The Gospel brings something radically new and different from the old ways. But what exactly is Jesus suggesting is new a different? The parables of new wine and new cloth are followed up with one more conflict over how to keep Sabbath rules. In this conflict with the Pharisees it is clear that Jesus is seeking to change the very “corporate culture” of Israel. He brings a very new attitude and practice to keeping the law that does not fit at all with the old ways. Jesus came to fulfill all the OT, but how can he fulfill the law when he seems to be disregarding it and so drastically changing its practice? Jesus changes both the corporate culture of strict adherence to the law and its practice, by restoring the law to its true God ordained purpose. The Jews had turned the law into something it was never meant to be, Jesus fulfills it and restores its true purpose. He does fulfill it – not by simply following it in its broken state, but restoring it to its true design and in that form he keeps it perfectly!
