| Author | Message | ||
| Bskillet Registered user Username: Bskillet Post Number: 88 Registered: 8-2008 |
Having trouble understanding what Jesus is referring to as "these commandments" in Matt 5:19. If he means the commandments in the Law and the Prophets, then that is a major problem for New Covenant Theology. If He means the commandments He is about to give, then those commands are clearly based on the Law of Christ, not the Law of Moses. So what exactly does He mean? | ||
| 8thday Registered user Username: 8thday Post Number: 592 Registered: 11-2007  |
The commandments he's about to give - imo. As we were seeing the new covenant, this hit me very strong one day - I won't say "God told me" but it seemed very much like the Holy Spirit teaching me. I had never heard that interpretation before, but later, found others who saw it this way as well. I also saw that where the 10C are the introductory summary to the rest of the law given on Mt. Sinai - this sermon parlleled that event, and superseceded it. Matthew spends a great deal of time establishing Jesus as a higher authority than anything that has gone before. Then, we see Jesus on a Mountain, giving the updated version of Torah for his followers. The Beatitudes were the preamble and introductory summary to the rest of the commands. When I looked at it in detail, I could see how they corresponded to what he explained, and I never saw that before either. When all that hit me one day, I think I was walking on a cloud for about a week! ha. I can't "prove" it to anyone - but when a spiritual truth hits your innermost parts - you know. =) It truly is - the Law of Christ, and for the first time, I saw a distinction between that and the 10C. Both are based on the same principles, but one is much higher than the other, dealing with the root, our nature, and not the externals. If the "least of these commands" is from the 10C - it wasn't just the 10C because the term "law" referred to ALL of it. To be consistent, you would have to still be teaching circumcision, all holy days, every jot and tittle. (It's not passed away. We can still read it. It stands as a witness to the authenticity of Jesus being the Messiah, but we are not "under" it.) We know from the rest of the NT this is not the case. So.. I only have one logical conclusion. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath, and the Law, and it is HIM we look to, not Moses. Sondra | ||
| Bskillet Registered user Username: Bskillet Post Number: 89 Registered: 8-2008 |
Found this on the World-Wide Church of God website. Their resources are a virtual goldmine to recovering Pharisees like me. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 9151 Registered: 12-2003  |
Great, insights, Sondra! Thank you! I'd never thought about it in quite that way. Also, Jesus says that whoever teaches anyone to break these commands would be least in the kingdom of heaven. Interestingly, He doesn't state they would be outside the kingdom. Since I understand, from John 3:4-6, that the requisite for entering the kingdom of heaven is being born of the Spirit, I have to assume that in Matthew 5, Jesus is talking about something completely different from the Jewish understanding of Law-keeping being a requisite for entrance into the kingdom of heaven. Colleen | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 2548 Registered: 10-2004  |
Good point, Colleen. The SDAs try to claim that "least in the kingdom" meant "won't enter the kingdom." I think that twisting of the text comes from Ellen... Jeremy | ||
| Gcfrankie Registered user Username: Gcfrankie Post Number: 274 Registered: 1-2007 |
Bskillet, Thank-you for the link. I skimmed it and then made a copy so I can read it more in depth and also to add to my stash of information. Gail | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 572 Registered: 7-2007 |
Matthew 5:19 can be understood perfectly in the context of the two verses before it. The "law and the prophets" were ALL of the laws given to Israel. Adventists love to quote verses 17 and 18 to try to prove that the 10 Cs are still in place. What they don't understand is that Jesus was referring to ALL the law and the prophets - all 613 commands, including circumcision, etc. He said that NOTHING would pass from the law and the prophets "till all is fulfilled." So either ALL of the 613 commands are in force today or they have been fulfilled by Jesus when He died and by dying, brought in a new covenant. |
