I think Jesus claiming that he has come to “fulfill” the Mosaic law is both true and not true. On one hand, it is true that Jesus has come to “fulfill” the law. In my interpretation, to “fulfill” the law means to give a deeper, clearer, and more detailed explanation of the law. One example that illustrates my argument is about the law of murder. In the ancient times, the law of murder says that “whoever murders shall be liable to judgment” (5-21). Here, the ancient law only provides the word “murder” instead of giving detailed examples or explanation of what “murder” means or includes. Without providing such explanation, people can have different interpretations of “murder.” Some might think “murder” means killing someone while others might …show more content…
In my interpretation, to “abolish” the law means to completely change the understanding of the law. One example to show Jesus’s abolishment of the law can be Jesus’s change regarding to retaliation. Before, the Mosaic law allows people to do what others do to you: “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (5-38). However, Jesus provides a completely different law regarding to retaliation: “do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile” (5-39). Here, this quotation might suggest that Jesus neither allow people to resist nor to revenge; instead, people should use nonviolent resistance by letting the evildoer harm more. We can see that the interpretation between the former law and the contemporary law is completely different. Thus, in some examples, it is true that Jesus has come to “abolish” the …show more content…
I don’t think these statements contradict one another. First, it is important to understand the reason behind Jesus’s decision to send out his twelve disciples. In the Matthew, the Twelve has their mission which is “to unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness” (10-1). Here, we can know that Jesus sends out his disciples out of love; in other words, Jesus is concerned about their enemies and he loves the enemy. Second, Jesus does not ask the Twelve to resist evildoer; instead, he asks the Twelve to “receive without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food” (10-8). This quotation demonstrates that the Twelve are there to offer instead of resisting or taking. What’s more, Jesus only asks the Twelve to beware of the enemies instead of harming them. Therefore, we can conclude that the motivations behind the visit are love and offering. Third, when Jesus asks the disciples to be “as wise as serpents and innocent as doves,” I think Jesus wants them to be cunning and clever. It is reasonable for Jesus to say such words: since they have already shown their love to the enemies, they should also be cunning and clever enough to protect themselves from any pagan territory. In conclusion, I don’t think these statements contradict one
Throughout the history of man there has always existed a sort of rule pertaining to retribution for just and unjust acts. For the just came rewards, and for the unjust came punishments. This has been a law as old as time. One philosophy about the treatment of the unjust is most controversial in modern time and throughout our history; which is is the ethical decision of a death penalty. This controversial issue of punishment by death has been going on for centuries. It dates back to as early as 399 B.C.E., to when Socrates was forced to drink hemlock for his “corruption of the youth” and “impiety”.
It is a lesson that Jesus reiterates during his ministry, and places great emphasis upon. When asked which is the greatest commandment in the law, Jesus replies, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart… And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.’” (Matthew 22:37,39-40) That loving one’s neighbor comes second to loving God Himself illustrates the importance of this fundamental doctrine. Jesus develops this principle further by explicitly expanding it to include enemies as well as neighbors. “You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” (1 Cor. 5:43-45) Jesus ties being a child of God to loving one’s neighbors as well as his enemies. This further emphasizes the significance of this act, and justifies why it is such a core element of Paul’s
Furthermore, Jesus says that those who do not hate their mothers and fathers cannot be disciples of him (Thomas 42:25-27). Likewise, in Luke, Jesus says that whomever comes to him and does not hate their family and life itself cannot be a disciple of his (Luke 14:26). In similar fashion, the gospel of Matthew recalls that Jesus said whoever loves their father, mother, son or daughter more than him is not worthy of him (Matthew 10:37). As discussed before, the language of each gospel is vastly different. While this is true, the message of each has the same point, Jesus wants to be the most loved by his disciples, even if that means that his followers hate their own families and lives. Again, it can be concluded that Jesus of Nazareth made this statement, as he felt his followers should love him most and have unwavering faith in him. If they did this, then they one could be granted access into the
S: Well, as followers of Jesus we should fulfill the Jewish law; we should even take it as far and fulfill it better than the Pharisees and scribes. In my opinion, the Gospel of Matthew does not tell to abandon the Jewish law; it in fact, says the opposite. Jesus fulfills this Law and prophecy!
Disciples take someone as their leader and try to do what they say. It is possible to be a disciple of anybody, but all Christians are disciples of Jesus. An Apostle is a selected disciple. There were only 12, and were chosen by Jesus to be leaders of the other disciples. At the time of Jesus, He had a following of about 300-400 ordinary disciples.
When it comes to making judgements on the merits of others, it seems as though Jesus is quite set on relaying to his disciples the dangers of hypocrisy. One’s own actions must be accounted for before trying to account for the actions of others. Lessons of this kind would have helped to empower early Christians to better apply some sort of objective consistency to their lives. Jesus conveyed such concepts
In his article “Applying the Old Testament Law Today”, J. Daniel Hays brings out many positive and negative reasons why some believers tend to ignore many Old Testament Laws and embrace others. Hays emphasize how different evangelical scholars use moral, civil and ceremonial laws to help believers know whether a particular Mosaic Law applies to them. (Hays, 22) Ironically, we were taught in church and Bible study different ways to apply Matthew 25:39, “Love your neighbor as yourself”, to our daily living. Once an individual put this into action, they will begin to understand the true meaning of giving and how to love the way Jesus directed us to in the Bible.
... harmed. These verses are a good example of how the disciples performed discipleship because Jesus is again telling them what they are to do as disciples of Christ.
The Old Testament law is seen as irrelevant by most modern Christians today. Christians are now under the blood of Jesus Christ which is said to abrogate the Law. Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” The law of Christ is to love God and your neighbor as yourself. This does not mean, however, that the Old Testament Law does not apply to Christians today. Author J. Daniel Hays expounds on this topic in his article, “Applying the Old Testament Law Today,” and focuses on the hermeneutical approach of Principlism. This approach allows the Old Testament Law to be viewed in light of the New Testament.
Equally important, he expresses how Jesus had to apply his love-ethic to the enemy. Not to mention, Thurman expound on three ways the enemy will attack, the first being the personal enemy, one who is in some sense a part of one’s primary-group life that I can relate to. Ordinarily, to love such an enemy requires reconciliation, the will to re-establish a relationship. Also, it involves confession of error and a seeking to be restored to one’s former place also the kind of enemy that the disinherited find easy to deal with. Furthermore, I’m in agreement with Howard Thurman that such conflict may have resulted from misunderstanding or harsh words growing out of a hot temper also too much pride on either side to make amends (Thurman
Murder is defined by Curtis (1910) as the act of killing another human being (p.639). This is done unlawfully and with malice aforethought. Most of the time, those convicted of murder are found guilty for reasons of previous violence with the victim, intention on the action, and how much they dwelt on their feelings (Spackman, Belcher, Calapp, & Taylor, 2002, p.616). For example, if the defendant had a history of violence against the victim, intended the action, and dwelt on their feelings, they were most likely to be convicted of
To understand how Milton’s use of Mosaic Law, it is crucial to understand what it is. After Moses led the Hebrews through the desert, he was enlisted by God to act as a mediator between the Him and His people. Moses received the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai and received from God “multifarious enactments, by the observance of which Israel [was] to be moulded into a theocratic nation,” thus the installment of Mosaic Legislation on the Israelites. (Moses) Starting with the Ten Commandments, the Law of Moses is “the laws that God gave to the Israelites through Moses; it includes many rules of religious observances given in the first five books of the Old Testament.” (Mosaic Law) Among the guidelines set forth by God through Moses were guidelines regarding diet (Leviticus 11:3), the consecration of priests (Exodus 29:5-9) and marriage (Exodus 22:16).
Jesus has just begun his ministry and had started to teach people about God and how to live according to God’s divine will. Opposition of Jesus’ teachings began to come from the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, chief priests and scribes. All of whom have communal status and lived life according to the Law of Moses, the foundation of the religion Judaism. Before the statement that Jesus made
Luther states “the law is spiritual. If the law were for the body, it could be satisfied with works. Because it is spiritual, however, no one can satisfy it- unless all that you do is done from the bottom of the heart” (Luther 77). What Luther really means by this is that law can only be fulfilled where there is a spiritual heart and where that spirit is absent from the heart then there is sin and dissatisfaction with the law. A law is achieved by doing works which God decides if we are performing these tasks with the will of God from the heart. However, one will be punished by God for performing deeds when there is no heart because God is not satisfied by individuals who only do good works when others are watching or to get something in return. (Luther 76). Laws are meant to keep the sinful attributes of individuals under control through the fear of punishment. The law shows anyone that compares their life to Christ’s life who was without sin that he or she is sinful. God gave us law not because he is harsh but to help society maintain order and is also a guide so that we can know what good works will please God. The book of laws are found in the Old Testament which teaches what individuals can and cannot do. The Old Testament is comprised of the demanding of good, stories of how laws can be maintained or broken, and promising the forgiveness of sin (Luther 98). The apostles use the
Unfortunately for Christians, there is actually very little law in the Bible -- either Old Testament or New -- that is original. Consider the Torah of the ancient Jews. The laws of the Babylonians, Assyrians, Sumerians, Hammurapi, Eshnunna, Hittites, Mishnah, and Israelites all bear a striking resemblance to each other, due to widespread copying of laws. Shared social norms produced identical laws against sorcery, kidnapping, sale of an abducted person, false witness, business dishonesty, bribing judges, property right violations, shutting off irrigation canals used by others, etc. The complete list of identical laws and customs is quite extensive. & nbsp; Nor is the New Testament's approach to the law unique.