Turning the Other Cheek
The Proclamation of a Heavenly Kingdom that Turns the
Other Cheek on Earth
Don’t Defend: 6/29/13 (recompiled here from ~ 2008 or so)
Forgiveness Instead of Execution – The Blessedness of David’s Example
Mosaic Death Penalty Legislated
The Law – The Highest Order of Social Justice
Forgiveness Instead of Execution – The Blessedness of David’s Example
This is the entire basis of being forgiven by faith in Jesus (Rom_4:1, etc.)
A Reminder that Laws Have Been Updated
We have effectively seen that the Mosaic divorce and remarriage laws were completely amended, verse by verse, by the Law of Jesus. Despite this, we still need to focus on the end of verse 4 of Deuteronomy 24, which specifically prohibits returning to the first.
A Reminder Concerning Hardness from Being under the Law
But before we go much further, please remember and consider that if we are still taken aback by this strong language despite all the Biblical examples given, it is if nothing else, because we have ignored the clear message throughout the Bible that we are not to be under the Mosaic Law, (example: Rom_6:14). Yes, if we do aspire to take up the Law, Paul says, “Christ [χριστὸσ – anointed one] will profit you nothing!” (Gal_5:2 CAB). If we are still trying to be under the Law of Moses, it cannot be apart from the hardness of heart that brought about the Law in the first place. And it is not as though any of this says at all that we have to throughout the Old Testament in order to understand these things: We do not have to wonder and stagger here as though the New Testament did not already specifically answer how this law is fulfilled and applied in the New Testament. On the contrary, to actually keep this law it is required that one does this in light of Jesus fulfillment of it in truth rather than returning to it in the oldness of its use for unsaved people. Any attempt to ignore the update Jesus gave to this is a return to flesh-based righteousness, and this is a dreaded crime we must seek to be clear from!
Some people actually think that it is still permissible to make concessions for divorce due to hardness of heart, and then they want to act like they are also under the New Covenant at the same time! Let us be courageously clear: The Bible makes no small point that a life of “hardness of Heart” has to do with one who is going to hell (Pro_28:14; Joh_12:40). Therefore, if we would rather be under the Law of Jesus, (1Co_9:21; Gal_6:2) then we will not make concessions this way. Once the foundations of this law and its entire essence has been explicitly fulfilled and updated, anyone who seeks to permit divorce or forbid the faith of reconciliation is an opponent to what God created in authenticating the New Covenant. But for the sake of those still struggling and for the sake of being thorough in establishing every pillar of truth which God has provided for us, we will even do more to make these things as clear and solid with much confirmation from the Scriptures.
Mosaic Death Penalty Legislated
Exo 21 – Mosaic Death Penalty: Eye For Eye
Exo_21:14-25 CAB And if anyone lie in wait for his neighbor to slay him by craft, and he go for refuge, you shall take him from My altar to put him to death… [compare: 1Ki_1:50-51; 1Ki_2:28-34; 2Ki_11:12-16] 23 *But if it be perfectly formed, [* MT: “And if any injury occurs” (WEB)] he shall give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
The “eye for eye” command is repeated again in Lev_24:17-21
Num 35 – Mosaic Death Penalty: No Ransom! No Exceptions! – Or You Defile the Land
Num_35:30-34 CAB Whoever kills a man, you shall slay the murderer on the testimony of witnesses; and one witness shall not testify against a soul that he should die. 31 And you shall not accept ransoms for life from a murderer who is worthy of death, for he shall be surely put to death. 32 You shall not accept a ransom to excuse his fleeing to the city of refuge, so that he should again dwell in the land, until the death of the high priest. 33 So shall you not pollute with murder the land in which you dwell; for this blood pollutes the land, and the land shall not be purged from the blood shed upon it, but by the blood of him that shed it. 34 And you shall not defile the land on which you dwell, on which I dwell in the midst of you; for I am the Lord dwelling in the midst of the children of Israel.
Things to Notice from Num 35
· The land is defiled by murder
· The only way it can be clean again is by killing the murderer
· Because of this you cannot take a ransom to keep the guilty alive
· Instead you are not allowed to promote the pollution of the land by murder, but must instead “purge… [the land] from the blood shed upon it” by killing the murderer
· This is to be done without respect of persons (that is, it is enforced equally no matter who is guilty)
(Also see: Deu_19:10-13; This law also agrees with the principals given after the flood: Gen_9:4-6)
Mosaic Death Penalty – Stone Adulterers
Deu_22:22 CAB And if a man be found lying with a woman married to a man, you shall kill them both, the man that lay with the woman, and the woman; so shall you remove the wicked one out of Israel.
There are many times throughout the Bible where both murder and adultery are linked to the death penalty in the same way. (See Jam_2:10-11.)
Notice the Strong Implications of This Death Penalty
please note that the Mosaic Death penalty is specifically given in every book of Moses’ Law: Exo_21:14-25; Lev_24:17-21; Num_35:30-34; Deu_19:10-13; 22:22. So we know that this is a serious Law. Repetition denotes emphasis. A (good) parent’s instruction is far more serious when they repeat it.
Mosaic Death Penalty Enforced
1Sa_15:33 CAB And Samuel said to Agag, As your sword has bereaved women of their children, so shall your mother be made childless among women. And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.
Samuel was not just some prophet with a long white beard. This was a prophet capable of violence! You don’t mess with Samuel if he gets a chance to enforce the justice of the Law of Moses. In addition to this example, there are many other examples throughout the Old Testament of enforcing this Law, including the following passages:
2Sa_3:23-30; 20:8-13 – Joab’s bloodshed
1Ki_2:5-6, 28-34 – How Joab was repaid
Num_15:30-36; 2Sa_4:5-12; 21:5-9 – Other examples
Oba_1:15 WEB …As you have done, it will be done to you. Your deeds will return upon your own head.
Mosaic Death Penalty Enforced During New Testament Times
But so many have tried to suggest that such an enforcement of the Mosaic death penalty was not possible during New Testament times when the Jews were under Roman occupation, since this was illegal for them (Joh_18:29-31), and even before that Gomer was not put to death when she sinned against Hosea. But don’t forget that the Jews of Jesus and Paul’s day also tried to enforce this death penalty many times in the New Testament, even though it was officially illegal:
Joh_8:3-5, 7, 58-59; 10:31-33; 11:8; Act_7:58-60; 14:5, 19. And also compare: Mat_15:4; Mar_7:10; Luk_20:6; Act_5:26.
Mosaic Death Penalty Amended
David Fully Deserved The Just Mosaic Death Penalty
David, Bathsheba, and Uriah
2Sa_11:3-4 CAB And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba the daughter of Eliab, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4 And David sent messengers, and took her, and went in to her, and he lay with her…
2Sa_11:14-17 CAB And the morning came, and David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Station Uriah in front of the most severe part of the fight, and retreat from behind him, that he may be wounded and die. 16 And it came to pass while Joab was watching against the city, that he set Uriah in a place where he knew that valiant men were. 17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab. And some of the people of the servants of David fell, and Uriah the Hittite died also.
2Sa_11:23-24 CAB And the messenger said to David… your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead…
David is Forgiven – Contrary to the Mosaic Death Penalty
After David was confronted…
2Sa_12:13 CAB And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said to David, The Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die.
(Also compare Psalm 51)
After reading all of these passages, we have got to just stop here and be amazed… What did God just say? “The Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die.” Some kind of non-standard, supernatural forgiveness just took place totally outside what the law had made provision for, so that even God would not have David die!
Notice that David committed both adultery and murder in his sin, but was not put to death, but instead out the mouth of God it was declared to David by Nathan:
“you shall not die,” (2Sa_12:13 CAB). – Why is this and how can these things ever possibly be??
No wonder the New Testament uses this* as an amazing picture of the forgiveness that is now available by faith in Jesus!
[* There are many places where the NT does this, including for example, Rom_4:6-8, as we can look at in a moment]
Jesus Declares the Mosaic Death Penalty Amended
Mat_5:38-39 WEB “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Don’t miss that Jesus is pointing to the Mosaic Death penalty: Exo_21:14-25; Lev_24:17-21; Num_35:30-34; Deu_19:10-13; 22:22.
Jesus Explains why it is Different for the New Covenant
Mat_5:21-22 WEB “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever shall murder shall be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment...
Mat_5:27-28 WEB “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ 28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Do you see that now Jesus is putting us all on the same plane with each other? Both those who have committed sin in their heart, as well as those who have committed sin in their flesh are counted guilty before God, particularly under the New Covenant which is based on the heart and not the flesh.
Jesus Enforces the Death Penalty As Truly Amended
Joh_8:3-11 CAB Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman who had been caught in adultery, and having stood her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, we found this woman committing adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in our law, commanded to cast stones at such. Therefore what do You say?” 6 But this they said, testing Him, that they might have an accusation against Him. But Jesus, stooping down, began to write on the ground with His finger, not taking notice. 7 And while they were continuing questioning Him, rising up, He said unto them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to cast a stone at her.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 And those who heard it [some source texts have here: “and being convicted under the conscious” (Jos.Trans)] began to go out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman being in the midst. 10 And standing up and seeing no one but the woman, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
[Technical Textual Note: Despite some “scholarly” controversies over this account of “The Woman Taken In Adultery,” the legitimacy and authenticity of this passage is documented in the appendix resource entitled, “Extra Notes on Church History”]
· On every aspect and detail, and on every level, according to the Law of Moses, this woman deserved to die
· The Law specifically said that she must be “found” in the act to enforce the death penalty: “And if a man be found lying with a woman … you shall kill them both...” (Deu_22:22 CAB).
· This passage shows her legal and just and verified guilt twice, in the words, “…a woman who had been caught in adultery…” (Joh_8:3 CAB) and in the words of the Pharisees as they insisted upon her authorized guilt, “Teacher, we found this woman committing adultery…” (Joh_8:4)
· Later in this chapter, we have another situation where Jesus says, “It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is valid.” (Joh_8:17 CAB). Because “we” means more than one man, this means that Jesus was obliged to accept the testimony of these men against the adulterous woman (“we found this woman…”) as a valid claim (which He in fact did in the words, “go… sin no more” - Joh_8:11)
· With or without the source text variation, “and being convicted under the conscious” (Jos.Trans.) it is clear that the woman’s accusers recognized their guilt enough to walk away with nothing more to say
· It is amazing that even though Jesus worked mercy for the woman which was contrary to the Law that they had from God through Moses, they were still “convicted by the law as transgressors,” (Jas_2:9 CAB; and compare this with Joh_8:8-9).
· The words, “Neither do I condemn you” mean, “Neither do I enforce this just Mosaic death penalty upon you, which you deserve and have been fully convicted of according to God’s righteous standard,” (see Rom_1:32) But “sin no more” meaning “Respond according to the mercy shown you and be saved from sin, because this was its purpose.”
We have seen from the story of the woman caught in adultery that Jesus clearly enforced the Mosaic Death penalty as being (socially) remitted, but this is definitely not the only example we have in Scripture:
Luk_9:53-56 WEB and [Jesus] sent messengers before his face. They went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for him. 53 They didn’t receive him, because he was traveling with his face set towards Jerusalem [i.e. they could see that He was traveling to go be with Jews, but they were Samaritans (with well-established racial conflicts)]. 54 When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky, and destroy them, just as Elijah did?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them, "You don't know of what kind of spirit you are. 56 For the Son of Man didn't come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." They went to another village.
Don’t shrug this passage off lightly! They deserved to have fire consume them for rejecting Jesus, but this was not Jesus’ agenda. Jesus did not come to enforce the justice of the death penalty, but to save people from being crushed under it!
Joh_3:17 WEB For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge [κρίνῃ – or condemn/ bring justice to bear upon] the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
Because of Jesus, Paul Was Forgiven Just like David
In addition to everything we have looked at, don’t forget how Paul said this very thing:
Act_13:39 WEB …by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
And don’t forget that Paul himself was also in many ways a man forgiven of the guilt of murder (Act_7:58; 8:1-4; 9:1-2; 22:4, 20; 1Co_15:8-10; Gal_1:13-14; Php_3:6). And if we all now have access to this blessed forgiveness, this puts us all on the same plane together. This is the basic good announcement that Paul commanded all preachers to preach, and to even use Paul’s testimony (of being freely forgiven of capital sins) as a pattern for the saving faith of this covenant (1Ti_1:3, 11-16, 18).
Because of this, everyone who believes in Jesus cannot justly demand the life of another, having realized that he himself is a forgiven murderer, because “all have sinned,” (Rom_3:23 CAB). And not only this, but under the New Covenant it says that there is “no difference”:
Rom_3:22-24 KJ2000 …for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ [χριστῷ – anointed one] Jesus:
And James also repeats what we have been saying:
Jam_2:10-11 WEB …whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he has become guilty of all. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” said also, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Fulfilling a just death penalty under the New Covenant means that heart-criminals cannot truthfully enforce it on other criminals, because they themselves know that they have been forgiven in the heart for the same crimes that others have committed in the flesh.
The Law – The Highest Order of Social Justice
The Law of Moses should truly be called the highest order of social justice for us, because it was a social government approved and ultimately given by God.
Gal_3:21 WEB Is the law then against the promises [ἐπαγγελιῶν – lit. announce-upons; fig. firm pronouncements] of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most assuredly righteousness would have been of the law.
Similarly, in Rom_9:31 Moses’ Law is called “a law of righteousness”. No, the Law is definitely not Sin! (Also see: 1Ti_1:9.)
The amending of the just (Mosaic) death penalty has been accomplished under the reality of the Kingdom of God, because under this,
Jam_2:13 WEB ...judgmentG2920 is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgmentG2920
[That is “κρισις” (krísis) in Greek: The judgment that brings justice].
True Heart Justice Means that Social Justice is Temporarily Delayed
Now that the heart counts, fulfilling personal justice means delaying social justice by mercy, and placing it into God’s hands until Judgment Day. And this was the case with the woman taken in adultery. And Jesus is pointing at us as well as the Pharisees if we hold people accountable to social justice. In this we should be asking ourselves, “When has anyone ever so sinned against me, but that God has not forgiven me 100 times as much and more for the crimes that I have committed against Him?” So also in this passage James points to us, showing us that we should have mercy.
But concerning Justice, we must first acknowledge that the Mosaic Death penalty was indeed just, and that it is the realization of the truest justice for the sins that it addresses:
Rom_1:32 CAB …known the righteous judgment* of God, that those practicing such things are worthy of death…
[* δικαίωμα – this Greek word is hard to represent in English, but the lit. root of this word is righteousness/ justice (δικαιοσύνη – as previously mentioned in Rom_1:17) and in v. 32 this righteousness is formed into a type of decree, decision, or judgment call which God has made and determined.]
The Rest of the New Covenant Enforces the Death Penalty As Truly Amended
The Law says it like this: “…life for life, 24 Eye for eye…” (Exo_21:23-24) because “… you shall not defile the land” (Num_35:33) and it says that there shall be no respect of persons (even if they are a king or peasant): Lev_19:15; Deu_1:17; 16:19; 2Ch_19:7; Pro_24:23; 28:21. And this death penalty also demands adulterers to be stoned, as well as fornicators, and homosexuals, and the like.
Even now, if we will have a righteous heart we will know and feel that this death penalty Law is indeed just. Yes, it is just and righteous that such a death penalty be enforced upon the sons of men holding them accountable for their sin, and that it be done to all men alike making no distinction. But please see this all-important fact: God does not give any one what they deserve who are justified by Him!
Rom_4:6-8 CAB just as
David also speaks [λέγει] of the blessing of the man to whom God accounts a [λογίζεται
– lit. decides/ determines (with) words;
fig. declares/ accounts/ recons; (to
have)]
righteousness apart from works b [i.e. of the law of Moses(as specified all throughout Romans)]: 7 “Blessed are they whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins were *covered over [*
ἐπεκαλύφθησαν]; 8 Blessed is
the man to whom the LORD shall by no means impute a [λογίσηται
– lit. decide/ determine (with) words;
fig. declare/ account/ recon; (to
have)]
sin.”
[(A) Notice that “accounts” (v.6) and “impute” (v. 8) are the same Greek word (λογίζεται), which means to, decide/ determine (with) words, but most versions misrepresent this as different theoretical/ “positional” “legal words” (such as “impute”) all throughout Romans. Protestants have been doing this with bible versions for hundreds of years to promote the heresy that denies that God actually speaks (λογίζεται) people into (εἰς) real righteousness (δικαιοσύνην), (Rom_4:5) – which is not represented in most English versions.
(B) “works… of the law of Moses,” for example: Rom_2:15; Rom_3:20; Rom_3:27; Rom_3:28; Rom_7:5; Rom_9:32;]
God did not give David justice according to what he deserved for committing adultery and for murdering a righteous man, but quite the contrary, God said to him, “you will not die,” (2Sa_12:13). And when God prophesied this unto David, this was directly contrary to the just Law of Moses, and was said previously to cause the land to sin! The same is true for Paul who was a participant in murder, as well as the woman taken in adultery. And the same is true for anyone else who hopes to inherit heaven by being justified by Jesus.
It is not at all that God has removed justice by establishing a new covenant. In fact, the New Covenant comes with greater justice and potential for condemnation than the first covenant, (Heb_10:28-31). This is because now God’s available covenanted relationship with men specifically includes not only the sins done in the flesh, (Rom_8:3; 2Co_5:10) but also the sins of the heart and mind (Mat_5:21-22, 27-30; Rom_7:23, 25; Jas_4:8)
In doing this, God has raised a higher standard of righteousness embedding it in this covenant that He now offers mankind, by requiring righteousness all the way down to the heart through supernatural intervention, and no longer simply demanding separation from uncleanness in the flesh. But (as opposed to the Old Covenant) God has not only made it a just thing for us not to be condemned to hell who repent and believe Him, but He has necessarily accomplished this infusion of obedience by giving real disciples favor, so that we don’t have to live in sin any longer and continue earning death: Compare Joh_5:14; 8:11; Rom_6:6, 12; 7:5; 8:3, 13; Col_2:11; 1Pe_2:24; 3:18
To those whom Jesus said, “neither do I condemn you,” He also said, “go and sin no more,” (Joh_8:11), and in the same way He said previously to a man who was healed, “Sin no more, lest something worse may happen to you,” (Joh_5:14 CAB).
Though they justly deserved it, Jesus did not call for their immediate physical condemnation in this life (the death penalty), because of the way that this covenant of mercy operates, but won’t He indeed judge and condemn them to death in both their physical person as well as their very soul at the Judgment, who continue in their sin until their death? Certainly He will! This is why He warned them concerning the next life, after answering their physical need by saying, “Sin no more!” (Joh_3:35; 5:22, 27).
However, while saying all of this, please don’t misunderstand me; I am not against the death penalty at all, (though I myself would never enforce it in this life). If you read this and think that I am somehow protesting the government’s ordained responsibility to enforce the death penalty, then you have misunderstood both me and the Scriptures. On the contrary, God has clearly said:
Rom_13:2-5 CAB Consequently the one resisting the authority has opposed the ordinance of God, and those opposing shall receive judgment to themselves. 3 For rulers are not a fear to good works, but to evil… 4 For he is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do evil, fear; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s servant, an avenger for wrath to the one practicing evil. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be subject, not only on account of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
By the way: This is what often separates real Christians from lawless pacifists. Those who submit under the authority of the Scriptures recognize both realities at the same time: (1) the government has been ordained as a recognized institution by God to even kill people as may be necessary for maintaining and enforcing social justice, and at the same time, (2) Those who hope to be saved from sin by the infusion of the righteousness of God cannot coexist as part of this earthly, governmental ordinance and follow Jesus at the same time, since Jesus willingly received social injustice for the sake of establishing a Kingdom that is not of this earth. – If you actually follow Jesus, you cannot enforce social justice while He Himself willingly received social injustice (Mat 26:51-52; Rev_13:10)!
From all of these things it is extremely clear that you cannot be both under a “social justice” agreement with God as well as a covenant that makes you spared from the justice you deserve from God. You have to decide whether you want to enforce social justice now in this age and face moral justice later with God at the judgment, or else enter into a covenant that saves you from your heart-injustices and go and show others this exact same mercy!
So God has made it clear that He has, in fact, given the government the sword to begin with, and ordained them unto this. And He also says of him that, “he is Gods minister.” But to those soldiers who seek repentance of their own (moral) sins, and hope to find obedience to His Kingdom, God says,
Luk_3:14 KJV …do violence to no man…
Or more literally:
Luk_3:14 Jos.Trans
.
…do not shake* no one through*…
[* διασείσητε (diaseísēte) – lit. shake (seísēte) through (dia) meaning to rough up; fig. intimidate or “do violence” (KJV); (see G1286)]
This is because it is quite impossible to
fulfill these verses, and kill someone:
Rom_13:9-10 CAB …if there is any other
commandment, in this word it is summed up, namely, “You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor;
therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Phi_2:15 CAB
…that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God
without fault …among whom you shine as light bearers in the world…
Mat_5:38-45 CAB “You
have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But
I say to you not to resist an evil person. But whoever shall slap you on
your right cheek, turn to him the other also…
43 “You have heard that it was
said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and you shall hate your enemy.’ 44 But
I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to
those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 45 so
that you may prove to be sons of your Father in heaven; because He makes His sun
rise on the evil and on the good, and He sends rain on the just and on the
unjust.
Those who advocate the death penalty now should also come to grips with the fact that justice also demands the death of adulterers just as much as it does of murderers! For us to say that we insist on promoting the death penalty without promoting enforcing it upon fornicators, adulterers, homosexuals, and the like as well is hypocritical, because concerning all who do such things, God has clearly said that they are deserving of death (Rom_1:32).
I have seen people zealously rage for justice to come upon a well-known murderer, but I don’t see those same people offended because the law enforcement will not put them to death for their past fornications, heart adulteries, and murderous hatreds! How hypocritical! This is the very reason Jesus said, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to cast a stone at her,” (Joh_8:7 CAB) but we have already cast the first stone in our hearts by condemning them, and have so insisted upon our own death.
Mat_7:2 CAB …with what measure you measure, it will be measured back to you.
This is a fearful and dreadful thing to fall upon your soul in the Day of Judgment!
Jam_2:8-13 WEB However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well. 9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he has become guilty of all. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” said also, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom. 13 For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
And don’t we find ourselves as David when he sinned?
2Sa_12:5-7 CAB And David was greatly moved with anger
against the man; and David said to Nathan, As
the Lord lives, the man that did this thing shall surely die. 6 …because he has not spared. 7 And Nathan said to David, You are the man
that has done this!...
For
this reason the New Covenant recognizes the adultery of the heart, and this is
why Jesus says “He who is without sin… let him be the first to
cast a stone…” (Joh_8:7 CAB). It is not just unto physical adultery that
He says this, but rather, ‘He who has not done the same sin in their heart, be
the first to enforce the death penalty upon this sinner who has done it in the
flesh’ (Compare Mat_5:27-30).
Is there Ever Biblical War In the New Covenant?
Is Fighting Is Bad?
Basic Passages of Not Fighting
Num 20:8
WEB Take the rod, and assemble the
congregation, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their
eyes, that it give forth its water; and you shall bring forth to them water out
of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their livestock drink.
Num 20:8
“Take your rod, and call the assembly, you and Aaron your brother, and speak to
the rock before them, and it shall give forth its waters; and you shall bring
forth for them water out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and
their cattle.”
Num 20:8 Λαβὲ τὴν
ῥάβδον καὶ
ἐκκλησίασον
τὴν συναγωγὴν
σὺ καὶ Ααρων ὁ ἀδελφός
σου καὶ λαλήσατε πρὸς τὴν
πέτραν ἔναντι αὐτῶν, καὶ δώσει τὰ
ὕδατα αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐξοίσετε αὐτοῖς ὕδωρ
ἐκ τῆς
πέτρας καὶ
ποτιεῖτε τὴν συναγωγὴν
καὶ τὰ κτήνη
αὐτῶν.
Num 20:9
WEB Moses took the rod from before
Yahweh, as he commanded him.
Num 20:9 And
Moses took his rod which was before the Lord, as the Lord commanded.
Num 20:9 καὶ ἔλαβεν
Μωυσῆς τὴν ῥάβδον
τὴν ἀπέναντι
κυρίου, καθὰ συνέταξεν
κύριος·
Num 20:10
WEB Moses and Aaron gathered the
assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels;
shall we bring you water out of this rock for you?
Moses
Strikes the Rock
Num 20:10 And
Moses and Aaron assembled the congregation before the rock, and said to them,
“Hear me, you disobedient; must we bring you water out of this rock?”
Moses
Strikes the Rock
Num 20:10 καὶ ἐξεκκλησίασεν
Μωυσῆς καὶ
Ααρων τὴν
συναγωγὴν
ἀπέναντι τῆς πέτρας
καὶ εἶπεν
πρὸς αὐτούς
Ἀκούσατέ μου, οἱ
ἀπειθεῖς·
μὴ ἐκ
τῆς πέτρας
ταύτης ἐξάξομεν ὑμῖν ὕδωρ;
Num 20:11
WEB Moses lifted up his hand, and struck
the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the
congregation drank, and their livestock.
Num 20:11 And
Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his rod twice; and much water
came forth, and the congregation drank, and their cattle.
Num 20:11 καὶ ἐπάρας Μωυσῆς
τὴν χεῖρα
αὐτοῦ ἐπάταξεν τὴν
πέτραν τῇ ῥάβδῳ
δίς, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὕδωρ πολύ,
καὶ ἔπιεν ἡ
συναγωγὴ
καὶ τὰ κτήνη
αὐτῶν.
Num 20:12
WEB Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron,
Because you didn't believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of
Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have
given them.
Num 20:12 And
the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed Me to sanctify
Me before the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this
congregation into the land which I have given them.”
Num 20:12 καὶ εἶπεν
κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν
καὶ Ααρων Ὅτι οὐκ
ἐπιστεύσατε
ἁγιάσαι με ἐναντίον
υἱῶν Ισραηλ,
διὰ τοῦτο
οὐκ εἰσάξετε
ὑμεῖς τὴν
συναγωγὴν
ταύτην εἰς τὴν
γῆν, ἣν
δέδωκα αὐτοῖς.
Num 20:13
WEB These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Yahweh,
and he was sanctified in them.
Num 20:13 This
is the Water of Strife, because the children of Israel spoke insolently before
the Lord, and He was sanctified in them.
Num 20:13 τοῦτο
ὕδωρ ἀντιλογίας,
ὅτι ἐλοιδορήθησαν
οἱ υἱοὶ
Ισραηλ ἔναντι κυρίου
καὶ ἡγιάσθη
ἐν αὐτοῖς.
Peter’s Sward
Ż
Jesus & Pilet
No Vengeance
Don't Defend Yourself
Court
Mat_5:17
1Co_6:1
divide inheritance
Luk_12:13-15
Luk_12:54
Confiscation of Goods
Heb_10:33-35
Involving the Authorities
Court
Calling the Police Can Be Right
Can Governmental Workers Be Saved?
Governmental Believers
Soldiers CAN Be Saved
The Love of Violence Has Always Been Wrong
Other Thoughts And Questions
“Love Always Protects!” (1Cor 13:__) vs. Peter Example?
·
Jesus drove out those in the temple violently! -(whipping them with 3 cords)
General Thoughts and Explanations
The only
reason I put this here is to avoid people misusing this work with bad motives.
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AbTr
Deu_19:13 WEB Your eye
shall not pity him, but you shall put away the innocent blood from Israel, that
it may go well with you.
Deu_19:13 LB Your eye
shall not spare him; so shall you purge innocent blood from Israel, and it
shall be well with you.
Deu_19:13 οὐ
φείσεται ὁ ὀφθαλμός
σου ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ,
καὶ καθαριεῖς
τὸ αἷμα τὸ ἀναίτιον
ἐξ Ισραηλ, καὶ εὖ
σοι ἔσται.
Deu_19:19 WEB then you
shall do to him as he had thought to do to his brother: so you shall put away
the evil from the midst of you.
Deu_19:19 LB then shall
you do to him as he wickedly devised to do against his brother, and you shall
remove the evil from yourselves.
Deu_19:19 καὶ
ποιήσετε αὐτῷ ὃν
τρόπον ἐπονηρεύσατο
ποιῆσαι κατὰ
τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ,
καὶ ἐξαρεῖς τὸν
πονηρὸν ἐξ ὑμῶν
αὐτῶν.
Deu_19:20 WEB Those who remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil in the midst of you.
Deu_19:20 And the rest shall hear and fear, and do no more
according to this evil thing in the midst of you.
Deu_19:20 καὶ
οἱ ἐπίλοιποι ἀκούσαντες
φοβηθήσονται
καὶ οὐ προσθήσουσιν
ἔτι ποιῆσαι
κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα τὸ
πονηρὸν τοῦτο ἐν
ὑμῖν.
Deu_19:21 WEB Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Deu_19:21 Your eye shall not spare him; you shall exact life
for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.
Deu_19:21 οὐ
φείσεται ὁ ὀφθαλμός
σου ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ·
ψυχὴν ἀντὶ ψυχῆς,
ὀφθαλμὸν ἀντὶ ὀφθαλμοῦ,
ὀδόντα ἀντὶ ὀδόντος,
χεῖρα ἀντὶ
χειρός, πόδα ἀντὶ
ποδός .
Was it Ever Right to Hate Your Enemy?
Deu_7:1 WEB When Yahweh your God shall bring you into the land where you go to possess it, and shall cast out many nations before you, the Hittite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, seven nations greater and mightier than you;
Deu_7:1 LB A Chosen People “And when the Lord your God shall bring you into the land into which you go, to possess it, and shall remove great nations from before you, the Hittite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, seven nations more numerous and stronger than you,
Deu_7:1 Ἐὰν
δὲ εἰσαγάγῃ σε
κύριος ὁ θεός
σου εἰς τὴν γῆν,
εἰς ἣν εἰσπορεύῃ
ἐκεῖ κληρονομῆσαι,
καὶ ἐξαρεῖ ἔθνη
μεγάλα ἀπὸ
προσώπου σου, τὸν
Χετταῖον καὶ
Γεργεσαῖον καὶ
Αμορραῖον καὶ
Χαναναῖον καὶ
Φερεζαῖον καὶ
Ευαῖον καὶ
Ιεβουσαῖον, ἑπτὰ
ἔθνη πολλὰ καὶ ἰσχυρότερα
ὑμῶν,
Deu_7:2 WEB and when Yahweh your God shall deliver them up before you, and you shall strike them; then you shall utterly destroy them: you shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy to them;
Deu_7:2 and the Lord your God shall deliver them into your hands, then you shall strike them; you shall utterly destroy them: you shall not make a covenant with them, neither shall you pity them;
Deu_7:2 καὶ
παραδώσει αὐτοὺς
κύριος ὁ θεός
σου εἰς τὰς χεῖράς
σου καὶ πατάξεις
αὐτούς, ἀφανισμῷ
ἀφανιεῖς αὐτούς,
οὐ διαθήσῃ πρὸς
αὐτοὺς διαθήκην
οὐδὲ μὴ ἐλεήσητε
αὐτούς.
WEB Yahweh will take
away from you all sickness; and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you
know, he will put on you, but will lay them on all those who hate you.
Deu_7:16 WEB You shall consume all the peoples whom Yahweh your God shall deliver to you; your eye shall not pity them: neither shall you serve their gods; for that will be a snare to you.
Deu_7:16 And you shall eat all the spoils of the nations which the Lord your God gives to you; your eye shall not spare them, and you shall not serve their gods; for this is an offense to you.
Deu_7:16 καὶ
φάγῃ πάντα τὰ
σκῦλα τῶν ἐθνῶν,
ἃ κύριος ὁ θεός
σου δίδωσίν
σοι· οὐ φείσεται
ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἐπ᾿
αὐτοῖς, καὶ οὐ
λατρεύσεις τοῖς
θεοῖς αὐτῶν, ὅτι
σκῶλον τοῦτό ἐστίν
σοι.
1Co_5:13 CAB But those who are outside God will judge.
Therefore "put away the evil person from yourselves."
1Co_5:13 τους
δε εξω
ο θεος κρινει
Aεξαρατε TSBκαι
TSBεξαρειτε τον πονηρον
εξ υμων
αυτων
Solders?
“You mentioned
martyrs who were soldiers. Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Origen understood
the New Covenant commandment to “love your enemies” to be a fulfillment of the
prophecies, “neither shall they learn war any more”
in Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3. Based upon this command to “love your enemies,”
the early Christians were without exception opposed to
participation in warfare. According to Hippolytus,
soldiers of the civil authority were taught not to kill men and to refuse to do
so if he is commanded. Both Tertullian (3.100) and Hippolytus (Apostolic
Tradition, 16) mention soldiers and explain the seeming contradiction. As
Christians evangelized the Roman Empire, many pagan
Roman soldiers were converted. Once baptized, those who were already in the
military could not simply resign because leaving the Roman army was punishable
by death. Although joining the military was disallowed by the early
church, they permitted converted soldiers to remain in
the army after baptism so long as they did not use the sword, swear oaths, or
participate in idolatrous practices.
Even the Nicene Council forbid military service and
set a penance for those who violated their former repentance. The First Council
of Nicaea (325) declared: "As many as were called by grace, and displayed
the first zeal, having cast aside their military girdles, but afterwards returned,
like dogs, to their own vomit, (so that some spent money and by means of gifts
regained their military stations); let these, after they have passed the space
of three years as hearers, be for ten years prostrators. But in all these cases
it is necessary to examine well into their purpose and what their repentance
appears to be like. For as many as give evidence of their conversions by deeds,
and not pretense, with fear, and tears, and perseverance, and good works, when
they have fulfilled their appointed time as hearers, may properly communicate
in prayers; and after that the bishop may determine yet more favorably
concerning them. But those who take the matter with indifference, and who think
the form of [not] entering the Church is sufficient for their conversion, must
fulfill the whole time."”
Zec
Zec
Pro 17:5 WEB Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker.
He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
Pro 17:5 LB He that laughs at the poor
provokes Him that made him, and he that rejoices at the destruction of another
shall not be held guiltless; but he that has compassion shall find mercy.
Pro
17:5 ὁ
καταγελῶν
πτωχοῦ παροξύνει
τὸν ποιήσαντα
αὐτόν, ὁ δὲ ἐπιχαίρων
ἀπολλυμένῳ οὐκ
ἀθῳωθήσεται· ὁ
δὲ ἐπισπλαγχνιζόμενος
ἐλεηθήσεται.
Didymos
TOC
Doesn’t Include Religious People
Presumptuous Blasphemies Against the Patriarchs
Bible Summaries: BBSUM: the Story of Paul, Mark, Barnabas, Demas and Onesimus