religious law

In the Gospel According to Matthew 12:10 (NABRE), the Pharisees question Jesus about religious law concerning healing on the sabbath. In Greek, the
word often translated as “to be lawful” has a range of other meanings that have fascinating implications about the nature of religious law.

The Greek word ἔξεστι (exesti) frequently is translated in this passage as “to be lawful.” This word comes from two parts, the prefix ἐκ (ek-) meaning “from” or “out of,” and the Greek verb εἰμί (eimi), that means “to be.” The meaning of existi, then, is most literally something to the effect of “being or happening from or in accord with something such as permission, law, or even possibility.” Because of this, it’s often translated as “it is possible” or “it is allowed.”

The interesting implication for religious law contained in this word is the relationship to being. The law, by implication, has the ability to control not only the actions of people but being and reality itself.

Why do you think it is that we no longer commonly view religious law in this way? Consider whether you think religious law has an impact on reality.

related topics: condemn; purification; purity; rebuke; sabbath; witness & testimony

you also may like our study of the book of Exodus
You Shall Have No Other Gods: The Book of Exodus, a 28-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, provides an in-depth look at how significant events in biblical history that occurred thousands of years ago to descendants of Jacob remain relevant and even critical for present-day Christians to understand. The deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and the giving of Ten Commandments are examined along with the development of Moses’ relationship to God. Click on the book’s cover to view a sample lesson.

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