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Biblical inconsistency?
OSV.com ^
| 07-25-18
| Msgr. Charles Pope
Posted on 07/28/2018 8:00:05 AM PDT by Salvation
Biblical inconsistency? Jesus does not negate himself but rather gives different teachings on following the commandments
Msgr. Charles Pope
7/25/2018
Question: In Matthew 5:19, Jesus rails against relaxing or changing even the least of the commandments, and yet verse 19 also says that if one does, “[he] will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.” It seems the consequences should be “losing” the kingdom of heaven if Jesus is consistent with what follows in verse 20. Can you explain the seeming inconsistency? — Jim Flynn, via email
Answer: Two different teachings are being made here, hence it is not a matter of consistency.
In verse 19, the operative teaching is that while unrepented mortal sin excludes one from the kingdom of God, not all violations of the law are mortal. Even the Ten Commandments, while indicating grave sin in themselves admit of lighter matter.
For example, regarding the Seventh Commandment, stealing a large amount or something essential or irreplaceable is usually a mortal sin. However, taking something small or insignificant, while a sin, may not be a mortal sin that excludes one from the kingdom of God. Thus, if the Lord were to adopt your word, the condemnation might be too sweeping. It does not follow that if someone breaks the least of the commandments they necessarily lose the kingdom of God.
Further, you will note that there is a kind of parallelism or play of words at work here. The Lord is saying, in effect: “If you break even the least of my teachings, I am going to call you the least!” Preachers often use such sayings in order to be memorable.
For example, consider the following word stitch: “Say what you mean, and mean what you say. But don’t say it mean.” The word “mean” unites all three phrases, but in each case a slightly different sense of the word “mean” is used.
Here, the Lord is not only being careful not to imply that even small infractions would land us in hell, but he is also being artful, resourceful and memorable by his use of a parallelism.
As for verse 20, we encounter a different teaching: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Here we are dealing with the problem of minimalism. Though the Pharisees fancied themselves meticulous observers of the law, they were very minimalist in their application of it. Jesus said they were hypocrites because they followed exacting laws about small things, such as tithing, but neglected weightier matters of the law, such as justice and mercy (cf. Mt 23:23). It is one thing to pay tithes; this is good and required. But neglecting the poor and failing to feed and teach them is far more important to God.
Jesus will develop this teaching against minimalism in the verses that follow in the Sermon on the Mount. For example, he will teach that it is not enough to avoid murder; the command requires we let God banish vengeful hatred from our hearts. It is not enough to avoid acts of adultery; we must allow God to give us chaste minds and hearts. It is not enough to avoid excessive retaliation; we ought to avoid retaliation altogether.
Therefore, the message of verse 20 is a call to exceed the minimalist notions of the law. Grace equips us for more, and we are expected to attain more by that grace. The old law could not save. Only the “new law” of grace can save or make us sufficiently holy to enter heaven.
Thus verse 19 speaks of little things, verse 20 of weightier things.
TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: bible; catholic; context; ignoretrolls; tickytackytrolling; yopios
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To: boatbums
.
I recognize that you do not accept Paul's apostolic authority, but you're out on a limb.
There are now hundreds of Hebrew NT papiri that date older than any known Greek. And all of them with a Vatican pedigree that goes back centuries
341
posted on
08/02/2018 8:53:47 PM PDT
by
editor-surveyor
(Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
To: boatbums
Rood’s garbage isn’t even a gospel; it’s not good news at all. It’s nothing but a tired old retread of the Judiazer heresy brought back by a charlatan whose only theological training came from two serial rapists at the The Way International cult.
And it’s believed only by people who A: have itching ears and an obsession with convincing themselves that they’re smarter than everyone else, or B: Haven’t even read Scripture in ANY language.
342
posted on
08/02/2018 10:11:46 PM PDT
by
Luircin
To: editor-surveyor
I recognize that you do not accept Paul's apostolic authority, but you're out on a limb. You recognize nothing of the kind. Where have I ever denied the truths that Paul taught through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit? I've posted reams of Scripture from his writings - most that you either ignore or twist so badly you have him contradicting himself. In fact, you are the one claiming that he wasn't writing Scripture, not me.
There are now hundreds of Hebrew NT papiri that date older than any known Greek. And all of them with a Vatican pedigree that goes back centuries
Prove it! Have you actually seen them or are you just believing whatever Gordon and Rood say? There are THOUSANDS of Greek manuscript copies of entire NT books. Are you going to ever answer my question about why the Holy Spirit would inspire Hebrew language autographs when Greek was the language in use in most of the world at that time? Do you realize that many of the Jews back then didn't even know Hebrew? Will you address my question about why you imply God could not preserve His word and ensure the truth was preached throughout the whole world?
Continue to pretend you have secret knowledge and only your little cult will be saved in the end, but I will sleep soundly because I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. Still praying for you!
343
posted on
08/02/2018 10:45:39 PM PDT
by
boatbums
(Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy he saved us.)
To: Luircin
It always amazes me how easily some people fall into cults. Like Scripture says, they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They want to be tickled with secrets and flattering words so that they can feel special and above everyone else. They are really going to be having a rude awakening some day.
344
posted on
08/02/2018 10:58:48 PM PDT
by
boatbums
(Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy he saved us.)
To: kosciusko51
Absolutely.
Keeps us in good communication with the Father, just like with any relationship.
However, the relationship is established when we do the initial confessing of our sin and of Christ as our savior and we turn to Christ in repentance, and it’s then that the righteousness of Christ is credited to our account.
345
posted on
08/03/2018 12:51:25 AM PDT
by
metmom
( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
To: editor-surveyor
Where’s the link?
Your say so isn’t enough.
346
posted on
08/03/2018 12:52:32 AM PDT
by
metmom
( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
To: nobamanomore
Notice how the trolls tag the other trolls so they will know to come in and gang up on them.I notice that when someone cannot type some valid stuff to make their point; they will often whine; to an uncaring world; that they are being picked on.
It does not garner much sympathy for their plight; except in like minded CAUCUS threads.
347
posted on
08/03/2018 5:07:22 AM PDT
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: imardmd1
Having a concensus in doctrine and defending it is not trolling.Love means never having to say you're a troll.
348
posted on
08/03/2018 5:10:54 AM PDT
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: nobamanomore
#261, 262 and 266 await your approval.
349
posted on
08/03/2018 5:12:29 AM PDT
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: nobamanomore
Yes, theres a lot of consensus among the 10 or 20 thousand protestant denominations, lol.Nice claim; it shuts down replies quite well; but lurkers are left wondering...
Where's the list??
350
posted on
08/03/2018 5:17:14 AM PDT
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: metmom
HEY!
351
posted on
08/03/2018 5:17:58 AM PDT
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: ravenwolf
That is true, but i wonder if Peter added the above just to kind of pacify Paul, I think Paul was easily offended.Well; he DID write Galatians 5:12!
352
posted on
08/03/2018 5:19:59 AM PDT
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: Elsie
That you? Like your gal! She’s got a twinkle in her eye . . .
353
posted on
08/03/2018 5:20:17 AM PDT
by
imardmd1
(Fiat Lux)
To: editor-surveyor
The church I comndemn didnt write it, they hid it from the world, and in so doing saved it from destruction. And, apparently; it is STILL 'hidden'!
354
posted on
08/03/2018 5:20:53 AM PDT
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: editor-surveyor
A a third century papyrus copy of the original gospel of John is hardly made up.Oh?
How does one KNOW that it is a COPY?
355
posted on
08/03/2018 5:22:05 AM PDT
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: editor-surveyor
I wont waste my time clicking on the satan bait you posted.
If you can't tell a book by it's cover; how can a person tell SATAN BAIT from a mere link address?
356
posted on
08/03/2018 5:23:56 AM PDT
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: Elsie; ravenwolf
357
posted on
08/03/2018 5:24:56 AM PDT
by
imardmd1
(Fiat Lux)
To: editor-surveyor
The apostles, including Peter and Paul, definitely did not consider their letters to be scripture.Golly; then what DID they consider them to be??
Colossians 4:16
After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans
and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
1 Thessalonians 5:27
I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.
358
posted on
08/03/2018 5:29:14 AM PDT
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: editor-surveyor
The three words the rest of were obviously added long after the apostles were dead. They WERE??
What proof do you offer to prove this assertion?
Your claim sounds a bit like Eve's 'knowledge' found in Genesis 3:2
You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.
359
posted on
08/03/2018 5:33:21 AM PDT
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: All
How'd she know it was in the 'middle'??
You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.
360
posted on
08/03/2018 5:35:33 AM PDT
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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