reasonable request

February 23, 2019

The cured demoniac wanted to follow Jesus (Lk 8:38-8:38)

“The man,

From whom

The demons had gone,

Begged

That he might be

With Jesus.

However,

|Jesus sent him away.”

 

ἐδεῖτο δὲ αὐτοῦ ὁ ἀνὴρ ἀφ’ οὗ ἐξεληλύθει τὰ δαιμόνια εἶναι σὺν αὐτῷ· ἀπέλυσεν δὲ αὐτὸν λέγων

 

Luke said that the man, from whom the demons had gone out (ὁ ἀνὴρ ἀφ’ οὗ ἐξεληλύθει τὰ δαιμόνια), begged Jesus (ἐδεῖτο δὲ αὐτοῦ) that he might be with him (εἶναι σὺν αὐτῷ).  However, |Jesus sent him away (ἀπέλυσεν δὲ αὐτὸν λέγων).  There is something similar in Mark, chapter 5:38, while there is nothing like this in Matthew.  Mark said that as Jesus was getting into his boat, the man, who had been possessed by demons begged or entreated Jesus to let him go with him.  This formerly possessed man wanted to be a follower of Jesus, which seems like a reasonable request.  However, Mark said that Jesus refused this former demoniac.  Do you think that Jesus would refuse some people from being his follower?

September 5, 2018

The former possessed man wants to go with Jesus (Mk 5:18-5:18)

“As Jesus was getting

Into the boat,

The man,

Who had been possessed

By demons,

Begged him

That he might be

With him.”

 

καὶ ἐμβαίνοντος αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ πλοῖον παρεκάλει αὐτὸν ὁ δαιμονισθεὶς ἵνα μετ’ αὐτοῦ ᾖ.

 

There is something similar in Luke, chapter 8:38, while there is nothing like this in Matthew.  Mark said that as Jesus was getting into the boat (καὶ ἐμβαίνοντος αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ πλοῖον), the man, who had been possessed by demons (ὁ δαιμονισθεὶς) begged or entreated Jesus (παρεκάλει αὐτὸν) to let him go with him (ἵνα μετ’ αὐτοῦ ᾖ).  This formerly possessed man wanted to be a follower of Jesus with him.  This seems like a reasonable request.

June 12, 2018

The second invitation to the wedding banquet (Mt 22:4 -22:4)

“Again,

He sent other slaves.

Saying.

‘Tell those

Who have been invited.

‘Look!

I have prepared

My dinner.

My oxen

And my fat calves

Have been slaughtered.

Everything is ready.

Come to the wedding banquet!’”

 

πάλιν ἀπέστειλεν ἄλλους δούλους λέγων Εἴπατε τοῖς κεκλημένοις Ἰδοὺ τὸ ἄριστόν μου ἡτοίμακα, οἱ ταῦροί μου καὶ τὰ σιτιστὰ τεθυμένα, καὶ πάντα ἕτοιμα· δεῦτε εἰς τοὺς γάμους.

 

This is unique to Matthew when compared to the Luke equivalent.  Jesus said that this king has made all the preparations for this great wedding feast.  For a second time, this king sent other slaves (πάλιν ἀπέστειλεν ἄλλους δούλους) to these invited guests.  He told his slaves to tell these guests (λέγων Εἴπατε τοῖς κεκλημένοις) that he had already prepared his dinner for them (Ἰδοὺ τὸ ἄριστόν μου ἡτοίμακα).  He had slaughtered his oxen and fat calves (οἱ ταῦροί μου καὶ τὰ σιτιστὰ τεθυμένα).  Everything was ready (πάντα ἕτοιμα).  All they had to do was show up at this banquet (δεῦτε εἰς τοὺς γάμους).  This sounds like a reasonable request.

 

December 24, 2016

Yahweh’s charge to Baruch (Jer 32:13-32:15)

“In their presence,

I charged Baruch,

Saying.

‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts!

The God of Israel!

Take these deeds!

Put both this sealed deed

Of purchase

With this open deed,

In an earthenware jar.

Thus they may last for a long time.’

Thus says Yahweh of hosts!

The God of Israel.

‘Houses,

Fields,

As well as vineyards

Shall again be bought

In this land.’”

Jeremiah than had an oracle of Yahweh for Baruch in the presence of all the people there. The Lord of hosts and God of Israel wanted Baruch to put both these field sale documents, the sealed one and the open one, into a pottery jar. So that both these documents would last a long time and not be lost. Since Baruch was like the secretary for Jeremiah, this seemed like a reasonable request. Then Yahweh said that this was like a sign of things to come when people would again buy houses, fields, and vineyards in this land. In other words, there was hope for things to come.