Today’s blog is based on this week’s Sabbath study. We are studying in James. I’ll post our other James studies soon (ones we did weeks before these), even though these studies will be out of order. Today’s important point is what James meant when he used the word “teachers” in James 3:1:
Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. (James 3:1)
Let me ask you a question to get you thinking about this:
DO YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF TEACHER JAMES IS REFERRING TO?
Answer: TEACHERS OF THE LAW.
I bet that will get some serious reactions out of the Christian church, especially religious ministers. I think the reason is because they teach, “The law is not for today!” They mean the MOSAIC LAW when they say that. But let’s recall that JESUS KEPT THE MOSAIC LAW PERFECTLY (meaning: the way God wants us to obey it). The reason this is such a controversial subject for churchianity is because IF James’ teachers ARE teachers of the law, THEN it stands to reason that the Christians whom James is addressing are obeying the Mosaic Law, because they are being taught it in the church/synagogue.
Now I’m not going to argue with objectors at this point, because it’s fruitless. They will never change their view. There’s too much reputation and money at stake. I’m merely stating the FACTS as I discovered them. But if you want to read what I read to learn these facts, go read Kittell’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT), Volume II, page 152 ff. You will see that the Biblical scholars think that there’s NO DISPUTING the fact that “teachers” in James 3 means TEACHERS OF THE LAW.
Another important piece of information about this is found in JEWISH TRADITION that dates back about 2,400 years. It has to do with WHO in society “taught the law” to the citizens of ancient Israel. Who do you suppose that was? THE PRIESTHOOD, that’s who. This was what YHWH required of the PRIEST during 1st Temple times and earlier. Here’s some Bible texts verifying that fact:
The Lord then spoke to Aaron, saying, “teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them through Moses.” (Leviticus 10:8,11)
So Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi … and to all the elders of Israel. Then Moses commanded them, saying, “… you shall read this law in front of all Israel in their hearing. … that they may hear and learn and fear the Lord your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law. Their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live.” (Deuteronomy 31:9-13)
Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the sons of Israel before his death. … He said, Of Levi he said, “They shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob,And Your law to Israel. (Deuteronomy 33:1,2,10)
Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. Thus says the Lord, “What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me And walked after emptiness and became empty? “I brought you into the fruitful land To eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and defiled My land, And My inheritance you made an abomination. “The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that did not profit.” (Jeremiah 2:4-8)
The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi. … “And now this commandment is for you, O priests. 2 If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the Lord of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart. 3 Behold, I am going to rebuke your offspring, and I will spread refuse on your faces, the refuse of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it. 4 Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may continue with Levi,” says the Lord of hosts. 5 “My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many back from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. 8 But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of hosts. 9 “So I also have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction. (Malachi 1:1, 2:1-9)
Theoretically, it was the same for the nation during 2nd Temple times when Jesus lived, although there was so much politics going on that it’s hard to see it. Plus, they had well-developed social institutions for accomplishing that (the FAMILY being the foundational social institution where the law was taught. The point here is, PUBLIC OFFICIALS were the ones doling out the TEACHINGS. And they TAUGHT THE LAW to people who needed to learn it. They did this IN THE COURTS (and administrative proceedings). PENALTIES were involved when you didn’t know the law or otherwise NON-WILLFULLY violated it. It’s no different today.
So the next obvious question we should ask is: WHAT LAW did these TEACHERS OF THE LAW “teach”?
Answer: The MOSAIC LAW and “JEWISH” HALAKAH. Huh? You’re kidding, right?! NOPE. NOT KIDDING. Let’s face it: These people were JEWS. James’ “ministry” was to JEWS ONLY, not Gentiles. Paul went to the Gentiles only. You can read that fact in Galatians 2:9 and James 1:1b. And notice I didn’t say “2nd Temple halakah”. The reason is because we’re talking about Christians, not citizens of 2nd Temple Israel who were DIASPORA (foreigner) Jews. Remember: The Jesus movement was a POLITICAL movement designed by God to re-engineer the APPLICATION OF God’s WILL for humanity, because 2nd Temple Israel had SABOTAGED God’s plan for humanity with their OPPRESSIVE and SEPARATIST 2nd Temple halakah (man-made laws). But that’s another subject for a different blog.
Here’s my point: IF THE MOSAIC LAW WAS TAUGHT TO THE CHRISTIAN JEWS BY JAMES, THEN WHY ISN’T IT BEING TAUGHT TO CHRISTIANS TODAY?
This becomes a very touchy and confusing subject when thought about in terms of modern western evangelical theology, because they pretty much UNANIMOUSLY teach that JESUS’ REDEMPTION FREED ALL CHRISTIANS FROM ANY OBLIGATION TO OBEY THE MOSAIC LAW. You should be aware by now what I think about that: It’s ONE GIGANTIC LIE, especially after you’ve read my previous blogs. But this James 3:1 fact has to be one of the most hidden facts in the NT. Just take a guess at how many Priests, Pastors and other religious ministers of the Christian church have PREACHED ON JAMES over the past 1900 years. Then take a guess at how many sermons and ‘teachings’ have been given on that chapter. I’m not claiming to know the answer. But I would bet it’s BEYOND COUNTING! Wouldn’t you?
So AFTER ALL THESE CENTURIES, and all those WORDS(!), how in the world has NOBODY BUT NOBODY taught the SIMPLE FACT of what kind of teachers James is referring to? Does this stink of some kind of CONSPIRACY? LOL … yeah, let me put on my tin-foil hat! LOL … no really, THINK ABOUT IT: No Evangelical “authority” has TOLD THE TRUTH about the meaning of that word in modern history. WHY NOT? I think I know: Because the ministers would have to admit that they’ve been WRONG all these years about the MOSAIC LAW’s role in the Christian’s life. I talk about this in my blogs on COVENANT.
Just to give you a bit of contrast to this subject, go read in TDNT the end of page 158 to beginning of page 159 and see the DIFFERENT KIND OF TEACHER in the ALEXANDRIAN Egyptian schools. They taught JEWISH PHILOSOPHY. When you learn what that is, you see it’s very appealing to intellectuals and to people who LIKE WORDS (and mental FANTASIES!). But whether or not it’s connected to REALITY like the Jamesian CHRISTIAN LAW teachings are, is another story altogether. Reminds me when I was studying the Bible in Israel: I knew some of the local workers who were Palestinian Muslims. They used to hang around with me when I was fixing someone’s car or some broken machine in the school. They would say to me words that I didn’t really understand till today. They’d say: “You are true Christian. All other Christian who study here are Christian BY THEIR WORDS. But you are Christian BY YOUR WORKS.” So there you have it: WORDS vs. WORKS, just like James says in chapter 2.
You’ll note by that contrast, that a primary difference between modern American churchianity and Biblical Christianity is WORDS vs. WORKS. My guess is that modern American churchianity’s teachings are basically the same as Philo’s and the Alexandrian school’s, which is why I call today’s “Christian religion” THEOSOPHY. The content may be slightly different based on Luther’s reformation ideology, but the PRINCIPLE is the same. So you have “the Greek school” represented in Egypt’s teachers, as well as in modern churchianity’s teachers, instead of the required APOSTOLIC TEACHINGS. Sound familiar? The modern church teaches a MAN-MADE ‘JEZUZ’. And it sure ain’t what we read about in the Bible!
So JAMES 3:1 is talking about TEACHERS who teach CHRISTIANS the MOSAIC LAW (what it is and how to obey it). IF what I’m promoting here is true, THEN what should Christians do about it? Doesn’t it seem OBVIOUS? It sure does to me! The OBVIOUS response is: GO LEARN THE MOSAIC LAW, and then LEARN HOW TO APPLY IT TO YOUR DAILY LIFE. Why not let the Holy Spirit be your guide? “As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.” (1 John 2:27)
Now, some may say: JAMES WAS TALKING ONLY TO JEWS NOT GENTILES. OK, he was. SO WHAT? Let’s ask the ‘religious’ question: Are these Jews CHRISTIAN or JEWISH? Well? If they’re CHRISTIAN, then DOES IT MATTER IF THEY’RE JEW OR GENTILE? If you think “yes”, then you’re “smokin’ crack”, or else you haven’t read the NT. It’s GLARINGLY OBVIOUS in Paul’s writings that “THERE IS NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN JEW OR GENTILE IN CHRIST”. Look up that phrase and similar words in the NT and see what I mean. So the way I see it:
BOTH JEW AND GENTILE CHRISTIANS ARE OBLIGATED TO LEARN AND APPLY THE MOSAIC LAW TO THEIR DAILY LIVES.
But how can we learn it without an EXPERT? Simple, like above: THE HOLY SPIRIT. Like Ive said in other blogs, Christians are not supposed to learn God’s law FROM RABBIS. Nor are they supposed to learn it from JUST ANYBODY. They’re supposed to learn it from MEN WHOM JESUS APPOINTED TO TEACH IT (see Ephesians 4:1 ff for the OFFICES involved, and 1 Corinthians 12 for the SPIRITUAL GIFTS involved). And make note of this: DO NOT BE FOOLED BY TODAY’S RELIGIOUS MINISTERS. They are AGENTS OF THE STATE. I talk about that in another blog. You may be wondering, Where are these offices and spiritual gifts TODAY? Good question! I don’t know the answer. Sorry. That’s why I say, Let the Holy Spirit be your Guide. JUST DO THE BEST YOU CAN YOURSELF. That’s what I did! So why can’t YOU? And if EVERYBODY IN CHURCH worked on it together, don’t you think it would be SO MUCH EASIER to get the job accomplished than if we all did it SOLO? I think the result will eventually be God sending us “blessings” because He sees our sincere effort to make Him happy by obeying His law, so He’ll ‘smile on us’.
Now take that fact (teachers of the law) and plug it into the rest of James chapter 3. Then see how James RANTS AGAINST THE RICH AND PRIVILEGED. Note that he calls them “earthly, natural, demonic”. And he accuses them of “jealousy and selfish ambition”. And the result is SOCIAL DISORDER AND EVERY EVIL THING. Sound familiar?! Just read today’s news and see the kind of CALUMNY going on in the political world. Check out all the bureaucratic scandals. And don’t miss who-all is involved. And make sure you see ALL THE CORRUPTION, WASTE and LAWLESSNESS involved. Yeah, it’s just like Jesus identified them in John chapter 8: “children of the devil”. Do you see a THEME here? I sure do!
And please don’t miss the fact that these TEACHERS ply their trade using WORDS. How do I know? Because James tell us so! Note all that he says about THE TONGUE. He’s referring to TEACHERS OF THE LAW (it’s all the same context). I think we can confidently say that he’s referring to what we know today as LAWYERS, JUDGES, PUBLIC OFFICIALS and BUREAUCRATS. So now apply to them what James says, and see what you think his attitude would be about today’s public officials and legal professionals. Not a pretty picture! In a word: SONS OF THE DEVIL. I’ll get into more of that in my blog posts on James chapters 1-2. It’s all about the social interaction of the RICH/POOR and how GOD’S LAW applies to them, even though they don’t want to apply it TO THEMSELVES.
OK, that’s my thought for today. I guess the only thing left to say about learning and obeying God’s law is: GET CRACKIN’!
Reality Bible 