NEW TESTAMENT: James 1: 17 - 27 (RCL)
James 1: 17 - 18, 21b - 22, 27 (Roman Catholic)
Jame 1:17 (NRSV) Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
19 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. 21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; 24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act--they will be blessed in their doing.
26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
1. Martin Luther did not like James. Martin Luther famously referred to it as “an epistle of straw,” with “nothing of the nature of the gospel about it.”
2. Traditionally, the Church has seen the author of this book as James, the brother of our Lord; however, its excellent Greek style, late acceptance into the canon, and absence of concerns about ritual purity suggest another author. The author seems to have written in the name of James, thus giving the book authority.
3. God now gives us the new creation, i.e. baptism (“birth”, v. 18), into the gospel (“word of truth”)
4. Just as the first-fruits of every harvest in Judea were consecrated to the Lord, thus we Christians have been set apart from the sinful world to be creatures of God
5. Human anger defeats God's purposes. We've learned that also from experience.
6. James is warning about the kind of hearing that deceives itself, a kind of hearing that promptly forgets after the person has heard.
7. Baptism places ethical demands.
8. James is warning against mere external religiosity, whereby a person deceives his inner being.
9. Christians are not asked to visit any and all widows and orphans but only those who are afflicted.
10. Specific mention of “orphans and widows” is not to lift up these two populations above all others; this phrase is often used to represent all oppressed peoples as those about whom God is particularly concerned (see also Isaiah 1:16-17) -- and therefore as those for whom we are challenged to show particular concern, as well.
11. "World" here, as in John's Gospel, is the ungodly, unbelieving mass of humanity.
GOSPEL: Mark 7: 1 - 8, 14 - 15, 21 - 23 (all)
Mark 7:1 (NRSV) Now when the Phar'isees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, 2 they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. 3 (For the Phar'isees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; 4 and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles. 5 So the Phar'isees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" 6 He said to them, "Isai'ah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,
"This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
7 in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.'
8 You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition."
14 Then he called the crowd again and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile."
20 And he said, "It is what comes out of a person that defiles. 21 For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, 22 adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
1. Pharisees were a religious party, Scribes a religious profession. But they joined in attacking Jesus on this occasion.
2. The Pharisees and Scribes cleverly and hypocritically attack Jesus through His disciples.
3. The Pharisees are “from Jerusalem”, so represent official Judaism.
4. Pharisees consider the “tradition of the elders” to be binding, as are the laws of Moses. They wished to extend the laws of ritual purity, which once applied only to priests, to all Jews, thus making all people priestly.
5. The way of life of the disciples did not follow the tradition of the elders.
6. The Talmud is a work in two parts, the Mishnah, containing the traditional legal enactments, and Gemara, with the corresponding interpretative annotations. It is these traditional regulations which are designated 'the tradition of the elders.' These were based on Deuteronomy 4:14 and 17:10. In the 'tradition of the elders' there was one to the effect that a person should not eat with unwashed hands, in accordance with Leviticus 15:11 . . . Rabbi Jones contended that it was just as sinful to eat with unwashed hands as to commit adultery.
7. The hypocrite is the man who hides or tries to hide his real intentions under a mask of simulated virtue, a phony.
8. Jesus is not condemning human traditions and ceremonies per se. But when they displace God's Word and righteousness is attached to them, then hypocrisy results and the traditions become sin.
9. It was not the food as food entering the mouth that made a man unclean, but the man's disregard of the Levitical law given him as a Jew by God, the disobedience he would be voicing in asking for such food and in justifying his eating thereof.
10. The first six of the twelve items are in the plural, the second six retain the singular. The first six describe wicked actions; the second six the evil drives and words that are related to such and similar actions.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
NEW TESTAMENT: Ephesians 6: 10 - 20 (RCL)
Ephe 6:10 (NRSV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
1. Ephesians 6:10-20 warns us about the reality of our dreadful enemies but also informs us about what God gives us to combat Satan and all the evil forces. The Christian is anything but an idle, easy-going person. He is aware of the grim battle with Satan. He is equipped for the battle and is assured of victory before the battle begins.
2. "Full armor," the metaphor is that of the Greek hoplite, the heavy-armed soldier who puts on his full armor. This consisted of shield, sword, lance, helmet, greaves and breastplate
3. against the devil's schemes are the tricky methods of the devil
4. These demons are spirit, spirits only, without flesh and blood, conscious beings, endowed with reason and will, but spirits of wickedness, whose entire thought, effort and seeking is pure wickedness, whose sole purpose is to destroy the works of God. They are actively evil. Think of what Satan did to our first parents, King Saul, Solomon, Judas, Peter and countless others who began so well but who were trapped so miserably.
5. The evil day denotes an occasion when Satan strikes with fury in his attempt to overcome us with evil.
6. The fiery darts here represent the doubts, lusts, temptations, fears, etc. which Satan uses against us. Sooner or later every Christian understands what is meant by these words of Paul. Fiery arrows are destructive, a frightening prospect. With Christian faith we can quench them.
7. The Holy Spirit owns and gives this sword to us. What is it? The Word of God.
8. For this Gospel Paul was an ambassador in chains, a paradox. He is God's ambassador, God's messenger. But Rome considered him a prisoner. Usually ambassadors live in splendor and are treated royally. Not this ambassador.
GOSPEL: John 6: 56 - 69 (RCL)
John 6:55 (NRSV) for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Caper'naum.
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?" 61 But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But among you there are some who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65 And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father."
66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67 So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" 68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
1. As has been Jesus' habit throughout this conversation, he meets objections by sharpening the point of his message, raising the offense rather than softening it,
2. Jesus' statement that the "flesh" is useless (verse 63) cannot be read as a rejection of bodily life or a denial of creation's goodness. After all, this is the Gospel which joyfully declared that "the Word became flesh" (1:14). Rather, "flesh" here indicates the normal way of seeing reality, the way of viewing life judged to be "sensible" by the world, which cannot see that eternal life comes through the exaltation of Jesus on the cross,
3. "This is more than we can stomach! Why listen to such talk?"
4. In contrast to the response of some of his disciples, we have here the response of the Twelve, whom Jesus then questioned concerning their loyalty to him. This is the big test, and the Twelve, with Peter as spokesman, pass with flying colors. The confession here differs considerably from the Synoptic accounts (Matt 16:16, Mark 8:29, and Luke 9:20) and concerns directly the disciples’ personal loyalty to Jesus, in contrast to those other disciples (6:66) who had deserted him.
h/t bible.org and bul's notes
Ephe 6:10 (NRSV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
1. Ephesians 6:10-20 warns us about the reality of our dreadful enemies but also informs us about what God gives us to combat Satan and all the evil forces. The Christian is anything but an idle, easy-going person. He is aware of the grim battle with Satan. He is equipped for the battle and is assured of victory before the battle begins.
2. "Full armor," the metaphor is that of the Greek hoplite, the heavy-armed soldier who puts on his full armor. This consisted of shield, sword, lance, helmet, greaves and breastplate
3. against the devil's schemes are the tricky methods of the devil
4. These demons are spirit, spirits only, without flesh and blood, conscious beings, endowed with reason and will, but spirits of wickedness, whose entire thought, effort and seeking is pure wickedness, whose sole purpose is to destroy the works of God. They are actively evil. Think of what Satan did to our first parents, King Saul, Solomon, Judas, Peter and countless others who began so well but who were trapped so miserably.
5. The evil day denotes an occasion when Satan strikes with fury in his attempt to overcome us with evil.
6. The fiery darts here represent the doubts, lusts, temptations, fears, etc. which Satan uses against us. Sooner or later every Christian understands what is meant by these words of Paul. Fiery arrows are destructive, a frightening prospect. With Christian faith we can quench them.
7. The Holy Spirit owns and gives this sword to us. What is it? The Word of God.
8. For this Gospel Paul was an ambassador in chains, a paradox. He is God's ambassador, God's messenger. But Rome considered him a prisoner. Usually ambassadors live in splendor and are treated royally. Not this ambassador.
GOSPEL: John 6: 56 - 69 (RCL)
John 6:55 (NRSV) for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Caper'naum.
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?" 61 But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But among you there are some who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65 And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father."
66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67 So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" 68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
1. As has been Jesus' habit throughout this conversation, he meets objections by sharpening the point of his message, raising the offense rather than softening it,
2. Jesus' statement that the "flesh" is useless (verse 63) cannot be read as a rejection of bodily life or a denial of creation's goodness. After all, this is the Gospel which joyfully declared that "the Word became flesh" (1:14). Rather, "flesh" here indicates the normal way of seeing reality, the way of viewing life judged to be "sensible" by the world, which cannot see that eternal life comes through the exaltation of Jesus on the cross,
3. "This is more than we can stomach! Why listen to such talk?"
4. In contrast to the response of some of his disciples, we have here the response of the Twelve, whom Jesus then questioned concerning their loyalty to him. This is the big test, and the Twelve, with Peter as spokesman, pass with flying colors. The confession here differs considerably from the Synoptic accounts (Matt 16:16, Mark 8:29, and Luke 9:20) and concerns directly the disciples’ personal loyalty to Jesus, in contrast to those other disciples (6:66) who had deserted him.
h/t bible.org and bul's notes
Saturday, August 15, 2009
NEW TESTAMENT: Ephesians 5: 15 - 20 (all)
Ephe 5:15 (NRSV) Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Ephesus had been part of the Roman Empire for over a century.
2. It was a city second only to Rome in size, almost 500,000 inhabitants.
3. The large temple of Artemis generated jobs for local statue makers and Paul caused some controversy among them Acts 19:23-41)
4. To be wise is more than to know; it means to use, apply, and thus to get the most out of knowledge in our walking or in the management of our life.
5.the Christian must buy back time which evil has taken over.
6. Speaking about making use of opportunities in the interest of the Kingdom of God, whatever that opportunity may be. Unbelievers make use of opportunities to further their own material gain. It is not wrong for Christians to do that. They should do that. But, in addition to that, they must wisely seize opportunities which are in the interest of God's Kingdom.
7. The text is speaking about what we should do in specific cases for the good of people as prospects for the Kingdom of God. Lord what would you have me do?
8. "Debauchery" literally means "unsavingness." The translations are interesting: "excess, debauchery, dissipation, wild living."
9. The band SAVAE plays authentic songs and psalms from the Biblical era.
GOSPEL: John 6: 51 - 58 (RCL, Roman Catholic)
John 6:51 (NRSV) I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 53 So Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever."
1. Manna, temporal, from God, only protected the chosen people, the new bread gives life forever.
2. The participle in verse 54, trwvgwn, is almost shockingly graphic: it means to eat noisily, often used of animals (“gnaw,” “nibble,” “munch”).
3. Very truly, I tell you, - you don’t know how true your words actually are…
4. Flesh and blood stand for faith, not the Last Supper, over a year later. Lots of controversy and blood over the ages on this.
5. Ordinary food for the body is temporary and merely sustains life. Jesus' flesh and blood is eternal and gives eternal life
6. Here we have the fourth and last "In very truth I tell you." This clause always denotes Jesus' divinity and authority.
7. "In" should be compared to John 17:23. This "in" denotes the mystical union between believer and Savior. This use of this preposition is found only in the New Testament and no place else in literature. Even a husband and wife are not so closely bound as are believer and Savior. Furthermore, the bond between husband and wife ends when either one of both die. But the death of the Savior brought about this bond between believer and Savior, and it will last forever
Ephe 5:15 (NRSV) Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Ephesus had been part of the Roman Empire for over a century.
2. It was a city second only to Rome in size, almost 500,000 inhabitants.
3. The large temple of Artemis generated jobs for local statue makers and Paul caused some controversy among them Acts 19:23-41)
4. To be wise is more than to know; it means to use, apply, and thus to get the most out of knowledge in our walking or in the management of our life.
5.the Christian must buy back time which evil has taken over.
6. Speaking about making use of opportunities in the interest of the Kingdom of God, whatever that opportunity may be. Unbelievers make use of opportunities to further their own material gain. It is not wrong for Christians to do that. They should do that. But, in addition to that, they must wisely seize opportunities which are in the interest of God's Kingdom.
7. The text is speaking about what we should do in specific cases for the good of people as prospects for the Kingdom of God. Lord what would you have me do?
8. "Debauchery" literally means "unsavingness." The translations are interesting: "excess, debauchery, dissipation, wild living."
9. The band SAVAE plays authentic songs and psalms from the Biblical era.
GOSPEL: John 6: 51 - 58 (RCL, Roman Catholic)
John 6:51 (NRSV) I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 53 So Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever."
1. Manna, temporal, from God, only protected the chosen people, the new bread gives life forever.
2. The participle in verse 54, trwvgwn, is almost shockingly graphic: it means to eat noisily, often used of animals (“gnaw,” “nibble,” “munch”).
3. Very truly, I tell you, - you don’t know how true your words actually are…
4. Flesh and blood stand for faith, not the Last Supper, over a year later. Lots of controversy and blood over the ages on this.
5. Ordinary food for the body is temporary and merely sustains life. Jesus' flesh and blood is eternal and gives eternal life
6. Here we have the fourth and last "In very truth I tell you." This clause always denotes Jesus' divinity and authority.
7. "In" should be compared to John 17:23. This "in" denotes the mystical union between believer and Savior. This use of this preposition is found only in the New Testament and no place else in literature. Even a husband and wife are not so closely bound as are believer and Savior. Furthermore, the bond between husband and wife ends when either one of both die. But the death of the Savior brought about this bond between believer and Savior, and it will last forever
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Ephesians 4:25-5:2 (New International Version)
25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin"[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 5
1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
35Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
Ephesus had been part of the Roman Empire for over a century.
It was a city second only to Rome in size, almost 500,000 inhabitants.
The large temple of Artemis generated jobs for local statue makers and Paul caused some controversy among them Acts 19:23-41)
There is no report of a dispute between Paul and the church of the Ephesians.
By whom." The verb is aorist passive. The Holy Spirit is the agent.
The Holy Spirit is a seal which has been impressed upon us, to reassure us that we belong to God, and preserves us for our destination, unto the day of redemption.
."Malice" has it own form of "all." It means "Every kind and every vestige of."
"Bitterness" is bitter feelings.
"Rage" means losing one's cool, bursting forth.
"Anger" is the slow burn that can so easily become a grudge. Thus far we have the inner sins.
Now follow two which express themselves in voice and words.
"Brawling" is angry shouting.
"Slander" is the vile, destructive, scolding language which goes with brawling.
The Greek word for "live a life" is something like "walk the walk," a metaphor for the Christian's way of life. This reminds us of the words of a hymn: "Let us ever walk with Jesus.
John 6:41-51
41At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." 42They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"
43"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. 44"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.'[a] Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
'I am' -- To those who seek Him, He offers Himself immediately.
But John 6:31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
They back up their statement with Scripture. What are they saying?
1. That Moses did a greater work than did Jesus; and,
2. That the gift of manna was greater than the feeding of the 5,000.
John 6:32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
Here is another "In very truth I tell you." Jesus uses it to correct them. The Father, not Moses, gave them manna.
'The bread of life' like 'the water of life' in chapter four is Biblical allegory which unites the figure 'bread' with the reality 'life' and thus always interprets itself.
Jesus plainly tells His hearers that He has been fully revealed to them but they are rejecting Him. The one who comes to Christ does so only because he is a gift of the Father to Jesus. Such a one will never be driven away by Christ. But His hearers are resisting the Father Who wants to draw them. The will of the Father and the Son are identical. That identical will is that Jesus will not lose anyone whom the Father gives to Jesus. What's more, Jesus will raise that person on the last day. Much of verse 40 is repetition because Jesus is yearning for the people who are listening to Him. Everyone who believes in the Son has life eternal and furthermore, Jesus will raise that person on the last day. Notice how the gift of life eternal and of resurrection on the last day are a constant refrain in this sermon.
The Gospel of John uses the term "the Jews" in pejorative sense, meaning Jesus' enemies, those who hated Him.
Though they grumble at Him, He does not abandon them but keeps on offering Himself to them. The cause of their grumbling is stated at the end of verse 41 and explained further in verse 42. Verses 41-51 center in the person of Christ.
John 6:42 They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?" (Buls: And so they went on to say: "Isn't this man Jesus the son of Joseph whose father and mother we know? How then does He say: 'I came down from heaven?'")
The question in the first part of the verse expects an affirmative answer. The second question amounts to doubting what Jesus said of Himself. They are plainly denying His divinity.
Out of heaven have I come down.' That, indeed, is the vital point in all that Jesus said to them. It has ever been the stumbling block and rock of offense for unbelief.
John 6:43 "Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered.
John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day
It is the true human nature of Jesus, the Bearer of eternal life, which faith must appropriate in order to partake of the life . . . . His human nature, or, in other words, Himself, as the One made man, is food, indeed which satisfies the inmost needs of humanity and apart from Him, this food may not be found . . . . It is ever correct to say that Jesus uses the term 'flesh' and 'blood' because He would choose a clear and adequate expression to designate His human nature, as of flesh and blood. . . . To eat is, then, in this passage, to believe. He that believes also eats and drinks Christ . . . If He were merely 'flesh', a human being only, then the eating and drinking of Him would not avail unto eternal life, it would have no beneficial effect whatsoever. But He is also 'spirit', that is, God in essence and in truth, and it is this 'spirit' which permeates and animates His true humanity which makes Him the true Bread from heaven.
25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin"[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 5
1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
35Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
Ephesus had been part of the Roman Empire for over a century.
It was a city second only to Rome in size, almost 500,000 inhabitants.
The large temple of Artemis generated jobs for local statue makers and Paul caused some controversy among them Acts 19:23-41)
There is no report of a dispute between Paul and the church of the Ephesians.
By whom." The verb is aorist passive. The Holy Spirit is the agent.
The Holy Spirit is a seal which has been impressed upon us, to reassure us that we belong to God, and preserves us for our destination, unto the day of redemption.
."Malice" has it own form of "all." It means "Every kind and every vestige of."
"Bitterness" is bitter feelings.
"Rage" means losing one's cool, bursting forth.
"Anger" is the slow burn that can so easily become a grudge. Thus far we have the inner sins.
Now follow two which express themselves in voice and words.
"Brawling" is angry shouting.
"Slander" is the vile, destructive, scolding language which goes with brawling.
The Greek word for "live a life" is something like "walk the walk," a metaphor for the Christian's way of life. This reminds us of the words of a hymn: "Let us ever walk with Jesus.
John 6:41-51
41At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." 42They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"
43"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. 44"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.'[a] Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
'I am' -- To those who seek Him, He offers Himself immediately.
But John 6:31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
They back up their statement with Scripture. What are they saying?
1. That Moses did a greater work than did Jesus; and,
2. That the gift of manna was greater than the feeding of the 5,000.
John 6:32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
Here is another "In very truth I tell you." Jesus uses it to correct them. The Father, not Moses, gave them manna.
'The bread of life' like 'the water of life' in chapter four is Biblical allegory which unites the figure 'bread' with the reality 'life' and thus always interprets itself.
Jesus plainly tells His hearers that He has been fully revealed to them but they are rejecting Him. The one who comes to Christ does so only because he is a gift of the Father to Jesus. Such a one will never be driven away by Christ. But His hearers are resisting the Father Who wants to draw them. The will of the Father and the Son are identical. That identical will is that Jesus will not lose anyone whom the Father gives to Jesus. What's more, Jesus will raise that person on the last day. Much of verse 40 is repetition because Jesus is yearning for the people who are listening to Him. Everyone who believes in the Son has life eternal and furthermore, Jesus will raise that person on the last day. Notice how the gift of life eternal and of resurrection on the last day are a constant refrain in this sermon.
The Gospel of John uses the term "the Jews" in pejorative sense, meaning Jesus' enemies, those who hated Him.
Though they grumble at Him, He does not abandon them but keeps on offering Himself to them. The cause of their grumbling is stated at the end of verse 41 and explained further in verse 42. Verses 41-51 center in the person of Christ.
John 6:42 They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?" (Buls: And so they went on to say: "Isn't this man Jesus the son of Joseph whose father and mother we know? How then does He say: 'I came down from heaven?'")
The question in the first part of the verse expects an affirmative answer. The second question amounts to doubting what Jesus said of Himself. They are plainly denying His divinity.
Out of heaven have I come down.' That, indeed, is the vital point in all that Jesus said to them. It has ever been the stumbling block and rock of offense for unbelief.
John 6:43 "Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered.
John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day
It is the true human nature of Jesus, the Bearer of eternal life, which faith must appropriate in order to partake of the life . . . . His human nature, or, in other words, Himself, as the One made man, is food, indeed which satisfies the inmost needs of humanity and apart from Him, this food may not be found . . . . It is ever correct to say that Jesus uses the term 'flesh' and 'blood' because He would choose a clear and adequate expression to designate His human nature, as of flesh and blood. . . . To eat is, then, in this passage, to believe. He that believes also eats and drinks Christ . . . If He were merely 'flesh', a human being only, then the eating and drinking of Him would not avail unto eternal life, it would have no beneficial effect whatsoever. But He is also 'spirit', that is, God in essence and in truth, and it is this 'spirit' which permeates and animates His true humanity which makes Him the true Bread from heaven.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
GOSPEL: John 6: 24 - 35
John 6:24 (NRSV) So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper'naum looking for Jesus.
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal." 28 Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." 30 So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, "He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" 32 Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34 They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."
35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Notes
1. This lake was a center of Jewish life.
It is Israel’s largest fresh water lake, 8 miles by 13 miles, also known as the Gennesaret, after a nearby plain. The lake, part of the Jordan Valley rift, is on the edge of the Africa and Asia plates. It is the lowest fresh water lake in the world. The Dead Sea , the lowest lake, is salt water.
2. The lake was a center of commerce and trade. We think of a lake as a country retreat, but this was on the trade route from Egypt to the great civilizations of Asia, and had much trade. It is listed in Isaiah as ‘Via Maris’
3. This was the locus of Jesus’ ministry, including miracles ‘feeding the five thousand’, source of apostles, Simon, Andrew, John, and James, and teaching ‘sermon on the mount’. The apostle Paul spent more time in salt water, and had many storm stories as well.
4. The crowd follows in order to get more bread.
5. Jesus counters that they should search for eternal life.
6. The crowd demands more bread (manna) miracles in order to believe.
7. Jesus persuades them that he is the bread of life. The crowd agrees.
Keep your eye and heart on Jesus. Accept him as your savior. His miracles establish him as the Savior.
John 6:24 (NRSV) So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper'naum looking for Jesus.
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal." 28 Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." 30 So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, "He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" 32 Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34 They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."
35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Notes
1. This lake was a center of Jewish life.
It is Israel’s largest fresh water lake, 8 miles by 13 miles, also known as the Gennesaret, after a nearby plain. The lake, part of the Jordan Valley rift, is on the edge of the Africa and Asia plates. It is the lowest fresh water lake in the world. The Dead Sea , the lowest lake, is salt water.
2. The lake was a center of commerce and trade. We think of a lake as a country retreat, but this was on the trade route from Egypt to the great civilizations of Asia, and had much trade. It is listed in Isaiah as ‘Via Maris’
3. This was the locus of Jesus’ ministry, including miracles ‘feeding the five thousand’, source of apostles, Simon, Andrew, John, and James, and teaching ‘sermon on the mount’. The apostle Paul spent more time in salt water, and had many storm stories as well.
4. The crowd follows in order to get more bread.
5. Jesus counters that they should search for eternal life.
6. The crowd demands more bread (manna) miracles in order to believe.
7. Jesus persuades them that he is the bread of life. The crowd agrees.
Keep your eye and heart on Jesus. Accept him as your savior. His miracles establish him as the Savior.
NEW TESTAMENT: Ephesians 4: 1 - 16 (RCL)
Ephesians 4: 1 - 6 (Can. BAS)
Ephe 4:1 (NRSV) I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
7 But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it is said,
"When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive;
he gave gifts to his people."
9 (When it says, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) 11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. 15 But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.
Ephesus had been part of the Roman Empire for over a century.
It was a city second only to Rome in size, almost 500,000 inhabitants.
The large temple of Artemis generated jobs for local statue makers and Paul caused some controversy among them Acts 19:23-41)
There is no report of a dispute between Paul and the church of the Ephesians.
There was an apparent dispute between Jews who thought all Christians should become Jews first and adopt Jewish habits, versus Gentiles who wanted to worship Christ without becoming Jews.
The first 3 chapter of Ephesians discusses God’s work. You do nothing. God insists we believe, you have an eternal life, a resurrection.
Chapter 4 begins with therefore
Therefore begins a call to action to preserve unity.
We all have different jobs until the church is unified, and all believe.
We must avoid trickery and deceitful scheming, unusual or alternate theology.
Instead we must grow together, each using our individual gift, in love.
Ephesians 4: 1 - 6 (Can. BAS)
Ephe 4:1 (NRSV) I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
7 But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it is said,
"When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive;
he gave gifts to his people."
9 (When it says, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) 11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. 15 But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.
Ephesus had been part of the Roman Empire for over a century.
It was a city second only to Rome in size, almost 500,000 inhabitants.
The large temple of Artemis generated jobs for local statue makers and Paul caused some controversy among them Acts 19:23-41)
There is no report of a dispute between Paul and the church of the Ephesians.
There was an apparent dispute between Jews who thought all Christians should become Jews first and adopt Jewish habits, versus Gentiles who wanted to worship Christ without becoming Jews.
The first 3 chapter of Ephesians discusses God’s work. You do nothing. God insists we believe, you have an eternal life, a resurrection.
Chapter 4 begins with therefore
Therefore begins a call to action to preserve unity.
We all have different jobs until the church is unified, and all believe.
We must avoid trickery and deceitful scheming, unusual or alternate theology.
Instead we must grow together, each using our individual gift, in love.
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