Atomizing the text vs longitudinal analysis

[Fervent]

I do not agree with you on this. Knowledge itself would not be worship, if gathered for the wrong motive (reason). The Pharisees during Jesius time on earth were extremely knowledgable and were studying extensively, so were they "worshippers of God"?

The pharisees "studying" was not seeking knowledge of God, but a means of control. We are commanded over and over again to study the Scriptures, to meditate on them day and night, from the Pentateuch to the epistles the instruction to study diligently is there. It is written:

By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.
(Proverbs 24:3-4 ESV)

 

[bling]

The pharisees "studying" was not seeking knowledge of God, but a means of control. We are commanded over and over again to study the Scriptures, to meditate on them day and night, from the Pentateuch to the epistles the instruction to study diligently is there. It is written:

By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.
(Proverbs 24:3-4 ESV)

The Pharisees knew scripture, but like you said had the wrong motive for learning scripture.

 

[Fervent]

The Pharisees knew scripture, but like you said had the wrong motive for learning scripture.

The pharisees mostly based their rulings on the halakah, which was not Scripture. They had some Scriptural knowledge, but most of their debates were over the "hedge' they placed around it just as modern Judaism is mostly based on the talmud rather than the tanakh.

 

[bling]

The pharisees mostly based their rulings on the halakah, which was not Scripture. They had some Scriptural knowledge, but most of their debates were over the "hedge' they placed around it just as modern Judaism is mostly based on the talmud rather than the tanakh.

Matt. 23:1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

Jesus, call the Pharisees “hypocrites”, but if the were ignorant of the law they would not be hypocrites, but stupid.

 

[Fervent]

Matt. 23:1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

Jesus, call the Pharisees “hypocrites”, but if the were ignorant of the law they would not be hypocrites, but stupid.

Yes, they studied the law but not the law only which is why Jesus said:

He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

in Matthew 15. Them studying the law was not an issue. Nor would it have been problematic for them to encourage others to follow it. Where it became a problem is when they placed burdensome traditions over and above what was in the law on the people from their status as keepers of the law while using those same traditions to violate the law themselves.

In any case, their motive for studying the law was not zeal and love for the law, which is commendable, but in order to raise their status in the eyes of men. They did not study so that they may know the law, so it is inappropriate to bring their example into the question between us.

 

[bling]

Yes, they studied the law but not the law only which is why Jesus said:

He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

in Matthew 15. Them studying the law was not an issue. Nor would it have been problematic for them to encourage others to follow it. Where it became a problem is when they placed burdensome traditions over and above what was in the law on the people from their status as keepers of the law while using those same traditions to violate the law themselves.

In any case, their motive for studying the law was not zeal and love for the law, which is commendable, but in order to raise their status in the eyes of men. They did not study so that they may know the law, so it is inappropriate to bring their example into the question between us.

Right! Their motive was wrong and thus they came up with wrong interpretations, so we need to hav the right motive to correctly learn from scripture.