Moses gave you permission to divorce your wives because you are so hard to teach. But it was not like that in the time of creation. I tell you, then,
that any man who divorces his wife for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, commits adultery if he marries some other woman
Matthew 19: 9.
From this statement, Jesus then shows how he understands the reason why their prophet, Moses, gave them the law for man to divorce his wife with any
specific reasons. Jesus then argues that the condition is actually different. He tries to oppose the law by exposing another law from Torah that what God has joined
should not be separated by human being. This means that Jesus has different ideas about divorce. Divorce, according to Jesus, belongs to sin. This law occurs not
only for man who divorces his wife, but also for woman who divorces his husband and marry another man Mark 10: 12. Any man who marries a divorced
woman also commits adultery Luke 16: 18.
4. Reinterpretation of vows Matthew 5: 33-37
In this occasion, Jesus teaches about making promise. In Torah, it is written that “Do not make a promise in my name if you do not intent to keep it”
Leviticus 19:13. In another part it is also said that “…the Lord will hold you to your vow, and it is a sin not to keep it” Deuteronomy 23: 21-22. This means that
to swear or make a promise by God‟s name is allowed. It is a sin if someone does not keep the promise. Jesus, on the other hand says that
…do not use any oath when you make promise. Do not swear by heaven, for it is God‟s throne…nor by earth,...by Jerusalem,…by your head… Just
say „Yes‟ or „No‟. Anything else you say comes from the Evil one Matthew 5: 34-37.
In his words, Jesus wants to say that making a promise by God or any
oaths is forbidden because it only comes from the “Evil one”. It is better for
someone to just plainly say the truth; “Yes” if it is yes or “No” if it is not. Here,
Jesus shows his different comment on what Torah says about vows and how people understand it.
5. Reinterpretation of Revenge Matthew 5: 38-42, Luke 6: 29-30
In this teaching, Jesus also talks about revenge. In Torah, it is written that every fault must be paid fairly. It can be said that
“An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth
” Exodus 21:24, Deuteronomy 19:21.Whatever injury someone causes to someone else, then it shall be done to him in return Leviticus 24:20. In this
case, Torah allows someone to take fair revenge. However, Jesus has his own idea. Jesus says, “Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone
slaps you on the right check, let him slap your left cheek too” Matthew 5: 39. In Luke, Jesus also says, “…if someone takes your coat, let him have your shirt as
well” Luke 6:29.What Jesus wants to say is that not to pay evil things with evil things. Just give anything we are asked and never ask it back Luke 6:30. Jesus
adds that the moral value of doing this is that to do good things for those who do evil things to him; to pay the evil with kindness. This is what makes someone is
different from sinners. If someone does good things to someone who loves him and hopes for blessing, it is not different with the sinners. Even the sinners do
such thing Luke 6:33. Jesus then asks people to love their enemies and do good things to them Luke 6: 35. In this teaching, Jesus has his own comments
concerning taking revenge. For him, taking revenge is forbidden. He gives his reinterpretation by giving a new idea. It is to love the enemies.
6. Reinterpretation of Sabbath
Regarding the Sabbath, Jesus presents many controversial things that make people, especially the Jewish authorities, become angry and want to arrest him.
These controversial things he does certainly come from his different reinterpretation about Torah. Sabbath itself for the Jewish people is a holy day. It
is written in their Law, Torah that, “Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy. You have six days in which to do work, but he seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to
me” Exodus 20: 8. This means that Sabbath is the seventh day and it should be dedicated to God. „Me‟ in the passage refers to Yahweh or Jewish God. On the
day, no one is allowed to work. Neither someone, his children and slaves, nor the foreigners in the country and even the animals are allowed to work Exodus 20: 8-
10, Deuteronomy 12-14. This is because the Jewish people believe that the Sabbath is a day when their God rested after six-day working on the creation
Exodus 20: 11. The Jewish people also believe that on the Sabbath they have to just rest in
honor God‟s effort to set them free from Egypt as they have been slave in Egypt for a long time Deuteronomy 5:15. As Sabbath is considered as holy,
anyone who breaks it should be punished. He should be put to death Numbers: 15:35. Jesus, on the other hand, has his own reinterpretation of Sabbath. Sabbath,
according to Jesus is different to what the Jewish people understand. It is showed in many cases in the gospels such as when Jesus let his disciples pick heads of
wheat and eat grain Matthew 12:1, Mark 2:23-28, Luke 6: 1-5, when he heals a paralyzed man in synagogue Matthew 12:9-14, Luke 6: 6-11, Mark 3: 1-6, when
he heals a crippled woman Luke 13: 10-17, when he heals a sick man in a home
