Jesus and change

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Jesus did not come to change everything.

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. [kjv]

5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. [kjv]

One needs to do both of the following.

Love God and the rules of God. That is, "hate sin".
Love neighbor as oneself. That is, "love the sinner".

More: Both love your God and love your neighbor as yourself needed

Matthew 5:17

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KJV: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Greek: μη νομισητε οτι ηλθον καταλυσαι τον νομον η τους προφητας ουκ ηλθον καταλυσαι αλλα πληρωσαι

Matthew 5:18

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KJV: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Greek: αμην γαρ λεγω υμιν εως αν παρελθη ο ουρανος και η γη ιωτα εν η μια κεραια ου μη παρελθη απο του νομου εως αν παντα γενηται

The two most important laws are identified by Jesus (from Deuteronomy) as follows.

Matthew 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? [kjv]

22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [kjv]

22:38 This is the first and great commandment. [kjv]

22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [kjv]

22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. [kjv]

Both are needed.

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Jesus clearly states the two laws on which the law and the prophets hang in Mark 12:30-31 (and elsewhere).

Law/Pearl 1: Love God (and the rules of God).
Law/Pearl 2: Love your neighbor as yourself.

The religious establishment at the time of Jesus emphasized law 1, "Love your God", but ignored law 2, "Love your neighbor as yourself" rule. This is, literally, "against the law" (of God).

According to Jesus, both rules are needed. What happens if the religious establishment ignores "Love your God" and emphasizes only "Love your neighbor" and often leaves out "as yourself"? This is, literally, "against the law" (of God)

More: Both love your God and love your neighbor as yourself needed

Rebel against: yourself, your family, your church, your country, humans.

The ancient Greek word "αγάπη" ≈ "totally devoted to, love" from which we get the word "agape".

The difference between "God is love" and "Love is god" can be subtle and deceptive - especially when spoken without the distinction between the one and only creator "God" and a "god" as in an idol or a desire.

This fallacy is common, covered extensively by Aristotle, and called the converse fallacy as one of many names describing it.

More: Converse fallacy: If A then B does not mean If B then A

More: Love is the only way

Matthew 22:36

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KJV: Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Greek: διδασκαλε ποια εντολη μεγαλη εν τω νομω

Matthew 22:37

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KJV: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Greek: ο δε ιησους ειπεν εφη αυτω αγαπησεις κυριον τον θεον σου εν ολη τη καρδια σου και εν ολη τη ψυχη σου και εν ολη τη διανοια σου

Matthew 22:38

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KJV: This is the first and great commandment.

Greek: αυτη εστιν πρωτη και η μεγαλη και πρωτη εντολη

Matthew 22:39

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KJV: And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Greek: δευτερα δε ομοια αυτη αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον

Matthew 22:40

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KJV: On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Greek: εν ταυταις ταις δυσιν εντολαις ολος ο νομος κρεμαται και οι προφηται κρεμανται

John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. [kjv]

ταυτα εντελλομαι υμιν ινα αγαπατε αλληλους [gnt]

Living a life of love is NOT going along with everyone's point of view.

Some will claim this is the most important command from Jesus and that it "changes everything".

Jesus is talking to believers (his disciples).
Some will extend this to the world without constraints.

The constraint is "love your neighbor as yourself". The "as yourself" is constraint is often omitted. Those who promote this (deceptive) idea ignore the next two verses.

John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. [kjv]

ει ο κοσμος υμας μισει γινωσκετε οτι εμε πρωτον υμων μεμισηκεν [gnt]

15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. [kjv]

ει εκ του κοσμου ητε ο κοσμος αν το ιδιον εφιλει οτι δε εκ του κοσμου ουκ εστε αλλ εγω εξελεξαμην υμας εκ του κοσμου δια τουτο μισει υμας ο κοσμος [gnt]

If the world loves you, is something wrong? Perhaps you have moved away from the truth (reality) of Jesus. Discuss:

How can one "out-love the world" without becoming "of the world"?
Is "out-loving the world" the goal? Provide some Bible verses (in context) in support of this goal.

John 15:17

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KJV: These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Greek: ταυτα εντελλομαι υμιν ινα αγαπατε αλληλους

John 15:18

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KJV: If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

Greek: ει ο κοσμος υμας μισει γινωσκετε οτι εμε πρωτον υμων μεμισηκεν

John 15:19

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KJV: If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Greek: ει εκ του κοσμου ητε ο κοσμος αν το ιδιον εφιλει οτι δε εκ του κοσμου ουκ εστε αλλ εγω εξελεξαμην υμας εκ του κοσμου δια τουτο μισει υμας ο κοσμος

Does this give new meaning to John 14:6?

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. [kjv]

λεγει αυτω ιησους εγω ειμι η οδος και η αληθεια και η ζωη ουδεις ερχεται προς τον πατερα ει μη δι εμου [gnt]

… via … veritas … vita … [v]

Jesus is the "way", "truth" and "life".
In Latin, these three words start with "v": "via", "veritas" and "vita". The Greek and Hebrew words for "truth" have to do with "reality" and not "logic" or "opinion". Thus, Jesus is the "way" (opinion as in glory), the "truth" (reality as in science) and the "life" (logic as in information).

More: Greek truth as reality

More: Hebrew truth as reality

More: Truth types and 1 John

John 14:6

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KJV: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Greek: λεγει αυτω ο ιησους εγω ειμι η οδος και η αληθεια και η ζωη ουδεις ερχεται προς τον πατερα ει μη δι εμου

Latin: dicit ei Iesus ego sum via et veritas et vita nemo venit ad Patrem nisi per me