10/13: 10 Commandments (and Sermon on Mount) as Wedding

We enjoyed the Laughing Bride's wedding video:

Part of the weddiing we didn't show:


Below: backstory of the wedding , with a classic example of "buiilding a fence around the law"
(For next test, be familiar with this topic  (discussed below), and be able to explain  how is this an example):



Discussion on how Jesus was interpreting/reinterpreting the law of Moses/Torah(Matt 5:17-48).

Some would suggest that he is using the rabbi's technique of "Building a fence around the TORAH."

For example, if you are tempted to overeat, one strategy would be to build a literal fence around the refrigerator...or the equivalent: don't keep snacks around.

See

What does building a fence around the Torah mean? 

Some wonder of this is what Jesus is doing here.  See:
Jesus' Antitheses - Could they be his attempt to build a fence around the Torah?

One can see how this could turn to legalism...and when do you stop building fences? See:

A Fence Around the Law

Greg Camp and Laura Roberts write:

In each of the five examples, Jesus begins by citing an existing commandment. His following statement may be translated as either "And I say to you... " or as "But I say to you ...” The first option shows Jesus' comments to be in keeping with the commandments, therefore his words will be an expansion or commentary on the law. This is good, standard rabbinic technique. He is offering his authoritative interpretation, or amplification, to God's torah, as rabbis would do after reading the torah aloud in the synagogue. The second translation puts Jesus in tension with the law, or at least with the contemporary interpretations that were being offered. Jesus is being established as an authoritative teacher who stands in the same rabbinic tradition of other rabbis, but is being portrayed as qualitatively superior to their legal reasoning.

After citing a law Jesus then proceeds to amplify, or "build a hedge" around the law. This was a common practice of commenting on how to put a law into practice or on how to take steps to avoid breaking the law. The idea was that if you built a safe wall of auxiliary laws around the central law, then you would have ample warning before you ever came close to breaking the central law. A modern example might be that if you were trying to diet you would need to exercise more and eat less. In order to make sure that that happened you might dispose of all fats and sweets in the house so as not to be tempted. Additionally, you might begin to carry other types of snacks or drink with you so as to have a substitute if temptation came around, and so forth. In the first example of not killing, Jesus builds a hedge that involves not being angry and not using certain types of language about others. One of the difficulties is that it becomes very difficult not to break his hedges. This might drive his hearers to believe that he is a hyper-Pharisee. Some interpreters have wanted to argue that Jesus does this in order to drive us to grace—except grace is never mentioned in this context. This is a wrong-headed approach to get out of the clear message that Jesus is proclaiming: you must have a transformed life. By building his hedges, Jesus is really getting to the heart of what the law was about. In the first example, the intent is not just to get people not to kill each other (though that is a good thing to avoid), rather it is there to promote a different attitude about how to live together. Taken together, the 10 Words (Commandments) and the other laws which follow in Exodus-Numbers paint a picture of a people who will look out for one another rather than just avoiding doing injury to one another. This becomes clear in Jesus’ solution at the end of the first example. The solution is not to throw yourself on grace or to become paralyzed by fear, but to seek right relations with the other person. There seems to be an implicit acknowledgment that problems will arise. The solution is to seek the best for the other person and for the relationship. This is the heart of the law.  The problem with the law is that it can only keep you from sin, but it cannot make you do good.  The rabbi Hillel said “what is hateful to you, do not do to others.”  In 7:12, Jesus provides his own interpretation “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you.”  He changes the saying from refraining from sin, to actively doing good.  The thesis statement in 5:20 is “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” This then is how to exceed, or go beyond the law.  In each of the five examples, the way to exceed the law is to make the relationship right.

Instead of drawing a new line in the sand that you are not supposed to cross before you are considered guilty, Jesus, confirms that the center is "love your neighbor" and then just draws an arrow (vector) and tells you to go do it. There is never a point at which you are able to finally fulfill the commandment to love. You can never say that you have loved enough. In the gospel of Matthew, the supreme example of this is Jesus' own life and death. His obedience and love knew no boundaries.  --by Greg Camp and Laura Roberts


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On the 6 antitheses of the Sermon on The Mount, remember my Paraguay stories?
 "Ever committed adultery, Bill?"
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"question of the day"..

Off the top of your head, list words and ideas that come to mind when you think of the story of the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mt Sinai.

Then scroll down for the question..

Was "wedding" on your list?

                                        .....or "love"?

What does all this have to do with a wedding?

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AS A WEDDING:

The Ray VanderLaan videos  on Mount Sinai are not online , but the  

episode is on this DVD.

It dealt with the many"historical world"hyperlinks from Ten Commandments to wedding.

Too bad  the video is not  online, but most of the study guide IS..

see pp.197-251  here

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This of course affects how we raed not only the Ten Commandments. but the Sermon on the MOUNT..

Get caught up on Amish Grace, chs 1-5 and Matt 5-7
-Next "Three Worlds" Assignment die Nov 1. See syllabus:

Three Worlds Paper/Video :“Who Do They Say Jesus Is?”    Due  Tues Nov 1

Your task in this paper is to analyze how various groups in the Gospel of Matthew react to the teachings and actions of Jesus. You are required to cover disciples, crowds, religious leaders. You may formulate additional groups as seems to be most appropriate in your analysis. Focus on names and titles they ascribe to Jesus, questions and issues they raise, disagreements and other response patterns, and anything else that shows how they seem to understand him. You may append tables or charts if you find it helpful. Base your comments on the text of Matthew only. Include chapter and verse references or direct quotations. Avoid unsupported generalizations. Avoid statements about how Jesus viewed these groups or why you agree or disagree with their views. Please focus on simply describing how they viewed Jesus. This paper should demonstrate that you have read the gospel thoroughly. The paper is intended to demonstrate that you are gaining familiarity with the narrative methodology being used in the course.

• 4-6 pages, typed, double-spaced (approx. 1200-1800 words)

Sample process:
1. read the Gospel of Matthew
2. Select a group and locate the passages where that group is present
3. Identify and label the ways that they indicate who they think Jesus is
4. Identify and summarize reoccurring themes.
5. Note any discrepancies in the views of the group (is the group unified or fragmented) and give examples.
5. Repeat for next groups (wash, lather, rinse, repeat)
6. Write a thesis statement that succinctly summaries the groups’ views. This is what your paper will then support.
7. Write a section for each group that restates the view of the group and provide examples.
8. Write a conclusion that summarizes the main views of the groups. Note similarities and differences between the groups.
9. Revisit and revise the introduction to make sure that it accurately defines your position and helps the reader know what to expect in the paper.
10. Proofread the paper. Reading it aloud is helpful. Perhaps take it to the ASC for review per the section about Submitting Assignments.