, "Not the smallest letter or even a decoration on the smallest letter will disappear."
This is actually a well-known Hebrew expression, "lo yod v'lo kotso shel yod." "It means not a yod or a thorn of a yod," or "not the most insignificant or unimportant thing."

A story was told by another rabbi after Jesus' time that appears to illustrate what this means:
When God gave the Torah, he said. "the king moreover must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself... He must not take many wives, or his heart will be lead astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold" (Deuteronomy 17:16-17). But instead, King Solomon had many wives and horses, and much gold.
When that happened, the letter yod ascended to God's throne and humbly said to the Lord, "Didn't you say that no letter should ever be abolished from the Torah? Today Solomon has abolished the word "not" from this law, and perhaps tomorrow he will abolish the whole thing! God responded, "Solomon and a thousand like him will pass away, but the smallest tittle will not be canceled from you."

This parable gives us some insight into Jesus' words. Solomon was living as if Deuteronomy 17 didn't have the word "not" in it., and as if God had commanded the opposite --- that the king should acquire many wives and as much wealth as possible! But no matter as much Solomon ignored the law. God's commands could not be canceled. Many people in our world today believe that we can live our lives as if God doesn't exist and that the rules are ours to make. But this lesson tells us that the final standard by which we must live is God's Word, not our own.

Shalom Rav שלום רב

 

[Rella]

יוד
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Matthew 5:18

If you grew up reading the King James Version of the Bible, you would have read the passage a above with the words "one jot or one tittle." Perhaps you learned that this was some type of punctuation mark above with the words "one jot or one tittle." Perhaps you learned that this was some type of punctuation mark equivalent to our English apostrophe. The "jot" that Jesus was referring to was the Hebrew letter yod.
It is the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Just half a line long.
The Yod is often written with a small line at the top - like a little capital "L" rotated 180 deg. What we translate as "tittle" or "stroke of a pen" is just the small curve at the top of the letter the slight embellishment on the yod. It was called the thorn of the yod.
So what Jesus was saying was, "Not the smallest letter or even a decoration on the smallest letter will disappear."
This is actually a well-known Hebrew expression, "lo yod v'lo kotso shel yod." "It means not a yod or a thorn of a yod," or "not the most insignificant or unimportant thing."

A story was told by another rabbi after Jesus' time that appears to illustrate what this means:
When God gave the Torah, he said. "the king moreover must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself... He must not take many wives, or his heart will be lead astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold" (Deuteronomy 17:16-17). But instead, King Solomon had many wives and horses, and much gold.
When that happened, the letter yod ascended to God's throne and humbly said to the Lord, "Didn't you say that no letter should ever be abolished from the Torah? Today Solomon has abolished the word "not" from this law, and perhaps tomorrow he will abolish the whole thing! God responded, "Solomon and a thousand like him will pass away, but the smallest tittle will not be canceled from you."

This parable gives us some insight into Jesus' words. Solomon was living as if Deuteronomy 17 didn't have the word "not" in it., and as if God had commanded the opposite --- that the king should acquire many wives and as much wealth as possible! But no matter as much Solomon ignored the law. God's commands could not be canceled. Many people in our world today believe that we can live our lives as if God doesn't exist and that the rules are ours to make. But this lesson tells us that the final standard by which we must live is God's Word, not our own.

Shalom Rav שלום רב

Thank you David,

I continue to learn from you and this is good.

We all need to learn from one another.

But you bring up an interesting thought to me when I recall what Jesus said in Matt 5:18

KJV of course says 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.

and the

NASB95 says it this way. “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.

This suggests that following God's commandments and understanding their fulfillment in Christ is relevant to salvation and good works

Meaning that works are needed, not just faith, for if we do not follow the law/commandments we are disobeying Jesus?

I , admittedly have always been a faith only person, but????????

 

[CrowCross]

This suggests that following God's commandments and understanding their fulfillment in Christ is relevant to salvation and good works

Meaning that works are needed, not just faith, for if we do not follow the law/commandments we are disobeying Jesus?

Not sure what you intended...are you saying our works play a part in gaining salvation or that it is our salvation that produces works.....or....if we don't have works we probably don't have salvation?

 

[David Koberstein]

Thank you David,

I continue to learn from you and this is good.

We all need to learn from one another.

But you bring up an interesting thought to me when I recall what Jesus said in Matt 5:18

KJV of course says 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.

and the

NASB95 says it this way. “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.

This suggests that following God's commandments and understanding their fulfillment in Christ is relevant to salvation and good works

Meaning that works are needed, not just faith, for if we do not follow the law/commandments we are disobeying Jesus?

I , admittedly have always been a faith only person, but????????

I let my good works validate my faith and trust in Yeshua. If we have genuine faith in Yeshua it will be reflected in the
good works we do or blessings that we are supposed to be to other people and the nations.
I will be in Pa next month to bury my late mother's ashes. It will be an emotional event.

Shalom Aleichem

 

[Rella]

Not sure what you intended...are you saying our works play a part in gaining salvation or that it is our salvation that produces works.....or....if we don't have works we probably don't have salvation?

No... not at all.

I believe Faith without works.

James preached in

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

Paul preached in

Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

Galatians 2:16 nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

Eph 2: 8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

But enter Jesus who tells us “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.

Therefore since we still are here, so is the law.

Is not the law works?

So I am just wondering about this sensitive subject as I do believe Jesus trumps both Paul and James.

 

[Rella]

I let my good works validate my faith and trust in Yeshua. If we have genuine faith in Yeshua it will be reflected in the
good works we do or blessings that we are supposed to be to other people and the nations.
I will be in Pa next month to bury my late mother's ashes. It will be an emotional event.

Shalom Aleichem

I'm sorry.

Prayer for you and yours in this sad time.

 

[Arial]

But enter Jesus who tells us “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.

Therefore since we still are here, so is the law.

Is not the law works?

That would fall under the category of how one is defining the law. If it is considered the Mosaic Law with its covenant legal code, then no, it has become obsolete as covenant law (Hebrews 8:13).

Jesus said he came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it. He fulfilled it in perfect righteousness both to the letter and the spirit of the law.

What is still in effect, and applies to the believer and the unbeliever, is the moral law (Ten Commandments), and it was in effect even within the Mosaic Law. That is why it never saved anyone unto eternal life, nor was it intended to. Only genuine faith did, just as now. The Old Covenant law was pointing to Christ and was a progression in redemptive history to his advent and work (perfect righteousness and the cross) of Christ.

No believer keeps even the first commandment perfectly, let alone all the others in the Ten Commandments. (The first four are pertaining to our relationship towards God, the rest dealing with our relationship in society, with the creation, and with one another. But because he has been born again into Christ and has the imputed righteousness of Christ; and because he has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit by which he is being more and more conformed to the image of Christ's righteousness (sanctification) he now hates the sin that he previously loved, and is convicted of sin and led to repentance.

The keeping of the moral law, now becomes, not works for salvation, but loving submission to the Father, and the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit in the person (through the word and gaining knowledge of it). He will bear fruit. Sometimes ten fold, sometimes 20 fold, and ultimately at glorification when Christ returns and we are changed, a 100 fold.

So I am just wondering about this sensitive subject as I do believe Jesus trumps both Paul and James.

Paul and all the apostles were given authority by Jesus himself to fully represent him, and only him. That was the whole point of the miracles they performed, just as they were with Jesus.To authenticate that what they taught was from God, and fully trustworthy.

 

[Rella]

That would fall under the category of how one is defining the law. If it is considered the Mosaic Law with its covenant legal code, then no, it has become obsolete as covenant law (Hebrews 8:13).

Jesus said he came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it. He fulfilled it in perfect righteousness both to the letter and the spirit of the law.

What is still in effect, and applies to the believer and the unbeliever, is the moral law (Ten Commandments), and it was in effect even within the Mosaic Law. That is why it never saved anyone unto eternal life, nor was it intended to. Only genuine faith did, just as now. The Old Covenant law was pointing to Christ and was a progression in redemptive history to his advent and work (perfect righteousness and the cross) of Christ.

No believer keeps even the first commandment perfectly, let alone all the others in the Ten Commandments. (The first four are pertaining to our relationship towards God, the rest dealing with our relationship in society, with the creation, and with one another. But because he has been born again into Christ and has the imputed righteousness of Christ; and because he has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit by which he is being more and more conformed to the image of Christ's righteousness (sanctification) he now hates the sin that he previously loved, and is convicted of sin and led to repentance.

The keeping of the moral law, now becomes, not works for salvation, but loving submission to the Father, and the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit in the person (through the word and gaining knowledge of it). He will bear fruit. Sometimes ten fold, sometimes 20 fold, and ultimately at glorification when Christ returns and we are changed, a 100 fold.

Paul and all the apostles were given authority by Jesus himself to fully represent him, and only him. That was the whole point of the miracles they performed, just as they were with Jesus.To authenticate that what they taught was from God, and fully trustworthy.

Yes, I understand... but then I keep seeing

until heaven and earth pass away,

 

[Arial]

Yes, I understand... but then I keep seeing

until heaven and earth pass away,

From the lesson of the fig tree in Matt 24? If so, I guess I don't understand what you exactly are wrestling with, in relation to the law and not one jot or tittle being removed from it.

 

[prism]

יוד
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Matthew 5:18

Since Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Torah/Law (in word, deed, and action) in the believer's stead...mission accomplished. Or maybe I am missing something?

 

[Rella]

Since Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Torah/Law (in word, deed, and action) in the believer's stead...mission accomplished. Or maybe I am missing something?

So we have been told.

But then where does Matt 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.

Am I misreading this?

 

[prism]

So we have been told.

But then where does Matt 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.

Am I misreading this?

Did not Jesus accomplish the fulfillment of the law?
Matthew 5:17 KJV
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Romans 7:4,23-25 KJV
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. [23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. [24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? [25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

 

[Arial]

So we have been told.

But then where does Matt 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.

Am I misreading this?

When Jesus says "For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished." he is speaking to a Jewish audience. Jesus has fulfilled all of the law, both morally and legally. He hadn't yet done so when he spoke those words. The fulfillment was accomplished at the cross, his resurrection and ascension. And all those things pertaining to the covenant relationship between God and Israel, did pass away in 70 a.d. with the destruction of the temple and all possibility of the old way of worship and coming to God and temporary covering by the sacrifice of bulls and rams. No more Holy of Holies in the temple and no more mediating high priest to stand between them and God.

Note before Jesus said this, what he was teaching. And the teachings that followed. And the judgement, "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

A new covenant makes the old covenant obsolete. We are still awaiting the old heaven and old earth to pass away (Rev 21) and until then everyone not in Christ is condemned by the Law.

 

[Rella]

Did not Jesus accomplish the fulfillment of the law?
Matthew 5:17 KJV
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Romans 7:4,23-25 KJV
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. [23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. [24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? [25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Yes, but I get hung up on " , until heaven and earth pass away," which Jesus stated.

 

[prism]

Yes, but I get hung up on " , until heaven and earth pass away," which Jesus stated.

If Jesus accomplished it about 2000 years ago, wouldn't his word and deed still be in effect? If not, then what?

 

[Rella]

If Jesus accomplished it about 2000 years ago, wouldn't his word and deed still be in effect? If not, then what?

Yes, but isn't the earth still here.?

 

[prism]

Yes, but isn't the earth still here.?

Yes, last time I checked, it was.

Matthew 5:17-18 KJV
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.

But who else will fulfill the law? You? Me?

 

[Rella]

Yes, last time I checked, it was.

Matthew 5:17-18 KJV
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.

But who else will fulfill the law? You? Me?

Well perhaps, it is as simple as Jesus meaning since he had come to fulfill the law if that did not happen then the law would remain in effect so long as earth did?

IDK.

This is one that bothers me

 

[David Koberstein]

Well perhaps, it is as simple as Jesus meaning since he had come to fulfill the law if that did not happen then the law would remain in effect so long as earth did?

IDK.

This is one that bothers me

Yeshua was the only person to keep the Law meaning He fulfilled all the demands of the Law something we could not do.
Shalom Aleichem

 

[Rella]

Yeshua was the only person to keep the Law meaning He fulfilled all the demands of the Law something we could not do.
Shalom Aleichem

Okay, thanks and understood.

NASB95
Jesus said Matt 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

then vs 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.

He fulfilled the law. AND EARTH HAS NOT PASSED. Yet while he fulfilled it he did not abolish it?

If the law is not abolished, is it still in effect?

In light of vs 18
“Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

This looks to be so simple, why can I not grasp it?