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Post by Josh on Apr 26, 2007 17:55:48 GMT -8
We're going to be skipping this chapter (15) on our Sunday teachings. The big themes in this chapter are unintentional sins, firstfruits, and the severity of the law. If you have comments, post htem as replies here.
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Post by Josh on May 8, 2007 9:36:06 GMT -8
Regarding the startling story of the man who was stoned for gathering firewood on the Sabbath, John Crysostom (4th Century) says:
"Why was he punished just for gathering sticks? Because if the laws were obstinately despised even at the beginning, of course they would scarcely be observed afterwards. ..."
He and other early Church commentators place great emphasis on these kinds of events in Scripture as immediate examples of the eventual consequences we all will face on the day of judgment... even if the consequences of our sins are delayed here and now:
"they had to furnish a kind of example to others of the penalty and terror of sinfulness. Thus, from then on, whoever was tempted to do the same thing would know that at the future judgment he would receive the same condemnation as the others, even if in this life his punishment was deferred" (John Cassian)
Oh, and I really like this comparison between the Old Covenants and the New also from Chrysostom:
"'The letter kills'... The law, if it arrests a murderer, puts him to death. The gospel, if it arrests a murderer, enlightens and gives him life.... " BTW, I wonder if Chrysostom's words here reflect his views on capital punishment at all... Have to look into that.
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