[SERay]

In verse 18, Jesus refers to two separate letters in the Old Testament canon, the ‘jot’ or ‘yohd’, which is the smallest consonant in Hebrew, and the ‘tittle’ or ‘keraia’, which is the smallest vocalisation letter or sign. The Greek 'keraia' was the Hebrew 'Hiriq.'

The comment was not in reference to the inerrancy of Scripture. Jesus was making a point by using contrast. “I am not come to destroy the law, but to fulfil”. Not one iota or stroke of a letter will pass from the law till all be fulfilled. Christ did not come to nullify the law, or to overthrow it. The Jews held this view of his mission. Christ came to express how the new covenant fulfilled and superseded the shadow by realizing all its goals and purposes.

Fulfillment of prophecy and obedience to its commands does not break or abrogate the law, it establishes it in the way that is impossible for either delay, non-fulfillment or destruction could ever do.