Quote:
Originally Posted by mfblume
Things like take up our crosses, deny ourselves and follow Him. Matthew 5-7 shows his commandments, indicating Moses said one thing, but he said things beyond that. But they are more like beatitudes. BE this and BE that. Commandments for the heart. |
I really like your answer. The commandments of Christ are not the OT commandments, but NT principles of grace. Christ's teachings in the Sermon on the Mount focus more upon the heart. However, many of the teachings of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount still contain OT law. Again, Christ tells us that to be forgiven we must forgive others. Paul admonishes us to forgive others because we have already been forgiven. Jesus illustrates divorce law that comes from the Law, yet Paul expounds upon it in
I Corinthians 7 allowing for more a more liberal approach.
I find that the Sermon on the Mount is just as challenging as the Law of Moses, if not more so. Christ basically breaks down the root issues that the Law doesn't address, yet still within the framework of the Law. It would almost appear that Jesus is taking the Law straight to the heart of a man, bringing sure conviction and condemnation. For example, Christ's teaching involving lust. What man hasn't lusted in some fashion at some point? The listerner would no doubt stand eyes wide thinking, "After hearing the words of Jesus, I realize I've shattered the Law in my heart, though I've not actually 'done' anything in my 'actions' against the Law." Christ's teachings appear to corner the reader, forcing them to realize, they are sinful to the uttermost. One gets the impression that Christ's entire life and teachings were designed to expose the core principles of the Law...to bring all to the point of realizing their need for a Savior.
But for the most part I agree. The Sermon on the Mount embodies the very principles that are foundational to being a Christian.
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