People Flocked to Jesus and were Taught by Him (Contd):
The purpose of the Law: If this is the reality of the Laws of God, why were they given to the humans? The Laws were given in order to draw the enemy lurking behind us, i. e., Satan himself , out of the shades into the open battle ground. Until a warrior arrived who was able to challenge the enemy openly, it was necessary to keep the people under the law as a guardian. Until the true warrior, Jesus Christ, came on the scene people had to be content with the protection of the Law and the Prophets (See Galatians, 3: 24). Violence to others was the consequence that was tolerated by God until John the Baptist. From the time of john the Baptist, those who do violence to themselves enter the Kingdom of God. No more violence to others will be tolerated from the time of the inauguration of the laws of the Kingdom of God by Jesus Christ (See Matthew, 11: 12-14). By his own death and resurrection, Jesus conquered sin, death and Satan himself in a most unexpected manner. The warrior who knows exactly when, where and how to strike the enemy to his entire destruction has given us new laws of eternal life.
Control of Passions: The new laws are the laws of the Kingdom of God (See the last Post of the Second Section: The Content of Gospel Proclamation) that are capable of reforming a person from within thereby supplying power to do what is commanded. Like the engineer in the parable in the last Post, Jesus asks us to put up dykes or bunds much ahead of building the dam by asking us not to get angry or even abuse or sneer at our brothers and sisters. No one should be presumptuous to think that one will not proceed to commit murder without taking any precaution to nip in the bud passions that lead to it. The same logic applies to many other sins and violations committed by the humans. Therefore, Jesus teaches with authority ways and means for us to become true sons and daughters thereby becoming like God according to His original plan.
Settle Disputes: In tune with the laws of the Kingdom, Jesus wants us to settle our disputes with each other at the earliest before the situation gets complicated. For, a private claim between two parties may get out of hand and take unforeseen proportions if allowed to go public and other unwanted characters are drawn into settling a claim that ought to remain essentially private. Even on a purely worldly and economic consideration, a delay may cost us dear in terms of money, prestige and position. Much more damaging spiritually would be a situation where action is delayed due to various reasons (See Matthew, 5: 25-26).
The New Laws: As against the law of adultery, Jesus has this to say: "But what I tell you is this: If a man looks at a woman with a lustful eye, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart (See Matthew, 5: 28). No more hypocrisy or false consolation about not really having done the act of adultery would be acceptable. Jesus brings out the real import of the act of adultery that starts from the heart and has all its ingredients like in a seed. Just like the person who is vehemently angry with his brother has really killed him by his hatred, the person who looks upon a woman with lustful eyes has already committed adultery as far as God is concerned. The solution to save oneself from getting caught unawares is given by Jesus like an expert engineer in human relationships. Plucking off an eye or cutting off a hand can be understood only by the logic of losing one part to save the whole from going to hell (See Matthew, 5: 29-30). Since Jesus came that the humans may have life and have it in all its fullness (See John, 10:10), cutting off a part of our body is not to be taken literally. In interpreting literally such passages, even great authors like Origen have gone wrong by acting literally on such passages. Even painful renunciations or restraints should be heartily welcomed although they might be equivalent to losing a part of us. Just by losing a part of our body we need not be internally transformed, but the pain of true internal transformation is equal to or more than losing a part of our body. Internal transformation through self-reformation with the help of God's graces is the antidote provided by Jesus Christ to all those who believe in him for fighting the virus of sin leading to death.
Divorce: As for divorcing one's wife, the only requirement among the people of Israel was regarding the modality of giving her a note of dismissal and the right to divorce one's wife was never in question. The people of Israel called upon the authority of Moses to justify their practice of divorce, which Jesus disallowed on two grounds. First, Moses allowed divorce due to the hardness of their hearts and second, it was not so from the beginning when God decided that the man should leave his father and mother and be made one with his wife. A final blow to any desire for divorce rings out from these words of Jesus: "It follows that they are no longer two individuals: they are one flesh. What God has joined together man must not separate" (Matthew, 19: 6). Therefore, Jesus lays down a law of the Kingdom of God thus: "But what I tell you is this: If a man divorces his wife for any cause other than unchastity he involves her in adultery; and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery" (Matthew, 5: 32; 19: 3-9).
Oath-Taking: The common practice of establishing truth or confirming promises made was rampant among the people of Israel just like other people. The only condition laid with the taking of oath as an obligation was not to break the oath once taken and to fulfill the oath sworn to the Lord. Jesus corrects this practice authoritatively: "But what I tell you is this: You are not to swear at all - not by heaven, for it is God's throne, nor by earth, for it is his footstool, nor by Jerusalem. for it is the city of the great King, nor by your own head, because you cannot turn one hair of it white or black. Plain 'yes' or 'no' is all you need to say; anything beyond that comes from the devil" (Matthew, 5: 34-37). Jesus removes the very foundation of swearing or taking oaths by declaring unsuitable all the objects people usually swear by. The fundamental reason for avoiding all kinds of swearing and oaths is that it is not needed for a straight-forward and God-fearing person. Thus we shall escape the traps laid at our doors by the ever cunning deviSatan looking out for his daily prey!
Loving Our Neighbor: Having used violence against ourselves for fighting the workings of sin in us, we should gradually move to the positive territory to enhance ourselves. Thus Jesus abolishes the old law of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth". In the Old Testament times it was considered a virtue if someone did not destroy both the eyes of a person in retaliation for suffering damage from him to one of his eyes. He should strictly be just and destroy only one eye of the offender (See Exodus, 21: 24; Deuteronomy, 19: 21). But Jesus teaches: "But what I tell you is this: Do not set yourself against the man who wrongs you. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn and offer your left. If a man wants to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well. If a man in authority makes you go one mile, go with him two. Give when you are asked to give; and do not turn your back on a man who wants to borrow" (Matthew, 5: 39-42). Is it practically possible for us to live according to these instructions of Jesus? It is possible only if we have two essential qualities that are part of the laws of the Kingdom of God. They are: childlike trust in God and detachment from material things. (Please see our previous Post on 'Living in the Presence of God' as part of 'Living in the Power of the Spirit'). Therefore our secret fears of turning out to be simpletons ordered around by others should be allayed by the conviction that by fulfilling those requirements we become fully liberated from all shackles that bind us. However, resistance to exploitation and cheating is not excluded by these requirements. Besides, we should not get ourselves involved in the greed for wealth nursed by others (See Luke, 12: 13-15).
Loving Our enemies: According to the Book of Leviticus 19: 18, an Israelite fulfills the Law if he loves his neighbor as himself and by implication hating his enemy is taken for granted. However, Jesus has more positive ideas: "But what I tell you is this: Love your enemies and pray for your persecutors; only so can you be children of your heavenly Father, who makes his son rise on good and bad alike, and sends the rain on the honest and the dishonest, If you love only those who love you, what rewards can you expect? Surely the tax-gatherers do as much as that. And if you greet only your brothers, what is there extraordinary about that? Even the heathens do as much. There must be no limit to your goodness, as your heavenly Father's goodness knows no bounds" (Matthew, 5: 44-48). Here we have reached a point of divinization of the humans who were created for the specific purpose of being like God Himself. We May add here that there is no other way given to the humans for self-realization except by becoming like true children of God whereby we become genuinely liberated (To be Contd).
The purpose of the Law: If this is the reality of the Laws of God, why were they given to the humans? The Laws were given in order to draw the enemy lurking behind us, i. e., Satan himself , out of the shades into the open battle ground. Until a warrior arrived who was able to challenge the enemy openly, it was necessary to keep the people under the law as a guardian. Until the true warrior, Jesus Christ, came on the scene people had to be content with the protection of the Law and the Prophets (See Galatians, 3: 24). Violence to others was the consequence that was tolerated by God until John the Baptist. From the time of john the Baptist, those who do violence to themselves enter the Kingdom of God. No more violence to others will be tolerated from the time of the inauguration of the laws of the Kingdom of God by Jesus Christ (See Matthew, 11: 12-14). By his own death and resurrection, Jesus conquered sin, death and Satan himself in a most unexpected manner. The warrior who knows exactly when, where and how to strike the enemy to his entire destruction has given us new laws of eternal life.
Control of Passions: The new laws are the laws of the Kingdom of God (See the last Post of the Second Section: The Content of Gospel Proclamation) that are capable of reforming a person from within thereby supplying power to do what is commanded. Like the engineer in the parable in the last Post, Jesus asks us to put up dykes or bunds much ahead of building the dam by asking us not to get angry or even abuse or sneer at our brothers and sisters. No one should be presumptuous to think that one will not proceed to commit murder without taking any precaution to nip in the bud passions that lead to it. The same logic applies to many other sins and violations committed by the humans. Therefore, Jesus teaches with authority ways and means for us to become true sons and daughters thereby becoming like God according to His original plan.
Settle Disputes: In tune with the laws of the Kingdom, Jesus wants us to settle our disputes with each other at the earliest before the situation gets complicated. For, a private claim between two parties may get out of hand and take unforeseen proportions if allowed to go public and other unwanted characters are drawn into settling a claim that ought to remain essentially private. Even on a purely worldly and economic consideration, a delay may cost us dear in terms of money, prestige and position. Much more damaging spiritually would be a situation where action is delayed due to various reasons (See Matthew, 5: 25-26).
The New Laws: As against the law of adultery, Jesus has this to say: "But what I tell you is this: If a man looks at a woman with a lustful eye, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart (See Matthew, 5: 28). No more hypocrisy or false consolation about not really having done the act of adultery would be acceptable. Jesus brings out the real import of the act of adultery that starts from the heart and has all its ingredients like in a seed. Just like the person who is vehemently angry with his brother has really killed him by his hatred, the person who looks upon a woman with lustful eyes has already committed adultery as far as God is concerned. The solution to save oneself from getting caught unawares is given by Jesus like an expert engineer in human relationships. Plucking off an eye or cutting off a hand can be understood only by the logic of losing one part to save the whole from going to hell (See Matthew, 5: 29-30). Since Jesus came that the humans may have life and have it in all its fullness (See John, 10:10), cutting off a part of our body is not to be taken literally. In interpreting literally such passages, even great authors like Origen have gone wrong by acting literally on such passages. Even painful renunciations or restraints should be heartily welcomed although they might be equivalent to losing a part of us. Just by losing a part of our body we need not be internally transformed, but the pain of true internal transformation is equal to or more than losing a part of our body. Internal transformation through self-reformation with the help of God's graces is the antidote provided by Jesus Christ to all those who believe in him for fighting the virus of sin leading to death.
Divorce: As for divorcing one's wife, the only requirement among the people of Israel was regarding the modality of giving her a note of dismissal and the right to divorce one's wife was never in question. The people of Israel called upon the authority of Moses to justify their practice of divorce, which Jesus disallowed on two grounds. First, Moses allowed divorce due to the hardness of their hearts and second, it was not so from the beginning when God decided that the man should leave his father and mother and be made one with his wife. A final blow to any desire for divorce rings out from these words of Jesus: "It follows that they are no longer two individuals: they are one flesh. What God has joined together man must not separate" (Matthew, 19: 6). Therefore, Jesus lays down a law of the Kingdom of God thus: "But what I tell you is this: If a man divorces his wife for any cause other than unchastity he involves her in adultery; and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery" (Matthew, 5: 32; 19: 3-9).
Oath-Taking: The common practice of establishing truth or confirming promises made was rampant among the people of Israel just like other people. The only condition laid with the taking of oath as an obligation was not to break the oath once taken and to fulfill the oath sworn to the Lord. Jesus corrects this practice authoritatively: "But what I tell you is this: You are not to swear at all - not by heaven, for it is God's throne, nor by earth, for it is his footstool, nor by Jerusalem. for it is the city of the great King, nor by your own head, because you cannot turn one hair of it white or black. Plain 'yes' or 'no' is all you need to say; anything beyond that comes from the devil" (Matthew, 5: 34-37). Jesus removes the very foundation of swearing or taking oaths by declaring unsuitable all the objects people usually swear by. The fundamental reason for avoiding all kinds of swearing and oaths is that it is not needed for a straight-forward and God-fearing person. Thus we shall escape the traps laid at our doors by the ever cunning deviSatan looking out for his daily prey!
Loving Our Neighbor: Having used violence against ourselves for fighting the workings of sin in us, we should gradually move to the positive territory to enhance ourselves. Thus Jesus abolishes the old law of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth". In the Old Testament times it was considered a virtue if someone did not destroy both the eyes of a person in retaliation for suffering damage from him to one of his eyes. He should strictly be just and destroy only one eye of the offender (See Exodus, 21: 24; Deuteronomy, 19: 21). But Jesus teaches: "But what I tell you is this: Do not set yourself against the man who wrongs you. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn and offer your left. If a man wants to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well. If a man in authority makes you go one mile, go with him two. Give when you are asked to give; and do not turn your back on a man who wants to borrow" (Matthew, 5: 39-42). Is it practically possible for us to live according to these instructions of Jesus? It is possible only if we have two essential qualities that are part of the laws of the Kingdom of God. They are: childlike trust in God and detachment from material things. (Please see our previous Post on 'Living in the Presence of God' as part of 'Living in the Power of the Spirit'). Therefore our secret fears of turning out to be simpletons ordered around by others should be allayed by the conviction that by fulfilling those requirements we become fully liberated from all shackles that bind us. However, resistance to exploitation and cheating is not excluded by these requirements. Besides, we should not get ourselves involved in the greed for wealth nursed by others (See Luke, 12: 13-15).
Loving Our enemies: According to the Book of Leviticus 19: 18, an Israelite fulfills the Law if he loves his neighbor as himself and by implication hating his enemy is taken for granted. However, Jesus has more positive ideas: "But what I tell you is this: Love your enemies and pray for your persecutors; only so can you be children of your heavenly Father, who makes his son rise on good and bad alike, and sends the rain on the honest and the dishonest, If you love only those who love you, what rewards can you expect? Surely the tax-gatherers do as much as that. And if you greet only your brothers, what is there extraordinary about that? Even the heathens do as much. There must be no limit to your goodness, as your heavenly Father's goodness knows no bounds" (Matthew, 5: 44-48). Here we have reached a point of divinization of the humans who were created for the specific purpose of being like God Himself. We May add here that there is no other way given to the humans for self-realization except by becoming like true children of God whereby we become genuinely liberated (To be Contd).
No comments:
Post a Comment