Contexts matters for communication to work. How many times have you heard someone ask another person, “what are you talking about?”
The person asking that questions is simply requesting for additional clarifying information in order to establish a context for what he just heard.
Suppose you hear someone say: “Go to the board room and start cutting up.” Without a context, we don’t know who is being asked and we don’t know the meaning of a “board room.”
We don’t know if the “board room is a place where lumber is stored or a place where people confer together. Further, don’t know if “cutting up” means to cut wood or to crack some jokes. So, context is important.
If context is important in every day communication then it must matter in regard to clearly understanding what the Bible says.
Sadly, many false teachings are build on a false interpretation of a cut and copied verse of scripture hat has been removed from it’s original biblical context.
That’s precisely the reason I’m sharing the following article by Peter Kol. Hope this helps.
Context Matters: You Have Heard That it was Said…But I Say to You
JULY 27, 2018 BY PETER KROL
Perhaps you’ve heard about Jesus’ disagreement with the Old Testament. The people of Israel had received a set of laws through Moses, but Jesus trumped them in his Sermon on the Mount. An extreme version of this view might say that Jesus disregarded the Old Testament law and put a new law in its place. A softer view might say that Jesus took the outwardly focused OT laws and added to them an inward dimension, focused on the heart. But perhaps we should take a closer look.
My goal in this post is not to develop a comprehensive theology of Old and New Testaments, nor to explain what our thinking should be on the OT law. My aim is more focused. I want to look at just one passage that some might use to claim that Jesus either set aside, or in some way added to, the law of Moses.
Context matters. If we learn to read the Bible for what it is—and not as a collection of independently assembled proverbial sayings—we’ll discover that some of our most familiar passages don’t actually mean what we’ve always assumed.
The Pertinent Formula
I’m referring to Jesus’ repeated formula: “You have heard that it was said…But I say to you…” (Matt 5:21, 27, 31, 33, 38, 43). Seems clear enough, right? You have heard what Moses said—you shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, and so on—but I have something new and/or different to say. Moses was great, but I am greater. The old has become obsolete and is ready to disappear; the new has come. The law of liberty. The law of love. The law of Christ.
ajshain (2011), Creative Commons
The Immediate Context
But look at where Jesus just came from. Remember that the Sermon on the Mount was a sermon. It was all spoken at once. In fact, what Matthew has recorded to us could be spoken out loud in about 10 minutes, and it’s highly unlikely that such large crowds would have gathered on a mountain for only a 10-minute speech. So Matthew has likely condensed and summarized all that Jesus actually spoke that day. But the point remains: Don’t break it into tiny pieces. Read the sermon as a unit.
And right before Jesus launches into his sixfold “but I say to you” formula, he makes the following introductory comments:
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:17-20)
Jesus could not be more clear about the fact that he did not come to abolish the Law. Certainly, we can debate what exactly it means that he came to “fulfill” it. But there is no question that Jesus did not come to abolish it (Matt 5:17). Heaven and earth will pass away before the tiniest stroke of the Law passes away (Matt 5:18). And Jesus has no goodwill toward anyone who would relax “one of the least of these commandments” or teach others to relax them. The great ones in his kingdom are those who do the Law, and who teach others to do it (Matt 5:19). And to even enter Jesus’ kingdom, we must have a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matt 5:20).
Interesting. Note all the contrasts lined up in a row:
Jesus came not to abolish the Law :: Jesus came to fulfill the Law
Heaven and earth will not pass away :: The Law will be accomplished
Anyone who relaxes even a single command, and teaches others to do so, is least :: Anyone who does the commands, and teaches others to do them, is great
Scribes and Pharisees [presumably, by the sentence’s logic] will not enter the kingdom :: Those more righteous than scribes and Pharisees will enter the kingdom
So Jesus contrasts his purpose (fulfill) with what is not his purpose (abolish). And he contrasts right use of the law (do) with wrong use of the law (relax). And he contrasts those who get into the kingdom (more righteous than scribes) with those who don’t (scribes).
And then… He works through 6 more contrasts, 6 case studies, having to do with the Law. “You have heard that it was said…. But I say to you….” The context therefore suggests that the 6 contrasts of verses 21-48 are following on the theme of verses 17-20. In other words, they are contrasting those who abolish or relax the commands with those who do them and teach them.
The Quotations (OT Context)
But that doesn’t make sense of the fact that Jesus actually quotes the Old Testament laws! The thing he is negating is the Old Testament text. The OT Law. “You shall not murder,” “You shall not commit adultery,” and so on.
But there is more here than meets the eye.
For the first two (murder and adultery – Matt 5:21, 27), Jesus quotes Exodus, and then he goes on to talk about heart-intentions. But I’ve written before (e.g. here and here) about how the law in Exodus was always about heart-intentions. This is nothing new.
The third quote (on divorce – Matt 5:31) is from Deut 24, which permits divorce only on the ground of “indecency” (i.e., sexual immorality). Jesus is not disagreeing with Moses but simply reiterating what Moses said.
The fourth quote (on swearing – Matt 5:33) is drawn from Lev 19:12, Num 30:2, and Deut 23:21. But none of those passages say anything about swearing “by heaven” or “by the earth” or “by Jerusalem”or “by your head” (Matt 5:34-36).
The fifth quote can be found all throughout the books of Moses (Matt 5:38), but never in support of vengeance. In fact, this stipulation exists to prevent personal vengeance and to limit what sanctions civil courts may impose.
The sixth quote…is no OT quote at all (Matt 5:43). It has a ring of truth (“You shall love your neighbor”). But you can spend all day looking up “and you shall hate your enemy” and you will not find it.
This sixth “quote” is the linchpin that alerts us to something significant. Jesus is not quoting the Old Testament laws to correct them in some way. He is quoting what these people have heard their teachers say about the Old Testament laws.
He is quoting those who have, in fact, relaxed the commands. Those who teach others to do the same. Those who abolish what God has required of them. Those whose righteousness is like the scribes and Pharisees…. Actually, we have much reason to believe he is quoting the scribes and Pharisees themselves.
Matthew’s Broader Context
Chapter 5 is not the first place in Matthew where Jesus quotes the Old Testament. Look at how Jesus chooses to refer to the Old Testament itself:
“It is written” (Matt 4:4)
“Again it is written” (Matt 4:7)
“For it is written” (Matt 4:10)
Later in the book, he will incredulously ask the scribes and Pharisees “Have you not/never read…?” (Matt 12:3, 5; 19:4; 21:16, 42; 22:31). He will command them to go and learn what the Scripture says (Matt 9:13, 12:7). He will accuse them of setting aside (relaxing) the word of God for the sake of their oral tradition (Matt 15:3, 6). He will curse them for not entering the kingdom (Matt 23:13) and for missing the point of the law (Matt 23:23-24).
My point: When Jesus refers to the Old Testament, it is the written word. When he mentions what “you have heard that it was said,” he is talking about the Pharisees’ oral traditions.
Conclusion
In Matthew 5, Jesus is not setting aside the Old Testament law in favor of a new teaching. He is upholding the full standards of the law, as intended by God. He identifies those who obey the law and adhere carefully to the written word according to its original intention, and he contrasts them with those who relax the commands, who abolish them, to hold to their own accumulated teachings about the law.
You are right Littlest David. Since Jesus had replaced the OT antiquated laws with a brand new **NEW TESTAMENT LAWS** He really wasn't breaking the antiquated OT laws since Jesus was obeying His brand new **NEW TESTAMENT LAWS**!!
Exodus 31:14-16: Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do **ANY WORK** on that day must be **CUT OFF** from their people... Whoever does **ANY WORK** on the Sabbath day is to be **PUT TO DEATH**!"! {That would also include any **GOOD WORK** like healing those with permanent infirmities which could be cured in the 6 days before or after a Sabbath Day}
Exodus 20:8-19: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you will labor and **ALL YOUR WORK**, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord. On it you shall do **NO WORK**! {Which would include any **GODD WORK**}
Exodus 35:2,3; Whoever does **ANY WORK** on the Sabbath must be **PUT TO DEATH** Do not **LIGHT A FIRE** in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.
This was possible in Israel not to **LIGHT A FIRE** since it is about the same latitude of warm South Carolina. But anyone in the frigid parts of the earth must freeze to death in the winter since electricity would not be invented until over 3,000 years after this commandment was given!!
Jesus **IMMEDIATELY ELIMINATED AND BROKE** 26 death penalties in the Old Testament when He commanded in John 8:7: "Let any one of you who is **WITHOUT SIN** be the first to throw a stone at her!" {Who committed adultery} {Which is impossible since every human has committed sin}
John 5:16-18: So because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute Him. In his defense Jesus said to them. "My Father is always at His work to this very day, and ******I TOO AM **WORKING**!*****" For this reason they tried all the more to kill Him; not only was **HE BREAKING THE SABBATH**, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
Hebrews 7:18,19: The former regulation is SET ASIDE because it was **WEAK AND USELESS**; for the law made nothing perfect, and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.!
Matthew 26:30-34: They seized Jesus and arrested Him. With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "For *ALL* who draw the sword will die by the sword...But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"
Former OT commands in Exodus 21:23-25 "If there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise."
This was immediately changed and **BROKEN BY JESUS* by these NT commands by Jesus
Matthew 5:38,39: Jesus commands, "You have heard that it was said {In Exodus 21:23-25 above}, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek turn to him the other also!"
Matthew 5:33-37: Jesus says, "You have heard that it was said to your people long ago {Numbers 30:2 above}, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' BUT I tell you, Do not swear at all....Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No, 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one!!" {THIS COMMAND BY JESUS COMPLETELY ELIMINATED AN OATH OR VOW BY ANY BORN FROM ABOVEE CHRISTIAN!!
Mark 7:18,19: Jesus says, "Are you so dull?" He asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." In saying this. Jesus declared ALL FOODS "CLEAN! For what comes out of a man is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come--sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. Al these evils come from inside and make a person **UNCLEAN**!"
THIS COMMAND BY JESUS **IMMEDIATELY** ELIMINATED THE MANY UNCLEN FOODS FORBIDDEN BY OLD TESTAMENT LAWS IN LEVITICUS 11:1-47
And so Jesus and His disciples could immediately eat all the foods that were a sin to eat according to OT antiquated laws in Leviticus 11:1-47 that were immediately changed by the commands of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ!!
I Corinthians 9:21: I am under **CHRIST'S LAW**!!
*WE* ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT LAWS!!
Galatians 2:14-16,20,21; Paul said, When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' know that a man is NOT justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.!"
Galatians 2:20,21: The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
Galatians 3:10-13: "All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us!
Galatians 3:23-25: "Before faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, *WE* ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE LAW!!"
Hebrews 7:18,19: The former regulation is SET ASIDE because it was **WEAK AND USELESS**; for the law made nothing perfect, and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.!
Hebrews 8:8,9,13: "The time is coming." says the Lord, "when I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah".... By calling this Covenant "NEW", He has made the first one OBSOLETE; and what is OBSOLETE and aging will soon disappear."
Hebrews 8:6: But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which He is Mediator is SUPERIOR TO THE OLD ONE, and it is founded on better promises.
Colossians 2:16,17: Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you **EAT** or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a **SABBATH** day. These are a *SHADOW* of the things that were to come, the reality, however, is found in Christ!!!
False teachers always try to remake Jesus into their own image. For example, if a false prophet wrongly believes and teaches things that are contrary to scripture, he tries to claim Jesus also taught things that are contrary to scripture.
*WE* ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT LAWS!!
Galatians 2:14-16,20,21; Paul said, When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' know that a man is NOT justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.!"
Galatians 2:20,21: The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
Galatians 3:10-13: "All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us!
Galatians 3:23-25: "Before faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, *WE* ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE LAW!
Hebrews 7:18,19: The former regulation is SET ASIDE because it was ****WEAK AND USELESS****; for the law made nothing perfect, and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.!
Hebrews 8:8,9,13: "The time is coming." says the Lord, "when I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah".... By calling this Covenant "NEW", He has made the first one **OBSOLETE**; and what is** OBSOLETE** and aging will soon disappear."
Hebrews 8:6: But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which He is Mediator is SUPERIOR TO THE OLD ONE, and it is founded on better promises.
Colossians 2:16,17: Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you **EAT** or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a **SABBATH** day. These are a *SHADOW* of the things that were to come, the reality, however, is found in Christ!!!
Yes, not only do they complain but distract when you expose them!
For instance Richard7744!
I think I'm really beginning to understand the DEPTH of the problem with Richard the pathetic7744 false teacher and wanna be prophet has! When he LOSES the discussion, as any "Pinocchio" LIAR usually does, he goes in not so much an "attack" mode but DISTRACTION mode to confuse readers so they don't look up the verses he ATTEMPTS to quote, because he thinks context does not matter! When we understand the REAL truth that he is a false teacher and false judge! For instance reading what Paul writes to the Corinthian Church he converted to the Torah Law, that was originally given to the Hebrews by YHWH. The Corinthians were obviously NOT Hebrews so what was the issue with them and the length of hair of a man and a woman??? Good question, no?
Look what Paul states in verse 16 (1 Corth. chapter 11) in how he writes - "But if any man seem to be contentious" and so what is the meaning of that word that Richard the false judge keeps using it for his false doctrine and "commandment" for Paul to write about it to the Corinthians out of any kind of context, for Richard just makes one up by assumption!
contentious meaning - causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.
So here we have Paul saying its just an "argument" and "controversial" to even bring it up in discussion before the Church because "we have no such custom, neither the churches (plural!) of God" (all KJV) for Hebrew churches or Greek churches? ..... Simply understood Paul is saying what's the big deal, its all just an "argument" and "controversial" so get over yourself you Corinthians! For you are dividing yourselves over petty hair length and such of other issues (verse 18!) that Paul was addressing that GREEK Corinthian Church about! Correct!? So we may NEVER know EXACTLY what Paul was addressing to them, the fighting among themselves and HERE on this forum we have PATHETIC Richard7744 ATTEMPTING to cause confusion and DISTRACTION from the thread topic! Its all just a BOGUS attempt for PATHETIC Richard7744 to force his "Corinthian" beliefs (whatever their hair length on head and beard they had!?) and more so his ROMAN "MODERN" hairdos onto people on this forum, while claiming to be giving them "kisses" at the same time! All while potentially infecting them with the corona virus??? So what "length" of hair is a "shame" to a man according to Hebrew customs? NONE listed in the Bible! What about Corinthian CUSTOMS??? NONE listed by Paul because OBVIOUSLY Paul was NOT a Corinthian! Wow! Is this Richard7744 PATHETIC in his false ASSUMPTION in the "teachings" of Paul or what David? We just don't KNOW what Paul was talking about, meaning WHO'S CUSTOM he was addressing!!!???
What we have here in Richard the PATHETIC7744 is a delusional perversion of the Bible in its meaning and purpose! Like this hair thing of his and the removing of words in verses or even adding words that are NOT written! Then to claim the Messiah broke Laws like the sanctified Sabbath and died for food!!!??? HUH??? It makes me wonder why MORE people on this forum do not comment about this CLOWN of Bible interpretation, all of his own self making, that the thinks he is authorized to do! I would guess people are scared pathetic7744 may list their forum names with ours David??? Hmmmmmm...
David and friends! Here is a classic example of why CONTEXT matters to what the rest of the Bible says on a subject!
I have been kind of busy! This is in response to what Richard the pathetic7744 false teacher has posted all over the forum about me, quote-
**ALL OF THE FOLLOWING WORDS OF GOD CAN NOT BE FOUND IN TEDDYHUGGER'S BIBLE:**
Mark 7:18,19: Jesus says, "Are you so dull?" He asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." In saying this. Jesus declared **ALL FOODS "CLEAN! For what comes out of a man is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come--sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. Al these evils come from inside and make a person **UNCLEAN**!"
THIS COMMAND BY JESUS **IMMEDIATELY** ELIMINATED THE MANY UNCLEN FOODS FORBIDDEN BY OLD TESTAMENT LAWS IN LEVITICUS 11:1-47
end quotes.
This is what the pathetic7744 false teacher keeps posting all over the forum but does not want anyone to look it up in any of the other gospels, why? I will show you why!
Mark 7:18-23 (NIV) 18. "Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19. "For it doesn't go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)" 20. "He went on: "What comes out of a person is what defiles them." 21. "For it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come--sexual immorality, theft, murder," 22. "adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly." 23. "All these evils come from inside and defile a person."
Note in gospel Mark it says nothing about the subject of what is the cause for concern that the Messiah is addressing about dirty food going into a persons body and the Messiah is getting on the legalistic Pharisees about it all! Lets look at the gospel of Matthew, same story, shall we?
Matthew 15:16-20 (NIV) 16. "Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them." 17. "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body?" 18. "But the things that come out of a person's mouth come from the heart, and these defile them." 19. "For out of the heart come evil thoughts--murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." 20. "These are what defile a person; but >>>EATING WITH UNWASHED HANDS does NOT defile them."<<<
Its all about the Pharisees legalistic self laws of washing hands before you eat, that the Messiah is addressing!!! You see? So where does Richard the obvious pathetic7744 false teacher NOW come to the conclusion that the Messiah is somehow cleansing unclean animals that were NEVER meant to be eaten as food according to LEVITICUS 11:1-47??? He is talking about dirty hands when eating food, not unclean animals!
"In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean" when even eaten with dirty hands! Get it now Richard?
Over and over again pathetic7744 the false teacher says I cannot find this in my Bible and I just did and now he is a LIAR! Can someone tell me if I'm taking this dirty hands and food issue out of context or is Richard being deceptive and he doesn't want you to know the truth of what the Messiah was ACTUALLY saying??? Speak up friends please!
Yeshua is a Priest. Priests work on the Sabbath. Also " work " is a vague and difficult to define term. The Sabbath was made on Day 7 of creation, not by Moses. Yes there were or are death penalties for sinning. Yahweh gave the Israelites many chances to repent after they committed abomination after abomination. But He can only allow so much. Just because someone was pit yo death for something doesn't mean you have the authority to stone someone with no trial or chance for them to repent. The death penalty was more of a last resort for unrepentant repeat offenders. There was a court of law with judges called Sanhedrin. Consider the multiple trials Yeshua went through. Even Aaron the High Priest led the Israelites in worshipping the demonic golden calf, but Yahweh gave him another chance. My point is that you shouldn't dismiss the Old Testament since that is most of the Bible! Many of our modern laws are based on the Old Testament. For example, Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers. That was a different culture and time but we should try to understand it from the perspective of those who lived it. Not with an antinomian bias.
HUH??? It makes me wonder why MORE people on this forum do not comment about this CLOWN of Bible interpretation, all of his own self making, that the thinks he is authorized to do! I would guess people are scared pathetic7744 may list their forum names with ours David??? Hmmmmmm... 