“They did so.
They made them
All sit down.”
καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως καὶ κατέκλιναν ἅπαντας.
Luke uniquely said that the crowds followed orders (καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως), as they all sat down (καὶ κατέκλιναν ἅπαντας). In the other gospel stories, Jesus ordered them to sit down in groups, but only Luke said that they actually did what Jesus asked them to do. Do you actually follow through on what people ask you to do?
“There were
About five thousand men.
Jesus said
To his disciples.
‘Make them sit down
In groups of
About fifty each.’”
ἦσαν γὰρ ὡσεὶ ἄνδρες πεντακισχίλιοι. εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ Κατακλίνατε αὐτοὺς κλισίας ὡσεὶ ἀνὰ πεντήκοντα.
Luke said that there were about 5,000 men (ἦσαν γὰρ ὡσεὶ ἄνδρες πεντακισχίλιοι). Jesus told his disciples (εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς) to make them sit down (Κατακλίνατε αὐτοὺς) in groups of about fifty each (κλισίας ὡσεὶ ἀνὰ πεντήκοντα). All four gospels have the people sitting on the grass in groups that totaled about 5,000 people. The exact details are slightly different in Matthew, chapter 14:19, Mark, chapter 6:39-41, and John, chapter 6:10, plus here. Mark did not mention the total number of people until the end of this story. Mark said that Jesus ordered or commanded them to get all the people to sit down or recline in groups on the green grass. Thus, they sat down or reclined in groups of 100s and of 50s. That is why there was an easy way to get a count of the crowd. Have you ever tried to count a large crowd?
“But the wise ones
Replied.
‘No!
There will not be enough
For you
And for us.
You had better go
To the dealers
To buy some
For yourselves.’”
ἀπεκρίθησαν δὲ αἱ φρόνιμοι λέγουσαι Μή ποτε οὐ μὴ ἀρκέσῃ ἡμῖν καὶ ὑμῖν· πορεύεσθε μᾶλλον πρὸς τοὺς πωλοῦντας καὶ ἀγοράσατε ἑαυταῖς.
This parable story is unique to Matthew. Jesus continued with this story. The wise bridesmaids replied (ἀπεκρίθησαν δὲ αἱ φρόνιμοι λέγουσαι) that they would not give the foolish ones any oil with a flat “no (οὐ).” They said that there would not be enough oil for both groups of them (Μή ποτε οὐ μὴ ἀρκέσῃ ἡμῖν καὶ ὑμῖν). Instead, they suggested that they go to some oil dealers (πορεύεσθε μᾶλλον πρὸς τοὺς πωλοῦντας) to buy some oil for themselves (καὶ ἀγοράσατε ἑαυταῖς). I am not sure what oil dealers would be open in the middle of the night. This seems like the wise ones gave a very self-righteous rude response.
“Again truly!
I say to you!
If two of you agree
On earth
About anything
You ask,
It will be done for you
By my Father in heaven.
Where two
Or three
Are gathered
In my name,
I am there
Among them.”
Πάλιν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐὰν δύο συμφωνήσωσιν ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς περὶ παντὸς πράγματος οὗ ἐὰν αἰτήσωνται, γενήσεται αὐτοῖς παρὰ τοῦ Πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς.
οὗ γάρ εἰσιν δύο ἢ τρεῖς συνηγμένοι εἰς τὸ ἐμὸν ὄνομα, ἐκεῖ εἰμι ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν.
This saying about prayer in common is unique to Matthew. Jesus had another solemn pronouncement, “Again truly! I say to you (Πάλιν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν)!” He said that if two of them could agree on earth about anything (ὅτι ἐὰν δύο συμφωνήσωσιν ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς περὶ παντὸς πράγματος) they asked for, it would be done for them by his heavenly Father (οὗ ἐὰν αἰτήσωνται, γενήσεται αὐτοῖς παρὰ τοῦ Πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς). Where two or three of them were gathered together (οὗ γάρ εἰσιν δύο ἢ τρεῖς συνηγμένοι) in his name (εἰς τὸ ἐμὸν ὄνομα), Jesus would be there in the middle, among them (ἐκεῖ εἰμι ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν). Some groups of Christians exist all over the world today, where 2 or 3 followers of Jesus gather to pray to the heavenly Father.
Everyone has the right to an opinion. We all enjoy freedom of speech. Yet we have to ask the question about what is truth. What are the boundaries of Church membership? We always create boundaries. States need lines or borders. Groups have laws, common beliefs, values, and practices.
Five other Pauline associated epistles are also part of the New Testament canon. They include the letters to Timothy, 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy from the late 60s-100 CE. There is also the letter to Titus, from the late 60s-100 CE, and the letter to Philemon, from the late 50s to the early 60s CE. Finally, there is the letter to the Hebrews, from the late 60s-100 CE. As opposed to the letters addressed to Christian communities, these later epistles were addressed to individuals or groups. Their ties to Paul are less certain than the early letters to the various early developing Christian community churches.
“What the cutting locust left,
The swarming locust
Has eaten.
What the swarming locust left,
The hopping locust
Has eaten.
What the hopping locust left,
The destroying locust
Has eaten.”
The big event that Joel was talking about was a locust plague. Apparently, there were a series of locust attacks, a fairly common event in the ancient world. The mild-mannered grasshoppers would suddenly join in groups during times of drought and then attack the growing grain fields in droves. There must have been three separate attacks. Joel called them cutting locusts, swarming locusts, and hopping locusts. One came right after the other to destroy the field crops.
“Bless the Lord!
All people on earth!
Sing praise to him!
Highly exalt him forever!
Bless the Lord!
O Israel!
Sing praise to him!
Highly exalt him forever!
Bless the Lord!
You priests of the Lord!
Sing praise to him!
Highly exalt him forever!
Bless the Lord,
You servants of the Lord!
Sing praise to him!
Highly exalt him forever!”
Every human on earth should bless, praise, and exalt the Lord. Three groups get special attention. Of course, there is Israel itself, its priests, and the servants of the Lord. Perhaps these servants are a special group of priests or those who follow the Lord in a special way. All of them should bless, praise, and exalt the Lord, just like everyone else on earth.
“In an assembly of sinners,
A fire is kindled.
In a disobedient nation,
Wrath blazes up.
The Lord did not forgive
The ancient giants
Who revolted in their might.
He did not spare the neighbors of Lot,
Whom he loathed
On account of their arrogance.
He showed no pity
On the doomed nation,
On those disposed because of their sins.
He showed no pity
On the six hundred thousand foot soldiers,
Who assembled in their stubbornness.
Even if there were only one stiff-necked person,
It would be a wonder
If he remained unpunished.
Mercy is with the Lord.
Wrath is with the Lord.
He is mighty to forgive,
But he also pours out wrath.
As great as his mercy,
So also is his chastisement.
He judges a person
According to his or her deeds.
The sinner will not escape with plunder.
The patience of the godly
Will not be frustrated.
He makes room for every act of mercy.
Everyone receives in accordance
With his or her deeds.”
Sirach mentions the people and the groups from the Torah that were punished for their sins. A destroying fire will rage where sinners or disobedient nations are gathered. The Lord did not forgive the ancient giant Nephilim people in Genesis, chapter 6, before the flood. The Lord did not forgive the evil arrogant Sodomite neighbors of Lot in Genesis, chapter 19. He did not have pity on the disposed Canaanites in Joshua. The 600,000 Israelites in the desert revolted against Moses in Numbers, chapter 16. Not one person gets away with being a stiff-necked proud person. They will not go unpunished. The Lord has both mercy and anger. He judges according to the deeds of the people. No sinner will escape. The patience of the godly will run thin. While there is room for mercy, everyone will receive punishment based on their deeds.
“Blessed is the barren woman
Who is undefiled.
She has not entered into a sinful union.
She will have fruit
When God examines souls.
Blessed also is the eunuch
Whose hands have done no lawless deed.
He has not devised wicked things against the Lord.
Special favor will be shown him
For his faithfulness.
There will be a place of great delight
In the temple of the Lord.
The fruit of good labors is renowned.
The root of understanding does not fail.”
This author then praises or calls the barren woman and the eunuch blessed or blissful (μακαρία). Both of these groups of people were considered outcasts of society because of their sterility. These barren women are those who were not defiled. They had not entered into a sinful union. They will bear fruit when their souls would be examined (ἐπισκοπῇ ψυχῶν). The eunuchs should have not done any lawless actions. They will not have devised anything wicked against the Lord (κατὰ τοῦ Κυρίου πονηρά). They will receive special favors because they were faithful. They will have a special place in the Temple of the Lord (ἐν ναῷ Κυρίου θυμηρέστερος). This is a reference to some kind of eternal reward. The fruits of a good life and understanding will not fail.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 