Missing the Forest for the Trees (3 of 9)
Series: Holy Semikah!
Joey Rodgers
Matthew 5:17-48
Have you heard the phrase - he missed the forest for the trees? It refers to a person/organization who can’t see the bigger picture b/c they’re too distracted or focused on the smaller details or on their own wants.
The phrase was coined during the reign of Charles II of England in 1546 when John Heywood penned a political criticism of Pope Paul III whom he felt was more concerned w/ money than w/ the issues plaguing the people. He wrote - from him who sees no wood for trees, yet is busy as the bees, from him that’s settled on his lees, speaketh not w/out his fees.
Yet losing the forest for the trees is a malady that plagues us all - including the people Jesus was speaking to that day on the hillside in Galilee. SEE - they had lost their relationship w/ God among the trees of religious activity and human goodness.
If you’re just joining us, we’re in a series on the SOTM where Jesus turned the belief system of the Israelites inside-out/right-side-up to free them from religious legalism to return them to intimacy w/ God.
B/c Jesus was a rabbi w/ semikhah, He was authorized to challenge the traditional, inaccurate teachings of the rank-in-file rabbi in order to offer the people a correct, God-view of the Law/Prophets.
To refresh your memory - to have semikhah was a big deal. Semikhah was a special God-anointing given to a select group of men thru-out Israel’s history (tracing back to Moses) that empowered them w/ the authority to interpret/teach the Law/Prophets as they saw fit.
SEE - a regular rabbi, or teacher of the Law, could only teach what their mentor had taught them during their 15 yr apprenticeship to become a rabbi. Thus, they had no ability/authority to teach anything different. But a rabbi w/ semikhah was granted great latitude in his teaching due to his anointing, thus he could teach/interpret the Law/Prophets as he desired.
Of co ...
Series: Holy Semikah!
Joey Rodgers
Matthew 5:17-48
Have you heard the phrase - he missed the forest for the trees? It refers to a person/organization who can’t see the bigger picture b/c they’re too distracted or focused on the smaller details or on their own wants.
The phrase was coined during the reign of Charles II of England in 1546 when John Heywood penned a political criticism of Pope Paul III whom he felt was more concerned w/ money than w/ the issues plaguing the people. He wrote - from him who sees no wood for trees, yet is busy as the bees, from him that’s settled on his lees, speaketh not w/out his fees.
Yet losing the forest for the trees is a malady that plagues us all - including the people Jesus was speaking to that day on the hillside in Galilee. SEE - they had lost their relationship w/ God among the trees of religious activity and human goodness.
If you’re just joining us, we’re in a series on the SOTM where Jesus turned the belief system of the Israelites inside-out/right-side-up to free them from religious legalism to return them to intimacy w/ God.
B/c Jesus was a rabbi w/ semikhah, He was authorized to challenge the traditional, inaccurate teachings of the rank-in-file rabbi in order to offer the people a correct, God-view of the Law/Prophets.
To refresh your memory - to have semikhah was a big deal. Semikhah was a special God-anointing given to a select group of men thru-out Israel’s history (tracing back to Moses) that empowered them w/ the authority to interpret/teach the Law/Prophets as they saw fit.
SEE - a regular rabbi, or teacher of the Law, could only teach what their mentor had taught them during their 15 yr apprenticeship to become a rabbi. Thus, they had no ability/authority to teach anything different. But a rabbi w/ semikhah was granted great latitude in his teaching due to his anointing, thus he could teach/interpret the Law/Prophets as he desired.
Of co ...
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