TRANSGRESSION

 

It is sometimes said of someone, “He broke the law.”

Ancient Greeks had a special word to describe this kind of thing.

This word, if you want to put it in your notes, was spelled parabosis.

 

If you use the KJV or the ASV, you can usually easily find this term in the New Testament because it is generally translated “transgression.”

 

     Transgression means breaking an established law.

     Knowing this helps explain some verses in the Bible.

 

For instance, Paul said this in Rom. 4:15.

If there is no law, there can be no transgression (today’s word).

How can we break a law if a law does not exist?

 

When we study this specific term in the New Testament we find lots of interesting facts.

What we find can also be applied to daily life.

The basic word we are looking at occurs twice in Mt. 15 where it is used as a verb.

     At the beginning of Mt. 15 we read about Pharisees who came from Jerusalem.

     With the Pharisees were also “Scribes.”

     These influential Jews came to see Jesus, and they had a question.

     READ verse 2.

 

Notice the word transgress—the word being studied today.

Jesus was accused of breaking tradition.

Today we have certain practices and customs.

     Maybe you have a habit of watching a certain t.v. program at a certain time.

     You may have family traditions, or customs at your place of work.

     Well established practices can be “transgressed” (broken).

 

Such is also true with the Word of God; notice verse 3.

God has given “commandments” to the world.

In Mt. 15, the commandments were Old Testament commandments.

God had given specific rules and things to do, but the people did not do them.

People were more concerned with their traditions than the laws of God.

     Today this is still true when it comes to religion.

     God has laws and people have religious traditions.

     Many hold on to their religious customs but break (transgress) the laws of God.

     When we find this happening, the response by Jesus is still appropriate.

     We can ask why people are transgressing (breaking) God’s laws.

 

Today it is common to say that breaking God’s laws does not really matter.

That is a small thing.

Let’s evaluate this suggestion in light of this term.

As I examined this word I found something that was new to me.

This same term occurs in the opening chapter of Acts.

     If you read Acts 1:25 in the ASV, you would miss the point.

     Translators of the KJV and NKJV did an outstanding job of making the point.

 

Both versions have the word “transgression” in the text.

When Judas delivered up the Lord, he violated divine law.

If I heard a preacher say that I would be asking, “what law did he break?”

     Good question, and since you have asked, the Bible gives us an answer.

     Back in Ex. 12 we have information about the Passover celebration.

     Ex. 12:22 is very, very specific.

     When people were indoors for this feast, they were to stay indoors.

     They were to stay inside until the following morning.

     Do you remember a small event that is slipped into the text by John in Jn. 13:30?

 

It is too important to not read, so I will read it now – READ Jn. 13:30.

Four small words are at the end of this verse:  and it was night.

Maybe you have read those words over and over, but didn’t see much significance to them.

When they are compared to Ex. 12:22, they make lots of sense.

Judas broke the law about 24 hours before Jesus was arrested.

Thus, the word transgression was perfectly suited for him.

 

Perhaps there are other ways to say or prove that Judas was a transgressor.

At least we can point to the verses given and say he was definitely a lawbreaker.

 

THERE IS ANOTHER PLACE WHERE THIS TERM IS USED AS A VERB, BUT I AM GOING TO SAVE THAT FOR A LITTLE LATER.  LET’S TURN OUR ATTENTION TO WHERE TRANSGRESSION IS USED AS A NOUN.

 

     Paul used it in Rom. 2:23 when talking about honoring God.

     He said people who transgress “dishonor God.”

 

If we break the laws God has given, we bring shame on God. 

Is this fact not completely contrary to modern thinking?

In a time when people say the laws of God do not matter—serve Him as you want…

God tells us we either do what He has said in the way He has said or we dishonor Him.

 

In spite of all this, many do think keeping God’s commands is a big deal.

James thought so.

He took this same basic word and made a powerful point in Jas. 2:9.

He said “transgressors” are “convicted.”

If we break the laws of God, there will be consequences.  We will have to pay a price.

To this someone might say, “I was deceived.  I didn’t know.  I was ignorant.”

     God is fully aware of the fact that people may make these kinds of claims.

     He thus dealt with this subject in places like 1 Tim. 2:14.

     Verse 11 of this chapter says “let a woman learn in all quietness.”

     Verse 12 says that women do not have the lead over men in religious instruction.

    

Verse 13 bases these points on creation; Adam was created first.

Then in verse 14 we come to the word expressed as transgression.

There was a sense in which Eve was tricked.

     She did not have a background in sin so she did not know what it was.

     The devil—a crafty creature—introduced her to sin.

     Eve broke a law, so the word transgression was the right word.

     She may not have fully understood many things, but ignorance was not an excuse.

 

Today this is still true.

We have millions of people who are ignorant about God and His will.

That lack of knowledge will not be an excuse.

 

In life we can break laws but the consequences are not always bad.

     There are seatbelt laws but people break them.

     While I was in the Air Force I was in the same work area as a crusty old soldier.

     This man was called (by senior people) Willie.

     Willie didn’t like to wear seat belts.

     One day he came through the base gate and a guard stopped him.

     He said, “Sir, you are not wearing your seat belt” (and the guard was right).

 

Willie looked in right in the eye and said, “Yes, I am.”

That guard let him pass that day and from that time on.

Others can break laws but avoid punishment because of who they are or what they have.

God says to us, in the spiritual realm things are different.

“If you break my laws, you will pay.”

 

What is the payment price?

Earlier I said a reference was being held in reserve.

It is now time to look at that passage; the citation is 2 Jn. 9.