One can't escape the command to judge in all of Scripture; whether it is ourselves or others, in the Body or outsiders. Because we have a standard, we must judge. John 7:24 gives us the tool to be good judges; "Judge rightly." How hard can it be?
Jesus complicates everything when He starts examining the heart of the matter. "Go, and sin no more." Our incapacity does not relieve us of the responsibility.
I think, that Christ's intention is to state the requirements of the Law as starkly as He can throughout the whole Sermon on the Mount. And this is sort of the climax to all of that. It doesn't do any good to explain or expound it. The text is more of an ordeal to be survived and come out on the other side to one of the most absolute and unconditional Gospel promises anywhere in Scripture. He doesn't intend a discourse on life and death but for His words to actually kill us and make us alive. Having used the text for so many years flippantly and self-righteously actually makes the Law sort of more deadly, a kind of self-referential feedback loop.
Definitely. I think the way that Kierkegaard put it in his Fragments of Philosophy is that what is required is a teacher who is himself the thing being taught.
Jon, my only comment is to remember that it is in teaching that you will learn. My advice for what it is, is ask God to tell you how to teach this lesson. Please continue, I am very interested in hearing more.
Tough sledding for the expositor.
One can't escape the command to judge in all of Scripture; whether it is ourselves or others, in the Body or outsiders. Because we have a standard, we must judge. John 7:24 gives us the tool to be good judges; "Judge rightly." How hard can it be?
Jesus complicates everything when He starts examining the heart of the matter. "Go, and sin no more." Our incapacity does not relieve us of the responsibility.
Thank you.
I think, that Christ's intention is to state the requirements of the Law as starkly as He can throughout the whole Sermon on the Mount. And this is sort of the climax to all of that. It doesn't do any good to explain or expound it. The text is more of an ordeal to be survived and come out on the other side to one of the most absolute and unconditional Gospel promises anywhere in Scripture. He doesn't intend a discourse on life and death but for His words to actually kill us and make us alive. Having used the text for so many years flippantly and self-righteously actually makes the Law sort of more deadly, a kind of self-referential feedback loop.
Lewis' treatment of the dragon Eustis comes to mind. Aslan's skinning of the dragon was not a teaching so much as a doing.
Definitely. I think the way that Kierkegaard put it in his Fragments of Philosophy is that what is required is a teacher who is himself the thing being taught.
Jon, my only comment is to remember that it is in teaching that you will learn. My advice for what it is, is ask God to tell you how to teach this lesson. Please continue, I am very interested in hearing more.