To my knowledge, the strongest support for the law attributed to Jesus is Matthew 5:17-48, “… one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law …”. Yet decades before Matthew came an agreement of the church described in Acts 15 regarding what measures Gentiles should follow. However the author of Acts produced the letter that describes this, the only “necessary things” are to “abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.” This is said to be by the Holy Spirit as well as the men involved.
Can both be from God? I’ve heard apologetics that say yes, that Jesus wasn’t talking about who gets into heaven, but about being perfect, which was not the point to the Gentiles. Furthermore Jesus in Matthew was talking to Jews, not Gentiles. Why couldn’t Jesus teach Paul a different message for Gentiles?
Even in Matthew, there are other verses that see the law differently. Matthew 10:35-36 conflicts with honoring one’s father and mother. Matthew 12:1-8 parallels Mark 2:23-28 and Luke 6:1-5 regarding grain plucked on the Sabbath. Following these are verses about healing on the Sabbath. Is Matthew not always about being perfect? Or did Jesus trump the law even to Matthew?
Is one of these accounts true and the other fiction? Both true but perhaps distorted by being written decades after the fact? Both fiction because all these people are acting out fantasies? In any case, people can come to very different conclusions about what it’s like to follow Jesus based on Matthew 5 or Acts 15. That much I’ve seen for myself.
But… Matthew 5 and Acts 15 aren’t in the same book. Matthew 5 is in Matthew and Acts 15 is in Acts. So I’m not sure I follow. The fact they differ suggests that Matthew and Luke didn’t have the same view of the role of the Law in the early Christian movement. This is something we know from Paul there was considerable debate about, so the fact that two different writers would have different opinions isn’t surprising.
drdavid600 said
To my knowledge, the strongest support for the law attributed to Jesus is Matthew 5:17-48, “… one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law …”. Yet decades before Matthew came an agreement of the church described in Acts 15 regarding what measures Gentiles should follow. However the author of Acts produced the letter that describes this, the only “necessary things” are to “abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.” This is said to be by the Holy Spirit as well as the men involved.Can both be from God? I’ve heard apologetics that say yes, that Jesus wasn’t talking about who gets into heaven, but about being perfect, which was not the point to the Gentiles. Furthermore Jesus in Matthew was talking to Jews, not Gentiles. Why couldn’t Jesus teach Paul a different message for Gentiles?
Even in Matthew, there are other verses that see the law differently. Matthew 10:35-36 conflicts with honoring one’s father and mother. Matthew 12:1-8 parallels Mark 2:23-28 and Luke 6:1-5 regarding grain plucked on the Sabbath. Following these are verses about healing on the Sabbath. Is Matthew not always about being perfect? Or did Jesus trump the law even to Matthew?
Is one of these accounts true and the other fiction? Both true but perhaps distorted by being written decades after the fact? Both fiction because all these people are acting out fantasies? In any case, people can come to very different conclusions about what it’s like to follow Jesus based on Matthew 5 or Acts 15. That much I’ve seen for myself.
We forget that at the time that the NT was taking shape, the enemy of Christianity were also actively working against the message of the gospel. Therefore, wherever we find contradiction or dispute it is wise to weigh it up against the Holiness of God. I am fully convinced that ACTS 15:20, should read; “but that we write to them that they abstain from immorality.” Omitting all the useless rest. And ACTS 15:29, should read “that you abstain from immorality; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.” Omitting all the useless rest.
No I haven’t made it up, read Matthew 13:24-25, and Matthew 18:7, were Jesus warned us about such men. also read 2Peter 2:1-2, and 2Peter 3:16.
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