suitable

March 12, 2019

Remain in the same house (Lk 10:7-10:7)

“Remain

In the same house!

Eat

Whatever they provide!

Drink

Whatever they provide!

The laborer

Deserves to be paid.

Do not move about

From house to house!”

 

ἐν αὐτῇ δὲ τῇ οἰκίᾳ μένετε, ἔσθοντες καὶ πίνοντες τὰ παρ’ αὐτῶν· ἄξιος γὰρ ὁ ἐργάτης τοῦ μισθοῦ αὐτοῦ. μὴ μεταβαίνετε ἐξ οἰκίας εἰς οἰκίαν.

 

Luke indicated that Jesus said to the 70 disciples that they were to remain in the same house (ἐν αὐτῇ δὲ τῇ οἰκίᾳ μένετε).  They should eat (ἔσθοντες) and drink (καὶ πίνοντες) whatever they were provided (τὰ παρ’ αὐτῶν).  Jesus said that the laborer deserved to be paid or was worthy of his wages (ἄξιος γὰρ ὁ ἐργάτης τοῦ μισθοῦ αὐτοῦ).  They were not to move around (μὴ μεταβαίνετε) from house to house (ἐξ οἰκίας εἰς οἰκίαν).  This is similar to what Luke, chapter 9:4 indicated that Jesus said to his 12 apostles.  There Jesus told the apostles that whatever house they entered, they were to stay there and leave from there.  Equivalent passages to this can be found in Matthew, chapter 10:11, and Mark, chapter 6:10.  Mark indicated that Jesus had a very simple message about where to stay.  Wherever they entered a house, they should stay there in one place until they left.  They should not switch places.  Matthew also had Jesus give a very simple message about where to stay when they entered a town or village.  They should try to find a place to stay with someone who was worthy, honorable, or suitable.  They should not switch places.  They should stay in that one place until they left.  They were not to go wandering around.  Find a suitable person and place!  Then stay there!  This message to the 12 apostles and 70 disciples was the same.  Matthew, chapter 10:10 also indicated that these laborers deserved their food, just like Luke here.  Luke even indicated that they should eat and drink whatever they get, and not be picky.  Where do you stay when you travel?

February 27, 2019

Stay where you go (Lk 9:4-9:4)

“Whatever house

You enter,

Stay there!

Leave from there!”

 

καὶ εἰς ἣν ἂν οἰκίαν εἰσέλθητε, ἐκεῖ μένετε καὶ ἐκεῖθεν ἐξέρχεσθε.

 

Luke indicated that Jesus said to his 12 apostles that whatever house they entered (καὶ εἰς ἣν ἂν οἰκίαν εἰσέλθητε), they were to stay there (ἐκεῖ μένετε) and leave from there (καὶ ἐκεῖθεν ἐξέρχεσθε).  Equivalent passages to this can be found in Matthew, chapter 10:11, and Mark, chapter 6:10.  Mark indicated that Jesus had a very simple message about where to stay.  Wherever they entered a house, they should stay there in one place until they left.  They should not switch places.  Matthew also had Jesus give a very simple message about where to stay when they entered a town or village.  They should try to find a place to stay with someone who was worthy, honorable, or suitable.  They should not switch places.  They should stay in that one place until they left.  They were not to go wandering around.  Find a suitable person and place and stay there.  Where do you stay when you travel?

February 24, 2016

The human task (Eccl 3:9-3:11)

“What gain have the workers received

From their toil?

I have seen the business

That God has given to everyone

To be busy with.

He has made everything suitable

For its time.

Moreover,

He has put a sense of past and future

Into human minds.

Yet they cannot find out

What God has done

From the beginning to the end.”

God has given workers things to busy themselves with, but they do not know their gain or profit. Everything, however, is suitable for its time. Humans have a sense of past and future, not just the present. Despite this, they do not know what God has done from the beginning until now or what he will do in the future.

June 5, 2015

The conversion of Heliodorus (2 Macc 3:35-3:40)

“Then Heliodorus offered sacrifice to the Lord. He made very great vows to the savior of his life. Having bidden Onias farewell, he marched off with his forces to the king. He bore testimony to all concerning the deeds of the supreme God, which he had seen with his own eyes. When the king asked Heliodorus what sort of person would be suitable to send on another mission to Jerusalem, he replied.

‘If you have any enemy or plotter against your government,

Send him there!

You will get him back thoroughly flogged,

If he survives at all.

There is certainly some power of God about the place.

He who has his dwelling in heaven

Watches over that place himself.

He brings it aid.

He strikes and destroys those who come to do it injury.’

This was the outcome of the episode of Heliodorus and the protection of the treasury.”

Heliodorus offered a sacrifice to the Lord. It is not clear if he did this in Jerusalem. He does not convert to become a Jew. He seems to be more favorably disposed to the Jews. He bid farewell to the high priest Onias, without a word about the money problem. When the king asked him who he should send there, Heliodorus said to send an enemy or plotter because he would not survive. The powerful God in heaven protected that place. He would destroy anyone who would come to injure the Temple of God in Jerusalem. Thus this brings an end to the story of Heliodorus and those worried about the Temple money.