same question

February 10, 2019

More than a prophet (Lk 7:26-7:26)

“What then did you go out

To see?

A prophet?

Yes!

I tell you!

More than a prophet.’”

 

ἀλλὰ τί ἐξήλθατε ἰδεῖν; προφήτην; ναί, λέγω ὑμῖν, καὶ περισσότερον προφήτου.

 

Luke said that Jesus asked them what did they go out to see (ἀλλὰ τί ἐξήλθατε ἰδεῖν)?  Was John a prophet (προφήτην)?  Jesus responded with a solemn positive pronouncement, yes (ναί, λέγω ὑμῖν), but more than a prophet, like a preeminent prophet (καὶ περισσότερον προφήτου).  This sayings about John the prophet is word for word like Matthew, chapter 11:9, indicating a possible Q source.  Jesus posed the same question again.  Why did they go out to see John?  Then Jesus got to the main point.  Was John a prophet?  Jesus’ response was a solemn positive one.  Yes, he was a prophet, and even more than a prophet.  He was greater and more preeminent than any prophet.  What could this mean?

September 24, 2018

Jesus asks then point blank (Mk 8:29-8:29)

“He asked them.

‘But who do you say

That I am?’

 

καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπηρώτα αὐτούς Ὑμεῖς δὲ τίνα με λέγετε εἶναι;

 

This same question can be found in Matthew, chapter 16:15, and Luke, chapter 9:20.  Mark said that Jesus was questioning his disciples (καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπηρώτα αὐτούς) who was it that they thought or said that he was (Ὑμεῖς δὲ τίνα με λέγετε εἶναι).  Jesus thus put them to the test.  This was not about what others said or thought, but about their understanding of Jesus.  Who did they think Jesus was?

June 21, 2018

The gift or the altar (Mt 23:19-23:19)

“You blind men!

Which is greater?

The gift

Or the altar

That makes

The gift sacred?”

 

τυφλοί, τί γὰρ μεῖζον, τὸ δῶρον ἢ τὸ θυσιαστήριον τὸ ἁγιάζον τὸ δῶρον;

 

Jesus, via Matthew, poses almost the same question as verse 17.  He called these Pharisees and the Scribes blind (τυφλοί), but not fools.  He wanted to know which was greater (τίς γὰρ μείζων ἐστίν)?  Was the gift by itself (τὸ δῶρον) holier than the altar that made the gift sacred (ἢ τὸ θυσιαστήριον τὸ ἁγιάζον τὸ δῶρον).  The gift became sacred or holy by being on the altar, much more than a plain gift not on the altar.  The altar was clearly greater than the gift that was made sacred by being on the altar.

 

 

May 17, 2018

Jesus asked them about himself (Mt 16:15-16:15)

“He said to them.

‘But who do you say

That I am?’”

 

λέγει αὐτοῖς Ὑμεῖς δὲ τίνα με λέγετε εἶναι;

 

This same question can be found in Mark, chapter 8:29, and Luke, chapter 9:20.  Jesus then asked his disciples (λέγει αὐτοῖς) who they thought or said that he was (Ὑμεῖς δὲ τίνα με λέγετε εἶναι).  Jesus thus put them to the test.  Was he the Son of Man or someone else?

April 17, 2018

John was more than a prophet (Mt 11:9-11:9)

“Why then did you go out?

Did you go out

To see a prophet?

Yes!

I tell you!

John is

More than a prophet.”

 

ἀλλὰ τί ἐξήλθατε; προφήτην ἰδεῖν; ναί, λέγω ὑμῖν, καὶ περισσότερον προφήτου.

 

This sayings about John the prophet is word for word like Luke, chapter 7:26, indicating a possible Q source.  Jesus posed the same question again.  Why did they go out to see John (ἀλλὰ τί ἐξήλθατε)?  Then he got to the point.  Was John a prophet (προφήτην ἰδεῖν)?  Jesus’ response was a solemn positive one (ναί, λέγω ὑμῖν).  Yes, he is a prophet, and even more than a prophet (καὶ περισσότερον προφήτου.).  He is greater and more preeminent than a prophet (περισσότερον).  What could this mean?

December 29, 2017

The questioning of Zechariah (Zech 4:4-4:5)

“I said to the angel

Who talked with me.

‘What are these?

My lord!’

Then the angel

Who talked with me

Answered me.

‘Do you not know

What these are?’

I said.

‘No!

My lord.’”

Zechariah questioned the angel who had been talking to him.  He wanted to know what did this vision meant.  The angel then responded to Zechariah by asking him the same question.  He seemed bewildered that Zechariah did not understand this vision about the lampstands and the olive trees.  However, Zechariah was very respectful by calling the angel “lord.”

December 27, 2017

The earth patrol (Zech 1:9-1:11)

“Then I said.

‘What are these?

My lord!’

The angel who talked with me

Said to me.

`I will show you

What they are.’

Then the man

Who was standing

Among the myrtle trees

Answered.

‘They are those

Whom Yahweh has sent

To patrol the earth.’

Then they spoke

To the angel of Yahweh,

Who was standing

Among the myrtle trees.

‘We have patrolled

the earth.

Look!

The whole earth

Remains at peace.’”

Zechariah had the same question, what was this all about?  The angel of Yahweh told Zechariah that he would explain what was going on.  Actually, the man standing among the myrtle trees did most of the talking.  He said that these horses with their riders were patrolling the earth, like a worldwide police force that Yahweh had sent out.  Then this man from the myrtle tree area spoke directly to the angel of Yahweh.  He reported that they had patrolled the whole earth and there was peace everywhere.  Apparently, during the early reign of the Persian King Darius I, there were very few disturbances.

September 20, 2017

Under what tree did all this take place (Dan 13:58-13:59)

“‘Now then,

Tell me!

Under what tree

Did you catch them

Being intimate

With each other?’

The second elder answered.

‘Under an evergreen oak.’

Daniel said to him.

‘Very well!

This lie will cost you

Your head.

The angel of God

Is waiting

With his sword

To split you in two.

Thus,

He will destroy you both.’”

Daniel asked the second elder the same question that he had asked the first elder. Under what tree did you find Susanna and her friend being sexually intimate with each other? The second elder said that they were under an evergreen oak tree, a large holly oak tree, quite different from the small mastic tree. Once again, Daniel told this elder, like the first elder, that his lying response would cost him his life. The angel of God was waiting with his sword to split him in two. Thus, both these lying old judges would be destroyed. Once again there is a Greek play on words with evergreen oak tree (πρϊνος) and split (καταπριση).