Jewish midrash is a technique the rabbis used for linking truths in scripture that have a commonality of thought or word to develop a new truth or expound on an existing truth. It is safe to say that expansive commentary on midrash is beyond my ability. What I do understand is that midrash requires a thorough understanding of the underlying Hebrew text and is a techinque used to reveal truths in the New Testament.
Among the apostles, Paul is probably the master of midrash, which helps explain the difficulty believers have in understanding some of Paul's logic. Believers rarely question the truths that Paul states, accepting his words as a direct revelation from Jesus. While this is true (Gal 1:12), Paul often derives these truths from passages in the Hebrew text using midrash. Like a math teacher skilled in the subject matter, Paul derives a new equation (new truth) from one or more existing equations (existing truths).
In his letter to the Romans, Paul quotes Moses who told Israel, “The word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it,” (Deut 30:14)(Rom 10:8). He quotes this passage to support his position that the confession, “Jesus is Lord” (Rom 10:9), results in “the righteousness that is by faith,” (Rom 10:5). The logic of this connection is not apparent to the average reader.
To follow Paul’s logic, the reader must turn back to the Book of Deuteronomy. Moses told Israel that life and prosperity are possible through the commandments, (Deut 30:15). Paul acknowledged that there is “the righteousness that is by the law (because) ‘The man who does these things will live by them,’” (Rom 10:5). So how does righteousness that come from the Law transfer to the believer?
Paul connects the statement of Moses “the word is near you; it is in your mouth” (Deut 30:14)(Rom 10:8), to the words of Joel “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved,” (Joel 2:32)(Rom 10:13). Paul reasons that the “word…in your mouth” is “calling on the name of the LORD.” Paul then connects “in your heart” to the words of the Palmist, “Anyone who trusts in him (i.e., faith) will never be put to shame” (Psa 28:7)(Rom 10:11).
From this logic, Paul derives the position that "the word..in your mouth" (Rom 10:8), to which Moses refers, is our confession of "Jesus as Lord" (Rom 10:9), and the word "in your heart" (Rom 10:8), is our belief that "God raised Him from the dead," (Rom 10:9). Paul draws all these passages together to write, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved,” (Rom 10:9-10).
In the original passage, Moses did not say that confession in the Messiah brings forth righteousness. Paul derived a sophisticated midrash to connect the statement of Moses to two other passages in scripture to demonstrate a new truth, “righteousness” (Rom 10:5) results from the confession of “Jesus as Lord” (Rom 10:9), and the belief “that God raised him from the dead,” (Rom 10:9). Like any math teacher worth his salt, Paul has used several accepted truths to derive a new truth.
To follow Paul’s logic, the reader must turn back to the Book of Deuteronomy. Moses told Israel that life and prosperity are possible through the commandments, (Deut 30:15). Paul acknowledged that there is “the righteousness that is by the law (because) ‘The man who does these things will live by them,’” (Rom 10:5). So how does righteousness that come from the Law transfer to the believer?
Paul connects the statement of Moses “the word is near you; it is in your mouth” (Deut 30:14)(Rom 10:8), to the words of Joel “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved,” (Joel 2:32)(Rom 10:13). Paul reasons that the “word…in your mouth” is “calling on the name of the LORD.” Paul then connects “in your heart” to the words of the Palmist, “Anyone who trusts in him (i.e., faith) will never be put to shame” (Psa 28:7)(Rom 10:11).
From this logic, Paul derives the position that "the word..in your mouth" (Rom 10:8), to which Moses refers, is our confession of "Jesus as Lord" (Rom 10:9), and the word "in your heart" (Rom 10:8), is our belief that "God raised Him from the dead," (Rom 10:9). Paul draws all these passages together to write, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved,” (Rom 10:9-10).
In the original passage, Moses did not say that confession in the Messiah brings forth righteousness. Paul derived a sophisticated midrash to connect the statement of Moses to two other passages in scripture to demonstrate a new truth, “righteousness” (Rom 10:5) results from the confession of “Jesus as Lord” (Rom 10:9), and the belief “that God raised him from the dead,” (Rom 10:9). Like any math teacher worth his salt, Paul has used several accepted truths to derive a new truth.
Believers could make another midrash by connecting the passage of Moses to the words of Jesus who said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good” (Luke 6:45). From these passages (Moses and Jesus), we can suggest that a man is capable of obedience to the word if the word is "in your heart." How does a man commit the word to his heart, by learning and speaking the word of God, as it says, “the word is…in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.” In the words of David,
“Your word I have treasured in my heart that I might not sin against You,” (Psa 119:11).
Bible Math 101: Scott
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