Today's Gospel reading (6/13)--plz clarify something for me?

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Does this passage essentially mean that Jesus is teaching His followers to not forsake the Commandments…or should we be upholding Jewish customs? (Passover, etc)

Mt 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
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.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”
 
From the Haydock Commentary:
Ver. 17. Not to destroy the law, &c. It is true, by Christ’s coming, a multitude of ceremonies and sacrifices, and circumcision, were to cease; but the moral precepts were to continue, and to be complied with, even with greater perfection. (Witham) — To fulfil. By accomplishing all the figures and prophecies, and perfecting all that was imperfect. (Challoner) — Our Saviour speaks in this manner, to prepare the minds of the Jews for his new instructions. For although they were not very solicitous about fulfilling the law, still they were extremely jealous of any change exacted a more perfect morality. Our Lord fulfilled the law three several ways: 1. By his obedience to the prescribed rites; therefore he says, it behoveth us to fulfil all justice: and who shall accuse me of sin? 2. He observes the law, not only by his own observance of it, but likewise by enabling us to fulfil it. It was the wish of the law to make man just, but found itself too weak; Christ therefore came justifying man, and accomplished the will of the law. 3. He fulfilled the law, by reducing all the precepts of the old law to a more strict and powerful morality. (St. Chrysostom, hom. xvi.)
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Ver. 19. He shall be called; i.e. (by a frequent Hebrew idiom) he shall be the least in the kingdom of heaven; that is, according to St. Augustine he shall not be there at all; for none but the great in sanctity and virtue shall find admittance into heaven. (Witham) — Do not then imitate the Scribes and Pharisees, who content themselves with instructing other in the precepts of the law, without practising them themselves, or if they observe the letter, neglect the spirit of the law, performing what it ordain, not to please God, but to satisfy their vanity. (Calmet)
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haydock1859.tripod.com/id19.html
 
I’m so glad I’m not the only one mulling this over today!
Which laws and/or customs have been fulfilled and which not?
It is comforting to know that whoever breaks a least commandment or teaches others to do so will be called “LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN” rather than excluded from it.

And what about this passage?
**Romans 13:8-10
**Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law
 
cheeto1 said:
I’m so glad I’m not the only one mulling this over today!
Which laws and/or customs have been fulfilled and which not?
It is comforting to know that whoever breaks a least commandment or teaches others to do so will be called “LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN” rather than excluded from it.

And what about this passage?
**Romans 13:8-10
**Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law
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Hi cheeto;

Also…what is the ‘least commandment,’ exactly? I always thought they held the same weight…no?😊
 
cheeto1 said:
I’m so glad I’m not the only one mulling this over today!
Which laws and/or customs have been fulfilled and which not?
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Well, we do not have to eat Kosher food, wash our hands in ceremonial ways, men do not have to wear beards in a certain manner (not trim the edges), women are not “unclean” at a certain time of the month, etc. All those laws, especially in Leviticus that have to do with food, hygiene, etc. that do not have to do with moral laws have been fulfilled and are not necessary for us to follow.
 
whatevergirl said:
Hi cheeto;

Also…what is the ‘least commandment,’ exactly? I always thought they held the same weight…no?😊
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Jesus was referring to the Jewish ceremonial commandments. The old Law had over 600 commandments. They were expected to follow all of those. The Pharisees were being hypocrites because they made an issue out of eating with unwashed hands in bowls that were not washed properly according to the laws, but the Pharisees themselves did not have love of God or neighbour in their hearts. They understood the letter of the law, but not the spirit of the law.
 
lak611 said:
Jesus was referring to the Jewish ceremonial commandments. The old Law had over 600 commandments. They were expected to follow all of those. The Pharisees were being hypocrites because they made an issue out of eating with unwashed hands in bowls that were not washed properly according to the laws, but the Pharisees themselves did not have love of God or neighbour in their hearts. They understood the letter of the law, but not the spirit of the law.
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Ok…I see. Thank you!
 
lak611 said:
Well, we do not have to eat Kosher food, wash our hands in ceremonial ways, men do not have to wear beards in a certain manner (not trim the edges), women are not “unclean” at a certain time of the month, etc. All those laws, especially in Leviticus that have to do with food, hygiene, etc. that do not have to do with moral laws have been fulfilled and are not necessary for us to follow.
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Why is Jesus so insistent that all the laws must be followed or
you will be least in the kingdom of heaven? I wonder which laws
He had on His mind that should still be followed until the time of
fulfillment (His death?) Was it Passover, or was there more?
 
cheeto1 said:
Why is Jesus so insistent that all the laws must be followed or
you will be least in the kingdom of heaven? I wonder which laws
He had on His mind that should still be followed until the time of
fulfillment (His death?) Was it Passover, or was there more?
Click to expand...
He wanted the Pharisees to follow the laws because of love for God. The Pharisees were guilty of the sin of pride mostly. They thought they were better than anyone else because they knew all the laws, but they did not have the love of God in their hearts. They were seeking the praise of men. It all relates to these verses
Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee standing, prayed thus with himself: O God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice in a week: I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying: O God, be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14 I say to you, this man went down into his house justified rather than the other: because every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled: and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.(Douay-Rheims)
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Weren’t the Deuteronomy Laws called “2nd Laws”? “Deutero” means second. Also, I had heard them called judgments.

“If your bull slays your neighbor’s cow, you must kill the bull and make reparations to your neighbor…”
 
NotWorthy said:
Weren’t the Deuteronomy Laws called “2nd Laws”? “Deutero” means second. Also, I had heard them called judgments.

“If your bull slays your neighbor’s cow, you must kill the bull and make reparations to your neighbor…”
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You are correct. From the Haydock Commentary:
This Book is called Deuteronomy, which signifies a second law, because it repeats and inculcates the ordinances formerly given on Mount Sinai, with other precepts not expressed before.
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haydock1859.tripod.com/id493.html
 
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