Friday, May 7, 2010

Does Christianity Make Jesus A False Prophet?

The core of this argument is founded in how modern day Christianity interprets Matthew 5:17-20: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.(KJV) These verses are interpreted to mean that Jesus has fulfilled the law and brought it to conclusion. The argument is that the Jews were under law and Jesus brought us grace. They contend that we are "free in the spirit." Whatever we do, while G-d may not approve of it, is no danger to us. We are free from the law. Without the law, there is no sin. Our salvation is secure and nothing can separate us from G-d's love. They teach that these are the meanings of the words of Jesus and the law has been nailed to the cross. Does this argument make Jesus a false prophet?

Deuteronomy 13:1-5 says: If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. (KJV) I suggest that the interpretation of Matthew 5:17-20 that teaches that the law is no longer binding triggers the designation of "false prophet" as set forth in Deuteronomy 13:1-5. A false prophet teaches someone that it is not required to keep the commandments of G-d. If modern day Christianity says that Jesus' teaching is that the law is not required, then they make Him a false prophet. That goes for Peter and Paul also.

This is a very important question. I would be very careful about making the Son of G-d a false prophet. I think that there are consequences.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

On the money. The Jesus of Christianity, as we currently know it, is not the Yeshua of the First Century. Christianity has indeed created a "false god" that the Torah warns of.