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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Does the warning against tattoos apply | Lev 19:28 | MJH | 157232 | ||
Kalos, Have you heard the Midrash (story) about Solomon changing the law about Kings having many wives by removing the Hebrew letter Yod from the text? It’s a wonderful legend begun by Rabbis that pre-date Jesus. (At least that is the belief since Jesus seems to allude to it in Matt 5.) In sort (it’s a long story) the story goes like this: 1) Solomon is copying the text per the Law that Kings write a copy of the Law. 2) He comes to the offending law which says he can not have many wives otherwise his heart would turn away from the LORD. 3) He thinks, “I know the purpose of this law, and I will not turn from God, so it doesn’t have to apply to me. I will obey the ‘spirit’ of the law.” 4) He removes the letter “yod”. 5) The letter “yod” ascends on high to the throne of God, prostates itself and says, “Look what Solomon has done, if you allow this, then soon a whole word will be removed, and then whole commands, and your law will be meaningless.” 6) To this, God says, “Do not worry, Solomon and thousands like him will come and go, but not so much as a ‘yod’ will be removed from My Law until heaven and earth disappear.” The Rabbis used this story to teach that one must not think he knows more than God, and therefore think he can disregard one of his commands because he thinks he knows why it was put there. I really like this parable or legend, because it has helped me to stop justifying certain actions that in my heart I know violate God’s commands. Solomon had a good reason to think he knew why God put the command there, since the text says why it is there. But at the end of his life the text says that Solomon multiplied wives and his heart turned toward other gods and away from the Lord. (1 Kings 11:4) It is also said that it would have been better for Solomon to have cleaned latrines his whole life than for that sentence to have been written about him. In relation to the current topic, it is my personal belief that the command still stands. We may think we know why God gave this command and therefore rationalize why we do not have to obey it. But this is my opinion, and I hold no real judgments against those who arrive at a different conclusion. Just my two sense worth. MJH |
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2 | Does the warning against tattoos apply | Lev 19:28 | kalos | 157242 | ||
MJH: You make a good point and I would not judge those who agree with your conclusion. Personally, I wouldn't have a tattoo if someone offered me 10,000 shekels to have one. I think they are repulsive -- not the people who have them, but the tattoos themselves. And thank you for the Midrash about Solomon. I agree with the point of the story. Grace and shalom, Kalos |
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