Lets get started with the "Writings of Elijah, or ĔLIYAHU", chapter 17 which is also known as "The Order of the Ancients", and in the "A New Translation", Dead Sea Scrolls by: Wise Abegg and Cook, it is known as, "Charter of a Jewish Sectarian Association", or "The Community Rule", in other versions of the DSS. We will compare "Writings of Elijah, or ĔLIYAHU" Chaper 17, with Matthew 18:15-20. What we aim to understand here is this: Matthew obtained this information in Matthew 18:15-20, from "The Writings of Elijah, which further validates the Dead Sea Scrolls. Lets get started with "The Writings of Elijah, Chapter 17.
- The Writings of Elijah, Chapter 17 [Yah Scriptures]
- 17 : 1 When any member of the community has been offended by another or observes another in wrongdoing, he is not to come against that erring one with a railing accusation, but is to approach him truthfully, humbly and humanely.
- 17 : 2 A qodesh person of Elohim must not bear hatred in his heart toward his brother.
- 17 : 3 If the offender will not hear his complaint, then he is to take with him two of the teachers to reason with him.
- 17 : 4 If the offender will not hear them, then he is to be called before the Kohĕn ha’Gadol and his brethren who are set as judges in Yisra’ĕl.
- 17 : 5 This will all disputations be settled in order, without anger or emotion, that peace and harmony and unity may be preserved in Yisra’ĕl.
- 17 : 6 Furthermore, no man is to bring a charge publicly against his brother except he prove it by witnesses, for in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every charge be established.
Those of you that are familiar with Matthew 18:15-20, probably have bells and whistles going off in your head right now, because you already know where this is going with this short study. Lets go ahead and add Matthew 18:15-20 to the mix.
- Matthew 18:15-20 [Yah Scriptures]
- 15 “And if your brother sins against you, go and reprove him, between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
- 16 “But if he does not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word might be established.’
- 17 “And if he refuses to hear them, say it to the assembly. And if he refuses even to hear the assembly, let him be to you like a gentile and a tax collector.
- 18 “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be having been bound in the shamayim, and whatever you loosen on earth shall be having been loosened in the shamayim.
- 19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning any matter that they ask, it shall be done for them by My Father in the shamayim.
- 20 “For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there I am in their midst.”
It is our belief at this time, that Matthew was influenced by the writings of Elijah, which is evidenced by the very same writings found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, "Charter of a Jewish Sectarian Association". Matthew the Tax Collector, was very much acquainted with the scrolls that ended up in the caves in Qumran. The thing to remember concerning the Dead Sea Scrolls is, Much of it is missing, however, even with that being said, I see hints of this scripture within the "Charter of a Jewish Sectarian Association", in the Dead Sea Scrolls, right here on Page 124 of "A New Translation" DSS.
- Each man is to reprove 25 his fellow in truth, humility and loving-kindness. He should not speak to him in anger, with grumbling, 26 with a [stiff] neck or with a wickedly zealous] spirit. He must not hate him because of his own [uncircumcised] heart. Most assuredly he is to rebuke him on the day of the infraction so that he does not Col. 6 Continue in sin. Also, no man is to bring a charge against his fellow before the general membership unless he has previously rebuked that man before witnesses.
The similarities are very clear, and this cannot be ignored. The Writings of Elijah 17, Matthew 18:15-20 and the "Charter of a Jewish Sectarian Association", page 124, agree. That's our take on it. We hope you enjoy this blog.
