the fools

March 28, 2019

The fools (Lk 11:40-11:40)

“You fools!

Did not the one

Who made the outside

Make the inside also?”

 

ἄφρονες, οὐχ ὁ ποιήσας τὸ ἔξωθεν καὶ τὸ ἔσωθεν ἐποίησεν;

 

Luke uniquely continued with Jesus, the Lord, saying that they were fools (ἄφρονες).  Did not the one who made the outside (οὐχ ὁ ποιήσας τὸ ἔξωθεν) also make the inside (καὶ τὸ ἔσωθεν ἐποίησεν)?  This quiet dinner party was now more heated.  Jesus called the Pharisees fools, insensitive or inconsiderate.  Jesus continued to warn them about the inside and the outside of their body and various vessels.  Cleaning the outside was not good enough.  Are you worried about outside or inside cleanliness?

March 2, 2016

The fools (Eccl 10:1-10:3)

“Dead flies make

The perfumer’s ointment

Give off a foul odor.

So a little folly outweighs

Wisdom and honor.

The heart of the wise

Inclines to the right.

But the heart of a fool

Inclines to the left.

Even when the fools

Walk on the road,

They lack sense.

They show to everyone

That they are fools.”

Here are some more words of wisdom from Qoheleth. Dead flies can ruin an ointment by giving off a smelly odor. A little folly can outweigh wisdom and honor. The heart of the wise leans to the right, but the heart of a fool leans to the left. This illustrates the traditional view that left leaning people are foolish. Even when a fool is out walking, he still lacks good sense. Fools show to everyone that they really are fools.

February 16, 2016

The wise man (Prov 29:8-29:11)

“Scoffers set a city aflame.

But the wise turn away wrath.

If the wise go to law with fools,

There is ranting.

There is ridicule without relief.

The bloodthirsty hate the blameless.

They seek the life of the upright.

A fool gives full vent to his anger.

But the wise quietly hold it back.”

The scoffers or the cynics will set a city in flames with their comments. The wise, on the other hand, will turn away or stay away from anger. If there is a dispute about the law, the wise will win out because the fools will be ranting away and ridiculed non-stop. The bloodthirsty evil men hate the blameless since they seek the life of the upright ones. Fools give vent to their anger but the wise ones hold back quietly.

January 25, 2016

The fools (Prov 15:5-15:7)

“A fool despises a parent’s instruction.

But whoever heeds admonition is prudent.

In the house of the righteous

There is much treasure.

But trouble befalls the income of the wicked.

The lips of the wise spread knowledge.

The minds of fools do not spread knowledge.”

Fools do not listen to their parent’s advice. However, those who heed the admonition of their parents are prudent. If you are righteous, your family will have much treasure. However, trouble will come upon the income of the wicked fools. The wise spread knowledge with their lips, but the mind of fools cannot spread any knowledge, because they have nothing to give.

November 18, 2015

Fools do not understand (Ps 94:8-94:11)

“Understand!

O dullest of the people!

Fools!

When will you be wise?

He who planted the ear,

Does he not hear?

He who formed the eye,

Does he not see?

He who disciplines the nations,

Does he not chastise?

He who teaches men knowledge,

Does he not chastise?

Yahweh knows our thoughts.

Our thoughts are but an empty breath.”

The psalmist believes that the fools do not understand. He reminded them that they will have to have wisdom. Since God planted the ear and eye, he can certainly see and hear. As God has disciplined and thought all the nations, he can certainly chastise people. Yahweh knows everything since our thoughts are like an empty breath.