Unparalleled by Jared C. Wilson

Author:Jared C. Wilson [Wilson, Jared C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: REL067030;REL012120;REL017000
ISBN: 9781493404902
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2016-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

A Very Demanding Teacher

Another popular notion people have about Jesus is that he came to make everybody play nice and get along and coexist in a world of behavioral politeness and religious tolerance. Many people, including many Christians, believe that in the Old Testament we had all kinds of codes and restrictions, but then when Jesus came he loosened everything up.

There is a whiff of truth to this, but it is wrong enough to be spiritually dangerous, because once again, it is indicative of trying to mold Jesus according to our preferences and desires.

The truth is that when it came to commandments, Jesus actually makes things harder. Don’t believe me? Take a look for yourself:

For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will 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. (Matt. 5:18–20)

Basically, Jesus is here saying in his Sermon on the Mount—which many non-Christians look to as the chief evidence that Jesus was all about peace, love, and good vibes—that anyone who slacks off on the Old Testament law is in serious trouble. He’s in fact saying that unless someone is perfect, they can’t get to heaven. To prove his point, he takes some of those old laws and actually tightens them up!

You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.” But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, “You fool!” will be liable to the hell of fire . . .

You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell . . .

It was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (vv. 21–22, 27–29, 31–32)

Do you understand what this good teacher has gone and done? He has made things infinitely more difficult. Where the old law told us not to murder, Jesus says not to be angry or insulting. Where the old law told us not to commit adultery, Jesus forbids lust.

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