Burnishing Bigotry - 3rd edition

These basic discrepancies (and others like them) have tempted many readers to assume that
the two Testaments simply contradict one another. Even Paul succumbed to such hasty thinking
(e.g. ―Jesus is the end of the Law‖ ~ Romans 10:4) … And yet an in-depth analysis of both the
statements & the actions of Jesus Christ in the Gospels (in the examples on the following pages,
specifically his statements & actions mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew) shows a significantly
different reality: namely, that Jesus' theology consistently and purposefully amended (or
―honed‖, or ―perfected‖, or ―cleansed‖, or ―FULL-filled‖ – far more accurate definitions of plerosai, the
Greek word often written as ―fulfilled‖ in Matthew 5:17-18 – see Strong‘s #4137) the spiritual potency
of the traditional teachings of Judaism found in the Old Testament – and that he did so in the
three distinctive ways that follow …
First, Jesus aggressively ―pruned‖ (& in effect discarded) non-functioning Old Testament
laws & regulations (by either negating them verbally or violating them actively) …
Consider the following examples thereof:
*In Matthew 5:40 Jesus alludes to violating the Old Testament law against keeping
another's cloak overnight (see Exodus 22:26-27 & Deuteronomy 24:12-13), as well as the literal
reading of the Old Testament law against denuding one of close kin (see Leviticus 18:6).
*In Matthew 6:16-18 (suffering silently) Jesus seemingly negates the Old Testament law
commanding a Jew to cry out to God when in need (see Numbers 10:9).
*In Matthew 6:25-26 & Matthew 26:31-33 Jesus seems to make irrelevant the Old
Testament regulations regarding food (see Leviticus chapter 11 & Deuteronomy chapter 14).
*In Matthew 6:25+28-33 Jesus allows the violation of Old Testament laws regarding
clothing (see Deuteronomy 6:8 & Deuteronomy 22:5-11 … Note as well the effect of Matthew 23:5 on
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 & Numbers 15:38-40).
*In Matthew 7:28-29 (teaching with priestly authority) Jesus‘ words pretty clearly ―fly in
the face‖ of the regulations found in Leviticus chapter 21.
*In Matthew 8:3 Jesus violates the Old Testament laws related to associating with lepers
(see Leviticus 13:44-45 & Numbers 5:1-4).
*In Matthew 9:12-13 & Matthew 12:7 Jesus negates Old Testament regulations regarding
Temple sacrifices (see Numbers 28:3, Exodus 30:7-9, Exodus 12:6-10 & Exodus 13:2).
*In Matthew 9:25 Jesus violates the Old Testament law against touching the dead (see
Deuteronomy 18:11 – see also Jesus raising Lazarus on his 4 th day in the tomb in John 11:17-44).
*In Matthew 11:19 Jesus alludes to violating Old Testament law against gluttony (see
Leviticus 19:26), as well as the Law prohibiting associating with sinners (see Deuteronomy 10:20).
*In Matthew 11:20-24 Jesus violates the edicts of Leviticus 19:16-18.
*In Matthew 12:1 Jesus essentially discards the Old Testament law regarding the Sabbath
(see Exodus 16:29).
*In Matthew 12:48-49 Jesus seems to violate the Old Testament law prohibiting one from
being a ―rebellious son‖ (see Deuteronomy 21:18).
*In Matthew 17:24-27 Jesus diminishes regulations related to taxation (see Exodus 30:13).
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