The Faithful Traitor
For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:10 NASB
Enemies – No one could ever have imagined such a statement. Today those who are followers of the Christ don’t give this verse a second thought, but when Paul wrote these words the idea was scandalous at best, perhaps even insane. In the Greek world, a man might sacrifice himself for his city, his friends and his family, but he would never do so for an enemy. Enemies were the ones who were supposed to die. The very idea of a hero implied extraordinary concern for the beloved, not the hated.
Even rabbinic Judaism didn’t teach this kind of insanity. Telushkin claims, contra Yeshua, that “Judaism does not demand that one love one’s enemies, though it is untrue to claim, as Matthew does, that Jewish law commands one to hate one’s enemies (see Matt. 5:43). What the Torah and later biblical writings insist on is justice, not love, toward one’s enemies.”[1] Ignoring Telushkin’s misunderstanding of Matthew, we can see that even rabbinic Judaism considered Yeshua’s approach unwarranted and Paul’s proclamation unfounded. No man dies for someone who seeks to harm him. Paul’s claim is absolutely unique in both the Greek and Jewish worlds.
Yet that is precisely what Yeshua and Sha’ul taught. If it were not for the false dichotomy between biblical, Hebraic faith and rabbinic, Hellenized Judaism, Jews might have understood Yeshua in the same light as they understood Hillel and Akiva, as a great sage who explained the deeper meanings of Torah. If it were not for the unwarranted animosity between Christianity and Judaism, scholars like Telushkin might realize that Yeshua stands in the line of the other great rabbis, clarifying the implications of God’s revelation in much that same way that previous sages had. If it were not for all these impediments, all of us might see that Yeshua and Sha’ul illuminate the further reaches of God’s grace, extended to those who stood against Him. In fact, everything about God’s actions toward men reveals the essence of the good news: God loves His enemies – us!
But this means we need to revise our thinking about heroes. Our Western world idolizes those who sacrifice for the common good. Our heroes demonstrate remarkable efforts on behalf of friends, family or country. But if you or I should act on behalf of an enemy, we are called traitors. Yeshua was a traitor, not a hero. Yeshua came to repair the breach between God and His enemies. He sacrificed Himself so that enemies might be brought into the Kingdom. He did not win the battle for men. He won the battle for God, and in so doing, he destroyed the enmity between God and Man from God’s side of the equation. Why should we be surprised that the crowd shouted, “Crucify him!” He was a traitor to their cause. He became the enemy of men in order to be the savior of Man.
Enemy – echthrous – from the word for hatred, is the opposite of agapetos (beloved). Hero and beloved go together. Traitor and enemy do too. Maybe we need to adjust our accolades and cheer the one who reconciled at the cost of being rejected. Maybe we must start by examining what it means to be God’s enemies before we can assert that we are God’s friends.
Topical Index: enemy, friend, echthrous, agapetos, traitor, hero, Romans 5:10
[1] Joseph Telushkin, Hillel: If Not Now, When?, p. 137.
~For G-d in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.~ (Colossians 1.19,20)
May I? “making peace through His blood, shed on the cross..
Behold the Man upon a cross
My guilt upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom.
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with us (Immanuel) to the end.
brother Skip- just to pick out a few phrases from your commentary.. (-nothing like commenting on a commentary!)
“Paul’s claim is absolutely unique in both the Greek and Jewish worlds..” – what ‘happened’ to Saul? He became Paul – His world was radically renewed by Christ. From one who persecuted the followers of (the) Christ, to one who proclaimed Christ and Him crucified, Paul saw something. More accurately- Paul saw Someone! and because of this ‘encounter’ with the voice of YHWH (Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?)- His life and life-message were changed forever. Paul was redeemed, restored, ‘reborn’ (if you will) and then used by G-d to preach and to teach Jesus Christ and Him crucified to the Gentiles. And what Paul ‘went through’ to spread the Good News (the gospel) of Christ! Paul live his life with a fixed focus. “This one thing I do..”
“might realize Yeshua stands in the line of the other great rabbis..” No. Not at all. Yeshua, stands in no line- not even as a drop of water compares to the ocean. More like a snowflake compares to the universes- for Yeshua is G-d incarnated in human flesh. Only one Man (that I know of) ever walked on water, healed the deaf and blind, was virgin-born, and then on the third day walked out of the tomb. Can’t say I know anyone else (in my limited range of knowlege) who comes close to this..
“He destroyed the emnity between G-d and man..” Yes. He did. ~But this Man, (the second Adam) after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of G-d;~
Friends.. – as He said: “it is finished.” Calvary is complete. All enemies have been destroyed and what we gain “in Christ” (the second Adam) is more than we ever lost “in Adam”.
“the essence of the good news..” – He destroyed the enmity between G-d and man..- amen! (and Hallelujah!) Yes, He did. (and) ~There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit~ (Romans 8.1) and ~Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered~ (Psalm 32.1)
Interesting experiences in my life revealed that both “Christians” and non-Christians, don’t like to think of themselves as ever having being an enemy of God.
Even when I explain that by accepting Yeshua’s rule over your life, it is like defecting as a soldier from under an unrighteous government and slipping over the borders with the help of a Supreme Commander, to join the forces that fights for righteousness, it does not go well. Because, “we are never against God. God’s grace just becomes apparent to you when you convert.”
Skip, Just a quick comment and question.
Yeshua’s remark in Matthew 5:43 – You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. This is an actual quote that was made in the Qumran writings of the Essenes. From what I know of the particular theology of the Essenes, it would seem, that Yeshua is confronting and correcting this. They had a very strong bent toward predestination. Sons of light, those within their own community (the true remnant of Israel), and the sons of darkness, those outside the community (enemies of G-d). I have a commentary on the book of Romans that reference their writings substantially, and the two authors use their writings to bring understanding to Paul’s letter. Have you studied the background of this sectarian group/movement and their writings?
Only briefly. Please add to everyone’s benefit here by giving us more.
HalleluYAH! Good word, Skip!
Sadly,we may profess to be followers, but often times we still are the enemies of YHWH,
whenever we do according to the desires of our own hearts, and not seeking if it is HIS will/HIS desire, seeking in our spirits for confirmation, beforehand.
We ought to seek justice rather than hate or love those who do harm to us.
My personal experience-I was pick-pocketed many years ago. I cried many nights wishing that “wicked” person be caught and punished, for invasion of my privacy, taking not only my personal belongings, but pictures of my family.
Instead, I heard in my spirit, I am to ask for his salvation, seek forgiveness on his behalf!
I was taken aback, to say the least, but I obeyed. I cried for that person’s salvation
and in return I was delivered from anger and frustration, that YHWH had a divine plan in this.
How gracious is our Elohim YAHuWah. That brought me to a much closer relationship with YHWH, Who then gave me a glimpse of what the heavenly reality/realm is, where peace can be ‘touched’,
almost! :- ))
Shalom!
There is a great article that ties in very well to what Skip has been teaching. http://www.egrc.net/articles/director/articles_director_0805.html
This article is by, Lois A. Tverberg, Ph.D.. Great references are found at the end of this article
Sons of Light and the Sons of Darkness, you can find referenced in the Manual of Discipline 9.21-23 and The Jewish War 2:139, by Josephus.
In Luke 16:1-13 on Yeshua’s parable on the “Dishonest Manger,” we find in verse 8, another reference to the Sons of Light. I believe these two passages are the only places that this sectarian group is mentioned (Matthew 5:43). In both passages, it seems, that Yeshua is confronting and correcting their inclusiveness, withdrawal, and lack of G-d’s compassion for the rest of the populace.
In regards to the Apostle Paul, his writings reflect the phraseology that was used by this particular Jewish group. Of course, we find in the Apostle Paul, a Christ-Centricity, that you do not find in the Qumran writings. This is taken from the first edition of “Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus,” by Roy Blizzard and David Bivin. This are pp. 49-52
These sectarian scrolls are significant in the discussion of the literary language of the first centuries B.C.-A.D. since they are not simply copies of biblical texts composed hundreds of years earlier, but entirely new writings of Qumran community which were composed in a period contemporary with Jesus.
Scholars have only just begun to study and to appreciate this vast literature. The number of New Testament parallels found in these texts is truly remarkable. The following is an interesting example of such a parallel. Note the similarity to Galatians 5:16-26:
The God of Israel and His angel of Truth have helped all the sons of light. It is He who created the spirits of light and darkness…and these are their ways in the world: to enlighten the heart of man, to make straight before him all the ways of true righteousness, to instill in his heart a fear of the judgments of God, a spirit of humility, patience, abundant compassion, eternal goodness, understanding, insight and mighty wisdom which is founded on all the works of God and leans on His abundant loving-kindness, a spirit of discernment in every purpose, zeal for righteous judgments, holy intent with steadfastness of heart, great love for all the sons of truth, virtuous purity which abhors all defilement of idols, modesty of behavior with prudence in all things and faithfulness in concealing the mysteries of knowledge – these are the counsels of the spirit to the sons of truth in this world. And the reward of all who walk in its ways is healing, a long and peaceful life, and fruitfulness together with every eternal blessing and unending joy in life everlasting, a crown of glory and a garment of majesty amid unending light.
But to the spirit of perversity belong greed, slackness in the service of righteousness, wickedness and lies, pride and haughtiness, denial and deceit, cruelty and great hypocrisy, shortness of temper and profusion of folly, brazen insolence, abominal deeds (committed) in a spirit of fornication, filthy ways in the service of uncleanness, a blaspheming tongue, blindness of eye and dullness of ear, stiffness of neck and hardness of heart, so that a man walks entirely in the ways of darkness and guile. And the reward of all who walk in its ways is a multitude of afflictions at the hands of all the angels of destruction, eternl damnation through the angry wrath of an avenging God,eternal trembling, everlasting dishonor with endless disgrace in the fire of dark places. The times of all their generations will be spent in sorrowful mourning, bitter misfortune, calamities of darkness until they are destroyed without remnant or survivor. (Manual of Discipline III 24- IV 14).
As you can read and see, this gives you a strong flavor of this particular group. Do you not see Paul reflecting this particular style of writing? There is a lot more scholarly work done on the Qumran community, and the book referenced here is almost three decades old. Any other suggestions, corrections, and references would be appreciated.
Skip,
Sorry for the typos above. (“Dishonest Manger”) Dishonest Manager. Also (inclusiveness) should have been exclusiveness.