Jesus is talking about giving His life as a ransom for sins; to pay the penalty for sins which is death as required by law.
I would like to know what Bible version you are using that says that in Luke 16:17. The KJV has it as:
Luke 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. KJV
However, as for the Sermon on the Mount, the KJV has it in this wise; " iniquity " is an accurate meaning of His words than limiting it to lawlessness.
Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.
In the message of Matthew 7:13-27 KJV that iniquity is about how false prophets will come in to broaden the way in coming to God the Father by other than the Son by having the Holy Spirit as Another Go To God to approach God the Father by in worship, fellowship, and prayer, but none of His invitations points to the Holy Spirit as another way to approach God the Father by. So Jesus meant what He has said below, literally.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Indeed, to climb up another way is iniquity just as there is no other way to honor the Father but by honoring the Son.
John 10:1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
By focusing on the Holy Spirit in worship and addressing Him in worship and calling on Him to come and fall on them in worship as a few hymnals err for believers already with the Holy Spirit in them are singing, That is why many "houses are fallen" as many believers lose self control and fall backwards in these movements of the 'spirit' thinking that was the Holy Spirit, because they did not heed His words to go to the Father by the only way of the Son.
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it..........2
3 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Indeed, this iniquity is applied in another way for ignoring the Son as the only way to come to God the Father by; believers that practise "holy communion" by making communion more than what it is and more than what it is to be done for which is to be only done in remembrance of Him; NOT for receiving Him again as if His Presence are in the sacraments to receive Him again in that way nor to come into His Presence at communion as if we are walking away from His Presence after communion when He is in us and is with us always. That is why the Lord is rebuking those who profess Him here in Luke 13:24-30 as they saw the sacraments of Communion or the place where His Presence dwell at communion as a way to come to God the Father by... NOT !!!!
Luke 13:24
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
That is the iniquity Jesus is rebuking in Matthew 7:23 KJV for coming to God the Father other than the only way provided by the Father is by the way of the Son in fellowship, prayer, and especially worship.
You can discern His words with His help when obviously, your application of lawlessness as meaning the commandments as found in the Torah is not the iniquity being talked about in the context of that message, because the excuses they that profess Him say. those excuses comes about by doing that iniquity. Believers that preach another baptism with the Holy Ghost with evidence of tongues apart from salvation, slain in the spirit, holy laughter movement, Toronto's Blessings, Pennsacola Outpouring, and even Ernest Angeley's Healing Crusade can all say those excuses in Matthew 7:21-23 but those excuses were not of Him when they came about by doing that iniquity of how they cam to God the Father by.
Paul reminds believers when the Holy Spirit has been received which was when we had first believed at the calling of the gospel; thus by faith in Jesus Christ. That is the tradition taught of us as we are to keep and defend the faith thereby.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
So that is the actual iniquity spoken of in Matthew 7:23 and not lawlessness in general, because believers do not fall down for not doing the commandment of the Torah. I see no believers falling down for not attending services on the sabbath. But I see believers falling down when they approach God the Father by way of the Holy Spirit rather than by the only way of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Context matters, brother. That is why lawlessness cannot be the correct word when no one loses self control and fall backwards for not heeding His words of the commandment of His invitation to only come to God the Father by Jesus Christ.
Jeremiah 6:19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. KJV
I do believe you have a Bible version that has been changed to suit its denominational belief when scripture never used the term Torah at all to begin with. Quoted from the link below at this site that teaches your belief, I think.
Torah Definition
"We should note that the usual translation of this word as law is not quite accurate.[1] One of the most common ways that torah (תורה) is rendered in the Septuagint (LXX)[2] is by using the word nomosv, nomo?. The Greek word nomos, however, has a variety of uses, among which, to be sure, is law, but it is certainly not limited to law. Following the precedent set by the LXX, the Newer Covenant Scriptures consistently render the Hebrew torah by the term nomos. This is where things begin to become confusing. Sometimes, in the Newer Covenant Scriptures, it is appropriate to translate nomos as law. However, other times it is more appropriate to render it as God's teaching/instruction, or simply to transliterate the term as Torah. The context of the word is always the final determiner of its meaning. ".
It seems to me they had changed the places in your Bible version where Torah was never used before as evidence by the KJV. So when you read the New Testament, you are understandably influenced to see any reference of law as meaning the Torah in regards to your belief as if you are still under the Old Covenant like a Jew where the emphasis is on him to keep the law rather than the New Covenant.where the emphasis is on Him for us to believe He will help us to follow Him and not just save us by believing in Him and that God raised Him from the dead. If you read these verses below, there is no mention of Torah for you to be saved by.
Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. KJV
I do not know what Bible version you are using, but do read the Book of Galatians in the KJV at this link and compare it with your version. Do ask Jesus Christ for His help to see the truth in His words to expose the darkness you are in.
BibleGateway Galatians 3rd Chapter