"The least of these..."

[pinacled]

Going back over Revelation and thought to share.
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

12 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great RED dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

14 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

I wonder what one of the least of these commandments is.
By Faith Noah followed the Lords instruction.
Foundation comes to mind.

 

[BelieveTheWord]

But, later He, our awesome Lord, : ) says, (Matthew 5:33-39)


"Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.' But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the erth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil.

The commandment is that IF you make a vow, you must fulfill. We are not commanded to make vows, so it is safer simply not to.

You have heard that is was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also..."

-Greg

Yeshua is speaking to the general public. "An eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth" command was given only to the judges. This was to prevent corruption. Someone of the general public had the RIGHT to go to a judge for such a ruling. Yeshua is advising them (non-judges) to have mercy instead.

 

[Gregory Wilson]

Yeshua/Jesus is the School Master
Giving the Ear for the Awl.
Turning the other cheek?


Deuteronomy 15 King James Version (KJV)
15 At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.

2 And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the Lord's release.

3 Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;

4 Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the Lord shall greatly bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it:

5 Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day.

6 For the Lord thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.

7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:

8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.

9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee.

10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

12 And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.

13 And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:

14 Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.

Pinacled, I'm sorry, I don't understand your post - how it relates to the thread. Could you explain?

 

[Gregory Wilson]

The commandment is that IF you make a vow, you must fulfill. We are not commanded to make vows, so it is safer simply not to.

Thank you, BelieveTheWord, for your response. What scripture are you referring to that says "IF you make a vow"? Because the way Jesus quotes it, it does not say if, it just says you shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.

Yeshua is speaking to the general public. "An eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth" command was given only to the judges. This was to prevent corruption. Someone of the general public had the RIGHT to go to a judge for such a ruling. Yeshua is advising them (non-judges) to have mercy instead.

Interesting, interesting.. I'd have to look at the context of the command to verify what you're saying. It makes sense, though.

Thank you.

 

[Gregory Wilson]

American Standard Version:
Lev 24:19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbor; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him:
Lev 24:20 breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be rendered unto him.

So how do we know this is written to the judges? Thank you.

 

[Lulav]

Thank you, Lulav! This post was especially helpful to me. I'm seeing how the law and mercy fit together.
As for modifications I see, see the following:

After Jesus makes His statement about the Law, and keeping and teaching the least of the commandments, he then goes into a section where he says what people have heard, contrasted to what He says. The first is "you shall not commit murder" (Matthew 5:21). He modifies it by going to the heart - everyone who is angry with his brother.
That does not contradict the command to not murder, so we are good.

But, later He, our awesome Lord, : ) says, (Matthew 5:33-39)


"Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.' But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the erth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil.

You have heard that is was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also..."


So, in the above 2 instances, Jesus is really quoting Old Testament scriptures, because in my bible the text quoted is in all caps, which means its a direct quote. And so it looks likes He's modifying the law by saying just let your statement be 'Yes, yes' instead of making vows to the Lord, as the law says. Why is this, when He's just said whoever keeps and teaches the least of the commandments will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19)?
And then in the next instance, He quotes another scripture - "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." And He says to not seek this kind of justice, but to turn the other cheek. Seems like Jesus is changing what the Law taught again.

Thank you, and God bless.

-Greg

If we go upon the assumption that Jesus came to change the law or abolish it then he could not be the sinless savior. Also he would be contradicting himself because he said that those who keep and teach the commandments will be great in heaven.

So we must look at it another way. right?

I'll go through each example you gave. And you need to understand that what he was doing was not giving new commandments or dissing the old, but instead making a 'drash' on the commandments and the understanding of them at the time. He was teaching the fullness, the real meaning of them and how G-d wanted them followed, not by human interpretation, but from G-d himself.

The first is "you shall not commit murder" (Matthew 5:21). He modifies it by going to the heart - everyone who is angry with his brother.

Ok, so 'You shall not commit murder' lets go to the law in the torah.

12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
13 Thou shalt not kill.
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
15 Thou shalt not steal.
16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

As you can see, it is a command without explanation. And it was interpreted as not taking a life, not harming a person so that they no longer live, breath, etc. That is the perfunctory essence of the law.
However they only abided by this and just by not taking a life, G-d was not pleased with this, because if you had malice in your heart towards them you were not keeping the second greatest law, to love your neighbor as yourself.

So this is why Jesus explained it the way he did, he was bringing the fulness to the commandment, showing the people exactly what 'do not Murder' meant. It was any malicious act towards another, it is negative and still affects them. I look at it this way, prayer is (supposed to be) positive feelings towards another when you pray for them. It is asking the creator to give them good things, health, family, safety,things you can't provide yourself, such as James taught that faith without works was dead. When you are angry with someone you are thinking negative thoughts.

But, later He, our awesome Lord, : ) says, (Matthew 5:33-39)

"Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.' But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil.

Yes, this was the ancient way back then, but he understood we are human and can easily break a vow, so why put us in that position? If we just say yes or no we do not doom ourselves to breaking other laws.

For instance, have you ever been in court and were 'sworn in'? Most US courts still use a bible I think and you have to place your hand upon it and "swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you G-d?"

You have just put your hand on G-ds word, so in essence swearing by heaven, G-d, Jerusalem and his whole creation that you will not give false witness.

You have heard that is was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also..."


So, in the above 2 instances, Jesus is really quoting Old Testament scriptures, because in my bible the text quoted is in all caps, which means its a direct quote. And so it looks likes He's modifying the law by saying just let your statement be 'Yes, yes' instead of making vows to the Lord, as the law says. Why is this, when He's just said whoever keeps and teaches the least of the commandments will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19)?
And then in the next instance, He quotes another scripture - "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." And He says to not seek this kind of justice, but to turn the other cheek. Seems like Jesus is changing what the Law taught again.

The eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth was rather a preventative law in that it showed how to act towards another human being. It is all part of Loving your neighbor as yourself. So if you would be careful not to put your own eye out, you should show the same amount of carefulness around another to not allow it to happen to them.
What he is teaching here in the 'turn the other cheek' is if someone is breaking the commandment to love another as yourself by striking you, either intentionally or unintentionally you are not to return in kind, that is not what 'eye for an eye' meant. But instead show mercy and love by not giving the same in return.

That 'kind of justice' he is speaking of is 'revenge', and this was because this law was interpreted the wrong way, as I said it was a preventative law to uphold the second greatest commandment to love others as yourself, why? because we were created in G-ds image and loving other human beings is a way to love G-d himself.

I hope this has helped you and I'm glad my previous post did as well. You are a good man for seeking to learn of his ways, especially in this day and age and I commend you for it, don't let anyone turn you off the narrow path.

Blessings

 

[pinacled]

Pinacled, I'm sorry, I don't understand your post - how it relates to the thread. Could you explain?

Think of the Depth of the Word. "Least'.
So with perspective look at the Law and the principle that has been given to us by sacrifice. And then take a deeper look at Sacrifice and what it means to be a servant. Pay attention to the patterns given they are repetitive for a reason.
Think of all the parables that were given by the Son. The Word offers insight into the Word.
Think of What Yeshua asked.
4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
And then the response.
5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
6 But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

Does this seem to you eye for an eye?

 

[Gregory Wilson]

So we must look at it another way. right?

Right!!

but instead making a 'drash'

Do you mean a "midrash"? What is a midrash exactly? I've heard the term before..

So this is why Jesus explained it the way he did, he was bringing the fulness to the commandment, showing the people exactly what 'do not Murder' meant.

Got this. yes.

Yes, this was the ancient way back then, but he understood we are human and can easily break a vow, so why put us in that position? If we just say yes or no we do not doom ourselves to breaking other laws.

But... It seems it was actually a command in the old testament - 'You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.' I don't know the reference where Jesus is quoting from, however.. So, it still seems that Jesus directly changes the law when He then says, "But I say to you, make no oath at all." Do you see what I mean?

For the "eye for an eye" I agree with you about eye for an eye not meaning you can just go get your own revenge - someone else commented that the old testament command was to the judges to do justice. The reference is below:

Lev 24:19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbor; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him:
Lev 24:20 breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be rendered unto him.

However, the above seems more than preventative - seems that justice was to be carried out by someone - eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, etc...

You are a good man for seeking to learn of his ways, especially in this day and age and I commend you for it, don't let anyone turn you off the narrow path.

Blessings

Thank you so much! I appreciate that. Yes, I seek to walk the narrow road - Torah-observant, for the laws that do apply to me directly. Thank you, and blessings to you as well.

Greg

 

[Gregory Wilson]

Think of the Depth of the Word. "Least'.
So with perspective look at the Law and the principle that has been given to us by sacrifice. And then take a deeper look at Sacrifice and what it means to be a servant. Pay attention to the patterns given they are repetitive for a reason.
Think of all the parables that were given by the Son. The Word offers insight into the Word.
Think of What Yeshua asked.
4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
And then the response.
5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
6 But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

Does this seem to you eye for an eye?

I'm sorry, Pinacled, I'm just still not really understanding you.

 

[BelieveTheWord]

American Standard Version:
Lev 24:19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbor; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him:
Lev 24:20 breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be rendered unto him.

So how do we know this is written to the judges? Thank you.

Deuteronomy 19 gives you a direct reference:
"16If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, 17then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Yahweh, before the priests and the judges who shall be in those days; 18and the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness is a false witness, and has testified falsely against his brother; 19then you shall do to him as he had thought to do to his brother: so you shall put away the evil from the midst of you. 20Those who remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil in the midst of you. 21Your eyes shall not pity; life [shall go] for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot."

You can read about instituting the judges in Exodus 18. Since they were already in effect prior to Exodus 21, Lev. 24, and Deut. 19, then they are clearly the ones intended to administer this justice. Anarchy and vigilantes were not intended. The Zealots of the era of Yeshua were those type of people and may well have promoted the idea that eye for an eye was to be exacted with or without due process.

 

[BelieveTheWord]

Thank you, BelieveTheWord, for your response. What scripture are you referring to that says "IF you make a vow"? Because the way Jesus quotes it, it does not say if, it just says you shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 23:21 and
Numbers 30:2
are not commandments to MAKE an oath, but to KEEP an oath. Also note that these oaths are made to YHWH, and Yeshua is referencing other types of oaths. We are probably lacking the context needed to fully understand what He meant, but there is certainly no opposition to Torah in what He says.

 

[Gregory Wilson]

Deuteronomy 19 gives you a direct reference:
"16If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, 17then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Yahweh, before the priests and the judges who shall be in those days; 18and the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness is a false witness, and has testified falsely against his brother; 19then you shall do to him as he had thought to do to his brother: so you shall put away the evil from the midst of you. 20Those who remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil in the midst of you. 21Your eyes shall not pity; life [shall go] for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot."

Right on, BelieveTheWord. Gotcha. The judges were to do it. That is helpful. And so Jesus was saying the person harmed should not PERSONALLY resist an evil person via revenge, etc.. But this still allows for there to be a justice system in place. Seems like Jesus always brings in the grace and mercy part of things, instead of harsh law.

"For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ." -John 1:17

 

[Gregory Wilson]

Deuteronomy 23:21 and
Numbers 30:2
are not commandments to MAKE an oath, but to KEEP an oath.

This is good! So there's never a command to make an oath anywhere? If not, then it would totally make sense - Jesus is just saying don't make one to begin with, because then you're not bound to it. Guess if I was in a court of law, and they wanted me to make an oath, I would say I can't because of my religious convictions concerning what Jesus says about not making an oath. But I will say Yes, yes, I will tell the truth. : )

 

[pinacled]

I'm sorry, Pinacled, I'm just still not really understanding you.

Do you understand abstract as an adjective?


Eye for an eye?
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

 

[visionary]

Right on, BelieveTheWord. Gotcha.
"For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ." -John 1:17

It is not that the law of Moses changed but the perception and halacha.

 

[Gregory Wilson]

Do you understand abstract as an adjective?


Eye for an eye?
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Hey Pinacled, abstract.. hmmm.. I don't see how this passage relates to eye for an eye, though.. Thank you,

-Greg

 

[Gregory Wilson]

"For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ." -John 1:17

It is not that the law of Moses changed but the perception and halacha.

Interesting thought, visionary. I would agree that the law did not change.. So how do you think the perception changed? and what does halacha mean? Thanks,

Greg

 

[visionary]

Halacha is the "loosing and binding" that Yeshua gave his disciples over. It is the interpretation of the laws. For example, believers now see Yeshua holding many of the positions found in Torah, like the sacrifice, the High Priest, etc. So now, there is no need for sacrifice, and we know that the Temple where the High Priest operates is in our mind, and the Heavenly Courts. Those are "new" perceptions from the standard Judaism of that day when Yeshua walked the earth.. It is the grace and truth found in Torah realized through Yeshua, our Messiah. It is forgiveness and mercy rather than sacrifice.

 

[visionary]

"whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven"

If I were to draw a line. At one end of the spectrum are the greatest who have held themselves to the highest standard in regard to keeping of the commandments... on down to those who "at least" acknowledge the commandments are righteous and teaching so at the margin of those found in the kingdom of heaven... and then look at the other side of the heaven and hell line find. . "except your righteousness shall exceed
the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the
kingdom of heaven" Then I must look somewhere else for my righteousness.... For it is not found in the law.. at least not enough to enter the kingdom of heaven.... and that is in Yeshua and what He has done in me, I could not have done. And that is why my faith is not legalistic, but fantastic.

 

[visionary]

When you compare the laws “Thou shalt not commit adultery” with “paying tithes”
Yeshua taught us that the law of “not committing adultery” is weightier than the law
of tithing spices but he said the law of tithing spices (Isaiah 28:25; Deut. 14:22)to
the Levites still had to be kept.

Matthew 23:23 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin (spices) and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done,and not to leave the other undone.”

You find the weightiest laws are written in stone.