Matthew 5

Ah, the 'Sermon on the Mount' - one of the most complete / longest sections of Jesus' teaching in the Bible, so far as I am aware, and the repository of many famous phrases and concepts (at least in Christian circles). There is a lot here, and I had to read over some of it twice.

The second half of the chapter is particularly interesting, I think, as it contains references to bits of the Law from the Torah (first part of the Old Testament / Jewish scripture) - but expands on them. Going from 'don't commit adultery' to 'don't even look at someone with lust'... that is really upping the bar on standards of behavior and thought. Likewise, going from 'don't break your vows' to 'don't even bother making vows, because every time you say yes or no you should be sticking to it' puts a lot of things in a different perspective that I am accustomed to. Several such teachings are given by Jesus here, and as He says he isn't abolishing the old Law: He is fulfilling it, and if anything showing that it isn't just the outward actions we take that matter (which is largely what the Law was concerned with) but also the thoughts and attitudes we harbor inside.

Numbers 30

The reading today was quite short, and covered only one topic: vows made to God. In short, vows by a man or widowed woman are binding, but those of a woman who is under the care of her father or a husband can be nullified by him when he finds out (if he chooses). This lends further weight to the idea that a man is the head of his household - over both a wife and children - in Israelite culture.

Numbers 6

Today's chapter covers the rules of Nazirite vows, like those that Samson was under which will be covered in the book of Judges. I guess the rules themselves are plain enough, but what I can't gather from the verses is for what reasons someone might put themselves under such a vow. Perhaps it was just if one felt indebted to God - but if there was any further social or religious reasoning it seems to have been left out.

The last part of the chapter is also pretty cool, as it is a blessing the priests were to put on Israel. I didn't know it at the time, but growing up my best friends' family used this blessing as a nighttime prayer - I thought it odd at the time, but in hindsight that was pretty cool.