dismissed.

May 15, 2019

Only one of two in the field (Lk 17:36-17:36)

“Two will be

In the field.

One will be taken.

The other will be left.”

 

 δύο ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ, εἷς παραληφθήσεται καὶ ὁ ἕτερος ἀφεθήσεται

 

Luke indicated that Jesus said that two will be in the field (δύο ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ).  One will be taken (εἷς παραληφθήσεται), while the other will be left (καὶ ὁ ἕτερος ἀφεθήσεται).  This is like Matthew, chapter 24:40, perhaps indicating a Q source.  Matthew indicated that Jesus said that there would be two men in the field (τότε ἔσονται δύο ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ).  However, only one would be taken or admitted (εἷς παραλαμβάνεται), while the other would be left or dismissed (καὶ εἷς ἀφίεται), just like here in Luke.  Thus, you had a fifty-fifty chance at the end times, just like everyday.  Will you be left behind?

May 15, 2019

Only one of two women (Lk 17:35-17:35)

“There will be two women

Grinding meal together.

One will be taken

And the other left.”

 

ἔσονται δύο ἀλήθουσαι ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό, ἡ μία παραλημφθήσεται ἡ δὲ ἑτέρα ἀφεθήσεται.

 

Luke indicated that Jesus said that there would be two women grinding meal together (ἔσονται δύο ἀλήθουσαι ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό).  One will be taken (ἡ μία παραλημφθήσεται) and the other left (ἡ δὲ ἑτέρα ἀφεθήσεται).  This is similar to Matthew, chapter 24:41, perhaps indicating a Q source.  Jesus said that there would be two women grinding meal together (δύο ἀλήθουσαι ἐν τῷ μύλῳ).  Only one would be taken or admitted (μία παραλαμβάνεται), while the other would be left or dismissed (καὶ μία ἀφίεται).  Not everyone would like this Parousia or end times.  Someone would be left behind.  What happens to the people left behind?  Just ask Jerry B. Jenkins (1949-) and Tim LaHaye (1926-2016), since they wrote 16 novels from 1995-2007 based on the theological theme of the end times.  Jenkins also published 40 children’s books on the left behind idea from 1998-2004.  What do you believe about the end times?

May 3, 2019

A plan (Lk 16:4-16:4)

“I have decided

What to do.

When I am

Dismissed

As a house manager,

People

Will welcome me

Into their homes.”

 

ἔγνων τί ποιήσω, ἵνα ὅταν μετασταθῶ ἐκ τῆς οἰκονομίας δέξωνταί με εἰς τοὺς οἴκους ἑαυτῶν

 

This parable story about the dishonest household manager or steward can only be found in Luke, not in any of the other gospel stories.  Luke indicated that Jesus said that this fired household manager came up with a plan.  He decided what to do (ἔγνων τί ποιήσω).  After he was dismissed as a house manager (ἵνα ὅταν μετασταθῶ ἐκ τῆς οἰκονομίας), he wanted people to welcome him into their homes (δέξωνταί με εἰς τοὺς οἴκους ἑαυτῶν).  It is always a good idea to make plans before you leave a job.  This dishonest house manager was no exception.  He had a plan to survive.  Do you have any plans in case you lose your job?

February 20, 2019

The other side of the sea (Lk 8:22-8:22)

“One day,

Jesus

Got into a boat

With his disciples.

He said to them.

‘Let us go across

To the other side

Of the lake.’

Thus,

They set out.”

 

Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν μιᾷ τῶν ἡμερῶν καὶ αὐτὸς ἐνέβη εἰς πλοῖον καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς Διέλθωμεν εἰς τὸ πέραν τῆς λίμνης· καὶ ἀνήχθησαν.

 

Luke said that one day (Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν μιᾷ τῶν ἡμερῶν), Jesus got into a boat (καὶ αὐτὸς ἐνέβη εἰς πλοῖον) with his disciples (καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ).  He said to them (καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς) that he wanted to go across to the other side of the lake (Διέλθωμεν εἰς τὸ πέραν τῆς λίμνης).  Thus, they set out (καὶ ἀνήχθησαν).  Something similar to this short episode of Jesus telling his disciples to travel across the sea can also be found in Mark, chapter 4:35-36.  Mark said that at the end of the day, when evening came, Jesus told his disciples that he wanted them to cross over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee from Capernaum.  However, Mark added that Jesus dismissed the crowds.  Then he and his disciples got into a couple of boats.  Thus, there was a small group of boats crossing the Sea of Galilee.  Matthew, chapter 8:23, had the simple statement that Jesus got into the boat with his disciples.  Have you ever gone across a sea or a lake on a boat?

September 11, 2018

The disciples go to Bethsaida (Mk 6:45-6:45)

“Immediately,

Jesus made his disciples

Get into the boat.

They were to go on

Ahead of him,

To the other side,

To Bethsaida,

While he dismissed

The crowd.”

 

Καὶ εὐθὺς ἠνάγκασεν τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ ἐμβῆναι εἰς τὸ πλοῖον καὶ προάγειν εἰς τὸ πέραν πρὸς Βηθσαϊδάν, ἕως αὐτὸς ἀπολύει τὸν ὄχλον.

 

This incident is not found in Luke, but only in Matthew, chapter 14:22, and John, chapter 6:16-17.  Mark mentioned Bethsaida and John mentioned Capernaum, but Matthew did not name a place.  Mark said that Jesus made or urged his disciples to immediately get into the boat (Καὶ εὐθὺς ἠνάγκασεν τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ ἐμβῆναι εἰς τὸ πλοῖον) to go ahead of him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (καὶ προάγειν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ πέραν) to Bethsaida (πρὸς Βηθσαϊδάν).  Jesus stayed behind and dismissed the crowds (ἕως αὐτὸς ἀπολύει τὸν ὄχλον) after the great feeding.  Thus, his disciples went out in this boat without Jesus.  There was no mention of the number of disciples, but it could not have been many considering the size of these fishing boats.

September 3, 2018

The boats leave (Mk 4:36-4:36)

“Leaving the crowd,

They took him

With them

In the boat,

Just as he was.

Other boats

Were with him.”

 

καὶ ἀφέντες τὸν ὄχλον παραλαμβάνουσιν αὐτὸν ὡς ἦν ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ, καὶ ἄλλα πλοῖα ἦν μετ’ αὐτοῦ.

 

This short episode of everyone getting into the boats can be found somewhat similar in Matthew, chapter 8:23, and Luke, chapter 8:22.  Mark said that Jesus and his disciples left or dismissed the crowds (καὶ ἀφέντες τὸν ὄχλον).  Then his disciples and Jesus got into a couple of boats.  They took him, as he was in a boat (παραλαμβάνουσιν αὐτὸν ὡς ἦν ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ), but there were other boats there also. (καὶ ἄλλα πλοῖα ἦν μετ’ αὐτοῦ).  This was a small group of boats crossing the Sea of Galilee.

July 1, 2018

Only one taken (Mt 24:40-24:41)

“Then two men

Will be in the field.

One will be taken.

One will be left.

Two women

Will be grinding

Meal together.

One will be taken.

One will be left.”

 

τότε ἔσονται δύο ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ, εἷς παραλαμβάνεται καὶ εἷς ἀφίεται

δύο ἀλήθουσαι ἐν τῷ μύλῳ, μία παραλαμβάνεται καὶ μία ἀφίεται.

 

This is exactly the same, almost word for word, in Luke, chapter 17:34-35, except that Luke has the men in bed instead of in the field.  Jesus said that there would be two men in the field (τότε ἔσονται δύο ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ).  However, only one would be taken or admitted (εἷς παραλαμβάνεται), while the other would be left or dismissed (καὶ εἷς ἀφίεται).  There would be two women grinding meal together (δύο ἀλήθουσαι ἐν τῷ μύλῳ).  Only one would be taken or admitted (μία παραλαμβάνεται), while the other would be left or dismissed (καὶ μία ἀφίεται).  Not everyone would like this Parousia or end times.

May 7, 2018

Jesus prays alone (Mt 14:23-14:23)

“After he had dismissed

The crowds,

Jesus went up the mountain

By himself

To pray.

When evening came,

He was there alone.”

 

καὶ ἀπολύσας τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος κατ’ ἰδίαν προσεύξασθαι. ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης μόνος ἦν ἐκεῖ.

 

This incident about Jesus praying alone can be found in Mark, chapter 6:46.  After he had dismissed the crowds (καὶ ἀπολύσας τοὺς ὄχλους), Jesus went up the mountain (ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος) by himself (κατ’ ἰδίαν) to pray (προσεύξασθαι).  Thus, when evening came (ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης), he was there alone (μόνος ἦν ἐκεῖ).  Jesus wanted to be alone with his Father to pray.  It is not clear where this mountain was.

May 7, 2018

The disciples leave in a boat (Mt 14:22-14:22)

“Immediately,

He made the disciples

Get into the boat.

They went on ahead

To the other side,

While he dismissed

The crowds.”

 

Καὶ εὐθέως ἠνάγκασεν τοὺς μαθητὰς ἐμβῆναι εἰς τὸ πλοῖον καὶ προάγειν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ πέραν, ἕως οὗ ἀπολύσῃ τοὺς ὄχλους.

 

This incident is not found in Luke, but only in Mark, chapter 6:45, and John, chapter 6:16-17.  Mark mentioned Bethsaida and John mentioned Capernaum, but Matthew did not name a place.  Jesus made or urged his disciples to immediately get into the boat (Καὶ εὐθέως ἠνάγκασεν τοὺς μαθητὰς ἐμβῆναι εἰς τὸ πλοῖον) to go ahead of him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (καὶ προάγειν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ πέραν), while he dismissed the crowds (ἕως οὗ ἀπολύσῃ τοὺς ὄχλους.) after the great feeding.  Thus, his disciples went out in this boat without Jesus.  There is no mention of the number of disciples, but it could not have been many considering the size of these fishing boats.

May 1, 2018

The disciples seek an explanation about a parable (Mt 13:36-13:36)

“Then Jesus left the crowds.

He went into the house.

His disciples approached him.

Saying.

‘Explain to us

The parable of the weeds

In the field.’”

 

Τότε ἀφεὶς τοὺς ὄχλους ἦλθεν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν. Καὶ προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ λέγοντες Διασάφησον ἡμῖν τὴν παραβολὴν τῶν ζιζανίων τοῦ ἀγροῦ.

 

Only Matthew has this request for an explanation about the parable of the weeds that was earlier in this chapter, 13:24-30.  Then Jesus, via Matthew, left or dismissed the crowds (Τότε ἀφεὶς τοὺς ὄχλους).  He then went into the house (ἦλθεν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν), without an explanation of whose house it was.  His disciples then approached him (Καὶ προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ), asking him to explain the parable of the weeds in the field to them (λέγοντες Διασάφησον ἡμῖν τὴν παραβολὴν τῶν ζιζανίων τοῦ ἀγροῦ).  Thus, the mystery would be revealed to his disciples in private, much like a gnostic elite group.