Theology

Matthew 7:5 and the hypocrite:
He is a hypocrite because his unkind criticism takes the outward form of a kindly act.

Isaiah 11:3b-5

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

or decide by what his ears hear;

4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,

and

Herod the Great

Herod the Great (37–4 BC). In 37 BC, the Idumean ruler Herod the Great captured Jerusalem with Roman support and was designated king of Judea by the Roman Senate. Herod had a significant impact on the life setting of Jesus and the early church.

Herod’s consolidation of power: Herod was a close friend of Mark Antony and sided with

Matt 7:2 and Lex Tallionis

If we [condemn] others . . . we must expect God to respond in the coinage of strict justice. Mercy and generosity [of spirit] to others is a declaration to God that such is the coinage we wish to have used in his dealings with us as well.

The Golden Rule and the Sophists

Some have concluded (e.g., R. G. Hammerton-Kelly, IDB Supp., p. 369) that the “golden rule” originated in the Sophist movement in Greece (5th cent. b.c.), was taken over by Hellenistic Judaism, and from there found its way into early Christian teaching. It is incontestable that Christianity derived this principle

Hillel and the Golden Rule:

The statement attributed to Hillel, "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor; this is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary," appears in the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Shabbat 31a. Here's the relevant passage:

> אָמַר הִלְיוּן אַבְטָא רַבּוּת שֶׁמָּה נָבוֹן וּמָה נָבוֹן אֵלֶּה שֶׁנֶּאֱמָר לְךָ בְּשַׁבֶּךָ