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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: Elsie; metmom; boatbums
You'll NEED that Free Pass outta Purgatory; since you've landed on the HALFWAY number. Dan Brown might claim it's a SIGN!
I dont know what other Catholics were taught, but I was told by the priests at my church, that if I went to mass for 9 first Fridays and 5 first Saturdays, that I would get a soul released from Purgatory. I felt such great power and pride.
I just want to know what happened to Limbo? I heard about it in the past, but did someone just decide the place no longer exists? What happened to all the people in Limbo. Where did they go? 😁 Inquiring minds want to know.
381
posted on
08/03/2018 7:35:50 AM PDT
by
Mark17
(Genesis chapter 1 verse 1. In the beginning GOD....And the rest, as they say, is HIS-story)
To: Mark17
382
posted on
08/03/2018 7:42:15 AM PDT
by
Luircin
Comment #383 Removed by Moderator
Comment #384 Removed by Moderator
To: editor-surveyor
385
posted on
08/03/2018 9:47:38 AM PDT
by
MHGinTN
(A dispensational perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
To: metmom; kosciusko51
Please bear with me, for I am truly trying to understand your position.
Are you saying that we need not be saddened by our sin? That we should not have any regret or remorse over our doing what in not pleasing to God?
Or are you saying that we love God and hate the sin that we do, and because God knows that is what is in our heart, we do not need to outwardly express our remorse to remain right with Him?
Or is it some other thing?
386
posted on
08/03/2018 9:49:25 AM PDT
by
rwa265
Comment #387 Removed by Moderator
Comment #388 Removed by Moderator
Comment #389 Removed by Moderator
Comment #390 Removed by Moderator
To: Elsie
.
>> “Golly; then what DID they consider them to be??” <<
Obviously they considered them to be teachings and requests for actions.
Can you show us where they considered them anything else?
Mostly the letters documented the keeping of the Appointed Times by the apostles and their sheep, and in the case of the Corinthians, chastisement for their deeply sinful behavior.
The letters we read were other people’s mail!
.
391
posted on
08/03/2018 10:09:22 AM PDT
by
editor-surveyor
(Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
Comment #392 Removed by Moderator
To: rwa265
Are you saying that we need not be saddened by our sin? That we should not have any regret or remorse over our doing what in not pleasing to God? No, not at all.
When we are saved, when we turn TO Christ for salvation, it includes confession of sin and repentance. That is the fruit of the work of the Holy Spirit in us.
A legal transaction takes place where we are pardoned aka forgiven of our sins and the righteousness of Christ, His perfect, holy life is credited to my account.
Colossians 2:13-15 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
God's wrath and punishment for sin was poured out on Christ at the cross. Since my sin, the record of my sin debt to God, was nailed to the cross, when God dealt with sin there, it took care of that record of sin debt. It was paid for at that time.
Jesus said, *It is finished* which meant that the sin was fully atoned for.
Now when God sees us/ deals with us, He can do it as if we were as righteous as Jesus Christ Himself because not only was my sin paid for, but Christ's righteous life was credited to my account.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Essentially what one is doing when they trust Christ is throwing themselves on the mercy of the court and not trying to do any part of it themselves.
So judicially, I have been declared sin free and now am in right relationship with God again, having been restored through the forgiveness secured at the cross.
Or are you saying that we love God and hate the sin that we do, and because God knows that is what is in our heart, we do not need to outwardly express our remorse to remain right with Him?
On the contrary, those who have been born again/born from above, now have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in them and when they sin, they are convicted of that sin and struggle with it.
I do not know any mature, genuine Christians who are NOT grieved by their sin.
Or is it some other thing?
Yes, something else.
What I'm talking about has nothing to do with the feeling but rather the judicial standing before God. That is a fact attested to by Scripture, feelings aside.
The feelings come later.
393
posted on
08/03/2018 10:31:33 AM PDT
by
metmom
( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
To: editor-surveyor; Elsie
When I do you just demand the links anyway. Why not?
You must have a source for your information somewhere.
Why not share it with the rest of us so we can read it for ourselves instead of filtering for us and expecting us to take the word of an anonymous internet poster as truth?
394
posted on
08/03/2018 10:34:19 AM PDT
by
metmom
( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
To: editor-surveyor
Why are you reacting so violently AND hatefully to every post that disagrees with you? Jesus Christ is definitely not your role model.
395
posted on
08/03/2018 10:59:27 AM PDT
by
boatbums
(Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy he saved us.)
To: metmom
Jesus said, *It is finished* which meant that the sin was fully atoned for.
***
That’s why Jesus rose from the dead. All the sin of all the world was laid upon him and paid for through him and atoned for in Jesus’ death.
And we know that it is paid for because Jesus rose again. If it were not paid for, Jesus would still be dead.
396
posted on
08/03/2018 11:33:30 AM PDT
by
Luircin
To: boatbums
.
Exactly what are you falsely calling violent?
I’m trying to introduce you to the real Word of Yehova.
397
posted on
08/03/2018 11:47:17 AM PDT
by
editor-surveyor
(Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
Comment #398 Removed by Moderator
To: metmom
Thank you for your explanation.
399
posted on
08/03/2018 12:02:00 PM PDT
by
rwa265
To: Luircin
Thats why Jesus rose from the dead. All the sin of all the world was laid upon him and paid for through him and atoned for in Jesus death. And we know that it is paid for because Jesus rose again. If it were not paid for, Jesus would still be dead.
Exactly. Since the sin was paid for in full, it could not hold Him. It no longer had any power to do so, and the resurrection is PROOF of that.
400
posted on
08/03/2018 12:35:13 PM PDT
by
metmom
( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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