Christian biography -- Palestine; Jesus Christ -- Biography
Jesus did not speak against the Mosaic law, but it is clear that he
saw its insufficiency, and allowed it to be seen that he did so. He
repeated unceasingly that more must be done than the ancient sages had
commanded.[1] He forbade the least harsh word;[2] he prohibited
divorce,[3] and all swearing;[4] he censured revenge;[5] he condemned
usury;[6] he considered voluptuous desire as criminal as adultery;[7]
he insisted upon a universal forgiveness of injuries.[8] The motive on
which he rested these maxims of exalted charity was always the
same.... "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in
heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and the good. For if
ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the
publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye
more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore
perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."[9]
[Footnote 1: Matt. v. 20, and following.]
[Footnote 2: Matt. v. 22.]
[Footnote 3: Matt. v. 31, and following. Compare Talmud of Babylon,
_Sanhedrim_, 22 _a_.]
[Footnote 4: Matt. v. 33, and following.]
[Footnote 5: Matt. v. 38, and following.]
[Footnote 6: Matt. v. 42. The Law prohibited it also (_Deut._ xv. 7,
8), but less formally, and custom authorized it (Luke vii. 41, and
following).]
[Footnote 7: Matt. xxvii. 28. Compare Talmud, _Masseket Kalla_ (edit.
Fuerth, 1793), fol. 34 _b_.]
[Footnote 8: Matt. v. 23, and following.]
[Footnote 9: Matt. v. 45, and following. Compare _Lev._ xi. 44, xix.
2.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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