Wesley Corpus

"One jot:" -- It is literally, not one iota, not the most inconsiderable vowel: "Or one tittle," mia keraia, -- one corner, or point of a consonant. It is a proverbial expression which signifies that no one commandment contained in the moral law, nor the least part of any one, however inconsiderable it might seem, should ever be disannulled. "Shall in no wise pass from the law:" ou mh parelqh apo tou nomou. The double negative, here used, strengthens the sense, so as to admit of no contradiction: And the word parelqh, it may be observed, is not barely future, declaring what will be; but has likewise the force of an imperative, ordering what shall be. It is a word of authority, expressing the sovereign will and power of Him that spake; of Him whose word is the law of heaven and earth, and stands fast for ever and ever. "One jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass till heaven and earth pass;" or as it is expressed immediately after, evs an panta genhtai, -- till all ( or rather, all things) be fulfilled, till the consummation of all things. Here is therefore no room for that poor evasion (with which some have delighted themselves greatly) that "no part of the law was to pass away till all the law was fulfilled: But it has been fulfilled by Christ, and therefore now must pass, for the gospel to be established." Not so; the word all does not mean all the law, but all things in the universe; as neither has the term fulfilled any reference to the law, but to all things in heaven and earth.