If Jesus had meant his answer to have a legalistic meaning he might have asked if "'You shall not'" (Ex 20:14) implied that any violation would be literal adultery. It is said, however, that the Ten Commandments are moral commands and not rules. To commit means to deliberately perform a premeditated act. Mark 10:11 says he "'commits adultery against her.'" He "'makes'" her do it. (Mt 5:32). Jesus' statements are consistent. In Matthew 5:17 he says "'I did not come to abolish [the Law] but to fulfill.'" He also said "'not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished'" (:18). Romans 7:12 also supports the law by saying it "is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good." Finally 1 Timothy 1:8 says "we know the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully."

Where, then, is the New Testament emphasis in all this? In Romans 10:4 Paul says "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." He is the fulfillment because his purpose existed before the Law was instituted since the promise was given to Abraham before the law was given. The ultimate goal of the promise, then, is to make redemption available thus completing God's plan. "All the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins" (Ac 10:43).

The Law therefore is only the vehicle which brings people to Christ (Gal 3:24). "Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor" (:25). "But now we are released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter" (Ro 7:6). Also, we "were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ" (:4). "The righteousness of God [is] through faith in Jesus Christ" (3:22) which is "apart from the Law" (:21). But "do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law" (:31). Therefore "the requirement of the Law [is] fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (8:4). "If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law" (Gal 5:18). However, even though the law will eventually pass away (Mt 5:18) Jesus' words will never pass away (24:35).