Learning from How Jesus Used Scripture

As the followers of Jesus today, it makes sense that we would follow how Jesus used scripture.

According to the gospel records, it is evident that Jesus knew scripture, i.e., the Hebrew scriptures. The gospels record him quoting scripture in a multitude of settings. For example, Matthew's gospel records him quoting scripture:

• in the temptation experiences (Matthew 4:1-11), 
• in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:21, 27, 31, 33, 38, 43),
• in sending out the Twelve (Matthew 10:34-36),
• in speaking of John the Baptizer (Matthew 11:7-19),
• in explaining his use of parables (Matthew 13:13-16),
• in responding to attacks by the Pharisees and scribes (Matthew 15:7-9),
• in the question regarding divorce (Matthew 19:3-9),
• in his taking control of the Temple compound (Matthew 21:12-17), 
• when he was questioned by the religious leaders (Matthew 21:42), 
• when asked about the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:34-40), 
• when preparing the disciples for his arrest (Matthew 26:31-32),
• when on trial before the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:63-64),
• when on the cross (Matthew 27:45-46).

These examples give us an idea of how Jesus used scripture. They indicate that Jesus used scripture (particularly Deuteronomy, the Psalms, and the prophet Isaiah) to help him know God and the heart of God, to know the ways of God and the hearts of humans, to nurture his own faith and guide what he did. Luke's gospel (Luke 4:16-30) indicates that his understanding of his identity and his mission were shaped by scripture (Isaiah 61:1-2).

These examples also indicate how Jesus did not use scripture. He did not use scripture as a rule book - a book of laws to be meticulously followed. And there are plenty of laws in the Torah! But Jesus did not focus on the Laws of the Torah. If anything, Jesus went beyond the Law to the intent of the Law.

Jesus understood and respected the value of the Law. He asserted that he did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17-20). But Jesus looked beyond the prescribed behavior of a particular law to the underlying principle ... to the deeper meaning of the Law. In the Sermon on the Mount, he quoted the Torah six times, each time pointing to a deeper understanding of what the law meant. "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ... but I say to you" (Matthew 5:21, 27, 31, 33, 38, 43).

While Jesus understood and respected the value of the Law, he also understood that the Law could be misused, even abused. He understood that the human ego, not recognizing the intent of the Law, could twist and misuse it. Rather than being a reflection of the heart of God and the ways of God, the Law could be turned into a standard by which people were measured and judged. It could become a way of relating to God. This merit-based way of relating to God and one another was opposed to the grace-based, forgiveness-oriented way of relating to God and others that Jesus lived and taught.

This difference of understanding and using the Law was one reason Jesus was so often at odds with the religious traditions and religious leaders of his day. Mark's gospel records four of these incidents back to back in the beginning section of his gospel (Mark 2:15 - 3:6). In each of these incidents, Jesus placed greater priority on people and the needs of people than on following the rules. Jesus' actions were, as would be expected, offensive to the religious leadership of the day ... so offensive that they plotted his death (Mark 3:6). Jesus actions and teachings threatened the very foundation of their Law-based religion. They threatened the identity, status, power, and position of those who had built their lives around the Law and the religious life that grew out of it.

Jesus not only understood the intent of the Law, he also understood the essence of the Law. When asked about the greatest law (Matthew 22:34-40), Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:5, tying it to Leviticus 19:18: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. You shall love your neighbor as yourself." For Jesus, the essence of the Law was love: loving God, loving neighbor. These two commandments from Hebrew scripture were the only two commandments that Jesus taught. In addition, John's gospel records a new commandment that Jesus gave his disciples: "love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another" (John 13:34-35). Jesus' new commandment was an extension of what he identified as the greatest commandment: love. Love would be the identifying mark of the followers of Jesus: "by this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another"  (John 13:35). Jesus emphasized love, not conforming to some standard of behavior. His priority was relationships, not rules. Jesus established love, not the Law, as the standard by which we are to live.

So why this diatribe about how Jesus used scripture?

In the current controversy within The UMC surrounding A Way Forward, people on both sides of the issue quote scripture to support their position. Both are using scripture to validate their position. Both appeal to scripture as the foundation of the standard they use to determine "what is right." Both sides are certain of their position because "The Bible says ..."

It seems to me that both sides are using scripture in a way that Jesus didn't: as a standard to be used to validate their correctness or to judge the other's shortcomings. In addition, they are making "being right" more important than the relationships and love that Jesus taught. I've heard it said: "In a conflict, you can be right or you can have relationship. You can't have both."

From my perspective, I wonder: what are we willing to sacrifice in order to be "right"? And, can we be "right" if we do not love one another?

But then, maybe this blog does the very thing I say Jesus didn't do!  More of my thinking about scripture next week. Until then, work at loving as Jesus loved.