This is where Abinadi reaches the reason for his discourse. He has declared that the priests are not teaching correctly, and he identifies the law of Moses, having specifically delineated the most succinct catalog of those moral laws. However, these are precisely the things that the priests say that they have taught. How is it that Abinadi will move from what the priests think they have taught to what Abinadi must proclaim they have not taught? Herein will lie the real message of Abinadi. This is what he came to declare. He came not to "read" the Exodus catalog of proscriptions, but to declare that the priests have not taught the true revealed import of those statements.
He begins with the assertion that salvation comes through the law of Moses. This is essential, because if the law is sufficient for salvation, then the priests would be teaching correctly. His first position is to establish a recognition of the value of the law; "it is expedient that yeshould keep the law of Moses as yet…" This statement upholds the value, but foreshadows the changes that will come upon the law. The word "expedient" is used to indicate a temporary nature, and the term "as yet" makes it clear that this law will not be the final answer, though it is important for now. In this approach, Abinadi before the priests uses a similar tactic to Jesus Christ when he explained his approach to the law: " Matt. 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.).
Abinadi is much more blunt than Christ, however, indicating that there would come a time when they would not need to obey the law of Moses. This is a very different sentiment from Christ's and should be analyzed.
On the face of it, the two statements appear contradictory. However, both are leading to the revealed reality. Jesus calls it fulfilling, but the nature of the fulfilling was to abandon some of the features of the law for the heart of the law as emphasized in Christ's gospel. Abinadi is foreshadowing that removal of pieces of the performance law while retaining the transformation. While he does not buffer his discussion as does Christ, Abinadi will end up in the same place. Abinadi apparently felt no need to worry about further antagonizing his captors.