The Cities With Ears To Hear:
Though, like Pharisees, some seek out my words to entrap and discredit; my pearls are for those who have a receptive spirit.
In the laws that God handed down through Moses, the requirement was not only to give back all ill-gotten goods, but to repay, with interest. Restitution.
Leviticus 6 (NLT) ²“Suppose one of you sins against your associate and is unfaithful to the lord. Suppose you cheat in a deal involving a security deposit, or you steal or commit fraud, ³or you find lost property and lie about it, or you lie while swearing to tell the truth, or you commit any other such sin. ⁴If you have sinned in any of these ways, you are guilty. You must give back whatever you stole, or the money you took by extortion, or the security deposit, or the lost property you found, ⁵or anything obtained by swearing falsely. You must make restitution by paying the full price plus an additional 20 percent to the person you have harmed.
Proverbs 6:30-31: Indicates that a thief is obligated to return much more than what was originally mandated in Leviticus, emphasizing, "He must repay seven times."
Proverbs 6 (NLT) ³⁰Excuses might be found for a thief who steals because he is starving. ³¹But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole, even if he has to sell everything in his house.
Ezekiel 33:15: Mentions restoring what was stolen as a condition of repentance and righteous living: "If they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen..."
Ezekiel 33 (NLT) ¹⁴And suppose I tell some wicked people that they will surely die, but then they turn from their sins and do what is just and right. ¹⁵For instance, they might give back a debtor’s security, return what they have stolen, and obey my life-giving laws, no longer doing what is evil. If they do this, then they will surely live and not die. ¹⁶None of their past sins will be brought up again, for they have done what is just and right, and they will surely live.
Some people erroneously dismiss Old Testament laws, believing that simply because they came primarily through Moses's ministry, they were done away with through Jesus's finished work at Calvary. But, here's what Jesus said:
Matthew 5 (NLT) ¹⁷“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. ¹⁸I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. ¹⁹So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Do this, this, this, and that. My hometown's counsel has led her backwards into repetitive ceremonial rituals. But, with God, "it's already done." Jesus' purpose was to teach us the easier way to walk in God's statutes: LOVE. Therefore, all we must do is align ourselves with God, through Christ. In layman's terminology: To grow up in the things of Christ is to work smarter, not harder. An easy yoke, indeed.
Jesus fulfilled (i.e. embodies) the ten commandments meaning that His finished work on the cross summed them up in love. They are not to be abandoned by mankind. He did, however abolish ancient civil, ceremonial, and sacrificial laws. We are no longer required to offer up goats and rams at the Temple. Though, in my personal opinion, some offenses, like child molestation, should require "eye for an eye" judgement; only jail time is imposed. God's moral laws, however, are upheld in New Testament ideology. Therefore again, The New Testament does not negate The Old Testament; it ratifies it— through LOVE.
Ephesians 4 (NLT) ²⁸If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.
More New Testament eaffermation:
Romans 13 (NLT) ⁷Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. ⁸Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. ⁹For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.
I'm not complaining about my hometown; for all these things must come to pass. I'm simply testifying, with written awe, of God's predestinate power.
Though, like Pharisees, some seek out my words to entrap and discredit; my pearls are for those who have a receptive spirit.
In the laws that God handed down through Moses, the requirement was not only to give back all ill-gotten goods, but to repay, with interest. Restitution.
Leviticus 6 (NLT) ²“Suppose one of you sins against your associate and is unfaithful to the lord. Suppose you cheat in a deal involving a security deposit, or you steal or commit fraud, ³or you find lost property and lie about it, or you lie while swearing to tell the truth, or you commit any other such sin. ⁴If you have sinned in any of these ways, you are guilty. You must give back whatever you stole, or the money you took by extortion, or the security deposit, or the lost property you found, ⁵or anything obtained by swearing falsely. You must make restitution by paying the full price plus an additional 20 percent to the person you have harmed.
Proverbs 6:30-31: Indicates that a thief is obligated to return much more than what was originally mandated in Leviticus, emphasizing, "He must repay seven times."
Proverbs 6 (NLT) ³⁰Excuses might be found for a thief who steals because he is starving. ³¹But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole, even if he has to sell everything in his house.
Ezekiel 33:15: Mentions restoring what was stolen as a condition of repentance and righteous living: "If they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen..."
Ezekiel 33 (NLT) ¹⁴And suppose I tell some wicked people that they will surely die, but then they turn from their sins and do what is just and right. ¹⁵For instance, they might give back a debtor’s security, return what they have stolen, and obey my life-giving laws, no longer doing what is evil. If they do this, then they will surely live and not die. ¹⁶None of their past sins will be brought up again, for they have done what is just and right, and they will surely live.
Some people erroneously dismiss Old Testament laws, believing that simply because they came primarily through Moses's ministry, they were done away with through Jesus's finished work at Calvary. But, here's what Jesus said:
Matthew 5 (NLT) ¹⁷“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. ¹⁸I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. ¹⁹So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Do this, this, this, and that. My hometown's counsel has led her backwards into repetitive ceremonial rituals. But, with God, "it's already done." Jesus' purpose was to teach us the easier way to walk in God's statutes: LOVE. Therefore, all we must do is align ourselves with God, through Christ. In layman's terminology: To grow up in the things of Christ is to work smarter, not harder. An easy yoke, indeed.
Jesus fulfilled (i.e. embodies) the ten commandments meaning that His finished work on the cross summed them up in love. They are not to be abandoned by mankind. He did, however abolish ancient civil, ceremonial, and sacrificial laws. We are no longer required to offer up goats and rams at the Temple. Though, in my personal opinion, some offenses, like child molestation, should require "eye for an eye" judgement; only jail time is imposed. God's moral laws, however, are upheld in New Testament ideology. Therefore again, The New Testament does not negate The Old Testament; it ratifies it— through LOVE.
Ephesians 4 (NLT) ²⁸If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.
More New Testament eaffermation:
Romans 13 (NLT) ⁷Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. ⁸Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. ⁹For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.
I'm not complaining about my hometown; for all these things must come to pass. I'm simply testifying, with written awe, of God's predestinate power.
Reading Assignment: The New Testament Book of
Ephesians Chapter 4
Ephesians Chapter 4
(Again, IMO: NLT is best for understanding. But, the MSG breaks it down in even further, in layman's terms.)
Fun exercise: Try using "Jesus paid it all" as a defense when tried in court for murder or bank robbery. Or, explain to the man who caught you committing adultery with is wife that "Jesus eradicated the ten commandments."
Fun exercise: Try using "Jesus paid it all" as a defense when tried in court for murder or bank robbery. Or, explain to the man who caught you committing adultery with is wife that "Jesus eradicated the ten commandments."
