Biblical inconsistency?

OSV.com ^ | 07-25-18 | Msgr. Charles Pope

[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.

[Elsie]

They went low; but no ones knows just exactly HOW low...

[Elsie]

No surprise that you view the true word in the original language to be shooting up the place. .

No surprise that you have FAILED to show 'the true word in the original language' any where on FR.

[Elsie]

Who cares when Yehova has seen fit to show us his true servants’ original comments in the language they and their messiach spoke?

When are YOU going to see fit to show us his true servants’ original comments?

[Elsie]

When I do you just demand the links anyway.

Oh?

What reply numbers are you referring to?

Show me DEMAND!!

[Elsie]

Please show us any other passage that indicates that the apostles considered anything but Tanakh to be scripture.

You have got some nerve!

FAiling to show ANY proof here; and yet ASKING another question.

[Elsie]

The letters we read were other people’s mail!

Nope; They WANTED them to be read by ALL believers.

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[Elsie]

I post the links, he asks for cut and paste. lf I post cut and paste he asks for the link instead, then you join in with nonsense like this?

I am merely asking you to quit wasting our time; if you TRULY want to shed light instead of heat.

[Elsie]

Your analysis here is correct; of course.

How DOES one find the ONLY ‘true’ religion?

Can they ALL be ‘right’?

[Mark17]

I know Jack went under the Limbo stick. I just want to know where all the people, who were in Limbo went, after it was decided that the place did not exist anymore? Did Limbo EVER exist, or was it simply a product of someone’s imagination? 😁

[Religion Moderator]

You have posted enough, in fact far too much, on this thread.

Leave it.

[editor-surveyor]

.
Shem Tov’s Hebrew original Matthew has been published, as has George Howard’s for decades.

Tear the tape off of your eyes.

Mark, Luke and John are in the works and will be out soon.

If you read Hebrew, you can read them now in the Vatican site, or the Hebrew University site.

[boatbums]

We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. (I Corinthians 2:12-14)

Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more. For you know the instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. (I Thess. 4:1,2)

To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brothers, stand firm and cling to the traditions we taught you, whether by speech or by letter. (II Thess. 2:14,15)

If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. (II Thess. 3:14)

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. (II Thess. 3:6)

If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. (I Cor. 14:37)

I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters. (I Thess. 5:27)

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. (Rev. 1:3)

"Behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book." (Rev. 22:7)

After this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. (Col. 4:16)

[Concentrate]

To be really honest, which has never served me well, I give you this evidence that the Bible has at least a lot of truth.

It’s a very long video, but I want to post it before it disappears.

I recommend watching it repeatedly. It’s actually hard to take.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH5HvEGEnVE

[Concentrate]

What to make of this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_MV_DOOwBI

[imardmd1]

You have perceived exactly what I desire to be accepted!

But:

But it makes a kind of sense and I think it can be supported by Scripture that there is God’s temporal kingdom and God’s eternal kingdom, and we live in both.

Be careful with this. Only God the Trinity, Jis holy angels, OT) saints, and truly regenerate are constituents of the KOTG. The earthly KOH currently and in the Millenium incorporate both.

Ungospellized humans and Christ-rejectors are in neither, in the model I entertain in my statements. The as-yet-unaccountable, including preborn victims are a special cas, I believe, completely enfolded in The God's Magnificent Grace.

But thank you for your keen observation.

[imardmd1]

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.

Indirectly. You must not miss the key step in the progress of atonement. It was not until our Eternal High Priest entered once (ephapax) into the True Holiest of All in Heaven, and sprinkled HisInnocent, Incorruptible Blood on the True hilasterion (Mercy Seat in Heaven, of which the one in the earthly Tabernacle was only a simulacrum, bloodied many times with the blood of bullocks and kid goats, not lambs!) presaging the first, only, and final dousing of the Heavenly Receptacle.

It was not until The Mighty God's righteous demands were propitiated (hilaskomai in Heb. 2:17)--reconciliation is not quite the proper term katallagoh--necessarily according to pattern a thousand times repeated on earth (as comprehended by the transaction being processed), His furious rage slaked, the payment of Jesus' blood fo the sin-debt offered, the Judge of All being satisfied with that payment, and His response mollified.

Jesus having completed (teleoh) His part, The God completed the transaction and marked it "Paid," thence permitting the Son to be re-enrobed with His Glory, His Eternal Prerogatives reassumed, and as the Prince of Peace and King of Kings reseated on the Throne of Omnipotency, until His enemies be prostrate at His Holy Pierced Feet.

It was at this point that The Father forthwith unilaterally offered the transaction in which He assumes all of the trusting individual soul's sins--excepting none--in exchange for the imputation of The Son's Righteousness to this The Owner's new bondslave, removing him/her entirely from the accusations of the former owner the Devil, and judicially pronouncing the final permanent decision, "Not Guilty!" as pertaining to the citizenship status of this new servant, soldier, and defender of The Faith.

That is what had to take place to conclude the process of redemption, thus resulting in The Father offering reconciliation and adoption of His newly-Spirit-birthed children into His Kingdom of Righteousness and Peace.

When Jesus shouted out "Tetelestai!" it was to signify that the work of fulfilling, terminating, and abolishing the Mosaic/Davidic Covenant was done, never to be revisited, thus making way for the initiation of the New Testament in His Blood. But His work of instituting the New Covenant was only begun, launched by obtaining as intercessor reconciliation, which was not yet (if ever) completed. It began as described above.

Remembering you in my petitions for your effectiveness in contending for The Faith once (hapax) delivered to the saints (for their salvation, congregation, regulation, and maturation).

With respect.

[Elsie]

Thanks for still not posting anything.

[Elsie]

Shem Tov’s Hebrew original Matthew has been published, as has George Howard’s for decades.

ORIGINAL???

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Shem Tov's Matthew, 1385[edit]

Shem Tov first page

The Shem Tov Matthew (or Shem Tob's Matthew) consists of a complete text of Gospel of Matthew in the Hebrew language found interspersed among anti-Catholic commentary in the 12th volume of a polemical treatise The Touchstone (c.1380-85) by Shem Tov ben Isaac ben Shaprut (Ibn Shaprut), a Jewish physician living in Aragon, after whom the version is named. Shem Tov debated Cardinal Pedro de Luna (later Antipope Benedict XIII) on original sin and redemption in Pamplona, December 26, 1375, in the presence of bishops and learned theologians. Nine manuscripts of The Touchstone survive, though if an independent version of the text of Matthew used by Ibn Shaprut ever existed then it is lost.