Now for rightly dividing the Word of God, reading it in context, we can see that the issue in Matthew was NOT ABOUT THE DIETARY LAWS OF CLEAN AND UNCLEAN. The issue in Matthew 15 was about going against the tradition of the elders, the tradition of excessive handwashing.
Matthew 15
1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” 3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? ...(like today with traditional hollow days like Christmas, Easter and Sunday for starters) Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 ‘ These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
If Yeshua taught otherwise as mistakenly believed by too many professing Christians, if He were speaking against the dietary laws, He would be a sinner in rebellion, just like TRADITIONAL CHRISTIANITY whose idolatrous ideas are set above the Word and commandments of God (1 John 2:4).
Yeshua didn't stutter when He said, "I have kept my Father's commandments" or when He clearly stated for the record to dispel such traditional error taught today:
Matthew 5:17-19
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill [magnify, revealing spirit and not just letter of the law, making it even more binding]. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Recommended reading =>Is All Animal Flesh Good Food?
David Ben-Ariel is a Christian-Zionist writer and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall. With a focus on the Middle East and Jerusalem, his analytical articles help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out the Beyond Babylon blog.
No comments:
Post a Comment