They did not understand

October 27, 2019

They did not understand (Jn 10:6-10:6)

“Jesus used

This parable

With them.

But they did not understand

What he was saying

To them.”

Ταύτην τὴν παροιμίαν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἐκεῖνοι δὲ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν τίνα ἦν ἃ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς.

John uniquely told his audience that Jesus was using this allegorical story about the good shepherd to explain himself.  He said that Jesus (ὁ Ἰησοῦς) told them (εἶπεν αὐτοῖς) this parable (Ταύτην τὴν παροιμίαν) about the good shepherd.  John explicitly said that Jesus was using a parable.  Only John among all the synoptics used this word, παροιμίαν that means a figure of speech, an allegory, or a parable.  However, they did not understand what he was saying (τίνα ἦν ἃ ἐλάλει) to them (αὐτοῖς).  Once again, there was a lack of understanding.  Jesus seemed to be talking to the wind, since no one understood what he was talking about.  His listeners were blind to the spiritual message of Jesus.  They had this false literal material understanding of his message.  Are you sometimes deaf and blind to the message of Jesus?

October 11, 2019

They did not understand (Jn 8:27-8:27)

“This Jewish group

Did not understand

That he was speaking

To them

About the Father.”

οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ὅτι τὸν Πατέρα αὐτοῖς ἔλεγεν.

John uniquely indicated that this Jewish group did not understand (οὐκ ἔγνωσαν) that (ὅτι) he was speaking (ἔλεγεν) to them (αὐτοῖς) about the Father, (τὸν Πατέρα) God.  They continued to not know or understand what Jesus was saying.  These people did not comprehend that Jesus was talking to them about God, the Father.  They seem to have been hung up on his earthly father.  Thus, the gnostic undertones of not understanding run throughout this gospel story.  Lack of understanding seems to dominate the words of Jesus.  Do you understand the role of Jesus and his Father?

May 22, 2019

They did not understand (Lk 18:34-18:34)

“But the twelve apostles

Understood

Nothing about

All these things.

In fact,

What he said

Was hidden

From them.

They did not grasp

What was said.”

 

καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐδὲν τούτων συνῆκαν, καὶ ἦν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο κεκρυμμένον ἀπ’ αὐτῶν, καὶ οὐκ ἐγίνωσκον τὰ λεγόμενα.

 

Luke uniquely added that 12 apostles did not understood anything about all these things (καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐδὲν τούτων συνῆκαν) about his future death and resurrection.  In fact, what Jesus said was hidden from them (καὶ ἦν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο κεκρυμμένον ἀπ’ αὐτῶν), because they did not grasp what he said (καὶ οὐκ ἐγίνωσκον τὰ λεγόμενα).  Despite Jesus’ attempt to inform his elite 12 apostles, they still did not understand what he was talking about.  This is somewhat similar to earlier in chapter 9:45, where Luke said that the disciples did not understand this saying of Jesus (οἱ δὲ ἠγνόουν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο), because its meaning was veiled or concealed from them (καὶ ἦν παρακεκαλυμμένον ἀπ’ αὐτῶν).  Thus, they could not comprehend it (ἵνα μὴ αἴσθωνται αὐτό).  However, they were afraid (καὶ ἐφοβοῦντο) to ask Jesus (ἐρωτῆσαι αὐτὸν) about the meaning of this saying (περὶ τοῦ ῥήματος τούτου).  This saying about the reaction of the disciples can also be found in Matthew, chapter 17:23, and Mark, chapter 9:32.  Mark, like Luke, said that the disciples did not understand what Jesus was talking about.  They were afraid to ask or question him about this.  Once again, Mark indicated that the disciples did not seem to understand everything that was going on around them.  Matthew, on the other hand, said that on hearing this, the disciples were greatly vexed, pained, or distressed, since this was shocking news to them.  Do you always understand what Jesus is talking about?

March 8, 2019

They did not understand (Lk 9:45-9:45)

“But his disciples

Did not understand

This saying.

Its meaning

Was concealed

From them.

Thus,

They could not

Comprehend it.

They were afraid

To ask him

About this saying.”

 

οἱ δὲ ἠγνόουν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο, καὶ ἦν παρακεκαλυμμένον ἀπ’ αὐτῶν ἵνα μὴ αἴσθωνται αὐτό, καὶ ἐφοβοῦντο ἐρωτῆσαι αὐτὸν περὶ τοῦ ῥήματος τούτου.

 

Luke said that the disciples did not understand this saying of Jesus (οἱ δὲ ἠγνόουν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο), because its meaning was veiled or concealed from them (καὶ ἦν παρακεκαλυμμένον ἀπ’ αὐτῶν).  Thus, they could not comprehend it (ἵνα μὴ αἴσθωνται αὐτό).  However, they were afraid (καὶ ἐφοβοῦντο) to ask Jesus (ἐρωτῆσαι αὐτὸν) about the meaning of this saying (περὶ τοῦ ῥήματος τούτου).  This saying about the reaction of the disciples can also be found in Matthew, chapter 17:23, and Mark, chapter 9:32.  Mark, like Luke, said that the disciples did not understand what Jesus was talking about.  They were afraid to ask or question him about this.  Once again, Mark indicated that the disciples did not seem to understand everything that was going on around them.  Matthew, on the other hand, said that on hearing this, the disciples were greatly vexed, pained, or distressed, since this was shocking news to them.  They seemed to understand what Jesus was taking about.  Do you always understand what Jesus is talking about?