Mortgage Loan

A mortgage loan is a monetary loan secured by real property such as a house or land.  The word “mortgage’ is derived from the French words “mort” (“death”) and “gage” or “gaige” (“”pledge””), so it is a “death pledge.”  What in the world does that have to do with the transfer of property?

The British jurist Sir Edward Coke (1552-1634) explained the word.  He said that if the borrower does not repay the loan, the property becomes dead to them and is taken by the loaner.  If the borrower completely repays the loan, the property becomes dead to the loaner.  The assumption is that it is possible to repay the loan.

Christians do not have this type of relationship with the Lord.  We have received not a loan which must be repaid, but a gift.  The gift (the Blood of Jesus) is of infinite value and can never be bought or repaid.

What Does It Mean? Jot and Tittle

"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." Matthew 5:18

A "jot" is an "iote" (found in early King James Version editions), "iota," "ἰ," the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet and similar to the י
"yodh," the smallest Hebrew letter.  Think of the English apostrophe ('); something considered to be almost insignificant.

A "tittle"is a horn shaped mark used in Hebrew as an accent mark.  The Greek word used is κεραία, a "horn."


Jesus here declared that the Mosaic Law is still in effect and will not pass away, even in its smallest parts, until the fulfillment of time.     If a person kept the entire law, with never a single lapse, they would be saved, but, all have sinned and fallen short.  (Romans 3:23)  "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10

The Law is in fact a gift from God which points us toward God's grace. "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Romans 3:20.  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9