Lesson Five (Chapter 5)
U'mchockek - From a Lawgiver
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, and a lawgiver [u’mchokek] from between his feet, like as when Shiloh comes.”
Genesis 49:10
Introduction
- Last week we saw how Yeshua, King Messiah is introduced – not by a royal fanfare, but by a call to return to G-d’s ways.
- First, He was tempted by the Enemy to disobey Torah – which is something a king was commanded not to do.
- Next, we saw that instead of proclaiming Himself, He repeated the Gospel message: Repent and return to G-d’s ways – because the Kingdom was at hand.
- Lastly, we saw that He chose talmidim [disciples] for Himself – men to learn Torah from Him.
- We know that at the end of His ministry He would eternally satisfy atonement – yet we have seen what appears to be a different mission so far.
- These week we see Yeshua continue to explain Torah to His talmidim.
Eavesdropping on the Mountain
- Matt 5-7 is not a “sermon to the multitude” – it is a teaching occasion for His talmidim [disciples] – the multitude is listening in to the discourse.
- Matt 5:1-2: “seated” and “opened His mouth and taught them” are he words used to describe how a master would teach talmidim Torah– they are words of authority.
- Standing to preach vs. sitting to teach are interesting contrasts – that Scripture records the posture of Yeshua here is making a case for the Master/talmidim relationship.
- 7:29 shows that it was not WHAT Yeshua taught His talmidim that stood out – it was HOW. He taught not in the name of a previous teacher – but He uses the bold phrase “but I say to you.” Just a little reading of extant Jewish texts will quickly reveal how unusual this was.
Kingdom Blessings
- The barachot [blessings] of Matt 5:3-12 are not entrance requirements for the Kingdom. As all blessings, they are prophetic statements of empowerment. The Hebrew word for “Blessed are you” would have been ashrei.
- Psalm 1 describes the Kingdom subject with the word ashrei.
- Is 66:2: “poor in spirit” is defined as those who tremble at His Word.
- Is 40:1-3: Comfort for those who mourn over their sin – through the ministry of Messiah, there is forgiveness for sin… Repent, for there is hope!
- Ps 18:26: Purity is an attribute of the Holy One of Israel – His subjects are to be as He is.
- Ps 106:30-31: Pinchas – the peacemaker. Zeal in bringing peace between G-d and His people.
The “Sanctified” are to “Sanctify”
- Matt 5:13-16: salt and light. Salt CANNOT loose its saltiness. This is a picture of the “covenant of salt” – or “salt of the sacrifice”.
- Lev 2:13: a sacrifice without salt was not “sanctified” – it was profane.
- 2Chron 13:5: The Davidic Covenant of 2Sam 7 and the Promised King Messiah is called a “covenant of salt”.
- From the use of salt in Scripture we can see that when Yeshua compares His talmidim to salt, He is making note of nature of the Kingdom – not simply regarding the world to come – but in sanctifying this world now, and making it by their deeds a literal/physical Kingdom NOW. Kingdom subjects make their surroundings holy.
- The Kingdom is not merely about “the ever after” – it is about King Messiah’s subjects living obediently now, and by their deeds of faith declaring the Kingship of Messiah. The sages described this as tikkun olam – or “building/fixing Eternity”.
- Kingdom-building is not about numbers – it is about obedience.
Establishing the Torah and Prophets
- Contrary to the replacement theologians’ assertions, Yeshua is not delivering a “new law” in Matt 5-7. To say so is not only ridiculous in theological thinking, it denies Yeshua's own words in 5:17-19.
- batel vs. kiyem: not to cancel Torah and Prophets – but to establish. These words were common in First Century theological discussion – if a teaching established the intent of G-d’s Word, it was to kiyem (in English “fulfill”).
- 5:18: the word “fulfilled” (in Greek ginomahai) does not mean “satisfied” – when has “heaven and earth passed away”? Rather, it literally means “to become”.
- Acts 6:8-14: If Yeshua and His followers had taught against Torah and the Prophets as some say… then by G-d’s own command they were right in putting them to death (Deut 13:4-5) – these were false accusations (Acts 6:13).
- Just to be sure that the hearers understood what He was saying, He establishes a “greater” and “lesser” in the Kingdom – the greater are “whoever does (the least of the commandments) and teaches (them).”
- 5:20: The righteousness of the “scribes and Pharisees” – where many had erred was in not seeing the commandments of G-d as relational – instead, making a righteousness of their own through the exercise of rules and regulations (xref Deut 6:25; Rom 3:31).
“Said” vs. “Written”
- 5:21-43: In six areas Yeshua points out how Torah is relational – but where common misunderstanding and error (“you have heard it said”) had turned it on its head – remember, Torah is always about relationship to G-d and to each other – justice and mercy.
- The common misunderstanding of these verses is where such ridiculous teachings of “the G-d of the O.T.” vs. “the G-d of the N.T.” come from. Some of Yeshua's “you have heard it said” point to simple misapplication (“eye for eye”) – while some are not even found in Scripture (“let him give her a certificate of divorce” and “hate your enemies”). Just a little less laziness will quickly show the difference between Yeshua's “it is written” statements in Matt 4 and the “you have heard it said” statements in Matt 5.
- This does not mean that Yeshua is negating “written Torah” – neither does it mean that He is complete negating “oral Torah” – but He is clearly making a distinction. The “written” is being reinforced by Yeshua.
Summary
- In dividing G-d’s Word into “Old Testament” and “New Testament” we have endangered our very understanding of G-d’s redemptive plan. Some have so twisted Yeshua's words that He is made into the founder of a new religion – “Christianity.”
- By G-d’s grace we have not been attached to a “new way” – but rather we have been grafted into the commonwealth of Israel – and made partakers with Israel in the Beloved – Return O Israel… Return, all who name His Name!
“… by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Messiah), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Messiah through the Gospel.”
Ephesians 3:4-6