earnestly

February 6, 2019

A worthy man (Lk 7:4-7:4)

“These Jewish elders

Came to Jesus.

They appealed to him

Earnestly.

They said.

‘He is worthy

Of having you

Do this for him,’”

 

οἱ δὲ παραγενόμενοι πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν σπουδαίως, λέγοντες ὅτι ἄξιός ἐστιν ᾧ παρέξῃ τοῦτο·

 

Luke uniquely said that these Jewish elders came to Jesus (οἱ δὲ παραγενόμενοι πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν).  They appealed or begged Jesus earnestly (παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν σπουδαίως).  They said (λέγοντες) that this centurion was worthy of having Jesus grant this for him (λέγοντες ὅτι ἄξιός ἐστιν ᾧ παρέξῃ τοῦτο).  Luke was the only one who had these elders recommend this Roman non-Jewish centurion for his consideration.  Have you ever recommended someone as being worthy of a position?

September 5, 2018

The demoniac wanted to stay there (Mk 5:10-5:10)

“The demoniac

Begged him earnestly

Not to send them

Out of the country.”

 

καὶ παρεκάλει αὐτὸν πολλὰ ἵνα μὴ αὐτὰ ἀποστείλῃ ἔξω τῆς χώρας.

 

This is something similar to Luke, chapter 8:31.  Mark indicated that the demoniac begged, entreated, or beseeched Jesus many times (καὶ παρεκάλει αὐτὸν πολλὰ) not to send them (ἵνα μὴ αὐτὰ ἀποστείλῃ), the evil unclean spirits, away to another country, out of this country (ἔξω τῆς χώρας).  Luke said that these evil spirits did not want to be sent into the abyss.  They did not want to go anywhere.  These evil spirits wanted to remain where they were, since they were content there.

November 3, 2015

The false repentance (Ps 78:34-78:37)

“When he killed them,

They sought him.

They repented.

They sought God earnestly.

They remembered

That God was their rock,

That the Most High God was their redeemer.

But they flattered him with their mouths.

They lied to him with their tongues.

Their heart was not steadfast toward him.

They were not true to his covenant.”

After some of the Israelites died in the desert, others claimed to repent. They sought God earnestly as they remembered that God was their rock. The Most High God was their redeemer. They tried to flatter God with their mouths as they lied with their tongues. Their heart was not in it. They were not true to the covenant.