DA52
We are to behave wisely toward outsiders.
Category: Neighbours & Brothers
Type: Positive
Form: Explicit
Source dataset: New Testament
Uniqueness: Unique
Classical commandment: No
New Covenant Literal Application
Applies to Person Categories: Everyone
Literal Application: mandated
More explanation about New Covenant Literal Application
The New Covenant Literal Application Code (NCLA) is an interpretive guide used by the authors to indicate which person categories a mitzvah applies to, and at what level of literal compliance.
It combines person categories such as Jewish, K'rov Yisrael, and Gentile, together with male/female distinctions and an application level such as mandated, recommended, optional, or prohibited.
This code reflects the authors' interpretive opinion and is provided for prayerful consideration. On this page, the technical code is summarized into plain language to help new readers understand it more easily.
Detailed codes: GFm - Gentile female, mandated | GMm - Gentile male, mandated | JFm - Jewish female, mandated | JMm - Jewish male, mandated | KFm - K'rovat Yisrael female, mandated | KMm - K'rov Yisrael male, mandated
Bible references
Key NT Scriptures
- Colossians 4:5-6
Supportive NT Scriptures
- 1 Corinthians 5:12
- 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
- 1 Timothy 3:6
Supportive OT Scriptures
-
Deuteronomy 23:21
Bible verses copyright: PUBLIC DOMAIN except in the United Kingdom, where a Crown Copyright applies to printing the KJV. See http://www.cambridge.org/about-us/who-we-are/queens-printers-patent
Commentary
Rabbi Michael Rudolph
In the Tanakh , outsiders (also referred to as strangers or foreigners) were not merely Gentiles; they were Gentiles who lived outside the community of Israel. Gentiles who lived within the Community may have been gerim toshav (resident aliens or Tikkun’s terminology K’rovei Yisrael ). They were not considered outsiders, and could even partake of the Passover sacrifice if they were circumcised (Exodus 12:43-49 ). Under the Mosaic Covenant, outsiders had to be treated with love and respect, but Israelites did not have the same brotherly obligation of providing for their needs as they did for other Israelites, and could even lend to them at interest. Under the New Covenant, Gentile believers in Yeshua are grafted into the olive tree of Israel ( Romans 11:16-1 7) and are therefore brothers in the faith with Jewish believers; they are not considered outsiders even if they do not reside within a Jewish Community. This Mitzvah and Colossians 4: 5-6 instruct believers in Yeshua to act wisely in their contacts and conversations with outsiders (unbelievers) in order to make “full use of every opportunity.” The Scripture does not say to what opportunities it is referring, but we assume from the context that they are opportunities to share both God and Yeshua with unbelievers. The Scripture also does not indicate to what wise acts it is referring other than conversations, and rightfully so, because each encounter with an unbeliever presents its own challenges. Naturally, we must act civilly and lovingly, but we must also seek the Holy Spirit so that the Spirit’s wisdom becomes our wisdom.
Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 3
Source and License
Based on The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective by Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster.
License: CC BY-ND 4.0 (Attribution required, NoDerivatives). CC BY-ND 4.0
Disclaimer: the original content is authored by Rabbi Michael Rudolph and Rabbi Daniel Juster; additional notes or implementation details on this website are not part of their original work and do not represent their views.
Record source: The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 3
Copyright note: Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 3