middle of the night

March 21, 2019

Nothing to serve (Lk 11:6-11:6)

“A friend of mine

Has arrived

From a long journey

At my house.

I have nothing

To set before him.”

 

ἐπειδὴ φίλος μου παρεγένετο ἐξ ὁδοῦ πρός με καὶ οὐκ ἔχω ὃ παραθήσω αὐτῷ·

 

Luke uniquely had this parable story about waking up a friend in the middle of the night.  Luke indicated that Jesus said that this man went to his neighbor friend and said that his other friend (ἐπειδὴ φίλος μου) had just arrived (παρεγένετο) from a long journey (ἐξ ὁδοῦ) at his house (πρός με), but he said that he had nothing to set before him (καὶ οὐκ ἔχω ὃ παραθήσω αὐτῷ).  Tough luck!  This certainly was a strange request at midnight.  At least this guy had 2 friends, at least for now.  One friend just showed up at his house in the middle of the night and the other friend was his close neighbor.  One of these 2 friends is not going to be happy.  Perhaps, there should have been some planning along the line here.  He has nothing to serve his long-lost friend, and assumes that this neighbor friend has something to give him to eat.  Do you always have extra food on hand?

July 2, 2018

They shut the door (Mt 25:10-25:10)

“While the foolish ones

Went to buy the oil,

The bridegroom came.

Those wise ones,

Who were ready,

Went with him

Into the wedding banquet.

The door was shut.”

 

ἀπερχομένων δὲ αὐτῶν ἀγοράσαι ἦλθεν ὁ νυμφίος, καὶ αἱ ἕτοιμοι εἰσῆλθον μετ’ αὐτοῦ εἰς τοὺς γάμους, καὶ ἐκλείσθη ἡ θύρα.

 

This parable story is unique to Matthew.  Jesus continued with this story of the 10 bridesmaids.  While the foolish bridesmaids departed to buy some oil (ἀπερχομένων δὲ αὐτῶν ἀγοράσαι), the bridegroom came (ἦλθεν ὁ νυμφίος).  Those 5 wise bridesmaids, who were ready with their lamps, went with the bridegroom (καὶ αἱ ἕτοιμοι εἰσῆλθον μετ’ αὐτοῦ).  They probably had a procession to the wedding banquet (εἰς τοὺς γάμους).  When they got there, the door was shut (καὶ ἐκλείσθη ἡ θύρα).  The 5 foolish bridesmaids went in the middle of the night to find some oil for their lamps.  Meanwhile the bridegroom, the Son of Man or Jesus, came and had his procession to the wedding banquet.  The closed door meant that no one else could come in.

July 2, 2018

Not enough oil (Mt 25:9-25:9)

“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.

July 2, 2018

The bridegroom comes (Mt 25:6-25:6)

“But at midnight,

There was a shout.

‘Look!

Here is the bridegroom!

Come out to meet him!’”

 

μέσης δὲ νυκτὸς κραυγὴ γέγονεν Ἰδοὺ ὁ νυμφίος, ἐξέρχεσθε εἰς ἀπάντησιν.

 

This parable story is unique to Matthew.  Jesus continued with his parable about the 10 bridesmaids.  He said that at midnight, the middle of the night (μέσης δὲ νυκτὸς), there was a shout (κραυγὴ γέγονεν).  The bridegroom was coming (Ἰδοὺ ὁ νυμφίος), so that they were to go out to meet or receive him (ἐξέρχεσθε εἰς ἀπάντησιν).  The bridegroom, probably the Son of Man or Jesus, was coming.  They were all to go out to receive him.