The Perversion of Rabbinic Tradition (Matt. 5:39-42)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/16/2020 10:27 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                 Focus:  “The Perversion of Rabbinic Tradition”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Matthew 5:39-42

 

            Message of the verses:  “39 "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 “If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 “Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”

 

            In today’s SD we will only look at the introduction to what will follow in the next several days, Lord willing, and so it will be a very, very short SD for today as we quote this introduction from John MacArthur’s commentary.

 

            “Yet that is exactly what rabbinic tradition had done.  Each man was permitted, in effect, to become his own judge, jury, and executioner.  God’s law was turned to individual license, and civil justice was perverted to personal vengeance.  Instead of properly acknowledging the Law of ‘an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth’ as a limit on punishment, they conveniently used it as a mandate for vengeance—as it has often been wrongly view throughout history.

 

            “What God gave as a restriction on civil courts, Jewish tradition had turned into personal license for revenge.  In still another way, the self-centered and self asserted ‘righteousness’ of the scribes and Pharisees had made a shambles of God’s holy law.”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I think that the most important thing that I can remember is that vengeance is from the Lord, and even though I get angry over what I believe are righteous things that are going on in our country today I know in my heart that in the end that God will judge these evil people and their punishment will be in the lake of fire unless they come to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord to take care of the turmoil that is going on in our country, that as He promised, it will bring glory to Him even though I am not sure how that will happen, but I know that it will happen.

 

9/16/2020 10:38 AM