At FFOZ we often
get asked the question what is the difference between the
spirit and the letter of the law. After all the Apostle Paul
tells us:
…for the letter
kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:6)
I was taught while
growing up that this meant that the letter of the law was
what was written whereas the spirit behind it is what
counted. For example in the commandment of Sabbath, the
letter is a literal Shabbat whereas the spirit is the
spiritual rest we have in Messiah. Therefore it was not
about observing a literal day but remebering the principle
behind it.
Jewish thought in
this area is a bit different. The letter is the literal
reading and the spirit is going above and beyond the letter
while still maintaining the letter. A great example of this
is found in the Master’s teachings in the Sermon on the
Mount.
You have heard
that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A
TOOTH.' But I say to you, do not resist an evil person;
but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the
other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take
your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces
you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who
asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to
borrow from you. (Matthew 5:38-42)
Here the Master
urges his disciples to go beyond the letter of the law and
withhold their rights for the sake of the kingdom. In other
words they should not be so strict in judgment. This
teaching of Yeshua’s does not break Torah but rather holds
it up even higher. Remarkable it is said in the Talmud that
similar issues caused the destruction of Jerusalem:
For R. Johanan
said: Jerusalem was destroyed only because they gave
judgments therein in accordance with Biblical law. Were
they then to have judged in accordance with untrained
arbitrators? — But say thus: because they based their
judgments [strictly] upon Biblical law, and did not go
beyond the requirements of the law. (b.Bava Metzia 30a)
The Talmud like the
Master, urges use to go beyond the letter of the Torah. We
should be gracious in our dealings with others always giving
the benefit of the doubt and seeking mercy.
We are currently in
the season of the three weeks as has been mentioned in
previous posts. This is the time where the walls of
Jerusalem were breached and the Temple was eventually
destroyed. Perhaps we should take a good look at Matthew 5
during this time. I believe that in the Sermon on the Mount
the Master was warning the people of the coming destruction
and what they can do to thwart it. Yet, before we point
fingers at that generation we should remember the old
rabbinic dictum, “each generation in which the Temple is not
rebuilt should count itself as being among those who brought
its destruction.” Like them we have a lot to learn about
personal interactions and what it truly means to love our
neighbor as ourselves. As we change through the working of
His Spirit and the study of His Torah we are in this process
echoing the words of the Siddur:
May it be your
will Lord our God and God of our forefathers that the
Holy Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days. Amen.
About the Author:
Toby Janicki is a teacher, writer and speaker for FFOZ. He
is also a writer for messiah magazine and the
author of the Restoration Workbook and a new book
on the Mezuzah.