Business Tradition Traditional Jewish Customs

Question: Describe about the Business Tradition for Traditional Jewish Customs. Answer: This passage is extracted from the book of Matthew. The author of the Gospel of Matthew is not mentioned in the text. Papias of Helepolis who was an apostolic father and a bishop is the one who began the tradition that Matthew the apostle was the author. Scholars believe that Matthew was probably a Jew who had knowledge of non-traditional and traditional Jewish customs. He clearly understood the legal matters being debated in his time concerning the scriptures (Steen, 2016, p.339). The gospel of Matthew is believed by most scholars to have been composed between AD 80 and 90. Matthew belonged to the community of Christians who were part of the bigger Jewish community. Conflict arose between Matthews community and other groups of the Jews. The root of the conflict was that Matthewss group believed in Jesus Christ as the Messiah and that the laws would be interpreted by him authoritatively since Christ rose from the dead and he has divine authority. This formed the context of his writing with an aim to bring to right various issues that brought controversy (Collins, 2015, p.322). The purpose of this passage was to teach the people who were following Jesus on the various issues they had no clarity. This was during the days that Jesus had begun his ministry in Galilee. Many of the people in the multitude thought that the gospel Jesus taught came to set aside the law of the prophets. Jesus was able to know their thinking. He told them that he had not come to abolish the law. Jesus clarifies to them that he was not the end of the law but had merely come to fulfil it. Various themes are brought out in this passage. The themes are murder, reconciliation, and adultery. Jesus reminds the multitude of the law that warned against murder since anyone who would commit murder would face judgment. He taught the people who were following him the importance of reconciling with those who had wronged them. He goes ahead to expound on this issue by telling them that if one was offering sacrifices and remembers that he has something against his brother, it was important for one to go and be reconciled with him first and come and offer the sacrifice later. Another major theme is warning against adultery. Jesus explains that even the act of looking at the woman lustfully makes a man commit adultery in his heart. There are parts of this passage that are not relevant to us today. The act of offering sacrifices was performed by the Jewish people that Jesus was addressing. Today we no longer offer burning sacrifices. It was possible for the Jewish people to settle matters before appearing to the court and in case the affected parties would agree; then no offense would be held against the offender. Today that custom is not applicable since most matters are settled in court. The Jewish tradition of cutting of various body parts that made people sin is not relevant today. For instance, in one's handmade one sin it was advisable to cut it off than for the rest of the body to be thrown into hell. The passage addresses principles that are eternal and still have relevance in our lives today. Righteousness is an essential principle that is brought out. Jesus warns the multitude not to be like the Pharisees and the scribes who thought that righteousness was to be expressed outwardly. The scribes taught of the law, and the Pharisees followed the law strictly. Their righteousness was not out of a purified heart as God desires. This is important to us today because the Bible records that God requires us to have that devotion of the heart for us to enter the kingdom of heaven. The theme of adultery and reconciliation are also relevant to us today because the Bible teaches that one will be thrown in the fires of hell if he commits adultery and does not reconcile with his brother. The passage teaches about the unchanging nature of God. He is the one who gave the law to Moses, and he expected people to abide by it. The coming of Jesus does not mean that people should not follow the law. God is faithful to his word, and he does not change his mind on whatever he commands. God expects us to follow his commands faithfully without compromise because that is what it means to be in a relationship with him. He desires that we submit to whatever his word teaches about the various life principles. There are topics contained in this passage that is relevant to people of today. The passage teaches about reconciling with those who have wronged us. In our daily interactions with people, many are times we find ourselves defaming other people. It is important for us to seek for forgiveness so that our real relationship may be restored and that our hearts will be right with God. Righteousness from the heart is also emphasized in this passage. We are not supposed to pursue a righteousness that is outwardly shown but that righteousness from within the heart. This passage records that no one will enter the kingdom of heaven without sincere righteousness from the heart. The passage is very relevant in my life since it explains various principles that are essential for right living. It talks about the importance of keeping the laws written by the prophets. These rules apply to the life issues that I encounter in life. The passage teaches about the importance of reconciliation and hence it enables me to seek forgiveness whenever I wrong someone. It motivates me to pursue righteousness from the heart since that is the one that God requires from me so as to be in a good relationship with him. The act of murder is explained to be followed by judgment and from this I get to understand that God despises this act. The command against committing adultery is also contained in this topic, and I get to learn that committing this sin has consequences that are unpleasant. Every man is expected only to remain with his wife and be faithful to her. It is no doubt that this passage teaches us about various principles that are applicable in our lives. References. Collins, N.L., 2015. Essays on Halakhah in the New Testament, written by Bernard Jackson. Novum Testamentum, 57(3), pp.321-323. Distefano, M.J., 2015. All Set Free: How God is Revealed in Jesus and Why that is Good News. Wipf and Stock Publishers. Ferguson, M., 2015. The Certamen of Homer and Hesiod and the Gospels of the New Testament: A Comparison of Biographical Genre. Gladd, B.L. and Harmon, M.S., 2016. Making All Things New: Inaugurated Eschatology for the Life of the Church. Baker Academic. Ironside, H.A., 2015. Expository Notes on the Gospel of Matthew. Solid Christian Books. Keener, C.S., 2014. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Intervarsity Press. Prince, M., 2015. The Importance of Ritual in Helping Heal Veterans Who Suffer with PTSD/Moral Injury: A Chaplains Role in the Body of the Church. Steen, S., 2016. Conceptions of Gospel and Legitimacy in Early Christianity, written by James A. Kelhoffer. Gnosis: Journal of Gnostic Studies, 1(1-2), pp.338-341.