No more questions (Mk 12:34-12:34)

“When Jesus saw

That he answered wisely,

He said to him.

‘You are not far

From the kingdom of God.’

After that,

No one dared

To ask Jesus

Any question.”

 

καὶ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ὅτι νουνεχῶς ἀπεκρίθη, εἶπεν αὐτῷ Οὐ μακρὰν εἶ ἀπὸ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ Θεοῦ. καὶ οὐδεὶς οὐκέτι ἐτόλμα αὐτὸν ἐπερωτῆσαι.

 

This saying of Jesus is unique to Mark, except for the ending.  When Jesus saw that this Scribe (καὶ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, ἰδὼν αὐτὸν) had answered wisely (ὅτι νουνεχῶς ἀπεκρίθη), he said to him (εἶπεν αὐτῷ) that he was not far from the kingdom of God (Οὐ μακρὰν εἶ ἀπὸ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ Θεοῦ.).  After that, no one dared to ask Jesus any questions (καὶ οὐδεὶς οὐκέτι ἐτόλμα αὐτὸν ἐπερωτῆσαι).  This is one of the few times in the gospel stories where there is a kind word for any of the Jewish Scribes.

 

Prophesy of the dry bones (Ezek 37:3-37:4)

“Yahweh said to me.

‘Son of man!

Can these bones live?’

I answered.

‘O Yahweh God!

You know!’

Then he said to me.

‘Prophesy

To these bones!

Say to them!

O dry bones!

Hear

The word of Yahweh!’”

This is a short crisp dialogue between Yahweh and Ezekiel. Normally, these oracles were long Yahweh monologues. Yahweh here asked Ezekiel if these dry bones could live. Ezekiel wisely responded that if anyone knew about them, it would be Yahweh himself. Then Yahweh told Ezekiel to prophesize to these dry bones. Ezekiel was to tell these dry bones to listen to the word of Yahweh, a common theme of many Yahweh oracles.

The future righteousness king (Jer 33:15-33:17)

“In those days,

At that time,

I will cause

A righteous branch

To spring up

For David.

He shall execute justice

In the land.

He shall execute righteousness

In the land.

In those days,

Judah will be saved.

Jerusalem will live in safety.

This is the name

It will be called.

‘Yahweh is our righteousness.’

Thus says Yahweh.

‘David shall never lack

A man to sit

On the throne

Of the house of Israel.’”

This is almost word for word from chapter 23 of this work. Yahweh indicates that a future Davidic king would rule in both Judah and Jerusalem, not Israel as in chapter 23. This king would come from David’s righteous branch. He would rule wisely with justice and righteousness. Judah would be saved and Jerusalem, not Israel, would live in safety. The name of Jerusalem would be called “Yahweh of our righteousness.” However, Yahweh said that they would never lack a descendant of David to sit on the throne as the king of Israel.

Prayer to obtain wisdom (Wis 9:1-9:4)

“O God of my ancestors!

Lord of mercy!

You have made all things by your word.

By your wisdom

You have formed humankind.

They have dominion

Over the creatures you have made.

You rule the world in holiness.

You rule the world in righteousness.

You pronounce judgment

In uprightness of soul.

Give me the wisdom

That sits by your throne.

Do not reject me

From among your servants.”

This prayer is reminiscent of the prayer of Solomon in 1Kings, chapter 8, and his request for wisdom (σοφίαν) in chapter 3. This author, like Solomon, recognized the creative work (ποιήσας τὰ πάντα) of the merciful Lord (Κύριε τοῦ ἐλέους) and God of his ancestors (θεος πατέρων). Very wisely (τῇ σοφίᾳ), with his words (ἐν λόγῳ σου) God created humans (ἄνθρωπον) to have dominion over all the creatures since he ruled the world with holiness and righteousness (δικαιοσύνῃ).