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Jesus said, the more important matters of the law were, justice, mercy and faithfulness,(matt23:23) things the Pharisees neglected. Why did they feel they could neglect them? Because there was no literal commandment that said:
Thou shalt be just
Thou shalt be merciful
Thou shalt be faithful
The Pharisees only knew the literal letter, not the heart of the message
Jesus invoked a higher point of the law where the woman caught in adultery was concerned. He showed her mercy.
Sadly, many today appear strung up on the literal letter, rather than the heart of the message
The letter kills, but the spirit gives life
Thou shalt be just
Thou shalt be merciful
Thou shalt be faithful
The Pharisees only knew the literal letter, not the heart of the message
Jesus invoked a higher point of the law where the woman caught in adultery was concerned. He showed her mercy.
Sadly, many today appear strung up on the literal letter, rather than the heart of the message
The letter kills, but the spirit gives life
And what did Christ say about this?
Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, 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.
What does "and not to leave the other undone." tell us here?
Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, 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.
What does "and not to leave the other undone." tell us here?
Adhering to the law of Moses carnally and saying you obey the law of Moses out of gratitude to God is just blind ignorance of the truth and the power of the Holy Spirit. Those who endorse the law that works as a basic schoolmaster to bring us to repentance and into the faith of Christ are unaware of the law's purpose and do not understand that by saying they serve the law through mental obedience, that they are a servant to the law of Moses and obligated to the whole law.The scriptures validate this and use circumcision as an example of break one break them all. A simple thing to understand however this is not babies milk it's quite meaty. When a man looks to the law of Moses mentally as a indicator of his righteousness....... that man has the faith of a Pharisee and denies Christ by denying the power of His Spirit in us to keep us from transgression of His laws. The just will live by faith. If you think someone with the faith of Christ and His Spirit within them is promoting sin by teaching adherence to the Spirit through faith rather than adherence to the law of Moses and tradition through mental accent, you have been blinded and can not see the simplicity of Christ and have missed the understanding of the whole New Testament. The law came from Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of liberty through the Holy Spirit and not bondage to carnal laws. You who make your boast in the law of Moses are no different than all the murderers of the prophets and no different then those who persecuted the Apostles and disciples, who even murdered our Savior. That is what you have in common with them, opposed to the Spirit of grace and truth while attempting to justify yourself through the works of law. May God open the eyes of your heart to see the simplicity of Christ as He brings us all into all truth.
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I REPEAT:
BUT, Obedience as a way to manifest our Love for GOD, is NOT what it means by "the Letter kills".
1 John 5:2 (NIV)
[SUP]2 [/SUP] This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.
1 John 5:3 (NIV)
[SUP]3 [/SUP]This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
I see you ALSO have a Twisted Understanding of what "the Letter kills" means. Once again, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH: Obeying GOD's Old Testament Commandments to demonstrate that OUR LOVE FOR GOD is Genuine. "The Letter kills" only refers to God's condemnation of those who think they can earn their SALVATION by keeping HIS Commandments. Why does that IDEA bring condemnation from GOD? Because NO ONE in this mortal body with a sin nature can be Perfect at keeping HIS commandments, which results in making them guilty of breaking ALL OF GOD'S LAW.
James 2:10 (NIV)
[SUP]10 [/SUP] For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
I REPEAT:
BUT, Obedience as a way to manifest our Love for GOD, is NOT what it means by "the Letter kills".
1 John 5:2 (NIV)
[SUP]2 [/SUP] This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.
1 John 5:3 (NIV)
[SUP]3 [/SUP]This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
I see you ALSO have a Twisted Understanding of what "the Letter kills" means. Once again, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH: Obeying GOD's Old Testament Commandments to demonstrate that OUR LOVE FOR GOD is Genuine. "The Letter kills" only refers to God's condemnation of those who think they can earn their SALVATION by keeping HIS Commandments. Why does that IDEA bring condemnation from GOD? Because NO ONE in this mortal body with a sin nature can be Perfect at keeping HIS commandments, which results in making them guilty of breaking ALL OF GOD'S LAW.
James 2:10 (NIV)
[SUP]10 [/SUP] For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
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S
I can attempt to provide a possible understanding that shows He operated within the boundaries of the Law in this case. It's certainly a debatable understanding, but please consider...
The first thing to recognize is the Torah (Law) scholars and Pharisees were attempting to trap the Messiah, as explained in v.6. They essentially give Him two options:
(A) Would He advocate enforcing the punishment of the Law, thus giving them ground to accuse Him before the Romans? (The Romans had taken away the power of corporal punishment from the Sanhedrin.) This could likely also make Him very unpopular with the crowds.
Or...
(B) Would He demonstrate mercy, thus putting aside the punishment of the Law and giving them legal ground to accuse Him as being a Law-breaker who sanctions adultery?
The previous confrontations with the Torah (Law) scholars and Pharisees were on debatable issues (healing on the Sabbath, picking and eating grain on the Sabbath, eating with unwashed hands, etc.) since the Law did not address them directly. But on the issue in this passage, the Law is clear: anyone convicted of adultery was to be put to death, and stoned specifically if the woman was betrothed at the time (cf., Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22).
I believe the Messiah takes a very interesting approach to dealing with the trap. Instead of choosing one of the two options with which they intend to trap Him, He chooses a third option whereby He is able to demonstrate both Law-abidance and mercy. The Law sets up a legal process to deal with these types of charges: a trial is to be carried out in a Torah court of Law, and two or three witnesses are required to convict someone of a charge (cf., Deut. 19:15). In some cases, the witnesses are to be the first ones to throw the stones, then followed by the rest of the people (Deut. 17:6-7).
Some readers of this passage may be quick to say that the Messiah dismisses the Law here, thus choosing option B, but that would have given the Torah (Law) scholars and Pharisees legal ground to accuse Him. Instead, through His action of writing on the ground and what He says to the crowd, He disqualifies the witnesses. This is different from simply dismissing the Law in favor of mercy. Instead, the punishment of the Law is unable to be carried out in this particular instance because its legal requirements are not met. Without witnesses, there can be no trial or conviction and, in that case, the Law says that the woman must go free. Thus, the Messiah upheld the Law while simultaneously demonstrating mercy, all within the boundaries of the Law itself.
I believe this to be especially important because, in doing so, He demonstrates both qualities of the Father: righteous in His judgments, and compassionate in His mercies. There is also a parallel to what the Father accomplished through the Messiah's atoning sacrifice: atonement is not achieved by dismissing the Law and its commands, but instead by satisfying its legal demands through the Messiah, and thus allowing mercy (aka, grace) to be shown to His children. The Messiah doesn't eliminate the legal need for a death to pay the wage of sin; He takes on the full measure of the Law's punishment, pays the wage Himself and dies the death we deserve as sinners. Like the woman in the story, He sets us free from condemnation and then, like the woman in the story, tells us, "Go, and sin no more."
The first thing to recognize is the Torah (Law) scholars and Pharisees were attempting to trap the Messiah, as explained in v.6. They essentially give Him two options:
(A) Would He advocate enforcing the punishment of the Law, thus giving them ground to accuse Him before the Romans? (The Romans had taken away the power of corporal punishment from the Sanhedrin.) This could likely also make Him very unpopular with the crowds.
Or...
(B) Would He demonstrate mercy, thus putting aside the punishment of the Law and giving them legal ground to accuse Him as being a Law-breaker who sanctions adultery?
The previous confrontations with the Torah (Law) scholars and Pharisees were on debatable issues (healing on the Sabbath, picking and eating grain on the Sabbath, eating with unwashed hands, etc.) since the Law did not address them directly. But on the issue in this passage, the Law is clear: anyone convicted of adultery was to be put to death, and stoned specifically if the woman was betrothed at the time (cf., Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22).
I believe the Messiah takes a very interesting approach to dealing with the trap. Instead of choosing one of the two options with which they intend to trap Him, He chooses a third option whereby He is able to demonstrate both Law-abidance and mercy. The Law sets up a legal process to deal with these types of charges: a trial is to be carried out in a Torah court of Law, and two or three witnesses are required to convict someone of a charge (cf., Deut. 19:15). In some cases, the witnesses are to be the first ones to throw the stones, then followed by the rest of the people (Deut. 17:6-7).
Some readers of this passage may be quick to say that the Messiah dismisses the Law here, thus choosing option B, but that would have given the Torah (Law) scholars and Pharisees legal ground to accuse Him. Instead, through His action of writing on the ground and what He says to the crowd, He disqualifies the witnesses. This is different from simply dismissing the Law in favor of mercy. Instead, the punishment of the Law is unable to be carried out in this particular instance because its legal requirements are not met. Without witnesses, there can be no trial or conviction and, in that case, the Law says that the woman must go free. Thus, the Messiah upheld the Law while simultaneously demonstrating mercy, all within the boundaries of the Law itself.
I believe this to be especially important because, in doing so, He demonstrates both qualities of the Father: righteous in His judgments, and compassionate in His mercies. There is also a parallel to what the Father accomplished through the Messiah's atoning sacrifice: atonement is not achieved by dismissing the Law and its commands, but instead by satisfying its legal demands through the Messiah, and thus allowing mercy (aka, grace) to be shown to His children. The Messiah doesn't eliminate the legal need for a death to pay the wage of sin; He takes on the full measure of the Law's punishment, pays the wage Himself and dies the death we deserve as sinners. Like the woman in the story, He sets us free from condemnation and then, like the woman in the story, tells us, "Go, and sin no more."
i.e. a child imitates his father. a child walking in light does what yahshua hamashiach did/does on earth.
understandably, it is truly so rare that most people never see this or/and they don't value this enough to ask abba elohim to help them. and they don't trust yahweh sovereign creator enough to listen to him to
do what he says to do to be saved from sin and from hasatan and from the power of the world and from the power of death, let alone to ever see heaven, let let alone to ever ever enter the kingdom of heaven.....
understandably, it is truly so rare that most people never see this or/and they don't value this enough to ask abba elohim to help them. and they don't trust yahweh sovereign creator enough to listen to him to
do what he says to do to be saved from sin and from hasatan and from the power of the world and from the power of death, let alone to ever see heaven, let let alone to ever ever enter the kingdom of heaven.....
S
On literal commands being obeyed, that's certainly how they were received and intended to be carried out at the time of their revelation. Fast forward to Messiah, He demonstrates how walking in faith and love adds a much needed dimension to God's will which was expressed in the commands. "Do not commit adultery" is a command and adultery is a sin, and He says looking at a woman to lust after her is committing adultery in the heart. It's additive, not replacing -- He says do not commit physical adultery or adultery in the heart. There is certainly no implication that the deeper meaning replaces the literal meaning. I believe He is attempting to perfect our faith, which is essentially how we live out God's will for us. We're still dead if we can keep from committing physical adultery but are burning in our hearts with lust. The outside of the cup is clean but the inside is filthy, so to speak. Taking care of the internal burning lust will also result in a literal keeping of the command: no physical adultery will be committed. There is no way to truly keep the deeper meaning without keeping the literal. Is sex outside of marriage permitted if there is somehow no internal lust involved? No way! Or is that even possible? Any physical act like that is symptomatic of a much deeper spiritual problem. Both need to be purified.
S
In fact, to amend what I said, maybe "additive" isn't even the right word. It might best be explained as "revelatory." Meaning that the Messiah is revealing the full meaning of the command, "Do not commit adultery." It's not just limited to physical acts, as one might incorrectly assume, but also includes adultery in the heart. I believe this is part of what the Messiah meant when He said he came to "fulfill" the Law: He came to reveal it's full meaning or complete our understanding of it.
"The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law and make it honorable" -- Isaiah 42:21 (KJV)
"The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law and make it honorable" -- Isaiah 42:21 (KJV)
you might even say it the way Yahweh says it, as Yahshua reveals to His little children - behold, I give you a new heart, that doesn't burn with lust, that's not greedy, that's not selfish....
if you are in Me, if you abide in Me, you have a generous eye and your body is full of light. if not,
if you have a stingy eye, your eye is in darkness and your whole body is dark.
with a new heart, with a renewed mind, you love to do what is good and right before Yahweh.
if you desire to sin, and keep sinning, you are not in Me and My Word is not in you.
if you are in Me, if you abide in Me, you have a generous eye and your body is full of light. if not,
if you have a stingy eye, your eye is in darkness and your whole body is dark.
with a new heart, with a renewed mind, you love to do what is good and right before Yahweh.
if you desire to sin, and keep sinning, you are not in Me and My Word is not in you.