Jesus said he came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. He was teaching a new attitude.
Since God does not change, I'd say He was teaching the attitude meant from the beginning. But that the people were unwilling to hear or accede to.
Yes, he condemned the pharisees, but he condemned them for adding more weight to an already incredibly heavy load, and for stressing less important laws over principals.
And for being hypocrites. (though I would say that he called them on their hypocrisy as a warning, not as a condemnation) But what was his beef with the scribes?
Which is not to say he didn't agree with the law, he indicated over and over and over that he did, but he was also very concerned that people also carried out the spirit behind the law. So the law did indeed allow for divorce. Jesus was not actually editing this. The law allowed it. And the reason, he said, it was allowed was because god knew the people were weak, or stubborn or something like that. So he tolerated it. At no time did he indicate the law was wrong on this matter, he just explained the decision behind it. He would tolerate it no more----new way. But while in place, it was the righteous way.
He agreed with the law as it was meant... not as it was mishandled. And it
was mishandled. (or no reason for Jeremiah's warning, and Christ's woe to you scribes) The law that the people had was not the law God meant for them to follow. It was just the most that the people could hear... and so Moses made allowance for them, and amended the law as it was meant.
Like my daughter. When she was 3 years old, I tolerated much more whining than I did when she was 10. I wasn't going backward and saying my old way was wrong---but moving forward there was a new way. When she was 3, she couldn't use pointy scissors. That was my law, and it was absolutely right. When she was 10, she was allowed to use scissors. That was my law, and it was still absolutely right. I was not of the opinion that I had been wrong, but of the opinion that time and context had changed.
It may have been like that in some ways. But Christ said that the they were given this law because the people were hard-hearted... not because they were children still growing and learning.
Not all of them though. Some of them got through. Who would ever doubt the lesson that Daniel taught them? He died quite old. But his concern was the rape of children and forced marriages either. It was idolatry. Like I said---priorities. It is impossible for me to accept that this god who claims to love so very much, couldn't have taken a few seconds to add a sentence or two. But there were much more important things happening.
Speaking a sentence or two doesn't mean anything if the people you are speaking to are unwilling to hear and to listen. And if the scribes are unwilling to write it down as stated.
So are you saying that Christ was limited to only addressing the priorities of those around him? He couldn't start a subject on his own? Something couldn't have been important enough to give a little mention? Think of how comforting that would have been for the victims left in the wake of his father's law. But hey, they didn't ask-----------so his obligation ended there. I suppose it was a woman's issue---and I don't suppose the women were accustomed to questioning their Jewish teachers. Too bad for them.
I am not saying that at all. He did start subjects on his own. But it is also written, as I said, that he did and said MUCH more than what we have written down. So someone might have asked, or he might have spoken... and someone could not have written it down. Not that he needed to comment on everything. He hurt no woman. He treated women as equal to men. He had female disciples. He did not delegate women to 'womanly duties'.
I did have a shadow of the truth for half my life. And in this second half I have found the truth. I still listen, in the sense that I will discuss it, but no, I'll never return to believing. I know the truth of the matter, and hopefully have shed all shadows of religion, or belief, or superstition,
If you understand choosing truth over shadow... then you must now understand that if the law is the shadow of the truth and things to come... and Christ IS the truth... why I will listen to Him insted of that shadow. Peace, Tammy
