Monday, January 10, 2005
So What's New About It?
Hebrews 8:7-13 (only partially quoted due to space. Feel free to look it up.)
For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
What I want to hone in on today is the bolded text. Not too long ago I had a conversation with someone about the Ten Commandments and the fact that many times Christians challenge other people to check their life in comparison to the Ten Commandments, calling for repentance on specific items if the examinee falls short on any one. I have a slightly different thought on that.
What do you think, when the Bible says that His laws are written in our minds and on our hearts? This is a quote from Jeremiah 31, for those who like to go to original text. Keep in mind that Hebrews was written for converted Jews who wanted to mix the Old and the New belief systems. In other words, the old religion with the new freedom and grace in Christ. Does that strictly mean we are to memorize the Ten Commandments, fulfilling them to the "letter of the law?" Many people today cant' tell anyone what all Ten Commandments are. There are Jewish people who have, as an act of literalism of the symbolism taken to wearing "boxes" on chains around their head or over their chest. Surely that's not what this Scripture means to do?
Let's go to Matthew 22:36-40
Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Not everything Old Testament or about the "law" (the Ten Commandments) os bad. To follow them means to live healthy lives. The difference between the teaching of "remember and follow them strictly" versus the Matthew quote is motivation. Both have the same outworking...following Christ's command will result in not stealing, murdering, bearing false witness and down the line. Strictly adhering to the Ten Commandment "doctrine" creates "Godly", healthy living out of external motivation or pressure, whereas living out the Matthew passage comes from internal motivation. Which do you think produces a sincere, long-lasting life serving God?
For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
What I want to hone in on today is the bolded text. Not too long ago I had a conversation with someone about the Ten Commandments and the fact that many times Christians challenge other people to check their life in comparison to the Ten Commandments, calling for repentance on specific items if the examinee falls short on any one. I have a slightly different thought on that.
What do you think, when the Bible says that His laws are written in our minds and on our hearts? This is a quote from Jeremiah 31, for those who like to go to original text. Keep in mind that Hebrews was written for converted Jews who wanted to mix the Old and the New belief systems. In other words, the old religion with the new freedom and grace in Christ. Does that strictly mean we are to memorize the Ten Commandments, fulfilling them to the "letter of the law?" Many people today cant' tell anyone what all Ten Commandments are. There are Jewish people who have, as an act of literalism of the symbolism taken to wearing "boxes" on chains around their head or over their chest. Surely that's not what this Scripture means to do?
Let's go to Matthew 22:36-40
Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Not everything Old Testament or about the "law" (the Ten Commandments) os bad. To follow them means to live healthy lives. The difference between the teaching of "remember and follow them strictly" versus the Matthew quote is motivation. Both have the same outworking...following Christ's command will result in not stealing, murdering, bearing false witness and down the line. Strictly adhering to the Ten Commandment "doctrine" creates "Godly", healthy living out of external motivation or pressure, whereas living out the Matthew passage comes from internal motivation. Which do you think produces a sincere, long-lasting life serving God?
// posted by Annette @ 2:20 p.m. 