- In Matthew 5:31-32,Matthew 19:1-10 and Mark 10:1-5, Jesus came into conflict with the the Pharisees over divorce concerning their well-known controversy between Hillel and ShammaiDeuteronomy 24:1-4--as evidenced in Nashim Gittin 9:10 of the Mishnah. Do Jesus’ answers to the Pharisees also pertain to Christians? The differences in opinions about this usually arise over whether Jesus opposed the Law of Moses or just some of the viewpoints of the Pharisees, and whether Jesus just addressed a Jewish audience or expanded his audience to include Christians, for example "all nations" as in the Great Commission. Also, did the answers of Jesus "in the house" to his disciples expand the rights of women (See Agunah) or did they merely acknowledge that some Jewish women, such as Herodias who divorced Herod Boethus, were being assimilated by other cultures? (See Matthew 14:3-4, Mark 10:10-12.) In other words, did Jesus confine his remarks to the Pharisaical questions, and did he appeal to his own authority by refuting the oral authority of the Pharisees with the formula "You have heard...But I say to you" in Matthew 5:20-48? Expressions used by Jesus such as "you have heard", "it hath been said", "it is written", "have you never read", "keep the commandments", "why do you break the commandments with your traditions?" and "what did Moses Command you?" seem to indicate that Jesus generally respected the Written Laws and sometimes opposed Pharisaical Opinions. (See Matthew 15:1-3, Matthew 4:1-4.) Furthermore, Jesus used disclaimers like those found in Matthew 5:17-20 and Luke 16:16-18 to indicate his endorsement of the Law of Moses. His general respect for the written word and the disclaimers (coupled with the implications of ignoring them such as being "called least in the kingdom of heaven") are strong evidence that Jesus supported the Law and the Prophets. Jesus had a relationship with the Law of Moses while he was alive, but after his death and resurrection he was free to have a relationship with his new bride--the church. (Gal 4:4,Rom 7:1-4,Ephesians 5:29-32.) (See also Judaizers, Jewish Christians, Expounding of the Law (Divorce), Sermon on the Mount (Interpretation), Old Testament (Christian view of the Law), New Covenant.)
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Wikipedia on the Hillel vs. Shammai Debate and Jesus
Wikipedia had a surprisingly good description involving the Pharisaical debate regarding divorce and how Jesus may have taken sides, the author indicates that Jesus may have upheld traditional Mosaic Law and thus the side of the Shammais:
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