Matthew 5:18

[Hellisreal]

Your personal thoughts on this passage would be most welcome.

I dont want commentaries in bibles, your own personal thoughts now.

Tell me what this scripture is relating to us

 

[verdigirl]

“Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.”

Well, the sentence immediately before it says:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”

So in that context, I think it’s a foreshadowing of end times. I think it means that we will be held accountable to the law until the end of the world, when all laws will become superfluous.

 

[Hellisreal]

Good post!

Do you see any connection to those who follow the law but not the spirit or intent of the law here?

“Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.”

Well, the sentence immediately before it says:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”

So in that context, I think it’s a foreshadowing of end times. I think it means that we will be held accountable to the law until the end of the world, when all laws will become superfluous.

 

[verdigirl]

Good post!

Do you see any connection to those who follow the law but not the spirit or intent of the law here?

Yes. Jesus is always talking about people who know the law back and forth but who don’t actually follow the spirit of it. In fact, I remember the whole discussion about divorce, when the Pharisees asked him about divorce in the context of Messianic law. His answer, if you recall, was that God permitted it because of the hardness of their hearts, but that to leave one’s spouse actually causes them both to commit adultery.

So, I think that Jesus wants us to dig deeper with the law that we currently have…to find those opportunities for deep personal conversion, until he comes again and all our efforts will be fulfilled.

Just my take.

 

[Hellisreal]

Would you say this is purity, and or virtue, and he repeats this theme many times…

Do you think its being missed in over analyzing each word to death?

I often wonder as I think of the woman about to be stoned, and him writing in the ground,

I think he was writing out their sins, and they fled in fear of GOD in front of them

Your thoughts?

Yes. Jesus is always talking about people who know the law back and forth but who don’t actually follow the spirit of it. In fact, I remember the whole discussion about divorce, when the Pharisees asked him about divorce in the context of Messianic law. His answer, if you recall, was that God permitted it because of the hardness of their hearts, but that to leave one’s spouse actually causes them both to commit adultery.

So, I think that Jesus wants us to dig deeper with the law that we currently have…to find those opportunities for deep personal conversion, until he comes again and all our efforts will be fulfilled.

Just my take.

 

[verdigirl]

Would you say this is purity, and or virtue, and he repeats this theme many times…

Do you think its being missed in over analyzing each word to death?

I often wonder as I think of the woman about to be stoned, and him writing in the ground,

I think he was writing out their sins, and they fled in fear of GOD in front of them

Your thoughts?

Well, remember that what he’s saying immediately preceding the quote in question is the Beatitudes. I think virtue and purity are certainly part of the digging deep, but he’s also setting out our values as Christians in the Beatitudes. These are values that are so contrary to the norm, even when he first spoke these words, that they take a complete personal conversion to be able to live. These are values that to the naked eye would make us seem weak, when in reality, it takes lots of fortitude.

In the context of the law, it’s almost as if he is preaching a complete submission to the law, with meekness and humility, to be able to fully live it.

To me, regarding the woman who was about to be stoned, he seemed to be more concerned about the woman making a serious change in her life than in the actual sin itself. Again, more concerned with the spirit than the letter.

 

[Hellisreal]

Thank you for helping me see this in a way I cant by myself reading it.
Your thoughts were very helpful to me.

I am really fixed for some reason on this passage.

you helped me out a lot.

Well, remember that what he’s saying immediately preceding the quote in question is the Beatitudes. I think virtue and purity are certainly part of the digging deep, but he’s also setting out our values as Christians in the Beatitudes. These are values that are so contrary to the norm, even when he first spoke these words, that they take a complete personal conversion to be able to live. These are values that to the naked eye would make us seem weak, when in reality, it takes lots of fortitude.

In the context of the law, it’s almost as if he is preaching a complete submission to the law, with meekness and humility, to be able to fully live it.

To me, regarding the woman who was about to be stoned, he seemed to be more concerned about the woman making a serious change in her life than in the actual sin itself. Again, more concerned with the spirit than the letter.

 

[mpb74]

I think it may mean that God never changes. He expects from us what he expected from our ancestors. Our descendants will have the same expected of them.

In our times. with the degeneration of our culture, many expect the Church to change its standards, so sinners can feel better about their immoral behavior. The church will not, and cannot, change on faith or doctrine. As God will not change his standards for our behavior.

Just my point of view. I may be wrong. Dan

 

[Hellisreal]

I get a really good feeling about this too, and how God is always telling us how to come to him.

Thanks for helping me with this one, I am fixated on this now.

I think it may mean that God never changes. He expects from us what he expected from our ancestors. Our descendants will have the same expected of them.

In our times. with the degeneration of our culture, many expect the Church to change its standards, so sinners can feel better about their immoral behavior. The church will not, and cannot, change on faith or doctrine. As God will not change his standards for our behavior.

Just my point of view. I may be wrong. Dan

 

[Myqyl]

I believe in Matthew 5:18 our Lord was preparing us for what he was about to do in Matthew 5:21 - 47

He expanded on the law… It is not enough not to kill. We are now commanded not to be angry. It is not enough not to commit adultry, We must not lust… Jesus goes through the commandments and amplifies each one, I’ve always felt that Matthew 5:18 was said so we couldn’t use the amplification as justification to say “we are now above the Law! Jesus has paid our debt and we can forget about the 10 commandments now!”

Jesus reminds us that the 10 commandments actually ARE written in stone And He writes them on our hearts as well.

But that’s just how I read it

 

[Hellisreal]

Yes, the perfection of the law, not an illimination of it.

I believe in Matthew 5:18 our Lord was preparing us for what he was about to do in Matthew 5:21 - 47

He expanded on the law… It is not enough not to kill. We are now commanded not to be angry. It is not enough not to commit adultry, We must not lust… Jesus goes through the commandments and amplifies each one, I’ve always felt that Matthew 5:18 was said so we couldn’t use the amplification as justification to say “we are now above the Law! Jesus has paid our debt and we can forget about the 10 commandments now!”

Jesus reminds us that the 10 commandments actually ARE written in stone And He writes them on our hearts as well.

But that’s just how I read it

 

[averheyen]

Does the Catechism say anything on this verse?

 

[Hellisreal]

Does the Catechism say anything on this verse?

Good question. I am not sure if there is a verse search feature on the online CCC…

I guess I could try googling and see what comes up.

Hmmmm…

I may even look in my new book Jesus of Nazereth. But, its insane how many verses are cited in it- every page is loaded with them!

 

[rwoehmke]

How about all of the law being summed up in the two great commandments:
[Mat 22:36-40] “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”

Nothing there about Kosher Eating or Unclean People, etc.

 

[Hellisreal]

Right! Romans gives insight to special days too.

How is it one verse can open up so many more when contemplating them, they all return to one truth.

How about all of the law being summed up in the two great commandments:
[Mat 22:36-40] “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”

Nothing there about Kosher Eating or Unclean People, etc.