No Aspect Of The Law Has Passed Away To Date
Matthew 5:17-19 reads,
5:17
"Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. 5:18For most assuredly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. 5:19Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.A Woman Lawfully Divorced Can Lawfully Marry Again
Deuteronomy 24:1-2 reads,
24:1
When a man takes a wife, and marries her, then it shall be, if she find no favor in his eyes, because he has found some unseemly thing in her, that he shall write her a bill of divorce, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 24:2When she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.It is evident from Deuteronomy 24:1-2 that a woman lawfully divorced can indeed become another man's wife. As the law permits her to become another man's wife she is indeed not committing adultery in that subsequent marriage.
A Man Commits Adultery By Marrying A Woman Not Lawfully Divorced From Her Husband
Seeing that Yah'shuah said in Matthew 5:18 that nothing would pass away from the law prior to heaven and earth passing away, and seeing that heaven and earth have yet to pass away, it is indeed the case that Deuteronomy 24:1-2 continues to remain in force.
Therefore for a man to commit adultery by marrying a woman put away from her husband, according to Yah'shuah's words in Matthew 19:9, implies that the woman concerned has not been lawfully divorced from her husband. This could arise from her being put away without being given a bill of divorce. Or her being put away where there was no unseemly thing in her, an unseemly thing that is indeed "porneia".
Be Careful About Marrying A Woman Put Away From Her Husband
Yah'shuah's disciples should therefore be careful about marrying women who have been put away from their husbands. For the only put away woman a male disciple of Yah'shuah is allowed to marry is one who has been lawfully divorced from her husband. If she has not been lawfully divorced from him a disciple of Yah'shuah should not marry her, lest he commits adultery on her account.
There Is Nothing Wrong In Your Not Marrying If So Given Unto You
Matthew 19:10-12 notes that there is nothing wrong in a disciple of Yah'shuah not marrying. For Yah'shuah approves of those of his disciples who remain unmarried on account of the kingdom of heaven. Seeing that there is nothing wrong in a disciple of Yah'shuah remaining unmarried, other disciples of Yah'shuah should not place undue pressure on such unmarried disciples to marry.
If You Put Away Your Husband And Marry Another You Commit Adultery
Mark 10:1-12 reads,
10:1
He arose from there and came into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Multitudes came together to him again. As he usually did, he taught them again. 10:2Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"10:3
He answered, "What did Moses command you?"10:4
They said, "Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her."10:5
But Jesus said to them, "For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment. 10:6But from the beginning of the creation, ‘God made them male and female. 10:7For this cause will a man leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife, 10:8and the two will become one flesh,’ so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. 10:9What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."10:10
In the house, his disciples asked him again about the same matter. 10:11He said to them, "Whoever puts away his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her. 10:12If a woman herself puts away her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery."What You Need To Do To Have Eternal Life
Matthew 19:16-30 reads,
19:16
Behold, one came to him and said, "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"19:17
He said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."19:18
He said to him, "Which ones?"Jesus said, "‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not steal.’ ‘You shall not offer false testimony.’ 19:19‘Honor your father and mother.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’"
19:20
The young man said to him, "All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?"19:21
Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 19:22But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions. 19:23Jesus said to his disciples, "Most assuredly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty. 19:24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."19:25
When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"19:26
Looking at them, Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."19:27
Then Peter answered, "Behold, we have left everything, and followed you. What then will we have?"19:28
Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly I tell you, that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 19:29Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life. 19:30But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.19:17 shows that Yah'shuah's disciples should keep Yahweh's commandments.
Share What You Have With The Needy
19:20 notes that the young man THOUGHT that he had observed all the commandments that Yah'shuah had mentioned. Nevertheless, Yah'shuah subsequent comments to him showed that he had not appreciated the MANNER of observing the command of loving one's neighbour as oneself. For he who loves his neighbour as himself SHARES what he has with those who do not have. Therefore one who has great possessions should share his great possessions with those who do not have. For it is in this sharing that he manifests his love for them. The love we have for our neighbours ought to be demonstrated by actions we perform on their behalf, if indeed we have love for them.
To What Degree Should You Sell Your Possessions And Give To The Needy?
In the context of Yah'shuah's words in 19:21, to what degree should Yah'shuah's disciples sell their possessions and give the proceeds of these sales to the poor?
It seems to me that they should sell whatever they do and give these away up to the degree that they are not poor. In other words, they should not make themselves poor by their giving, but should give up to the point by which further giving would make them poor. They should therefore share what they have with the poor or needy, without making themselves poor or needy.
Leave Everything And Follow Yah'shuah
19:27 shows that Yah'shuah's disciples had indeed left everything and followed him, even as Yah'shuah encouraged the rich young man to leave everything and follow him, thereby becoming his disciple. It should indeed be evident that Yah'shuah's disciples should indeed leave everything and follow Yah'shuah to wherever Yah'shuah leads them.
19:29 lists the kind of things that Yah'shuah's disciples leave in their following Yah'shuah. Not only do they leave possessions, such as lands and houses, they also leave close relationships, such as their family members. And those of Yah'shuah's disciples who indeed leave everything will eventually be rewarded by receiving one hundred times the things they left, and also eternal life.
Mark 10:17-31 reads,
10:17
As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, kneeled to him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"10:18
Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except one — God. 10:19You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and mother.’"10:20
He said to him, "Teacher, I have observed all these things from my youth."10:21
Jesus looking at him loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross."10:22
But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions. 10:23Jesus looked around, and said to his disciples, "How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!"10:24
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, "Children, how hard is it for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 10:25It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."10:26
They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, "Then who can be saved?"10:27
Jesus, looking at them, said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God."10:28
Peter began to tell him, "Behold, we have left all, and have followed you."10:29
Jesus said, "Most assuredly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and for the gospel’s sake, 10:30but he will receive one hundred times now in this time, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come eternal life. 10:31But many who are first will be last; and the last first."Matthew 20:20-28 reads,
20:20
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him. 20:21He said to her, "What do you want?"She said to him, "Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand, and one on your left hand, in your kingdom."
20:22
But Jesus answered, "You don’t know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"They said to him, "We are able."
20:23
He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with, but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it is for whom it has been prepared by my Father."20:24
When the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation concerning the two brothers.20:25
But Jesus summoned them, and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 20:26It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 20:27Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, 20:28even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."Follow Yah'shuah When He Opens Your Eyes
Matthew 20:29-34 reads,
20:29
As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 20:30Behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!" 20:31The multitude rebuked them, telling them that they should be quiet, but they cried out even more, "Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!"20:32
Jesus stood still, and called them, and asked, "What do you want me to do for you?"20:33
They told him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened."20:34
Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him.It seems to me that those who eyes, either physical or metaphorical, are open by Yah'shuah should follow him. They should show their appreciation of having their blindness removed from them by doing whatever it is that Yah'shuah would have them do.
Mark 10:46-52 reads,
10:46
They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 10:47When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say, "Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!" 10:48Many rebuked him, that he should be quiet, but he cried out the more a great deal, "You son of David, have mercy on me!"10:49
Jesus stood still, and said, "Call him."They called the blind man, saying to him, "Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!"
10:50
He, casting away his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.10:51
Jesus answered him, "What do you want me to do for you?"The blind man said to him, "Rhabboni, that I may see again."
10:52
Jesus said to him, "Go your way. Your faith has made you well." Immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.Matthew 21:1-7 reads,
21:1
When they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethsphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 21:2saying to them, "Go into the village that is opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them, and bring them to me. 21:3If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and immediately he will send them."21:4
All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying,21:5
"Tell the daughter of Zion,21:6
The disciples went, and did just as Jesus commanded them, 21:7and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their clothes on them; and he sat on them.Yah'shuah's disciple should dutifully obey his every command, doing whatever it is that he commands them to do.
Fulfil Your Part In Yahweh's Prophecies
Luke 19:29-40 reads,
19:29
It happened, when he drew near to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the mountain that is called Olivet, he sent two of his disciples, 19:30saying, "Go your way into the village on the other side, in which, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat. Untie it, and bring it. 19:31If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say to him: ‘The Lord needs it.’"19:32
Those who were sent went away, and found things just as he had told them. 19:33As they were untying the colt, the owners of it said to them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ 19:34They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ 19:35They brought it to Jesus. They threw their cloaks on the colt, and set Jesus on them. 19:36As he went, they spread their cloaks in the way. 19:37As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen, 19:38saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!"19:39
Some of the Pharisees from the multitude said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"19:40
He answered them, "I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out."Yah'shuah's disciples should fulfil their part in Yahweh's prophecies, especially when they understand Yahweh's prophecies. Where they do not understand Yahweh's prophecies, and there is indeed a part in these prophecies for them to fulfil, they should pray to Yahweh to lead them to act appropriately to facilitate their fulfilment of Yahweh's prophetic words.
Matthew 21:18-22 reads,
21:18
Now in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry. 21:19Seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it, and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to it, "Let there be no fruit from you forever!"Immediately the fig tree withered away. 21:20When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree immediately wither away?"
21:21
Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly I tell you, if you have faith, and don’t doubt, you will not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if you told this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it would be done. 21:22All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."Should You Pay Tax To Governing Authorities?
Matthew 22:15-22 reads,
22:15
Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk. 22:16They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter who you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone. 22:17Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"22:18
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test me, you hypocrites? 22:19Show me the tax money."They brought to him a denarius.
22:20
He asked them, "Whose is this image and inscription?"22:21
They said to him, "Caesar’s."Then he said to them, "Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s."
22:22
When they heard it, they marveled, and left him, and went away.Learning from Yah'shuah's words, Yah'shuah's disciples should pay taxes to governing authorities in the areas whereby they are under the jurisdiction of these authorities.
Yah'shuah's Teachings Concerning Scribes And Pharisees
Matthew 23 reads,
23:1
Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, 23:2saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat. 23:3All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do. 23:4For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. 23:5But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments, 23:6and love the chief place at feasts, the chief seats in the synagogues, 23:7the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’ by men. 23:8But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. 23:9Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. 23:10Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ. 23:11But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. 23:12Whoever will exalt himself will be humbled, and whoever will humble himself will be exalted.23:13
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.23:14
"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don’t enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter. 23:15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much of a son of Gehenna as yourselves.23:16
"Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor.’ 23:17You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 23:18‘Whoever will swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever will swear by the gift that is on it, he is a debtor.’ 23:19You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 23:20He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it. 23:21He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who is living in it. 23:22He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it.23:23
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. 23:24You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!23:25
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness. 23:26You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside of it may become clean also.23:27
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 23:28Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.23:29
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous, 23:30and say, ‘If we had been in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ 23:31Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are sons of those who killed the prophets. 23:32Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 23:33You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna? 23:34Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them will you kill and crucify; and some of them will you scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city; 23:35that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar. 23:36Most assuredly I tell you, all these things will come on this generation.23:37
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not! 23:38Behold, your house is left to you desolate. 23:39For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’"Do All The Law, Both The Weighty Matters And The Less Weighty
Yah'shuah's words in 23:23 shows that his disciples should do all the law, both the weighty matters and the less weighty.
How To Resolve Conflicts In The Law
His comments in Matthew 12 should also be remembered. For even though his disciples should do all the law, occasionally situations arise whereby conflicts arise on account of different legal principles in the law. In such conflict situations he has given us a conflict resolution principle, of the weightier matters of the law superseding or taking priority over the less weighty matters. And these weighty matters are justice, mercy and faith.
Should One Tithe Under All Circumstances?
Seeing that Yah'shuah has categorised TITHING as one of the less weighty matters of the law, it appears that if a situation arises whereby if one tithes he would suffer want, he would not be guilty if he did not tithe in such a situation. For the law of mercy, alleviating his financial hardship, would supersede the law of tithing in such a situation.
Helping Your Parents Takes Priority Over Giving To Yahweh
This same principle can also be seen in Yah'shuah's words in Matthew 15, whereby he shows that helping one's parents in need takes precedence or priority over giving to Yahweh. In other words, whereby the only money outside his needs a person has is what he is to give to Yahweh, and his parents are also in financial need, he should use that money to help his parents alleviate their financial need rather than give it to Yahweh. For in this case the laws of mercy to one's parents, and honouring one's parents, take precedence over the law of tithing or giving gifts to Yahweh!
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