Jumpstarter 6 of 10

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Question 6

Calvin’s claim that Christ “does not introduce new laws” but only corrects the scribes becomes the basis for concluding that what was allowable under the law (including war) remains allowable for Christians; how does that reading reshape what Jesus came to do, and where does it collide with the Sermon on the Mount as presented in the transcript?

Another way to ask: Calvin says Jesus didn’t bring new laws, only corrected the scribes, so things allowed under the old law (like war) are still allowed. How does that change what Jesus came to do, and how does it clash with the Sermon on the Mount in the transcript?

Direct Answer In the transcript, Calvin’s reading reduces Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount to clarification rather than a radical new standard for disciples, which then allows continuity with Old Covenant permissions like war. Bercot says this collides with Jesus’ own direct, intensified commands (“But I say to you…”) as quoted.

Support from Transcript:

Jesus’ words are presented as direct commands: “But I say to you…” followed by “Love your enemies…do good…pray for.”
Calvin claims, “Christ does not introduce new laws, but corrects the wicked commentary of the scribes.”
Bercot interprets the consequence: “So Calvin adroitly sidestepped the radical implication…According to Calvin, Christ wasn’t introducing anything new.”
He states the further implication explicitly: “because war was allowable under the law, it still is allowable to Christians.”
This sits alongside other Sermon-on-the-Mount commands Calvin qualifies (oaths; nonresistance), showing the collision is with the straightforward force of Jesus’ speech.

Discussion Follow-ups If “But I say to you” does not introduce anything new, what is it doing? What happens to discipleship when Jesus is treated mainly as an editor of earlier teaching rather than a commander?

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