Jesus Said
Lessons from Rabbi Jack Zimmerman, Oct. 20, 2023
Jesus said, Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill,Matthew 5:17. When people gather to study God’s word, they often share their opinion as to what the verse means. Matthew 5:17 is one of those verses that receives a lot of opinions. For example, in Deut. 22:11: Moses tells the people: You shall not wear a garment of different sorts, such as wool and linen mixed together. If you ask a group in a Bible study what this verse means you will get many interpretations. Such as, God hates mixture, do not mix types of clothing. Wool and linen shrink differently, do not wash them together. Do not be blended with the world nor be unevenly yoked in marriage. In the days of Moses, only the priests were allowed to wear garments of wool and linen. Therefore, do not wear priestly clothing.
When an interpretation of Scripture is right, it fulfills both the Law and the Prophets. When an interpretation is wrong, it abolishes both. Therefore, fulfill the Law and the Prophets with proper interpretations of Scripture.
Jesus said, For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry? Luke 23:31. Jesus said these words on His way to be crucified. He is bringing forward a verse from Ezekiel 20:47: Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree and every dry tree in you… Green trees represent righteousness; alive and fruitful. Dry wood represents unrighteousness, dead and fruitless. Ezekiel is speaking of the coming judgment of God upon the land. Jesus is going to the cross for the judgment of sin.
Jesus is saying to those watching if they will do this to the righteous, what will they do to the unrighteous?
Jesus said, And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. Jesus is bringing forward the images of a shepherd in the days of Micah, 2:13: the one who breaks open will come upon up before them. They will break out, pass through the gate, and go out by it. Their king will pass before them, with the LORD at their head.
When a shepherd corrals his sheep at the end of the day, they are tired. They do not mind being cooped up in tight pens. But at dawn, they are rested, hungry and thirsty. As the shepherd approaches the gate all the sheep want out at the same time; they will break out. Likewise, when the sinners see forgiveness, they will push against their prison walls to break out. With such urgency, it will seem as with violence.
These are but three of the nine lessons Rabbi Jack shared with us tonight. Everyone there was blessed.
