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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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camalness <strong>of</strong> view which underlies <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

Rabbinic parallels to <strong>the</strong> Beatitudes, pointing to<br />

contrast ra<strong>the</strong>r than likeness. Thus <strong>the</strong> Babbinic<br />

blessedness <strong>of</strong> mourning consists in this, that much<br />

miseiy here makes up for punishment hereafter.*<br />

We scarcely wonder that no Babbinic parallel can<br />

be found to <strong>the</strong> third Beatitude, unless we recall<br />

<strong>the</strong> contrast which assigns in Messianic days <strong>the</strong><br />

possession <strong>of</strong> earth to Israel as a nation. Nor could<br />

we expect any parallel to <strong>the</strong> fourth Beatitude, to<br />

those who hunger <strong>and</strong> thirst after righteousness.<br />

Babbinism would have quite a different idea <strong>of</strong> ^<br />

righteousness/ considered as ' good works,' <strong>and</strong><br />

chiefly as almsgiving (designated as Tsedaqahy or<br />

righteousness). To such <strong>the</strong> most special reward is<br />

promised, <strong>and</strong> that ex opere operaioy Similarly,<br />

Babbinism speaks <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> perfectly righteous (niD^<br />

pnv) cmd <strong>the</strong> perfectly unrighteous, or else <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

righteous <strong>and</strong> unrighteous (according as <strong>the</strong> good<br />

or <strong>the</strong> evil might weigh heaviest in <strong>the</strong> scale); <strong>and</strong>,<br />

besides <strong>the</strong>se, <strong>of</strong> a kind <strong>of</strong> middle state. But such a<br />

conception as that <strong>of</strong> ^ hunger' <strong>and</strong> * thirst' after<br />

righteousness would have no place in <strong>the</strong> system.

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