Musing – Some say OT laws don’t apply. Does the NT say that?

Hebraic Musing – Some say OT laws don’t apply.  Does the NT say that?

I’ve heard folks quote Matt 15:11; Acts 10:14-15; Rom 14:10; Mark 7:19 as their justification for ignoring our Loving Father God’s advice to His children.  Let’s look at these NT verses (all NIV):

·      Matt 15:11 “What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.'" This teaching by Jesus has nothing to do with kosher dietary law/advice. In fact, He is distinguishing between dietary and Spiritual uncleanness. Jesus was and still is kosher and would like for His followers to also be kosher diet-wise for health reason.

·      Acts 10:14-15 "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."    The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."  This message had to do with how God was telling Peter how to view the Goyim; it was not a message about food, but about how to treat Goyim – in-other-words, us non-Jews.

·      Rom 14:10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.   We do not judge (CONDEMN) our brother to final judgment. But we are required to judge (DISCERN) by confronting, admonishing and condemning, if necessary, our brother’s behavior(s). We have a responsibility to discern (JUDGE) behaviors which are contrary to our Loving Father God’s advice for “A Victorious Life”? 

·      Mark 7:19  “…doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.")  All today’s classic translations of the NT contain that parenthetical statement; except two versions – the beloved KJV and the original Greek.  Mark was a good Jewish boy; he would never make that parenthetical statement!  Has anti-Semitic doctrinal thinking crept in?

Many use Matt. 5:17 to argue that Jesus nullified the OT when He said “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”  Those who rely on that verse have taken it out of context and do not continue reading what Jesus said in red letters in vs. 18 “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”  And when he said “law” Jesus meant “The Torah” or Mosaic writings.

Finally – Heb. 13:8 says – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  And Jesus is “The Word” credited with writing the Torah, which our Bibles unfortunately translate to “The Law”.

Point to ponder

Maybe we need to understand which Words from Our Loving Father God
are really words of advice for “A Victorious Life”? (Book plug!)

Shalom y’all                                                                                            March 17, 2015

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd    
Author::                       (Hyperlinks are now available!)     
Hebraic Insights                                  Re-Published – March 2015
Biblical_Marriage                               May 2012
Musings: Vol.1 – A Victorious Life     Sept.2014
Vol.2 – The Torah and New Testament Published – March 2015
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