A difference in extremes...?

I think when He talks about cutting off your hand or plucking out an eye it can be assumed that this won't have to happen since neither your eye nor your hand make you sin.

Sometimes in the OT God would say things in a way that were really sort of figures of speech like " For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices." Jer 7:22

This verse along with some others has cause some people to believe that part of the Torah is a lie because this is contradicted, but I think it just shows that sometimes God's not speaking in a literal way. The trouble is sometimes, knowing when to take it literally and when not to.

Neogaia777 said:

I'd like to discuss a difference in extremes...? That is wisdom...

We were all leaning to one extreme, the extreme of wrong and injustice...

In order to offset that, we had to be presented and exposed to, the opposite extreme(s)...

Which is some of what Jesus did... Extremes like cutting of your hand or arm, or giving everything and all to the poor, no matter where that put you...

I don't think he (Christ) meant for us to necessarily go to those extremes, but was more intended for us to "meet in the middle" and find a "balance" (between the extremes), which is wisdom...

For example, giving away literally everything you have or own, would put you in a position to not be able to do that at all anymore in the future... And I don't think that is what he (Christ) meant, intended or wanted...

We were just all leaning so far to one unrighteous extreme, that it's opposite had to be presented, and was needed to offset the extreme we were on and were leaning toward or to...

Wisdom finds a balance, wisdom, meets somewhere in the middle of the two extremes...

So, let's discuss this wisdom...

Comment is invited...

God Bless!

Click to expand...

The Older Covenants tell us to "love" wisdom. The Hebrew word for "love" is ahab and means: to breath-after, to desire-passionately which makes far more sense then the English word "love".

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He(Jesus) had answered them well, asked Him, "What commandment(entolE, in-destiny, charge) is the foremost of all?"

Jesus answered(quoting the OT into Greek), "The foremost is, 'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL(in the future) agapE-LOVE(take an interest in, desire, breathe after) THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART(innermost being), AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL(psuchE, your natural instinctive intellect, your natural breath, which includes discernment), AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND(dianoia--though-thinking, channels of thought), AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.' "The second is this, 'YOU SHALL(in the future) agapE-LOVE(take an interest in, desire) YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment(entolE, in-destiny, charge) greater than these."

The scribe said to Him, "Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM; AND TO agapE-LOVE(ahab OT) HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING(includes both psuchE and dianoia) AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO agapE-LOVE(desire, take an interest in) ONE'S NEIGHBOR(associate) AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.

When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of[-thee] God." After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions. Mark 12:28-34 NASB

Wisdom is not a "middle-ground"! It is the cutting edge! It is independent of opinion. Take it or, leave it! Take it my friend and wield this sword gracefully!

Neogaia777 said:

I'd like to discuss a difference in extremes...? That is wisdom...

We were all leaning to one extreme, the extreme of wrong and injustice...

In order to offset that, we had to be presented and exposed to, the opposite extreme(s)...

Which is some of what Jesus did... Extremes like cutting of your hand or arm, or giving everything and all to the poor, no matter where that put you...

I don't think he (Christ) meant for us to necessarily go to those extremes, but was more intended for us to "meet in the middle" and find a "balance" (between the extremes), which is wisdom...

For example, giving away literally everything you have or own, would put you in a position to not be able to do that at all anymore in the future... And I don't think that is what he (Christ) meant, intended or wanted...

We were just all leaning so far to one unrighteous extreme, that it's opposite had to be presented, and was needed to offset the extreme we were on and were leaning toward or to...

Wisdom finds a balance, wisdom, meets somewhere in the middle of the two extremes...

So, let's discuss this wisdom...

Comment is invited...

God Bless!

Click to expand...

The Older Covenants tell us to "love" wisdom. The Hebrew word for "love" is ahab and means: to breath-after, to desire-passionately which makes far more sense then the English word "love".

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He(Jesus) had answered them well, asked Him, "What commandment(entolE, in-destiny, charge) is the foremost of all?"

Jesus answered(quoting the OT into Greek), "The foremost is, 'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL(in the future) agapE-LOVE(take an interest in, desire, breathe after) THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART(innermost being), AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL(psuchE, your natural instinctive intellect, your natural breath, which includes discernment), AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND(dianoia--though-thinking, channels of thought), AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.' "The second is this, 'YOU SHALL(in the future) agapE-LOVE(take an interest in, desire) YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment(entolE, in-destiny, charge) greater than these."

The scribe said to Him, "Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM; AND TO agapE-LOVE(ahab OT) HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING(includes both psuchE and dianoia) AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO agapE-LOVE(desire, take an interest in) ONE'S NEIGHBOR(associate) AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.

When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of[-thee] God." After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions. Mark 12:28-34 NASB

Wisdom is not a "middle-ground"! It is the cutting edge! It is independent of opinion. Take it or, leave it! Take it my friend and wield this sword gracefully!

..."but was more intended for us to "meet in the middle" and find a "balance" (between the extremes), which is wisdom"...

Object to this definition of "wisdom".

James 1:5
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

wisdom...Greek 4678...sophia...
B.supreme intelligence, such as belongs to God
i.to Christ
ii.the wisdom of God as evinced in forming and executing counsels in the formation and government of the world and the scriptures
broad and full of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very diverse matters
A.the wisdom which belongs to men

1 Kings 4:34
Men came from all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.

the wisdom...Hebrew 2451...chokmah...
A.skill (in war)
B.wisdom (in administration)
C.shrewdness, wisdom
D.wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs)
E.wisdom (ethical and religious)

James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is
first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

1 Corinthians 2:13
which things we also speak,
not in words taught by human wisdom,
but in those taught by the Spirit,
combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

2 Chronicles 1: 8-11(NASB)...Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom
Solomon said to God,
“You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and have made me king in his place.
Now, O Lord God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.
Give me now wisdom and knowledge,
that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?”
God said to Solomon,
“Because you had this (prayer) in mind,
and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king,
wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you.
And I will give you riches and wealth and honor,
such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will come after you.”

Job 28:12 [ The Search for Wisdom Is Harder ]
“But where can wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?

Job 28:28 ... ‘Behold, the fear (respect) of the LORD, that is wisdom;
And to depart from evil is understanding.’

Psalm 111:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.

Proverbs 19:8
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good.

Matthew 13:54; also Mark 6:2 ... “Where did this man (Jesus) get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?

Romans 11:33
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

1 Corinthians 2:5 ...so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

2 Timothy 3:15
and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.