Blessings to you, the readers of this page, in Jesus Christ our Lord. May He guide you and protect you always.

Jesus Immediately Revised The Law Of Moses In Six Ways

1. He expanded the prohibition against killing (murder), to include a general prohibition against anger.

              "Thou shalt not kill (murder)." (Exodus 20:13 KJV)

       Matthew 5
        21
               Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou
               shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in
               danger of the judgment:
        22
               But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his
               brother without a cause shall be in danger of the
               judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca,
               shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall
               say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
        23
               Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there
               rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
        24
               Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way;
               first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and
               offer thy gift.
        25
               Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the
               way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee
               to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer,
               and thou be cast into prison.
        26
               Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out
               thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

2. He expanded the prohibition against forbidden acts, to include a general prohibition against desire to commit forbidden acts.

The example He chose to use was the forbidden act of adultery, but the principle applies to all forbidden acts: wanting to do it is almost the same as doing it.

              "Thou shalt not commit adultery." (Exodus 20:14 KJV)

       Matthew 5
        27
               Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou
               shalt not commit adultery:
        28
               But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to
               lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in
               his heart.
        29
               And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast
               it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of
               thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body
               should be cast into hell.
        30
               And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it
               from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy
               members should perish, and not that thy whole body should
               be cast into hell.

3. He eliminated easy, non-consensual divorces, in which the husband "put away" the wife for almost any reason (uncleanness) he wanted.

              "When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come
               to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he
               hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her
               a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send
               her out of his house." (Deuteronomy 24:1 KJV)

       Matthew 5
        31
               It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let
               him give her a writing of divorcement:
        32
               But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his
               wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to
               commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is
               divorced (put away by her husband) committeth adultery.

              "And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt
               thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD."
               (Leviticus 19:12 KJV) 

       Matthew 5
        33
               Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old
               time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform
               unto the Lord thine oaths:
        34
               But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven;
               for it is God's throne:
        35
               Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by
               Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
        36
               Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst
               not make one hair white or black.
        37
               But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for
               whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

5. He abolished the Law Of Retaliation.

              "And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for
               life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand,
               foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound,
               stripe for stripe." (Exodus 21:23-25 KJV)

       Matthew 5
        38
               Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye,
               and a tooth for a tooth:
        39
               But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever
               shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other
               also.
        40
               And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy
               coat, let him have thy cloak also.

6. He expanded the Law Of Love to include everyone, even enemies.

       
              "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the
               children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour
               as thyself: I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:18 KJV)

       
       Matthew 5
        43
               Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy
               neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
        44
               But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that
               curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for
               them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
        45
               That ye may be the children of your Father which is in
               heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on
               the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
        46
               For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?
               do not even the publicans the same?
        47
               And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than
               others? do not even the publicans so?
        48
               Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in
               heaven is perfect.


                         *       *       *
 

May the Lord bless this presentation of His holy Word.

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       Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org

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