Well, to be honest, this post does not have much to do with Leviticus, but laws from God in general, and I just liked the alliteration, so I stand by my title.
Going through Matthew in our church, I am struck (probably purposefully by the author) by the competing philosophies of the Pharisees and Jesus. (sarcastically: "NNNOOOOOOOOO, REEEEAAAALLLY?!?!!?!).
This difference is especially noticeable vis a vis Sabbath laws. In historical Judaism (specifically after the exile) there were three main pillars of religious practice that were strictly emphasized in order to maintain distinction between the people of God and the "goyim": the Gentiles. These were Sabbath, diet, and circumcision (all found in Leviticus, and the title is referenced!).
Thus, when Jesus engages the establishment on Sabbath laws, he is treading some mighty rough water (or possibly walking on it, I guess?). But he makes a very striking point in one such meeting: he states that man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath was made for man.
To me, this line of reasoning sums up all of God's laws, Leviticus and otherwise, in that they are a gift to man for his benefit and not as a punishment. In this way, God's laws are like a parent giving his child a nice lego set.
What was that???
Yup, laws are like legos, though admittedly not as fun. The Pharisees wanted to ensure that the laws were kept to prove how much better they were than everyone else around them. In this way, they built their lego models, and displayed them proudly, yet they put them in fancy acrylic display cases fenced off with velvet ropes and made sure nobody touched them.
All the while, God's intention was for us to play with them, and also to invite others to share the fun with us. Now, to be sure, laws, like legos, are fragile and prone to breaking. But there is a difference between iconoclastic bashing and smashing of God's good gifts and breakage that happens in the course of normal play.
Naturally, God would not want people to smash his gifts to us, but neither would he want us to devote all our energies into keeping something so pristine and untouched that it is completely unenjoyable. Instead, we are called to enjoy God's gifts, to exercise good stewardship of them, and to invite others to enjoy them with us. We are not to use them to abuse and exclude people, and then to judge them for playing with inferior toys.
So what do you think? Is this a good analogy or not? Where does it break down? What scriptures support or deny this analogy? Am I being lazy in forcing readers to do my research for me?
And finally, does Mizzou have a chance in the NCAA Championship coming up?
7 comments:
"And finally, does Mizzou have a chance in the NCAA Championship coming up?"
Having been born in the hometown of the defending national champion Kansas Jayhawks, I am certainly no Mizzou fan. However, in the bracket I filled out on espn.com, I have them making it to the regional final, where they will lose to Connecticut.
Assuming both Marquette and Mizzou make it to the 2nd round, the advantage goes to Mizzou because Marquette is seriously depleted by injuries.
If both Mizzou and Memphis make it to the regional semifinals, Mizzou will be the first "real" team that Memphis has played in awhile. It's a game Mizzou can win if they play well.
Now watch Mizzou ruin my confidence in them by losing in the first round! :-P
looks like you've got a sermon. now just park in a text to support it (zing!)
i think it's a good analogy. i didn't at first, then i continued reading & decided it works! i hate when my prophecies fail.
i know you weren't trying to do this, but you sound like you believe in the priestly movement & p-source, that is, that after the exile priests formulated concepts like sabbath, circumcision, & so forth to distinguish jews & protect against another exile. thus leviticus & parts of other books are "priestly" and late. i know you don't believe that stuff, it just souns like it early on in your post lol. or, if you do believe, tell me so i can pray for your soul, as well as the other 2 parts of your tri-partite self.
mike
I see what you're saying, but I didn't make any claims on the editing or transmission of scripture.
I miss Bible nerd humor!
I wonder if in the future someone will claim different sources for all my different blogs.
i'm sure one day they'll look back & find two primary sources for my blog: a "G" source (for "genius") and a "B" source for "brilliant"). a keen observer will later find a "C" source (for "caffeinated").
wow, i'm starting my day even nerdier than usual.
I can't say I totally agree with this analogy. It may be a small variance in our understanding of scripture, (in which case I am put to shame by your giant head which must have a large brain in there- otherwise I feel very sorry for you and any hat you may squeeze onto that large cranium) but in the passage you are referring to Jesus says: 27And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
28Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
I think he was telling the Pharisees basically- I created this stuff, so what do you know?
I also believe that the law was not put in place necessarily as a gift, but as a guide to live holy lives by AND as a template to prove Jesus's perfection. He was perfect by the standards He created (which were the standards with which the Pharisees were trying to prove His guilt) thus He was the perfect and only sacrifice possible for the sins of the entire world.
However, while you're a little off base in my opinion, I think the overall meaning was well intended and understood. And we both know I've been wrong before.
Oh, and I certainly hope you're not rooting for MU- I would have to come up there and punch you in the neck. You can be a Kansas fan or this friendship is over.
God bless you,
jp
Jeremy,
Thanks for your comments. I agree I was being overly simplistic, and the law was supposed to do more than just be our toy.
A few things: 1) Holy or ethical living is a great gift of God, because humans don't do great and nice things automatically. 2) I definitely agree about the law pointing to Jesus in many respects. 3) I live in Missouri, and I did not go to KU/State, so I owe them exactly nothing!
Thanks for the clarification!
You lived in KANSAS for what? SIX YEARS before you moved to the armpit that is Mizzery. I was born in Missouri and I cant stand the Tigers! It was really a conflict for me last night because I couldn't decide who I disliked more, the MU tigers or the MU..... tigers--- wait..... If I would have been at the game I could have held up one sign with one phrase describing how much I hate both teams..... missed opportunities.
jp
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