What Does “Be Fulfilled” Mean?: Part 1

Many people think that the essence of being fulfilled is to be happy. At first glance this seems to make sense and perhaps in some circles it is what is meant to be fulfilled. The question is, does the concept of being fullfilled also transcend into happiness as it relates to the Biblical interpretation of the word?

NOTE: The following is part 1 of a two part article which I hope helps everyone to understand what exactly it means to be fullfilled.

The best way to define what being fulfilled means is to first define fulfilled. According to Webster:

• to make full
• to put into effect
• to meet the requirements of
• to measure up to
• to convert into reality
• aeto develop the full potentialities of

None of these above definitions directly indicate that being fullfilled is to be happy. All of the above do portray something being put into complete motion which would produce the end result of happiness.

I find this very interesting, especially as it relates to the following verse.

Matt 5:18 (NIV)
For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

In spite of the above definitions from Webster people want to read this verse to mean that the law was done away with. The only suggestion from Webster that this can be interpreted as such would be “to bring to an end” which is the 7th definition he provides.

Logically speaking they are taking a 1 in 7 chance that this is the best definition to apply to this word leaving you with one of two statements being made.

Matt 5:18
For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be “put into effect” or “converted into reality”.

Really, any of the above definitions can be applied toward this verse very easily.

Or…

Matt 5:18
For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be brought to an end.

Even here defining this to mean that the law was somehow brought to an end is an extreme stretch. However, for the sake of argument let’s suppose that that is what this verse is saying and in part 2 we will dig deeper into understanding what it means to be fulfilled.