came back

May 1, 2019

He lived with prostitutes (Lk 15:30-15:30)

“But when this son

Of yours

Came back,

Who has devoured

Your property

With prostitutes,

You killed

The fatted calf

For him!”

 

ὅτε δὲ ὁ υἱός σου οὗτος ὁ καταφαγών σου τὸν βίον μετὰ πορνῶν ἦλθεν, ἔθυσας αὐτῷ τὸν σιτευτὸν μόσχον.

 

This long parable story about the 2 sons can only be found in Luke, not in any of the other gospel stories.  Luke indicated that Jesus said that this older son continued his complaint to his father.  He said that when his brother, his father’s son (ὅτε δὲ ὁ υἱός σου οὗτος), came back (ἦλθεν), after having devoured his property (ὁ καταφαγών σου τὸν βίον) with prostitutes (μετὰ πορνῶν), he went and killed or sacrificed the fatted calf for him (ἔθυσας αὐτῷ τὸν σιτευτὸν μόσχον).  Luke is the only biblical writer who used this term σιτευτόν, that means fattened calf, 3 times in this story.  This upset son pointed out to his father that his brother had squandered all his hard-earned property on prostitutes.  Yet he was rewarding him with a special meal celebration.  Does this seem fair to you?

April 30, 2019

The oldest son (Lk 15:25-15:25)

“Now his elder son

Was in the field.

When he came,

He approached

The house.

He heard music

And dancing.”

 

ἦν δὲ ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐν ἀγρῷ· καὶ ὡς ἐρχόμενος ἤγγισεν τῇ οἰκίᾳ, ἤκουσεν συμφωνίας καὶ χορῶν,

 

This long parable story about the 2 sons can only be found in Luke, not in any of the other gospel stories.  Luke indicated that Jesus said that the older or elder son (ἦν δὲ ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ὁ πρεσβύτερος) was in the field (ἐν ἀγρῷ) when his brother came back.  As he approached the house (καὶ ὡς ἐρχόμενος ἤγγισεν τῇ οἰκίᾳ), he heard music (ἤκουσεν συμφωνίας) and dancing (καὶ χορῶν).  Interesting enough, Luke once again was the only biblical writer to use these two words in his writings, συμφωνίας that means harmony of instruments or music, and χορῶν that means a dance, or dancing.  The older or elder son had worked hard on the farm, while his brother went and spent his fortune on wine, women, and song.  He knew nothing about the reconciliation of his brother and father.  Are you sometimes out of the loop?

March 25, 2019

Well organized (Lk 11:25-11:25)

“When the unclean spirit

Came back,

He found

His former home

Swept

And put in order.”

 

καὶ ἐλθὸν εὑρίσκει σεσαρωμένον καὶ κεκοσμημένον.

 

Luke indicated that Jesus said that when this unclean spirit came back (καὶ ἐλθὸν), he found (εὑρίσκει) that his former home had been swept (σεσαρωμένον) and put in order (σεσαρωμένον).  This saying about the returning unclean spirit can be found also, almost word for word, in Matthew, chapter 12:44, indicating a Q source.  Nothing had been put in its place, because this unclean spirit found it empty or unoccupied (καὶ ἐλθὸν εὑρίσκει σχολάζοντα), swept clean (καὶ σεσαρωμένον) and in order, newly decorated (καὶ κεκοσμημένον).  Matthew indicated that the house was empty, something that Luke did not mention.  Have you ever returned to an empty house?

July 4, 2018

The master settles accounts (Mt 25:19-25:19)

“After a long time,

The master

Of those slaves

Came back.

He settled accounts

With them.”

 

μετὰ δὲ πολὺν χρόνον ἔρχεται ὁ κύριος τῶν δούλων ἐκείνων καὶ συναίρει λόγον μετ’ αὐτῶν.

 

This parable is unique to Matthew, but there is an equivalent in Luke, chapter 19:15, where the nobleman wanted to settle his accounts after being away for a time.  Jesus said that after a long time (μετὰ δὲ πολὺν χρόνον), the master or lord of these slaves came back (ἔρχεται ὁ κύριος τῶν δούλων ἐκείνων).  He then wanted to settle his accounts with his slaves (καὶ συναίρει λόγον μετ’ αὐτῶν).

September 13, 2017

The plot to seduce Susanna (Dan 13:13-13:14)

“One day,

They said to each other.

‘Let us go home.

It is time for lunch.’

So,

They both left.

They parted

From each other.

But turning back,

They met again.

When each pressed

The other

For the reason,

They confessed

Their lust.

Then together,

They arranged

For a time

When they could find

Her alone.”

One day, as these two elder judges said good bye to each other, they parted for lunch. However, both of them came back. Then they asked each other why they had come back. Finally, they each confessed their lust for Susanna. Then, they decided to work together to get Susanna alone sometime. The plot was falling into place.