Hilander, on 15 November 2012 - 03:46 PM, said:
If we were all made in Gods image why would he favor one over another.
I agree. And I think that is the difficulty with being the chosen people. In the OT, God made it clear that He chose Israel to bless all nations and become a beacon of hope for them all. Instead, Israel passed on that awesome opportunity, wanting instead to be like their neighbors.
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That's the problem with religion they all think their way is the only way or the only true word of God when most holy books were written by men not God. I'm not going to say there is no God but any religion that condones murder or keeping someone under their thumb probably has nothing to do with God.
I agree. If you look at the OT writings, nobody got stoned for homosexuality, wearing two types of fabrics, or dishonoring their parents. A good majority of commandments weren't even headed.
But it wasn't for the fact that these commandments weren't followed, because, as Jesus stated in Matthew 23:23, those were the less weightier aspects of the Law. The more weightier parts of the Law can be found in Leviticus 19:8-18.
"When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God. "You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord . "You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning. You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord . "You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord . "You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord ." (Leviticus 19:9-18 ESV)
Not obeying any of these did not result in death, yet for the fact of not obeying these, Jerusalem and its temple was destroyed twice. For which of the less weightier aspects of the Law was Jerusalem made desolate?
Jesus reinterpreted the Law. It should be His intepretatiom that we go by and nobody else's. According to Jesus' teachings, there should be no elitism or oppression among God's people.
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12 ESV)