The Bible Teaches We Don't Have to Keep the Weekly Sabbath

"Paul thought that followers of Jesus who tried to keep the law were in danger of losing their salvation. Matthew thought that followers of Jesus who did not keep the law, and do so even better than the most religious Jews, would never attain salvation. Theologians and interpreters over the years have tried to reconcile these two views, which is perfectly understandable, since both of them are in the canon. But anyone who reads the Gospel of Matthew and then reads the letter to the Galatians would never suspect that there was a reason, or a way, to reconcile these two statements. For Matthew, to be great in the kingdom requires keeping the very least of the commandments; just getting into the kingdom requires keeping them better than the scribes and Pharisees. For Paul, getting into the kingdom (a different way of saying being justified) is made possible only by the death and resurrection of Jesus; for gentiles, keeping the Jewish law (for example, circumcision) is strictly forbidden."-Bart Ehrman Professor of Religion North Carolina University from his book Jesus Interrupted. Another christian source for this view if anyone is interested is Robert Beckford's documentary Who wrote the Bible. This view is the view of New Testament scholars. Once again my opponent, is disrespectful to the author of Matthew. He refuses to address Matthews position, constantly reverting back to the letters of Paul. He is completely ignorant of the fact that the bible is actually a Anthology of books, put into one collection with authors having different views. To try to place Matthew in the context of Paul like my opponent is consistently doing is the worst contextual crime you can commit against the bible. You must read Matthew for what he says. If you want to know what Jesus probably taught you examine it with the other 2 synoptic gospels. What Paul taught is different. Paul was not expressing the teachings of a historical Jesus. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and to a lesser extent John were attempting to do this. When Paul was writing he was often writing to non-Jews, who did no observe the law. His writing reflects this as Paul historically is thought of as a great salesman. He sold his audience what they wanted to hear. In comparison though Jesus, as a historical figure(if there is one), would have been a Jew himself and observed the law. There is no way to argue that Matthew did not intend to keep the law, Jesus was a Jew. That would be what he was historically, to even attempt to have a debate, such as this, basic knowledge such as what a Jew would call the law needs to be accepted. The Jews considered the Law to be Pentateuch or Torah. Once we know that this quote makes perfect sense in context. Lets break down Matthew 5:17 piece by piece so he sees what I am talking about. Matthew 5: 17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. When you read fulfill it does not I repeat does not make sense to fulfill law. Prophets who make prophecy can be fulfilled. My opponent needs to realize there were many prophets, major and minor, so the them actually refers to the prophets, as that is what it immediately follows. If my opponent disagrees here is the challenge, how exactly does one fulfill a law? 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. At this point Jesus returns to speaking about the law. Not the least stroke will disappear, how is it that my opponent thinks its fulfilled, when in fact Jesus is clearly talking about it no disappearing. He sets the prerequisites. Now if my opponent would observe, all he needs to do is look around him, earth is still here, not so sure about heaven as no one has ever observed such a place. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Here is where Jesus, according to Matthew explicitly states what will happen to someone like my opponent who is trying to ignore the law. He will be called least into the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven" In case my opponent is not aware Pharisees are a reference to a group of Jews who go back to the likes of Ezra, who was get this, an Aaronid Priest, who most likely was the Redactor that combined J,E,P,and D into the 5 books of Moses. (source of information: Who Wrote the Bible by Richard Elliot Friedman). They are also responsible for writing much of the 5 books of Moses as P the author who wrote about half of the Pentateuch was also one. This solidifies what Jesus was talking about in the law. It is undoubtedly the old testament law. So unless Christianity is really the father,Paul and the holy ghost. My opponent would do himself well to listen to The Christ in christian, Jesus and less of Paul.