Post by FilmFlaneur on Apr 20, 2018 14:04:26 GMT
My interpretation is that it's okay to call someone a fool if that person is actually a fool, but someone else might argue that it's never okay to call names.
What are your thoughts? Did Jesus ever sin?
Although the answer is, generally supposedly 'no'. However, theologians have discussed it at length. In technical terms, “impeccability” is the doctrine that Christ could not sin, though he could be (and was) tempted. There also I think remains the interesting moment when Jesus curses a fig tree for, in effect, not being able to change its nature or condition (which, presumably God, er, Jesus made in the first place!) just to please Him:
18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered. 20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked. 21 Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
While, yes, Christ manages immediately after the cursing to draw out a lesson, it is notable in that He quickly suggests that a. impossible things can be realised through faith and b. as long as you believe whatever is asked for will be granted. Since neither of these things are evidenced in real life (the mountains moving of the former is really over the top in what one can reasonably expect, while the latter in particular goes against the spirit of Eccl:9 1-12 for instance, the idea that God does not micromanage), a less charitable view of the passage is that Christ's curse was through a fit of pique - since there were no figs to be had when He desired some - and then He went to make a hastily erected moral out his outburst which was dutifully recorded. The disciples were, understandably astonished at His outburst and need assuaging. Remember it would be very difficult to argue that His anger was planned in advance just so as to provide instruction. But anyway, since Christ was assuming that figs ought to be available for Him, and was angry because not, then here He can be judged guilty of pride. It is also debatable whether JC's rage was justified anger in the first place, either and really was just a temper - which runs against "don't sin by letting anger control you." of Eph. 4:26...
On another note, it is possible to argue that Christ's death was something of a suicide, since he foresaw his death (and hence could have avoided it) and even later could have saved himself by a miracle (if faith can move mountains then it surely can pop out a few nails). And suicide we are told, is a sin.