More on Correspondence

In a previous post, we have written on the chronological and content correspondence between Matthew 19:9 and Deuteronomy 24:1-4. We believe these passages correspond. However, some others believe they do not.

We believe there are several important flawed correspondence assumptions presented about the teachings of Jesus. First, is that Jesus taught against the Law of Moses in Matthew 19:9 and Matthew 5:31-32. But we have tried to present that there was actually a lack of correspondence between Jesus and the Pharisees (not Jesus and the Law). Second, we tried to make a distinction between what was “written” and what was “heard” in the synagogues. Jesus was always very supportive of what was “written”, but he was not always very supportive of everything that was “heard” in the synagogues. For example, he was not supportive of misplaced emphasis. Also some have seemingly assumed that Jesus completely addressed everything that was ever said about marriage and divorce in the Old Testament. Therefore, “red herrings”, such as rules about women taken in military conquest, slaves used as wives and the necessity for a husband to support his wife, are cited as examples of a lack of correspondence between the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus. Jesus addressed the controversy over Deuteronomy 24:1-4 because that was the area where the Jews were having a problem.

But some, in reference to Matthew 5, have made the statement that “hearing” was the only way Jews could get any information because they were illiterate. Therefore, when Jesus said “you have heard”, in Matthew 5, he was disputing against the Law of Moses. But it is impossible in our day to make absolute assertions about the literacy level in the first century. Obviously some could read and write. At least there was partial literacy. For example, Jesus could read and write. He read from the scriptures in the synagogue. He also wrote on the ground when they brought him the woman taken in adultery. (This message on the ground was very likely much more than a doodle because Jesus knew letters.) Also his disciples and relatives (such as his brother James) wrote epistles. The assumption that they always had to use scribes is just conjecture. Furthermore, Jesus used expressions like “it is written”, “have ye never read” and “you have heard” to indicate those teachings of which he approved and those teachings of which he disapproved. These were not just statements about the level of literacy. These were statements about the sources of truth and error. The written word was not a source of error. It was a source of truth. The very fact that Jesus used expressions such as “it is written” and “you have heard” indicates that he knew the important difference between the two sources. The oral sources and the written sources were not the same. This is just a historical fact.

It was posted and written in the temple that gentiles would die if they went beyond a certain point in the temple. It was written by those who knew that some could read. Why did Pilate write “king of the Jews” in three different languages and post it upon the cross? Because some people could read. Even some educators, such as Rabbi Shimon Ben Shetach, had established schools and programs to increase the level of literacy among the populace. Furthermore, it was emphasized in the Old Testament that parents had the obligation to teach their children. (Deuteronomy 6:7) No doubt they even memorized the scriptures. Therefore, it is very difficult to make legitimate statements about the level of first century literacy.

Let us note that the study of the scriptures has always resulted in a very high level of literacy among religious people. For example, Paul said about Timothy “from a child you have known the holy scriptures.” (2 Timothy 3:15) He also said to Timothy: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) The ability to “study” and to know the scriptures required literacy. It is stated of the Bereans: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11) This required literacy among the Bereans and the Thessalonians. Note that the Thessalonians were not criticized for being illiterate. They were criticized for a lack of diligence.

It is said of Jesus, “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” (Luke 4:17-21) Jesus stood up to “read.” He “found the place where it was written.” This requires literacy. It was not a miracle that Jesus could read. It was merely his ordinary custom. Also it is very unlikely that he was alone in his ability to read. There were others because people were not flabbergasted that he could read. They were amazed, and greatly offended, because he said: “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” He angered them because he applied this passage to himself. The people in Nazareth obviously considered Jesus to be just an ordinary person with ordinary relatives and ordinary abilities. Therefore, reading was no doubt considered by them to be just an ordinary attribute. But his claim about what he read was certainly extraordinary. It greatly angered them.

No doubt the Pharisees, the scribes and the doctors of the law took pride in their education. They considered themselves to be the “learned” and others to be the “unlearned.” This was a big part of their culture and their problem. They supposed they were the ones who had a right to interpret the scriptures for everyone else. They could read. They could make copies. The scriptures were their personal domain. But, while they exalted themselves in the scriptures, Jesus made trouble for them because he violated their ideas of how things should be. Jesus was supposed to be an ignorant person from Nazareth. They were supposed to be the defenders of the truth. So they tested Jesus. Therefore, perhaps with some ridicule in his voice, Jesus asked them on more than one occasion: “Have you never read in the scriptures”? These people, with their vaunted ability to read and write, should have read some of these things in the scriptures. Would Jesus ask them this if he was illiterate?

Jesus expected people to have a legitimate knowledge of the scriptures. In Luke 10:25-28 the scriptures say: “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” This man gave a scriptural answer and Jesus acknowledged that fact. The lawyer quoted the Shema (“Hear, O Israel”) in Deuteronomy 6:5. However, this man was tempting Jesus because he wondered if Jesus would give him a scriptural answer. Jesus knew he was being tempted, so he asked: “What is written in the law? How readest thou?” Jesus acknowledged that if he did this (what he could read in the Law), he would live. The Old Testament commandments were predicated upon the love of God and the love of neighbor. In fact, Jesus said: “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:40)

The Sadducees were ignorant about the scriptures concerning the resurrection. They did not believe in a resurrection. In Matthew 22:23-33 it says: “The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.” Jesus' doctrine, about which they were astonished, was based upon a certain scripture which they had not properly considered. That is why Jesus said: “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” Had they known the scriptures, as they should have known them, they would have had reason to believe in the resurrection.

The parable or the allegory of the rich man and Lazarus indicates the Jesus and God expected Jews to have a knowledge and a respect for Moses and the Prophets. No doubt Jesus expected them to have the same respect which he always exhibited.

At one point in this parable, the rich man made a special request. “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” (Luke 16:24-31) A proper knowledge and respect for God's word was very necessary. It was just as necessary as the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It is also a reminder that even if we end up in hell, we will not want our brothers to be there. This is a very sobering thought.