Comments on: Matthew 5:17-20 http://dream.uk.net/wpblog/2007/01/04/matthew-517-20/ reading the bible as a community Wed, 7 Jan 2009 05:23:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Josh http://dream.uk.net/wpblog/2007/01/04/matthew-517-20/#comment-81 Thu, 04 Jan 2007 18:51:52 +0000 http://dream.uk.net/wpblog/2007/01/04/matthew-517-20/#comment-81 For me this seems to be a quick pointer on how to read the Bible. Although, some of what Jesus said seems to contrast excerpts from 'the Scriptures' (im thinking of turn the other cheek Vs. eye for an eye), this is only when the 'vast panorama'- or the big picture as i read it- isn't seen. As well, like any quotes, what the Bible says can easily be distorted if its taken out of its context. I think all of this really shows what someone said in this forum a while ago, about the Bible being anything but a quick dot-to-dot guide to life. God's law is, in fact, something that needs to be taken totally seriously. Good job that this forum is helping me towards that end then! For me this seems to be a quick pointer on how to read the Bible. Although, some of what Jesus said seems to contrast excerpts from ‘the Scriptures’ (im thinking of turn the other cheek Vs. eye for an eye), this is only when the ‘vast panorama’- or the big picture as i read it- isn’t seen. As well, like any quotes, what the Bible says can easily be distorted if its taken out of its context.

I think all of this really shows what someone said in this forum a while ago, about the Bible being anything but a quick dot-to-dot guide to life. God’s law is, in fact, something that needs to be taken totally seriously. Good job that this forum is helping me towards that end then!

]]> by: Julie http://dream.uk.net/wpblog/2007/01/04/matthew-517-20/#comment-80 Thu, 04 Jan 2007 16:29:58 +0000 http://dream.uk.net/wpblog/2007/01/04/matthew-517-20/#comment-80 Yes - it's unfair in a way, but to expand on the music metaphor - just playing a load of notes in the right order and in tune is very unsatisfactory. Similarly, I can do the "right" thing, but there's something lacking if , for example, I'm hypocritical or unconnected to the "music" in some other way. I guess we can't "feel" the emotional connection to order, but it's something we can learn or practice? Yes - it’s unfair in a way, but to expand on the music metaphor - just playing a load of notes in the right order and in tune is very unsatisfactory. Similarly, I can do the “right” thing, but there’s something lacking if , for example, I’m hypocritical or unconnected to the “music” in some other way.

I guess we can’t “feel” the emotional connection to order, but it’s something we can learn or practice?

]]> by: richard http://dream.uk.net/wpblog/2007/01/04/matthew-517-20/#comment-79 Thu, 04 Jan 2007 15:13:03 +0000 http://dream.uk.net/wpblog/2007/01/04/matthew-517-20/#comment-79 That's a really great way of putting it. But isn't it unfair to be told to 'feel' an emotional connection whether to music or doing good? Yet Jesus seems to be commanding something here. This saying by Jesus would have seriously pissed off the scribes and pharisees who argued over tiny little variations in interpretation of the law between different Rabbis. Then along comes this Rabbi who claims that his approach is the fulfillment, the panorama, the only ultimately true way of seeing what the law is all about and living it out in a new Kingdom that he keeps saying has arrived. That’s a really great way of putting it. But isn’t it unfair to be told to ‘feel’ an emotional connection whether to music or doing good? Yet Jesus seems to be commanding something here.

This saying by Jesus would have seriously pissed off the scribes and pharisees who argued over tiny little variations in interpretation of the law between different Rabbis. Then along comes this Rabbi who claims that his approach is the fulfillment, the panorama, the only ultimately true way of seeing what the law is all about and living it out in a new Kingdom that he keeps saying has arrived.

]]> by: Julie http://dream.uk.net/wpblog/2007/01/04/matthew-517-20/#comment-78 Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:54:31 +0000 http://dream.uk.net/wpblog/2007/01/04/matthew-517-20/#comment-78 Is Jesus saying that we need to do more than go through the motions - unlike the Pharisees? Kind of like not just playing the right notes (keeping God's laws) but also feeling an emotional connection with the music? Is Jesus saying that we need to do more than go through the motions - unlike the Pharisees? Kind of like not just playing the right notes (keeping God’s laws) but also feeling an emotional connection with the music?

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