Saturday 21 February 2015

Staying with the Worthy

#biblestudy #jesus #greeknewtestament

Matthew Chapter 10 11 - 15

and when into a city or village you enter search for who worthy is
and there stay until you depart
and when coming into the house make respectful greetings
and and if the house is worthy let your peace come upon it
and if it is not worthy your peace turn back / withdraw
and whoever not receives you nor hears the words of you go out of that house or city shaking the dust of the feet of you
truly  i say to you more tolerable it would be for earth of sodom and Gomorrah on day of judgement than that city

AXIOS usually means worthy deserving or valuable  but here it seems to be used as we might when saying a person is respected or respectable.

he's asking his disciples to show good manners ask if they can enter and offer their blessings and to leave if it turns out they are not welcome

the comparison to Sodom and Gomorrah seems very severe to us but remember the ancient tradition of guest rights in Greece and the Near East.

To mistreat a guest after you have accepted them into your house and they have offered their blessings was regarded as not just rude but almost blasphemous!

Bless who ever is hosting you as a visitor in response to their hospitality!

Saturday 14 February 2015

Mission Statement

#whatjesussaid  # bible #christ 3gospel
#Mission  Statement #GospelofMatthew Chapter 10 1 - 10
#biblestudy #Greek #greeknewtestament

At the beginning of Matthew Chapter 10 #Jesus give his students ... yes students matheetas ... is the actual Greek Word ... EXOUSIA power / authority to HEAL.

A list of the names of the 12 is given and then more of the "Mission statement"
he sent the 12 away ordering to them saying

Note eis by itself as a preposition as well as a prefix can also mean into or onto NOT just IN or AT  ... Position and Motion !

"On the road to the nations (gentiles pagans non jews) and the city of the Samaritans not go / enter but rather towards the lost sheep of  the house of Israel
and approaching you will announce
 (literally herald  keerussoo not preach that meaning came later)
saying NEAR the realm of heaven (is)
weak heal / attend to / serve, note use of therapeuoo again,
 dead arouse / rise up / wake  egeiroo,
lepers cleanse / purify,

 (note that with hansens and other skin infections and disorders cleaning the affection areas can reduce or limit the problem getting worse and for centuries before modern antibiotics were discovered lepers were masked and bandaged  not just to hide their disfigurements but also to to try to reduce further infection so not just spiritual healing? )

 again he states  (evil) spiritual powers / entities are to be cast out,

and why

 because (free) gifts DOOREA you did receive elabete   (so) gifts give DOTE !

or to use a modern phrase Pass it on!

Note again the emphasis on HEALING rather just than preaching!

Verse 9 - 10

Not acquire gold nor silver or copper (coins) in your belt

 the greek verb used is ktaomai get obtain acquire things

also note NO POCKETS BACK THEN!
purses or coins were rolled into belts or attached to !
again eis can mean onto as well as into )

no bag for journey nor 2 tunics / under robes nor shoes / sandals nor staff

TRAVEL LIGHT

however

worthy for the worker of food / support (is)

So should modern ministers be paid for work for by donations ?

Note the use of ergatees laborer worker something like a hired hand or builders labourer  or factory hand not even a tradesman ?

There are probably people who would justify this to pay minimal wages to their workers forgetting jesus is addressing and TESTING his disciples?

Also trophee is not just food but what sustains life so maybe food and rent and clothing basic ways and means?  Health care? A few little luxuries?

That first ministry tour was rough!

He may have made them get an UNPAID internship but he didn't say future ministers and workers should never be paid just NOT ACQUIRE wealth.

However once again the most important thing he calls on them to do is

HEAL and HELP !


More on this next week ... its a long chapter

and on the topic on LABETE and  DOTE receiving and giving

I'm doing for NEW / MORE CASUAL  or PART time work

Anyone in Sydney need a Greek or Classics tutor ?

No one's using the Paypal and I have utility bills due next week!

a little help please?



Saturday 7 February 2015

Matthew 9:37 Workers Wanted

#biblestudy #gospel #gospelofmatthew #what jesussaid #jesus

Matthew 9:37 is often cited to support mission work but if we read it in context its as much a support of ministry in general.

Lets look at the proceeding verses 35 n 36

and Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues and heralding /announcing the message/ good news of the realm (of god) and healing all illnesses and weaknesses / disabilities

seeing the crows he had compassion for them that / as being harassed and helpless like sheep without a herder
then he said to to his  students / disciples  
from here I'm translating literally to show the original syntax!

the harvest great but the workers few
ask / pray therefore of the lord of the harvest hence to send out workers into his harvest

now note the beginning of chapter 10

what does he ask the disciples to do ?

cast out spirits  impure  heal  all disease and malakia again weakness chronic conditions disabilities ?

The mission is not just to convert and reap souls buy to work for the Lord perhaps not just to harvest souls but even maybe to reap the harvest to feed souls ?

We don't have to be missionaries or miracle workers !

We can be healers doctors nurses first aid volunteers paramedics therapists or teachers religious or secular

Two  language notes
 the word used for pray originally meant need or want!
malakia means soft or weak sometimes perverse and seems to refer to moral mental and physical conditions so in this passage I have suggested disability as a possible MODERN equivalent?

A request from me?

I just lost another casual job due to a funding cut . If I published some of these notes as an ebook or print book would anyone be interested in purchasing?
I am job hunting and creating paintings and ceramics but until they sell ... please consider using paypal to support this blog? Thank You