Then why Matt 5 did Jesus state the Law of Moses and turn around and say " But I say" and make that law so much stricter? Jews didn't have the Holy Spirit, they had the law. The Comforter didn't come until AFTER Jesus died. That is why they had the day of atonement. But you search it out in the Word, DC says I know nothing so take that into consideration
Jesus did not make the law much stricter.
He portrayed the true intent of the law to reveal to those who used and abused the the law as it was given.
The people of the day and before the day probably could not read.
So they were taught by the teachers of the day.
Matthew 5:21
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
"You have heard it said"
Not you have read.
Which is why I believe he said the below in V20
Matthew 5:20
20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
He then goes onto correct what they had heard to explain the true intent of the law given.
But before he does he says
Let's look at one of the issues addressed in Matthew 5.
Matthew 5:43-45
Love Your Enemies
(Luke 6:27, 28, 32–36)
43 “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
So Jesus said "You have heard that it was said"
Did God say hate your enemy?
If so we have a problem, because if he did then Jesus is contradicting God.
If so then they cannot be one.
So we find
Leviticus 19:18
18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
So those who interpreted the law maybe used it as an excuse to hate their enemy?
There is nothing in the above telling them to hate or take vengeance on the enemy.
Yet we find
Exodus 23:4-5
4 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it.
I cannot find anything in the Torah where God says "Hate your enemies"
So to me the law was not made stricter.
It's the true intent, the spirit of the law that Jesus unlocks.
The same law that God has written on our hearts.
Hebrews 10:16-18
16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
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