Rabbi Tovia Singer argues that in Matthew 5:27-28, Jesus claims that if one is even tempted to commit adultery, then they have already committed the sin. Jesus's point, therefore, is that the Torah is impossible to follow. In this video, we respond to this argument and show why Rabbi Singer is misunderstanding Jesus.   

Note: The argument made in this video is that the Torah is possible to keep, and Jesus expects his Jewish followers to observe it. There are other questions that are certainly worth addressing. Which commandments are exclusively for Jews? Which commandments are possible to observe today? If Gentiles are required to follow the commandments not to covet or commit adultery, why are they not obligated to keep the Sabbath? These and many more questions will be discussed in future videos!      

0:00 – Intro 

0:48 – Rabbi Tovia Singer’s Argument 

3:08 – Reading in context – Matthew 5:17-20  

4:06 – What does “abolish” mean? 

5:05 – What does “fulfill” mean?  

7:37 – What is the purpose of Matthew 5:17-20? 

8:15 – Is Jesus contradicting the Torah? 

11:04 – Presentation of Dr. Jason Staples’s reading of Matthew 5:27-28      

     11:15 – Jesus is pointing back to the tenth commandment.      

     12:54 – What did "lust" mean in the first century?      

     13:45 – A better translation of Matthew 5:28  

16:12 – What is Jesus saying? 

17:11 - Conclusion  

You can also listen on our YouTube channel

Follow us on Social Media:   

Facebook

Instagram

Support links:  

SubscribeStar

PayPal

Merch shop   

Rabbi Tovia Singer's video, "Did Jesus in Fact Come to Destroy the Law? Listen to Rabbi Tovia Singer’s Surprising Response!" -  

Dr. Jason Staples's blog article - "'Whoever Looks at a Woman With Lust': Misinterpreted Bible Passages #1" 

 The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary by Dr. Craig Keener 

Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven by Dr. Amy-Jill Levine

Music: https://www.bensound.com  

Did Jesus in Fact Come to Destroy the Law? - A Response to Rabbi Tovia Singer