New Covenant Law of Love

 A Christian Living series

The OC Law of Moses, read: Lev 19:16-18; 33-34:

• 16 NLT best captures the sense:

Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened.

• 17 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart";

• 18 "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge."

NOTE: the "neighbor," i.e., "brother" = fellow Israelites only!

• 34 "treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself."

NOTE: sounds like the so-called Golden Rule of Jesus, right?

So what was novel about the NC Law of Jesus when it comes to loving your enemy? Mat 5:38-48

• v.44, unqualified Love of enemy, i.e., love your enemy only if...;

• v.38 Jesus directly overturns other OC laws that authorized violent, even lethal actions.

Read, Leviticus 24:15-23

• v.20 Fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Just as he injured the other person, the same must be inflicted on him. cp. Ex 21.24;

• v.23 “They took the blasphemer outside the camp and stoned him.”

Read, Deuteronomy 19:16-21

• v.21, You must show no pity: Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.

• NOTE: Lev 19:34 love your neighbor as yourself a qualified commandment!

Hays, Moral Vision of the NT, pp. 324-25:

The Torah “prohibits murder, but Jesus forbids even anger. [In Mat 5.38-42] Jesus actually overrules the Torah [e.g.,] Deuteronomy insists, ‘Show no pity,’ Jesus says, 'Do not resist an evildoer.’ [The Torah’s] concern for maintaining stability and justice is supplanted by Jesus’ concern to encourage nonviolent, long-suffering generosity on the part of those who are wronged. This extraordinary change of emphasis constitutes a paradigm shift that effectually undermines the Torah’s teaching about just punishment for offenders.”

Did his Apostles practiced what Jesus preached? Read, Luke 9:51-56

• Some mss. add to v.55, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man came not to destroy people's lives but to save them."

Read, Mat 26.47-56

• v.52 Tertullian writing in the 2nd c. “In disarming Peter, Christ disarms all Christians.”

Overturning yet another OC Law, Ex 22.2, a home intruder "beaten to death" yet "no one is guilty of bloodshed."

• v.54 fulfilling Luke 26:

36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 

37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

Hays, Moral Vision:

“There’s no foundation whatever in the Gospel of Matthew for the notion that violence in defense of a third party is justifiable. In fact, Matt 26.51-52 serves as an explicit refutation of this idea.”

The violent followers of Jesus typified by Gamaliel's speech: Read, Acts 5.35-39

• Jesus attracted non-religious, non-leaders;

• Some government officials (taxman);

• Some violent Insurrectionists (Zealots); e.g., “Simon the patriot,” Luke 6.12-16;

• A sword-wielding, violent Peter, John 18:10;

• A violent blaspheming persecutor of the church, Paul, 1Tim 1.13.

Pentecost pacifists:

• Peter: 1 Peter 3.9-14.

• Paul: Rom 12.9-21;

• The separation of Christians with any violent state: Rom 13:1-7; cp. 1Pet 2.12-14.

NOTE: Obedience, honor to the State does not mean joining the State!

Remember, the gods of the nations are demons: Ps 95.5!

Summary:

• The sermon on the mount was a direct, overt rejection of the tit-for-tat, quid pro quo of the Law of Moses!

• The parading shift: Matt 5.38f.; 26.52

"Whoever lives by the sword WILL DIE by the sword."

• Jesus the new Moses: Mat 2.15; cp. John 1.17.

• The Golden Rule of Jesus redefines, summarizes “the Law and the prophets” (Matt 7:12).

• Mercy now overrides sacrifices (Mat 9.13; 12.7; cf. Hos 6.6).

• Mercy now overrides the OC civil, judicial system: death penalty, Mat 5.27-28.

• The non-violent spiritual church has no business with the violent, demonized nation-states of this present evil age: Rom 12-13; cp. Ps 95.5LXX, "The gods of the nations are demons"!

NOTE: In the NT Christian lethal violence is always eschatological, i.e., pertaining to the ge to come, the establishment of the KOG!

• Violent, even lethal God-ordained justice/revenge is coming, Daniel 7!

• Your imprecatory prayers (Luke 9.54, "fire from heaven") will finally be answered (Luke 19.27, bring my enemies before me and YOU slaughter them!).

Recommended Reading:

1. Bercot, David, The Kingdom that Turned the World Upside Down.

2. Bonhoeffer, D, The Cost of Discipleship.

3. Boyd, Gregory, The Myth Of A Christian Nation.

4. Brensinger & Sider, Within the Perfection of Christ.

5. Camp, Lee, Mere Discipleship.

6. Clouse, R.G. War: Four Christian Views.

7. Dodge, D.L. War Inconsistent with the Religion of Jesus Christ.

8. Drescher, J.M. Why I Am a Conscientious Objector.

9. Egan, Peace Be With You: Justified Warfare or the Way of Non-Violence.

10. Ford, J.M. My Enemy is My Guest.

11. Gray, J.G. The Warriors: Reflection of Men in Battle.

12. Grossman, On Killing.

13. Harnack, Militia Christi.

14. Kalantzis, Caesar and the Lamb.

15. Claibourne, S, Jesus for President.

16. Joseph, S.J. The Nonviolent Messiah.

17. MacArthur, John, Why Government Can’t Save You.

18. McCarthy, E.C. Christian Just War Theory: The Logic of Deceit.

19. MLK, Strength to Love.

20. Roth, J.D. Choosing Against War.

21. Sprinkle, P. Fight: A Christian Case for Non-Violence.

22. Stassen & Gushee, Kingdom Ethics.

23. Taylor, Dean, A Change of Allegiance.

24. Tolstoy, Leo, The Kingdom Of God Is Within You.

25. Wink, W, Jesus and Nonviolence.

26. Yoder, J, The Politics of Jesus; What Would You Do.

27. York & Barringer, A Faith Not Worth Fighting For.

Born Again series: The Two Israels

 In the NT Jesus introduces us to the concept of 2 Israels (Mat 19.28).

This is as a result of his Born Again teaching (John 3).

Hence, Paul later distinguishes between the Born-again, immortal Israel of God, Gal 6.16) and the mortal national, ethnic Israel of the flesh (1Cor 10:18a).

So that now Jewish-Christians along with Gentile-Christians are called the true circumcision (Phil 3.13) because they have believed, repented, i.e., have been born again.

This Born Again Israel now stands in sharp contrast to present-day unbelieving, therefore unrepentant, not Born Again nation of Israel.

Including both non-religious and religious Jew who remains bound to the physical, literal circumcision of the flesh (Gal 6.13).

This explains why Paul devotes most of his letters to matters related to the OC Law of Moses as opposed to the NC Law of Christ.

In other words, the Law of Moses is represented by the circumcision of the flesh and not of the spirit, as we shall see.

Circumcision: gateway to Torah-keeping

First and foremost circumcision of the flesh was the sign of the Abrahamic covenant, i.e., God's promise to Abram that he would inherit the land and as a result, become the father all the nations of the world: Gen 17:13-14; Ex 12.48.

Hence, God changes Abram's name to Abraham, aka the father of many nations.

Later, under the Mosaic covenant, circumcision becomes the gateway for Torah-keeping (Acts 15.5).

Hence, the various OT warnings re: the uncircumcised not being able to enter into the promises of the KOG: Isa 52.1; Ezek 44.9.

The point being that if you were not circumcised you would be cut off from the land promise, i.e., no good news for you!

Replacement Theology

As a result of the NT revelation re: the 2 Israels concept is sometimes seen through the prism of what's known as replacement theology.

Now there is a right and a wrong way to talk about the concept.

Wrongly defined as the Church fully and permanently replacing national-ethnic Israel of the flesh.

Rightly defined as the new olive tree of God, the international, Born Again Israel of God if you will, made up of both Jew/Gentile: Romans 11.

This means there will be a saved remnant of ethnic/national “Israel of the flesh,” as Jesus says in Mat 19.28.

BTW just like there will be survivors from every other nation in the world, Ezek 36.36; Zech 14.16; cp. Isa 19.20f.

OT vs NT Israel

So when reading the OT we must carefully distinguish between prophecies pertaining to national/ethnic Israel and the spiritual, born again Israel of God (aka the Church).

National/ethnic Israel of the flesh

For example, Paul in Rom 9:

• v. 26 applies Hosea 1:10;

• v. 28 applies Isa 10:22–23;

• v. 29 applies Isa 1:9.

Romans 11.

• v. 8 applies Deut. 29:4; Isa 29:10 to national Israel.

• v. 10 applies Psalm 69:22–23;

• v 15: “the dead coming back to life" in the Valley of dry bones in Ezek. 37, not a reference to the resurrection of the dead!

• v. 27 applies Isaiah 27:9; 59:20–21.

Other applications:

• Isa. 65.17-25 the mortal nation of Israel in the KOG;

• Ezekiel 36f., re: Israel and reestablishment of modified Torah(?) and the Millennium Temple.

National/ethnic Israel of the flesh becomes part of the rest of the remnant nations in the KOG:

• Isa 19.18f. triple alliance with former enemy-states like Egypt, Assyria; aka the New United KOG Nations!

Born Again, spiritual Israel

Again Paul in Rom 9:

• vv. 6-7 applies Gen 21.12;

• v. 9 applies Gen 18:14;

• vv. 12-13 applies Gen 25:23; Mal 1:2–3;

Other applications:

• OT “the elect/saints” language applied Matt 24.22-31.

Born Again Israel of God, 1 Pet. 2:9-10:

“You (the church) are a chosen people (quoting Isa. 43:20), a royal priesthood, a holy nation (quoting Exodus 19:6), a people belonging to God (Deut. 7:6), that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (quoting Isaiah 43:21). Once you were not a people of God, once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (Hosea 2:23).

What the Future holds.

The Born Again Israel of God/the Church will govern the remnant nations at the paligenesia [Age to come/KOG on earth] including national, ethnic Israel of the flesh: Mathew 19.28!

Born Again series: The Parable of the Sower

 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?" Mark 4:13, NLT

Shema!

•     “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Mar 4.9, 23;
•       10 times on the lips of Jesus throughout the Gospels!

1. What is the seed?

The seed is called by various names which will end up meaning the same thing:

·       "the word,” 

·       “the word of God,"

·       "the word of the Kingdom,” i.e., the Gospel or good news.

NOTE the word of God is not the Bible, aka the scriptures!

 

2. What is the Kingdom? A Gospel of Peace

·       Dan. 2:44; Isa. 2:4; 11.6-9.

Repent and believe: Mar 1.14-15.

The Kingdom is always near but not here!

·       Ezekiel 30.3; Zeph. 1.14 writing in the 7th c. BC;

·       Joel 1.15, 9th – 5th c. BC;

·       Obadiah 15.15, 5th c. BC.

 

3. Born Again Now!

·       Rebirth by the seed = the word, 1 Pet 1.22-23;

·       Produce fruit now! Mat 3.8; 7.16;

·       Become children of God now! Jam 1.18.

 

4. You Choose: Different paths!

·       Rocks, thorns, Luke 8:13-14

·       Satan seeks to take away the seed: Luke 8:11-12; cp. 2Thess 2.10;

·       Choose the right path! Luke 8.15; cp. Col 2.7.

The Born Again process:

·       Hear and understand the word about the KOG: Eph. 1.13.

·       Act by repenting, changing your lifestyle/worldview: Mar 1.15.

·       Plant the seed deep in your heart/mind and bear fruit: Luke 13.19

·       Obedience of faith then comes by baptism: Acts 2.38.

·       Be led by the spirit-seed, renewing your heart/mind every day: Eph. 4.23.

·       Preach the Gospel-seed to all the nations: Mat 28.19.

3 Days and 3 Nights

The NT says Jesus was raised from the dead:

• on “the third day" (8x, Mark 9:31; 10:34, Luke 9:22; 13:32; 18:33; 24:7, 46; 1Cor 15:4).

• "in three days" (3x, Mark 15:29, John 2:19-20).

• "after three days" (once, Mark 8:31).

• and once Jesus said that he would be raised from the dead after 3 days and 3 nights (Mat 12.40).

But note that for Matthew the phrases "in 3 days" (Mat 26.61; 27.40) "after 3 days" (Mat 27.63) and "3 days, 3 nights" (Mat 12.40) mean the same thing!

So there are two biblical methods being employed here:

• The Hebrew way of counting time and

• Hebrew idioms.

When counting days, the Bible generally uses inclusive counting.

This means you include as day 1 the day you start counting.

For example:

• Genesis 42:17 says Joseph imprisoned his brothers for 3 days and released them on the third day, i.e., before the completion of a full 3 days.

• 2 Chronicles 10:5 the king says: Come back after 3 days.

Yet, v. 12b says the people reported back “on the third day just as the king had ordered."

NOTE: when in actuality the king had said after 3 days not on the third day.

• Esther 4:16 tells Mordecai to fast for 3 days, “and afterward go to the king" but then Esther 5:1 says she went to the king on the third day.

• Genesis 17:12 says that a child is to be circumcised at 8 days old.

But Luke 1:59 says Jesus was circumcised "on the 8th day." 

And Luke 2:21 uses the expression: 

"When 8 days were accomplished."

The Jewish Encyclopedia, Volume 4, page 475.

"Circumcision takes place on the eighth day, even though of the first day only a few minutes remained after the birth of the child, these being counted as one day."

In Luke 13:32 Jesus uses this method of counting inclusively when he says that he will keep on casting out demons and healing people “today, tomorrow and the third day.”

If we apply this method of counting to his resurrection it would look something like this:

Friday crucifixion (today), the Sabbath (tomorrow) and Sunday (the third day).

As we see in Luke 24.21 on the first day of the week, i.e., Sunday afternoon, the men walking on the road to Emmaus said it was "the third day since all this took place.”

That is, the crucifixion.

So counting backwards we have:

In Luke 24:21 the men were despondent because they knew that God, in OT prophecies like Hos 6:2, had promised to restore "Israel” (represented by the Messiah) “on the third day."

They were also expectant because God had performed many miracles on the third day:

• Exo 19:11 YHWH says to Moses:

”Be ready, because on the third day I will intervene with a miracle.”

• Gen 22.4 on the third day Abram was told to kill Isaac; Heb 11.19 adds that this was a type of the resurrection.

• John 2:1 On the third day Jesus performed his first sign-miracle at the wedding in Cana.

(See also 2 Kings 20:5, Est 5:1).

This was well-known by Paul when he writes in 1Cor 15.

3 For I handed down to you as of first importance what

I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

So the phrase 3 days and 3 nights is understood as a Hebrew idiom, i.e., a way of speaking and not to be taken literally, as a 72 hr period.

Because any part of a day is taken as the entire 24-hour period; which obviously would include the day time plus night time.

Thus, Mat 12:40 describes the same period of time as the other verses, i.e., the third day, Sunday, resurrection day.

This firmly places the crucifixion on Friday.

carlos@thehumanjesus.org