Jesus & the Law – on the downtrodden … (11/18/18)
While the Law did expressly command the ancient Israelites to care for the impoverished & other less-fortunate members of their community (see Exodus 21:22, Leviticus 19:9, Leviticus 23:22, Deuteronomy 14:28-29, Deuteronomy 15:l7-11, & Deuteronomy 24:19-21 et al), Jesus – as was so often the case – took these admonitions several great steps further; making one’s generous support of the poor one of the keys to salvation itself (see Matthew 25:35-40 & Luke 16:19-31). Consider …
*Whereas the Law demanded that Jews cause no undue stress to orphans &/or widows (see Exodus 22:22 – also Psalm 68:5), Jesus courageously cared for the same (see Luke 7:11-15) and abrasively condemned those who did not (see Mark 12:40 & Luke 20:47).
*Whereas the Law forbid loaning to the poor with interest (see Exodus 22:25), Jesus openly called for the forgiving of even the principle sums owed thereby (see Matthew 5:42, Matthew 6:12-15, Matthew 18:23-27, Luke 6:30-36, & Luke 7:42 et al).
“And forgive us our debts, just as we have also forgiven our debtors … For if we forgive others their trespasses, our heavenly Father will also forgive us; and if we do not forgive others their debts, neither will our Father be able to forgive us ours.” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:12-15)
“The gospel of Paul created Christianity, and as a result the focal point of Christianity remains Jesus Christ to this day. And yet Paul never knew the most important thing; the critical point that his Christianity has long since forgotten – namely, that the Gospel of Christ has nothing at all to do with worshiping Jesus – that the message of Jesus Christ is solely about becoming a humble embodiment of selfless Love.” ~ inspired by Gary Amirault
;