Monsignor Pope Ping for OSV column!
In Matthew 5:19, Jesus rails against relaxing or changing even the least of the commandments, and yet verse 19 also says that if one does, “[he] will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.” …Looks like error of omission. The verse says, first, not only does the offender not only break the “least” commandment himself but also teaches men to do so in God’s name; and second, it does not mean that the transgressor gets to enter the kingdom of heaven if unrepentant, but is called by the subjects and rulers of the kingdom of heaven as “the least”. Greek elachistos literally means “the smallest”.
That is why it is good to use a scripture commentary book.
This is nonsense and false teaching and calls into light the false teaching of "mortal" sins in Roman Catholicism.
The commandment against stealing does not differentiate between between stealing big hings or little things.
It is a prohibition against ALL stealing.
15“You shall not steal. Exodus 20:15 NASB
8Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9For 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.” Romans 13:8-9 NASB
First, like Augustine, he is unable to see that the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of The God are two entities of which the rules of participation are not the same. The KOH is described only in Matthew/ Levi's Gospel, but from which some 28 differences can be discerned when comparing those points to the same particular issues attributed to the KOTG as verified throughout the whole New Testament.
Ol' Arch-Pope is perpetuating the lie that some sins are mortal and some venial.
All sin, without the Savior can send you to hell.
Some sins have large consequences that lead to an early death.
The true believer who is saved knows that all sin grieves the heart of his Savior and needs to be confessed.
No such thing as *law of grace*.
It's either Law or grace.
Laws don't save. They reveal sin to point us to Christ.
Galatians 2:15-21 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Galatians 3:1-29 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Grace exempts us from performance.
We are not expected to perform more or better because we are under grace.
Romans 4:3-8 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
I see it differently. Jesus is pointing out the SPIRIT of the Law and not just the letter. The religious leaders prided themselves on their moral, outward keeping of the law and their own righteousness - not much has changed today. Jesus shows that NO ONE is capable of perfectly keeping the Law. Instead, as Paul taught, it is our schoolmaster to show our need for Christ's sacrifice and God's grace:
Catholic profess that faith without works is dead, but it is Bible evangelicals who most live it.
Only the “new law” of grace can save or make us sufficiently holy to enter heaven.
And just what level is "sufficiently holy to enter heaven?" To be perfect as God or is a lower standard accepted? And if the former, can one attain perfection of character via baptism or a few hours after conversion? And if the latter, then where do you draw the line?
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Reading from the Greek translation of Matthew is the chief error.
The Greek translations from the Hebrew were mostly done by Pharisee scribes, who had no particular desire to deliver truth, since they had no respect for it.
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* And jumping through the correct Roman hoops.