mortal

June 9, 2019

Children of God (Lk 20:36-20:36)

“Indeed,

They cannot die

Anymore,

Because they are

Like angels.

They are children

Of God,

Being children

Of the resurrection.”

 

οὐδὲ γὰρ ἀποθανεῖν ἔτι δύνανται, ἰσάγγελοι γάρ εἰσιν, καὶ υἱοί εἰσιν Θεοῦ τῆς ἀναστάσεως υἱοὶ ὄντες.

 

Luke indicated that Jesus gave an explanation.  He said that in the resurrection they would not be able to die anymore or be mortal (οὐδὲ γὰρ ἀποθανεῖν ἔτι δύνανται), because they would be like angels (ἰσάγγελοι γάρ εἰσιν).  Once again, this is unique usage of the word ἰσάγγελοι in the Greek biblical literature that means equal to angels or like the angels.  They would be children or sons of God (καὶ υἱοί εἰσιν Θεοῦ), because they were children or sons of the resurrection (τῆς ἀναστάσεως υἱοὶ ὄντες).  This is quite a profound theological statement.  The resurrected humans would be like angels so that marriage and procreation would be out of the question.  Both Matthew, chapter 22:30, with Mark, chapter 12:25, almost word for word, have simpler statements about humans being angels in heaven.  Mark simply said that they would all be like angels in heaven (ἀλλ’ εἰσὶν ὡς ἄγγελοι ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς).  Matthew simply said they would all be like angels in heaven (ὡς ἄγγελοι ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ εἰσιν).  Thus, these humans would take on an angelic way of life, with no reason to procreate in marriage.  Would you like a sexless angelic heaven?

December 17, 2017

Against the commercial traders (Zeph 1:10-1:11)

“Says Yahweh.

‘On that day,

A cry will be heard

From the Fish Gate.

A wail will be heard

From the Second Quarter.

A loud crash will be heard

From the hills.

The inhabitants

Of the Mortar

Wail.

All the traders

Have perished.

All who weigh out

Silver

Are cut off.’”

Yahweh was clear about the consequences on the Day of Yahweh.  A cry would come from the north Fish Gate and the Second Quarter of Jerusalem, probably the entrance and the market place of business near this gate.  The Jerusalem traders may have sold fish there.  The northern hills around Jerusalem would also cry out, as would the wailing people of Mortal, those in the valley.  They would all wail and cry because of the lack of commerce.  All the traders would die.  Anyone involved with the weighing of silver would be wiped out.

April 15, 2016

The folly of the Egyptian idols (Wis 15:14-15:17)

“But most foolish,

More miserable than an infant,

Are all the enemies

Who oppressed your people.

They thought

That all their heathen idols were gods.

These have

Neither the use of their eyes to see with,

Nor nostrils with which to draw breath,

Nor ears with which to hear,

Nor fingers to feel with.

Their feet are of no use for walking.

A human being made them.

One whose spirit is borrowed

Formed them.

None can form gods

That are like themselves.

People are mortal.

What they make with lawless hands is dead.

They are better than the objects they worship.

Since they have life,

But the idols never had.”

Next this author turns to the historic oppressors of the Israelites, the Egyptians, without naming them. He points out the ineptitude of their idol gods (θεούς). These idols could not see, breathe, hear, feel, or walk, as they lacked the five basic senses. Humans (ἄθρωπος) made them. Any spirit (τὸ πνεῦμα) they might have, was borrowed from humans. People do not make gods (Θεόν) of themselves because they are mortal. Thus they can only make dead images. In fact, these idol makers were better than the dead objects (νεκρὸν) that they made, since they had life, while their images did not.

February 28, 2016

Prosperity and adversity (Eccl 7:13-7:14)

“Consider the work of God!

Who can make straight

What he has made crooked?

In the day of prosperity

Be joyful!

In the day of adversity

Consider!

God has made the one

As well as the other.

Thus mortals may not find out anything

That will come after them.”

Qoheleth wants us to look at the work of God. Can anyone make a crooked way straight? Remember that God has made both the days of prosperity and the days of adversity. Mortals would like to know about the future, but only God knows what will come after the life of a mortal.

December 12, 2015

Yahweh is on my side (Ps 118:5-118:9)

“Out of my distress

I called on Yahweh.

Yahweh answered me.

He set me in a broad place.

With Yahweh on my side

I do not fear.

What can mortals do to me?

Yahweh is on my side to help me.

I shall look in triumph

On those who hate me.

It is better to take refuge in Yahweh

Than to put confidence in mortals.

It is better to take refuge in Yahweh

Than to put confidence in princes.”

When in distress, this psalmist called on Yahweh. Yahweh had answered him already, unlike the many psalms that asked Yahweh to answer them. He was set free into the broad place at large. With Yahweh at his side, he had no one to fear. No mortal could hurt him. He was going to be triumphant. His haters would have been better off with Yahweh. They should have put their confidence in Yahweh rather than trust in mortals and princes to protect them. Yahweh was much superior to mortals and human princes.

July 22, 2015

Where can you find wisdom? (Job 28:12-28:19)

“But where shall wisdom be found?

Where is the place of understanding?

Mortals do not know the way to it.

It is not found in the land of the living.

The deep says.

‘It is not in me.’

The sea says.

‘It is not with me.’

It cannot be gotten for gold.

Silver cannot be weighed out as its price.

It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir.

It cannot be valued in precious onyx or sapphire.

Gold and glass cannot equal it.

It cannot be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.

No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal.

The price of wisdom is above pearls.

The chrysolite topaz of Ethiopia cannot compare with it.

It cannot be valued in pure gold.”

The important question remains, “Where can this wisdom be found?” In a beautiful colorful response this biblical author says where it is not to be found. No mortal humans have this wisdom since it cannot be found among the land of the living. It cannot be found in the oceans or seas. You cannot buy it either. No matter how much gold or silver you have, wisdom is more valuable. You cannot measure it with precious stones, glass, or gold. Coral, crystals, topaz, and pure gold are all less valuable than wisdom. Ophir is the place to find gold, while Ethiopia was the place of topaz. Wisdom is beyond any human knowledge or any precious item here on earth.

July 10, 2015

Eliphaz ridicules Job (Job 15:7-15:16)

“Are you the first man that was born?

Were you brought forth before the hills?

Have you listened in the council of God?

Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

What do you know that we do not know?

What do you understand that is not clear to us?

The gray-haired and the aged are on our side.

Those people are older than your father.

Are the consolations of God too small for you?

Are the word that deals gently with you too small for you?

Why does your heart carry you away?

Why do your eyes flash?

You turn your spirit against God.

You let such words go out of your mouth.

What are mortals?

Can mortals be clean?

God puts no trust even in his holy ones.

The heavens are not clean in his sight.

How much less one who is abominable and corrupt!

You are a man who drinks iniquity like water!”

Eliphaz now ridicules Job. He wanted to know if he was the first person born so that he was older than the hills. Was he some kind of conciliar to God? Did he think that he was the only person with wisdom? Did he think that he was smarter than everyone else? There were a lot older people living longer than Job’s father. Was God too small for Job? Why did he have flashing eyes? Why has he turned against God? Why has be spoken such words? Any mortal born of a woman is unclean and not righteous. God does not even trust his holy angels in heaven because there is uncleanness there. Job was drinking iniquity like water. Once again, this is a harsh condemnation of Job.

March 20, 2015

Judith’s speech (Jdt 8:11-8:17)

“They came to her. She said to them.

‘Listen to me,

Rulers of the people of Bethulia!

What you have said to the people today is not right.

You have even sworn

You have pronounced this oath between God and you,

You promised to surrender the town to our enemies,

Unless the Lord turns and helps us within so many days.

Who are you?

Do you think that you can put God to the test today?

You are setting yourselves up in the place of God in human affairs.

You are putting the Lord Almighty to the test.

You will never know anything!

You cannot plumb the depths of the human heart!

You cannot find out what a man is thinking!

How do you expect to search out God?

God made all these things.

How can you find out his mind?

How can you comprehend his thought?

No, my brothers,

Do not anger the Lord our God!

If he does not choose to help us within these five days,

He has power to protect us within any time he pleases.

He may even destroy us in the presence of our enemies.

Do not try to bind the purposes of the Lord our God!

God is not like a human being!

He cannot be threatened!

He is not a mere moral!

He cannot be won over by pleading.

Therefore, while we wait for his deliverance,

Let us call upon him to help us!

He will hear our voice,

If it pleases him.’”

Judith pointed out that they should not be putting God to the test. They were not right in speaking that way. Who are you to test God? Why are you putting yourselves in the place of God? You do not know anything about the human heart and understanding. How can you possibly understand the thought of God? Do not anger God. He is not like a human being or mere mortal. He has made all things. He has the power to protect or destroy you if he pleases. All you can do is call for help, while we wait for his deliverance. He will either hear or not hear us as he pleases.