“The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible. The analogy of Scripture or comparing
Scripture to Scripture is a most essential tool in the process.” (Exploring
Our Hebraic Heritage, Marvin R. Wilson, 2014 Edition, page 30)
The more I read the Bible, the more I find myself saying, “I’ve read that exact
wording somewhere else and I know how the phrase was used.” In this way, the Bible helps to clarify what
the Bible says. As an example, I had
previously read Parashat Mishpatim (Judgements) at least five times before 2/6/16. Yet, it was not until this year that I
connected two passages in Exodus to stories in the Gospel accounts.
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“If a man steals an ox or a
sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and four
sheep for the sheep.” (Ex 22:1)
The Torah establishes
the required payment for the restitution of stolen animals, five oxen for one
ox and four sheep of one sheep. (The number
possibly relates to the offspring that the stolen animal could have
produced.)
When the
chief tax collector Zaccheus stood in the presence of Jesus, he promised, “Behold, Lord, half my possessions I will
give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give
back four times as much,” (Luke
19:8). Most read this passage only concluding
that Zaccheus was a generous man. What the
reader fails to recognize is that Zaccheus was knowledgeable of the Torah, and willing
to protect the people he encountered as the sheep of Israel.
The words
of Jesus then became a continuation of the subject originated by Zaccheus,
“For the Son of Man has come to seek
and save that which was lost,” (Luke
19:10). The phrase “seek and save…lost” is a quotation from
the Hebrew text with the Almighty referring to the sheep of Israel, “‘I will feed My flock and I will lead them
to rest’, declares the LORD God. ‘I will seek the lost…,’” (Ezek 34:15-16). In quoting these words, Jesus declared
Himself to be the LORD God, the seeker and protector of the flock. We have Zaccheus to thank for starting the
conversation.
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“You shall be holy men to Me,
therefore you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you
shall throw it to the dogs.” (Ex 22:31)
There are
only a few passages where the phrase “the dogs” is used in the New
Testament. One place is found in the
story of Jesus’ encounter with a Gentile woman whose daughter was ill.
“Have mercy
on me Lord, Son of David, my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed. But He did not answer her a word. And His
disciples came and implored Him, saying, ‘Send her away, because she keeps
shouting at us.’
24 But He
answered and said, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ 25
But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’ 26
And He answered and said, ‘It is not good to take the children’s bread and
throw it to the dogs.’
27 But she
said, ‘Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their
masters’ table.’ 28 Then Jesus said to her, ‘O woman, your faith
is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed at
once.” (Matt 15:22-27)
The response
of the women was not simply invoking Jesus’ compassion, but the woman was
actually engaging Jesus in a Torah discussion.
“Remember Lord how the Torah says that the dogs have a right to eat any
‘flesh torn to pieces’. All I am asking for are the pieces, the ‘crumbs that fall’ from the tearing at the master’s table.” Jesus acknowledges and rewards the woman’s understanding and application of Torah
saying, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” God honors knowing, speaking, quoting, and
living Torah.
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One last
passage and I will leave the reader to find a parallel in the Greek text.
“Behold, I am going to send
an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the
place which I have prepared.” (Ex 23:20)
Christians
look for passages where Jesus declared Himself to be God. The New Testament is overflowing with such
passages, you just need to make the connections.
All the
best,
Scott
