synagogue leader

April 14, 2019

Hypocrites (Lk 13:15-13:15)

“Then the Lord

Answered him.

‘You hypocrites!

Does not each of you,

On the Sabbath,

Untie his ox

Or his donkey

From the stall?

Do you not

Lead it away

To give it water?’”

 

ἀπεκρίθη δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Κύριος καὶ εἶπεν Ὑποκριταί, ἕκαστος ὑμῶν τῷ σαββάτῳ οὐ λύει τὸν βοῦν αὐτοῦ ἢ τὸν ὄνον ἀπὸ τῆς φάτνης καὶ ἀπαγαγὼν ποτίζει;

 

Luke uniquely said that the Lord, not Jesus, answered this synagogue leader (ἀπεκρίθη δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Κύριος).  He called them hypocrites (καὶ εἶπεν Ὑποκριταί) in the second person plural.  He asked each of them (ἕκαστος ὑμῶν) whether they had untied their ox (οὐ λύει τὸν βοῦν αὐτοῦ) or donkey (ἢ τὸν ὄνον) from the stall or manger (ἀπὸ τῆς φάτνης) and led them away (καὶ ἀπαγαγὼν) to give them water (ποτίζει) on the Sabbath (τῷ σαββάτῳ)?  Despite the sacredness of the Sabbath, they took care of their farm animals by providing water for them, as Jesus questioned how they handled their animals on the Sabbath.  What are you Sabbath practices?

February 26, 2019

Jesus said that she was sleeping (Lk 8:52-8:52)

“They were all weeping.

And wailing

For her.

But Jesus said.

‘Do not weep!

She is not dead,

But sleeping.’”

 

ἔκλαιον δὲ πάντες καὶ ἐκόπτοντο αὐτήν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν Μὴ κλαίετε· οὐκ ἀπέθανεν ἀλλὰ καθεύδει.

 

Luke said that all the people were weeping and wailing for the young girl (ἔκλαιον δὲ πάντες καὶ ἐκόπτοντο αὐτήν).  However, Jesus told them (ὁ δὲ εἶπεν) not to weep (Μὴ κλαίετε).  She was not dead (οὐκ ἀπέθανεν), but sleeping (ἀλλὰ καθεύδει).  This episode of the crowd outside the house of Jairus with the dead or sleeping girl is similar to what can be found in Mark, chapter 5:38-39, and Matthew, chapter 9:23-24.  Mark said that Jesus came to the house of this synagogue leader, where he saw this crowd commotion.  The people were weeping and wailing loudly, definitely mourning for the dead young girl.  Jesus then asked them why they were making such a big tumult?  Why were they weeping?  The girl was not dead, but only sleeping.  Matthew said that Jesus arrived at this leader’s house, where he saw the mourning flute players.  This is the only time that this word for flute players (αὐλητὰς) is found in the biblical literature.  Neither Mark or Luke mentioned anything about flute players.  The crowd was agitated.  Jesus told them to go away, since the girl was not dead, but only sleeping.  How do you handle the death of others?

February 25, 2019

Do not fear! (Lk 8:50-8:50)

“When Jesus

Heard this,

He replied.

‘Do not fear!

Only believe!

She will be saved!’”

 

ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἀκούσας ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ Μὴ φοβοῦ· μόνον πίστευσον, καὶ σωθήσεται.

 

Luke said that when Jesus heard this (ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἀκούσας), he replied to the synagogue leader (ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ) that he should not fear (Μὴ φοβοῦ), but only believe (μόνον πίστευσον), because she would be saved (καὶ σωθήσεται).  Mark chapter 5:36, was similar to Luke here, almost word for word.  However, Matthew did not have this conversation, since the child was dead from the beginning.  Mark said that Jesus overheard what they were talking about.  He then turned to this synagogue leader and told him not to fear, but only believe.  Belief was a key element in many of these healing cases with Jesus.  Would you believe in Jesus at a time of death?

February 25, 2019

Your daughter is dead (Lk 8:49-8:49)

“While Jesus

Was still speaking,

Someone

From the synagogue leader

Came to say.

‘Your daughter

Is dead!

Do not trouble

The Teacher anymore!’”

 

Ἔτι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος ἔρχεταί τις παρὰ τοῦ ἀρχισυναγώγου λέγων ὅτι Τέθνηκεν ἡ θυγάτηρ σου, μηκέτι σκύλλε τὸν Διδάσκαλον.

 

Luke said that while Jesus was still speaking (Ἔτι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος), someone from the house of the synagogue leader came (ἔρχεταί τις παρὰ τοῦ ἀρχισυναγώγου) to tell him (λέγων) that his daughter was dead (Τέθνηκεν ἡ θυγάτηρ σου).  They should not trouble this teacher anymore (μηκέτι σκύλλε τὸν Διδάσκαλον).  Now we are back to the original story about the dying daughter of the synagogue leader.  Mark, chapter 5:35, was similar to Luke, almost word for word, while Matthew had this little girl already dead.  Mark said that while Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the synagogue leader’s household.  They told him that his daughter was dead.  Thus, there was no need to trouble the teacher anymore.  Notice that they called Jesus “teacher.”  The idea of curing the young girl was gone, since she had died.  Thus, Matthew was right when he said that she was dead.  Have you had a tragic death in your family?

February 24, 2019

The woman with flowing blood (Lk 8:43-8:43)

“A woman

Had been suffering

From flowing blood

For twelve years.

Although she had spent

All that she had

On physicians,

No one

Could cure her.”

 

καὶ γυνὴ οὖσα ἐν ῥύσει αἵματος ἀπὸ ἐτῶν δώδεκα, ἥτις οὐκ ἴσχυσεν ἀπ’ οὐδενὸς θεραπευθῆναι

 

This episode about the woman with flowing blood interrupted the story about the synagogue leader and his dying daughter.  However, it can be found in Matthew, chapter 9:20, Mark, chapter 5:25, and Luke here.  Thus, Mark might be the source.  Luke said that a woman had been suffering from flowing blood (καὶ γυνὴ οὖσα ἐν ῥύσει αἵματος) for 12 years (ἀπὸ ἐτῶν δώδεκα).  Although she had spent all that she had on physicians (ἰατροῖς προσαναλώσασα ὅλον τὸν βίον), no one could cure her (ἥτις οὐκ ἴσχυσεν ἀπ’ οὐδενὸς θεραπευθῆναι).  This phrase about spending all her money on physicians was only in the Byzantine text.  Mark, like Luke, who probably followed him, said that she had suffered from flowing blood, rather than hemorrhages.  All agree that she had been suffering for 12 years with this bleeding.  Mark and Luke had a more elaborate story, about her background.  Mark said that she had endured or greatly suffered much under many physicians.  Thus, she had spent all her money.  Instead of helping her get better, she had actually become worse.  She was in a desperate situation.  Interesting enough, the word that Matthew used for hemorrhages (αἱμορροοῦσα) is only found there, but nowhere else in the biblical literature.  Mark and Luke said that she had flowing blood.  All agree that she had been suffering for 12 years with this bleeding.  Could you suffer something for 12 years?

February 24, 2019

The only daughter of Jairus (Lk 8:42-8:42)

“Jairus had

An only daughter,

About twelve years old.

She was dying.

As Jesus went,

The crowds

Pressed in on him.”

 

ὅτι θυγάτηρ μονογενὴς ἦν αὐτῷ ὡς ἐτῶν δώδεκα καὶ αὐτὴ ἀπέθνῃσκεν. Ἐν δὲ τῷ ὑπάγειν αὐτὸν οἱ ὄχλοι συνέπνιγον αὐτόν.

 

Luke said that Jairus had an only daughter (ὅτι θυγάτηρ μονογενὴς ἦν αὐτῷ), about 12 years old (ὡς ἐτῶν δώδεκα).  She was dying (καὶ αὐτὴ ἀπέθνῃσκεν).  As Jesus went (Ἐν δὲ τῷ ὑπάγειν αὐτὸν), the crowds pressed in on him (οἱ ὄχλοι συνέπνιγον αὐτόν).  This episode about the request from the synagogue leader about his daughter can be found in Matthew, chapter 9:18-19, but there this leader said that his daughter had just died.  Luke mentioned that Jairus’ daughter was 12 years old, but dying.  Mark, chapter 5:23-24, said that she was very sick, not dead.  Mark said that Jairus, the synagogue leader, begged Jesus, saying that his little daughter was near the end of her life.  He wanted Jesus to come and lay his hands on her, so that she would be cured and live.  This synagogue leader had a great belief in Jesus.  Jesus responded immediately, without saying anything.  Jesus simply got up and went with Jairus.  However, a large crowd also followed them, so that this crowd pressed against him.  Matthew said that Jairus spoke to Jesus telling him that his daughter had just died.  There was no mention of this in other two synoptic gospels.  In Mark, she was very sick, not dead.  However, his belief in the power of Jesus was clear.  He said that if Jesus came, he could lay his hand on her.  Then she would live.  This leader had a great belief in Jesus to raise the dead.  Jesus then responded immediately, without saying anything.  He simply got up with his disciples.  They followed this leader.  Do you believe in the power of Jesus?

September 7, 2018

Just believe (Mk 5:36-5:36)

“But overhearing

What they said,

Jesus said

To the leader

Of the synagogue.

‘Do not fear!

Only believe!’”

 

ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς παρακούσας τὸν λόγον λαλούμενον λέγει τῷ ἀρχισυναγώγῳ Μὴ φοβοῦ, μόνον πίστευε

 

Luke, chapter 8:50, is similar to Mark, almost word for word.  Mark said that Jesus overheard what they were talking about (ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς παρακούσας τὸν λόγον).  He then turned to this synagogue leader (λέγει τῷ ἀρχισυναγώγῳ) and told him not to fear (Μὴ φοβοῦ), but only believe (μόνον πίστευε).  Belief was a key element in many of these healing cases with Jesus.

September 5, 2018

The woman with a blood flow (Mk 5:25-5:26)

“There was a woman

Who had been suffering

From flowing blood

For twelve years.

She had endured much

Under many physicians.

She had spent all

That she had.

She was no better,

But rather grew worse.”

 

Καὶ γυνὴ οὖσα ἐν ῥύσει αἵματος δώδεκα ἔτη,

καὶ πολλὰ παθοῦσα ὑπὸ πολλῶν ἰατρῶν καὶ δαπανήσασα τὰ παρ’ αὐτῆς πάντα, καὶ μηδὲν ὠφεληθεῖσα ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον εἰς τὸ χεῖρον ἐλθοῦσα,

 

This episode about the woman with hemorrhages interrupted the story about the synagogue leader and his dying daughter.  However, it can be found in Matthew, chapter 9:20, and Luke, chapter 8:43, also, so that Mark might be the source.  Interesting enough, the word that Matthew used for hemorrhages (αἱμορροοῦσα) was only found there, but nowhere else in the biblical literature.  Mark, like Luke, who probably followed him, said that she had suffered from flowing blood (Καὶ γυνὴ οὖσα ἐν ῥύσει αἵματος), rather than hemorrhages.  All agree that she had been suffering for 12 years with this bleeding (δώδεκα ἔτη).  Mark and Luke had a more elaborate story, about her background.  Mark said that she had endured or greatly suffered much under many physicians (καὶ πολλὰ παθοῦσα ὑπὸ πολλῶν ἰατρῶν).  Thus, she had spent all her money (καὶ δαπανήσασα τὰ παρ’ αὐτῆς πάντα).  Instead of helping her getting better (καὶ μηδὲν ὠφεληθεῖσα), she had actually become worse off (ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον εἰς τὸ χεῖρον ἐλθοῦσα).  She was in a desperate situation.

September 5, 2018

The request of Jairus (Mk 5:23-5:23)

“Jairus begged Jesus

Repeatedly.

‘My little daughter

Is at the point of death.

Come!

Lay your hands

On her!

Thus,

She may be made well,

And live.’”

 

καὶ παρακαλεῖ αὐτὸν πολλὰ λέγων ὅτι Τὸ θυγάτριόν μου ἐσχάτως ἔχει, ἵνα ἐλθὼν ἐπιθῇς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῇ, ἵνα σωθῇ καὶ ζήσῃ.

 

This episode about the request from synagogue leader about his daughter can be found in Matthew, chapter 9:18, but there this leader said that his daughter had just died.  Luke, chapter 8:42, mentioned that Jairus’ daughter was 12 years old, but dying.  Mark, said that she was very sick, not dead.  Jairus, the synagogue leader, begged or beseeched Jesus very much (καὶ παρακαλεῖ αὐτὸν πολλὰ).  He said that his little daughter was near the end of her life (λέγων ὅτι Τὸ θυγάτριόν μου ἐσχάτως ἔχει).  He wanted Jesus to come and lay his hands on her (ἵνα ἐλθὼν ἐπιθῇς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῇ).  Then she would be cured (ἵνα σωθῇ) and live (καὶ ζήσῃ).  This synagogue leader had a great belief in Jesus.