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Their vision of the Law meant offhand that if you were already poor or ill in that society, either you or your parentage messed up and because of fairness… God would punish. However, loving treasure, they offered to correct transgressions, a worshipper could make a worthy donation to the temple and its leadership for special dispensation of the guilt. Amid this distorted legalism, Jesus said, “Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these Commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Consequently, Jesus took them to task about their worship of distorted legalisms calling them hypocrites, meaning they were bad actors. He accused them of replacing the Law of God with the laws of men. We of the Church are accused of the same error as we argue over what liturgical garb to wear, what color altar trimmings and candles to use… or whether the Lenten cross should be covered during the upcoming season. If we do these liturgical legalisms, and hold evil thoughts about those who disagree… do we transgress the Law? You see, we have two types of Law… that which is called Torah, the ultimate Law of God. We read Torah rules… ten of them stated in the Commandments… the Decalogue. They are found in TWO places in scripture. They have impact and often blare from modern courthouse plaques! |
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Black Robe Regiment-Allegany-Editorial |
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A VOICE FOR CHRISTIAN POLITICAL INFLUENCE TODAY! |
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Law and Freedom |
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