Neville Goddard on Matthew 5:17

Executive Summary

Neville Goddard interprets the statement “I have come, not to abolish the law… but to fulfill them” as the declaration of the human imagination. The speaker, the “I,” is your own imagination, which is God. This fulfillment is not about destroying old rules but about revealing the true, psychological nature of the law. The scriptures themselves are seen as the personal biography of every individual, a story that must be fulfilled within one's own consciousness.

Key Concepts

• The “I” who comes to fulfill the law and the prophets is your own wonderful human imagination.
• To fulfill the law is to understand that it is entirely psychological, not a set of external rules concerning diets or rituals.
• The Bible is your personal biography, and the scriptures are meant to be fulfilled in you.
• The one who fulfills the law does not abolish it, but rather reveals its true meaning and purpose.

Detailed Explanation

Neville teaches that the speaker of Matthew 5:17 is a power present within every person: one's own human imagination. When this inner being awakens, you will recognize these words as your own. This “I” who comes to fulfill the law is not an external historical figure, but the divine creative power that is the basis of all that exists.

The act of “fulfilling” the law is not about destroying or discarding it. Instead, it is about revealing the real law, which is entirely psychological. Neville contrasts this with a misunderstanding of the law as a series of external commandments, such as washing hands before meals or adhering to specific diets. The true law operates on the level of consciousness and imagination, and understanding this is the key to its fulfillment.

This concept is tied to the idea that the entire volume of scripture is about you. The Bible is presented as your biography, translated into countless languages. The mission to “fulfill Scripture” means that the events of the law, the prophets, and the psalms must be experienced and fulfilled within your own being. The one who awakens within you interprets all the scriptures as things concerning himself, because the story is ultimately about you.

Important Quotes

Think not that I am come to abolish the law and the prophets. I have come, not to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17)

— Secret Of Imagination

That One is your own wonderful human imagination. That One is God!

— Secret Of Imagination

He explains that the entire Law is psychological.

— The Flood Is Still Upon Us

“I have come to fulfill Scripture.” (See Matthew 5:17) “Scripture must be fulfilled in me.” (Mark 14:49, KJV1)

— The Promise Fulfilled

Related Concepts

• Imagination: This is the central concept, as the human imagination is identified as the “I” who comes to fulfill the law.
• I AM: The speaker of the verse is the “I” within, which Neville identifies as God. This directly relates to the teaching that your own consciousness, your “I AM,” is God.
• The Promise: The teaching that scripture must be fulfilled in you is a core component of The Promise. The fulfillment of the law is part of this larger, internal, biographical unfolding of scripture within the individual.

Common Misunderstandings

A common misunderstanding is that the law refers to external, physical actions. Neville corrects this by explaining that the entire law is psychological. It is not about outward rituals like washing hands or following specific diets, but about the inner workings of consciousness.

Practical Applications

The practical application of this teaching is to stop focusing on external rules and instead recognize the psychological nature of reality. By understanding that the law is internal, you can learn to “penetrate the fact and break it,” changing your experience of the world through the power of your imagination. The teaching encourages you to use your imagination to fulfill your desires, which is the true, practical application of the psychological law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the 'I' that comes to fulfill the law in Matthew 5:17?

According to Neville, the 'I' is your own wonderful human imagination, which he states is God.

Does 'fulfilling the law' mean we should ignore all rules?

No. It means understanding that the true law is psychological, not a set of external rituals. Fulfilling it is about understanding and using this inner, psychological law, rather than abolishing the old concept of law.

How does this interpretation relate to the Bible?

Neville teaches that the Bible is your personal biography. Therefore, 'fulfilling scripture' means that the events and patterns described in the Bible must be experienced and fulfilled within you.