Deuteronomy 30:15-30
Matthew 5:21-37
Epiphany 6 16th February 2014 Year A
As we have followed through this section of Matthew’s gospel known as the Sermon on the Mount we have noted how Jesus is cast by Matthew as being a new Moses bringing a new Law. Like that of old it is associated with a mountain, often seen in all sorts of cultures as being places close to God. Here however Jesus is seen as being more than Moses for while Moses receives the Law of old as pronounced by God, Jesus here pronounces himself the new Law. The Law that Jesus gives intensifies and deepens the old Law by searching into people’s hearts and motivations. Yet it also, despite Matthew having Jesus say, ‘not an iota of the Law will be done away with’ (5:17-19) in actuality has Jesus countermanding the Law at several places.
Matthew 5:21-37
Epiphany 6 16th February 2014 Year A
As we have followed through this section of Matthew’s gospel known as the Sermon on the Mount we have noted how Jesus is cast by Matthew as being a new Moses bringing a new Law. Like that of old it is associated with a mountain, often seen in all sorts of cultures as being places close to God. Here however Jesus is seen as being more than Moses for while Moses receives the Law of old as pronounced by God, Jesus here pronounces himself the new Law. The Law that Jesus gives intensifies and deepens the old Law by searching into people’s hearts and motivations. Yet it also, despite Matthew having Jesus say, ‘not an iota of the Law will be done away with’ (5:17-19) in actuality has Jesus countermanding the Law at several places.