02 Feb '10 00:04>1 edit
i also had very intense conversation with our friend thinkofone, in which he was adamant that Christ contradicted the law, and if he had knowledge of, would certainly have done so with the Pauls letters. I stated that i would take my case to the forum, so please, anyone that is interested please comment on this passage.
My line of reasoning was quite simple, Christ was speaking, not against the law itself, but the Pharisaical interpretation of the law. this was based on the following lines of reasoning
1. Christ states, 'you have heard that it was said'. This being in contrast to what he had stated elsewhere, for example when he was being tempted by Satan, 'it is written'.
2. secondly the context has shown that Christ makes reference to an attitude of thought not found in the Law, but is a clear Pharisaical interpretation of the law, namely, (Matthew 5:43) . . .“you heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. . ., naturally there is no admonition in the law which says that one must hate ones neighbour making it a reference to the Pharisaical interpretation of the law.
3.Christ himself was Jewish, practised and upheld the law and had reverence for the law indicated by the following passage, (Matthew 5:17-18) . . .Do not think I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I came, not to destroy, but to fulfill; for truly I say to you that sooner would heaven and earth pass away than for one smallest letter or one particle of a letter to pass away from the Law by any means and not all things take place. . .
now we as Christians are no longer under the mosaic Law, but i wonder if anyone would care to comment upon theses lines of reasoning and the passage in question, whether Christ was contradicting the Law, or whether he was speaking against a Pharisaical interpretation of the law. i provide the passage for easy reference, taken from the New world translation of the Holy Scriptures - thanks in advance - Robbie.
(Matthew 5:21-48) “you heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You must not murder; but whoever commits a murder will be accountable to the court of justice.’ However, I say to you that everyone who continues wrathful with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice; but whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the fiery Gehenna. . . . . . “you heard that it was said, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone that keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. . . . “Again you heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You must not swear without performing, but you must pay your vows to Jehovah.’ However, I say to you: Do not swear at all, neither by heaven, because it is God’s throne; nor by earth, because it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. Nor by your head must you swear, because you cannot turn one hair white or black. Just let your word Yes mean Yes, your No, No; for what is in excess of these is from the wicked one. “you heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ However, I say to you: Do not resist him that is wicked; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other also to him. . . . “you heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those persecuting you; that you may prove yourselves sons of you Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous. For if you love those loving you, what reward do you have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? And if you greet you brothers only, what extraordinary thing are you doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing? you must accordingly be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
My line of reasoning was quite simple, Christ was speaking, not against the law itself, but the Pharisaical interpretation of the law. this was based on the following lines of reasoning
1. Christ states, 'you have heard that it was said'. This being in contrast to what he had stated elsewhere, for example when he was being tempted by Satan, 'it is written'.
2. secondly the context has shown that Christ makes reference to an attitude of thought not found in the Law, but is a clear Pharisaical interpretation of the law, namely, (Matthew 5:43) . . .“you heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. . ., naturally there is no admonition in the law which says that one must hate ones neighbour making it a reference to the Pharisaical interpretation of the law.
3.Christ himself was Jewish, practised and upheld the law and had reverence for the law indicated by the following passage, (Matthew 5:17-18) . . .Do not think I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I came, not to destroy, but to fulfill; for truly I say to you that sooner would heaven and earth pass away than for one smallest letter or one particle of a letter to pass away from the Law by any means and not all things take place. . .
now we as Christians are no longer under the mosaic Law, but i wonder if anyone would care to comment upon theses lines of reasoning and the passage in question, whether Christ was contradicting the Law, or whether he was speaking against a Pharisaical interpretation of the law. i provide the passage for easy reference, taken from the New world translation of the Holy Scriptures - thanks in advance - Robbie.
(Matthew 5:21-48) “you heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You must not murder; but whoever commits a murder will be accountable to the court of justice.’ However, I say to you that everyone who continues wrathful with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice; but whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the fiery Gehenna. . . . . . “you heard that it was said, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone that keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. . . . “Again you heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You must not swear without performing, but you must pay your vows to Jehovah.’ However, I say to you: Do not swear at all, neither by heaven, because it is God’s throne; nor by earth, because it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. Nor by your head must you swear, because you cannot turn one hair white or black. Just let your word Yes mean Yes, your No, No; for what is in excess of these is from the wicked one. “you heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ However, I say to you: Do not resist him that is wicked; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other also to him. . . . “you heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those persecuting you; that you may prove yourselves sons of you Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous. For if you love those loving you, what reward do you have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? And if you greet you brothers only, what extraordinary thing are you doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing? you must accordingly be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.