Kajian Apologetis Terhadap Kontroversi Kemanusiaan Dan Ketidakbersalahaan Yesus Kristus

The context of understanding the humanity and innocence of Jesus gave rise a theological controversy. The reason is, the all-perfect God who became human in Jesus Christ is difficult to maintain because He is a limited figure and is considered to have made mistakes. For example Jesus' ignorance regarding the person who touched His robe (Mark 5:30-32 and Luke 8 :45), Jesus' ignorance of what will happen in the last days (Mark 13:27-32), Jesus' mistake in calling Zechariah son of Berechiah (Matthew 23:35; 2 Chronicles 24:20) and the wrong behavior of Jesus who was angry in the Temple (Matthew 21:12-16; Luke 19:45-46; John 2:15-16). The purpose of this study is to provide a biblical description in an apologetic frame as a form of a refutation of these assumptions. This study uses a qualitative method with an apologetic approach. An understanding of the person of Jesus needs to be seen comprehensively with the context that binds it. The assumptions about Jesus' guilt and ignorance are not substantially based on a comprehensive and credible interpretation.

Difficult texts: Matthew 23

Some Gospel verses have been criticized for engaging in hate speech or for being anti-Semitic: for example, the blood libel in Matthew and the categorization of Jews as ‘of the devil’ in John. However, the woes that Jesus declares upon scribes and Pharisees have received less attention. Although Matthew 23 is vulnerable to the accusation that it is anti-Semitic hate speech and should not be used in church, the criticism is misplaced as anachronistic and insensitive to the realities of the times and to the role the woes play in a prophetic critique of religious professionals. Furthermore, criticisms of the rhetoric tend to ignore the direction of the text against self-righteousness, including our own.

Forgive our presumption: a difficult reading of Matthew 23:1-3

In Matthew 23:1-3, Jesus commands His disciples and the crowd to listen to the scribes and Pharisees even while not imitating their actions. Many modern interpreters have lessened the force of Matthew 23:1-3 by an assumption of irony on the part of Jesus. We presume that God could never ordain this for His people. However, this easier reading may not be the best reading. A more straightforward interpretation, but one that is difficult to hear, suggests that at times we may need to sit under bad leadership as means of receiving God’s Word. Pre-critical and modern interpreters provide an understanding of the words of Jesus that is consistent with a theology of God’s providence in times of transition and bad leadership. In addition, there are instances of His direction in both the Old and New Testaments that reinforce this challenging path. It is through this more faithful stance that we grow and flourish in difficult times.

The Matthean Jesus’ surprising instruction to obey the teachers of the Law and Pharisees

Jesus’ instruction to the crowds in Matthew 23:3 to obey and do everything the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees tell them comes as a surprise. It is the only case in Matthew where the words of the Jewish leaders are seemingly portrayed in a positive light. If this portrayal indeed is positive, it seems to stand in tension with how Matthew construes these leaders and their teachings in the rest of the gospel (e.g. Mt 5:20; 15:3–6, 15:14; 16:11–12). Jesus’ positive remark furthermore seemingly stands in contrast with Matthew 28:20, where Jesus claims all authority to himself and instructs his disciples to teach all the nations to obey everything he has commanded them. The question therefore arises as to how this seemingly positive reference of Jesus, which apparently stands in contrast with Jesus’ criticism in the rest of the gospel, should be interpreted. In answering this question, an intra-textual approach is followed.