Welcome to the Mountjoy Ministries Blog

This blog was authored by Bryan W. Sheldon, author and Bible teacher. His books are listed below. The studies in the blog are offered in the desire that they may be helpful in directing readers to the truths contained in the Bible.

Monday, July 9, 2012

The Messiah and His Miracles (Continued)

Conflict over the Oral Law (Continued)
Pharisees
(2) The Sermon on the Mount


Jesus addressed the teaching of the Pharisees in the Sermon on the Mount.  They taught that apart from certain identifiable renegades, all Israelites “have a share in the world to come”.[1]  Therefore, to be born a Jew was sufficient qualification for entry into the coming kingdom.  This is why the Jews of Jesus time would fall back on the defence, “we are Abraham’s children”.[2] The doctrine of the Pharisees was not designed to provide entrance into the kingdom of God, but rather to provide a righteousness that would gain status in the kingdom of God.  It was a righteousness based on works with no regard to faith.  The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7, is the teaching of the Messiah in contra-distinction to the teaching of the Sanhedrists.  His main thrust is to encourage true righteousness, and reject hypocritical righteousness.  The key text is, “I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven”.[3]  His position is clear. It is not enough to be born a Jew. And hypocritical, Pharisaic righteousness does not count.  Pursue another kind of righteousness: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”[4]

This discourse of the Messiah included examples of the oral law which the Pharisees obeyed with outward, mechanical obedience, which were then contrasted with what is really required - a heart  obedience to the true Torah.  “It was said by them of old time”, or “it hath been said”, are the formulae used to introduce the oral law.[5] 

Matthew 5.21-26 gives the first comparison: “You have heard that it was said (the oral law) to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’”  The Scribes and Pharisees taught that you were only guilty when the act was committed, but Jesus said, “I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment”.  Jesus taught that murder is premeditated and that the sin is committed when the act is planned.  God marks the premeditation, therefore Jesus taught, “agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.”   In other words, murder in the heart will count against you at the bar of God.

The second comparison is in vv.27-32:  “You have heard that it was said (the oral law) to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery’”.  The Scribes and Pharisees taught that you were only guilty when the act was committed.  “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart”.  Jesus taught that adultery is also premeditated and that the sin was committed when the act was planned.   Therefore, deal with lust quickly – metaphorically pluck out the eye and cut off the hand – lest at the bar of God it drags you down to hell.  This, of course, is the context of the Messiah’s word on divorce, for He continued (first quoting the oral law), “It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.[6]  The desire of the adulterer to put away his wife is the context of this word of the Messiah designed to protect a very vulnerable group in Jewish society.

Jesus gave three more examples contrasting the righteousness of the oral law with true righteousness.   The first of the three, it is better to have heart obedience to God than the outward performing of vows (vv.33-37). The second, it is better to have a generous heart when dealing with your fellow man, rather than follow legalism and seek “an eye for an eye”.  The third example then challenged His hearers to rise yet higher still and follow the example of the Father and “love your enemies”.

More Next Time:


[1] Sanhedrin 10.1 (Mishnah)
[2] cf.Matt.3.9; John 8.33; Lk.16.24
[3] Matt.5.20
[4] Matt.6.33
[5] Matt.5.21,27,33,38,43 (KJV)
[6] Matt.5.31,32

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