In my last email I discussed the importance
of the word “mitzvah” in the Jewish culture. Mitzvah
(singular) (mitzvot [plural]) is an act performed in
agreement with God’s will. Next to the word “Torah,” “mitzvah”
is the most basic term in the language of Judaism.
The Jew looks upon a “mitzvah”
almost as if were an object rather than a concept. This
can be seen in the teachings of Jesus. Below are two examples.
● Jesus spoke of “acquiring mitzvot”
in his teachings about “Laying Up Treasures in
Heaven.”
● Jesus spoke of “pursuing mitzvot”
in this blessing – “Blessed are those who pursue tzedaqah,
for they are the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)
In my last email I also pointed out that for Christians today, a
major challenge for understanding the Jewish Jesus will be to view him as someone
that was not only actively engaged in legal discussions of his period – he would
never have said “do away with the law!” Or to put it another
way, “do away with the mitzvot!”
His legal expertise is seen in the “Sermon on
the Mount” (Matthew 5-6). He reveals his position in legal arguments related to
the following commandments:
● murder (5:21)
● adultery (5:27)
● divorce (5:31)
● oath-taking (5:33)
● loving neighbor (5:43)
● eye for an eye (5:38)
In his teachings on the above commandments,
he also gives his interpretations. In some cases, he will agree with Hillel,
but in other cases he disagrees. It is important to remember that the subjects
above are “Jewish issues” related to the laws that
governed Judea and Galilee.
What I will say next is extremely important. The
teachings of Jesus fall into two categories – teachings about Jewish
issues and teachings about the Kingdom of God (Heaven).
Teachings about Jewish issues are secondary
to his teachings about tzedaqah and the Kingdom of God.
This is clearly seen in Matthew 5:19-20.
Whoever breaks
one of the least of these commandments,
and teaches men so,
shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Whoever does (these
commandments) and teaches them,
he shall be called
great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
This is what I say!
Unless your tzedaqah exceeds
the tzedaqah of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will by not enter
the Kingdom of Heaven!
Did
you notice that “people who break commandments” and “teach
others to break commandments” will be “in the Kingdom of
God”? What do you think about that? Later Jesus will address
his position on the “Kingdom of God” in a parable about the Great Day of Judgment (Matthew 25):
● Nations that did acts of tzedaqah
enter eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
● Nations that did not do acts of
tzedaqah are sent into eternal punishment.
The acts of tzedaqah that
determined “eternal destinies” were those affecting the lives of “the
least members” of a nation -- “food was given to
the hungry, drink was given to the thirsty, strangers were given shelter, clothes
were given to the naked, the sick were visited, and people went to those in
prison.”
Modern Americans view acts
like the ones listed above as “charity,” something that is
completely voluntary. For Jesus and members of his Jewish audience, those
things are mitzvot -- acts
performed in agreement with God’s will.
They are acts that must be performed at stipulated times and seasons –
or whenever an appropriate occasion arises.
A person must be alert “to do
mitzvot that come to his hand,” because an opportunity that has
passed will not return and cannot be retrieved. The root meanings of tzedaqah
are “loyalty to God” and “loyalty to the community.”
Acts of tzedaqah combine to create shalom.
This is what shalom
meant to Jesus and to members of his Jewish audience.
Shalom
connotes totality, health, wholesomeness,
harmony, success,
the
completeness and richness of living in an integrated
social milieu.
Take a moment to consider the meanings of the
eight underlined words above. When we become aware a person that lacks any of
those things:
It is an opportunity to do tzedaqah (a mitzvah);
an opportunity to be loyal to God,
and an opportunity to be loyal to the community.
When Jesus said “breaks one of the least
of these commandments” in Matthew 5:19-20 above, the phrase “these commandments” refers to “Jesus’
interpretations of God’s commandments.” Below is what his audience
heard:
Whoever doesn’t follow
my interpretations and teaches men that,
shall be called least
in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Whoever follows my
interpretations and teaches them,
shall be called great
in the Kingdom of Heaven.
This is what I say!
Unless your loyalty to
God and loyalty to the community exceeds that of
the scribes and
Pharisees, you will by not enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
His interpretations of the biblical
commandments reflect legal arguments taking place in his nation, but his teachings
related to tzedaqah are for the people of all nations. Please
share and discuss this email with others.
Jim Myers
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