It also contains, I think, some troubling and contradictory
passages. Consider:
17: Think not that I am
come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to
fulfill. (KJV)
That spells out support for some of the most drastic and unfathomable
strictures of Leviticus and must, by inference, condone the actions of Moses
against the Midianite women, children, and virgin girls. Then he has to go and
amplify it with the next verse.
18: For verily I say
unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise
pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
I suppose that if I were an educated theologian, or a Biblical
scholar, I might say how, in addition to being a singular figure, he was also a
pragmatic salesman, one who knew better than to irritate the hardcore
evangelicals of his day. (Of course, later on, he did just that.) Best to ease into things.
This morning early, while we were having our “coffee-talkee”
(actually, he likes tea better), I asked the Galilean about these contradictions.
“My ways ain’t your ways,” he said, and changed the subject.
After he left, I began to derive some genius in his
approach. First, he seemed to narrow the stricture.
19: Whosoever therefore
shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall
be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach
them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Was he just talking about the Ten Commandments? That would simplify,
particularly had he told us which ten. But anyway, stability, maybe that’s what
were talking about … stability.
Consider that the present ruler of the United States and his
minions express neither respect nor regard for our laws that have been around
for years and years. Then consider the instability and insidiousness that this
causes.
Stability, that’s what we are talking about. Now it makes
some sense. Next, he seems to slap some of those very fanatics in the face.
20: For I say unto you,
That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes
and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
That’s a fairly easy mandate for us these days. It’s certainly
not hard to “exceed the righteousness” of a Franklin Graham, the demonic hordes
of TV “evangelists,” or leaders who cover up child molestation amongst their clergy.
Then he gets into some of what I call amplifications. “Holy
high-standards Batman.” I can agree with some adversaries, but POTUS would be a
challenge. An adversary that mocks a physically-challenged person would require
some extra-high-power agreeing. I know, I know, the Galilean didn’t say a darn
thing about how you could wait until your adversary agreed with one of his
adversaries first.
Let’s move on to a real dandy.
27: Ye have heard that
it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery.
28: But I say unto you,
That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery
with her already in his heart.
Being somewhat familiar with the making of laws and
regulations, I immediately sought the list of “exceptions.” Alas.
A later one is a little easier.
31: It hath been said,
Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement.
32: But I say unto you,
That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication,
causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced
committeth adultery.
I never had much trouble with this one. I am confused, though,
when I hear about churches with special Sunday School classes for young divorcees.
Sometime I think the Galilean is just messing with us. He denies
it, but …
38: Ye have heard that
it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39: But I say unto you,
That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek,
turn to him the other also.
40: And if any man will
sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41: And whosoever shall
compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42: Give to him that
asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43: Ye have heard that
it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44: But I say unto you,
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,
and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45: That ye may be the
children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on
the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46: For if ye love them
which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?
47: And if ye salute
your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
So, where do we start?
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| Those things are hard. I guess he meant them to be. |
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