ThinkOfOne wrote: ↑Fri May 30, 2025 1:01 am
The truth is that you not only don't believe Jesus, you don't even understand Him.
Jesus repeatedly emphasized the importance of HIS words: "[His] sheep follow [HIS] voice"; "[HIS] true disciples abide in [HIS] word"; you will be judged by HIS word. Not the word of Paul. Not the word of the other NT writers. HIS word and His word only.
You would have to apply the same argument to Moses and the Prophets, if what you were saying were true: and that would mean you'd have to deny what Jesus said about Moses and the Prophets. So clearly, Jesus was not saying, "Listen to my words only up to the crucifixion, and nothing before, and nothing after"-- which is what you would have to believe. In point of fact, Jesus is not saying "Don't listen to Moses, the Prophets or the apostles; He's saying to those who were rejecting His word, "You should believe Me instead of disbelieving Me."
John 12
48The one who rejects Me and does not accept My teachings has one who judges him: the word which I spoke.
Note that Jesus explicitly states in John 12:48 that you will be judged by "the word which [He] spoke". That necessarily excludes the word of Paul, the word of the other NT writers, etc.
Same problem. Believing the Lord's words does not mean, "Don't believe the OT or the message I've given to my apostles. It just means, "Don't reject My word."
You're also mistaken with Matthew 5:18. You claim that Jesus was speaking of "the Torah". What Jesus actually said was the "Law or the Prophets" which is not necessarily the same thing.
You're wrong about this. You don't know that Jewish tradition uses the phrase, "The Law and the Prophets" for the whole
Tanahk, in fact. In fact, Tanahk is composed of three Hebrew letters: T, N and K, which refer to
Torah (Books of Moses),
Nevi'im (the Prophets) and
Ketuvim (other writings). And Jesus Himself quotes from all of these as authoritative, and all as referring to Him. Did you not realize, for example, on the road to Emmaus, He began with Moses and went through the OT, applying to Himself? There's
Torah and
Nevi'im. Did you not remember His affirmation and comparison to the prophet Jonah? Or His self-references to Isaiah? There's the
Nevi'im. Were you not aware that His cry, "My God, My God..." on the cross is quoting of Psalm 22:1 from the
Ketuvim?
Matthew 5
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ 39“But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
How does it make logical sense that Jesus would say of the Torah that "not the tiniest mark of it would ever pass away" and then immediately speak against what the Torah says?
That's easy. He's not speaking "against" it, but applying it.
Jesus is contrasting what perfect justice would require; but that He expected something else of His followers...an application of mercy, where before, justice simply demanded redress. As the fulfillment of the Law, He was describing how it was to be applied in the coming Kingdom. As the authority behind that Law, He had a perfect right to exposit its proper application to this new context.
You get the same thing when Jesus explains that He's the fulfillment of the Sabbath, another commandment from the Mosaic Law. He doesn't say that the Sabbath was evil and should never have been honoured; but rather that "the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27) Thus, he explains the proper context for understanding and applying the Law.
And if all that is not enough for you, try this:
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/st ... tament.cfm
Why don't you read what I wrote line-by-line?
I did, above. But I have to say, it wasn't much of a challenge. And as you can see, your interpretation would still mean you're ignoring some words of Christ and affirming others, not following all His words at all. So how is it that you think you can listen so selectively, if He has any authority with you?
