All the Rest Is Commentary

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LESSON 13

*September 18 - 24

All the Rest Is Commentary

SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This Week's Study:

Romans 14-16.

Memory Text:

“Why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Romans 14:10).

Someone approached a famous rabbi of antiquity and asked him to explain the whole meaning of the Torah while standing on one leg. “Do not do to another,” the rabbi said on one leg, “what seems to you to be hurtful; that is the whole Torah. All the rest is commentary.” Whether or not one agrees with the rabbi’s statement, he does have a point. Some aspects of our faith are foundational and others mere “commentary.” This week’s lesson looks at some of that “commentary.” What this means is that all that came before focused very much on the foundational principles of salvation. What is the role of the law—be it the whole Old Testament system or just the Ten Commandments—in the area of salvation? Paul needed to define clearly what are the grounds upon which God accepts a person. Perhaps the whole thing could be summarized by the pagan jailer’s question, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). With that explained, Paul now engages in some “commentary.” Though very strong on some points, Paul takes a much freer attitude regarding other things. That’s because these things are nonessentials, “commentary,” as it were. Yet, at the same time, though the issues themselves might not have been crucial, the attitude the Christians had toward each other in dealing with these issues was.

*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 25.