THREE WISE IRANIANS

#epiphany #magi #persians #iranians

Matthew 2:1

"behold magi from the east

There is a tradition of translating magi as "Wise men" however the word used in Greek is MAGI and hence a reference to priests from what is now Iran although Iran was then Parthia and covered a far wider area. So this Mosaic from Ravenna is possibly a fairly accurate depiction

Much as people love the Three Kings from the East legend or the variant of them being multi-ethnic which seemed to have started in the Middle Ages further on in Matthew it states they returned to their own country "eis teen khooran autoon" which suggests one point of origin ?

However given only Matthew mentions this visit and his witnesses were locals remembering events that happened 30 to 40 years or longer earlier its not impossible that someone misunderstood what the strangers said about where they came from though Matthew does make a point of mentioning they also visited Herod's court and were seen by the public in Jerusalem inquiring about recent births.

Anatoloon means the direction of  the sunrise so the magi could have included a group of people from various Eastern nations, Arabia, Iran, Mesopotamia, even India, whose paths converged on the way to Jerusalem.

Matthew does say MAGI not wise men so Magi from somewhere in the Parthian Empire!

IRANIANS !!!

Matthew and Levi

WHY MATTHEW IS (probably) LEVI

#matthew #levi

While some scholars argue that Matthew is NOT Levi others do. Why?

The gospel of Matthew calls the tax collector commanded by Jesus to follow me Matthew but the gospels of Mark and Luke call him Levi.

There's a simple explanation. Matthai or Maththai was easier for Greek speakers to pronounce than Levi. If you have a Greek New Testament you'll see in the textual notes at the bottom of page that while the only difference in various early manuscripts in how Matthew is written in Greek is whether it has a tth or thth in the middle word.

Whereas LEVI is written as Leui Leuei Leuin Leuis and Leuee in various manuscripts.

WHY? Hebrew and Aramaic had a sound scholars call Waw or Vau pronounced W or U or V.

KOINE GREEK didn't have that sound.

Mark and Luke were probably trying to show they knew some "proper" Hebrew whereas Matthew ...well if matthew comes from a phrase meaning gift of god/yahu perhaps Matthew was his name at work or he was known by both names but preferred Matthew? The actual form seems to have been Mattai but there was another similar name Mattathias. The Greek text renders it as Maththaion.
Latin changed it to Mattheus and

This could be pronounced by Greek and Aramaic speakers but Levi?

A Greek or Latin speakerwould normally use ou to represent w or v in other languages.

Spelling it as Leui is Luke trying to get closer to the actual Hebrew!

More on the Story of Matthew Levi son of Alphaeus next week.

BUT NOT YET THE END

Matthew 24 #biblestudy  #rapture #greeknewtestament  #tribulation #signs #omens

A lot of people obsess on Matthew 24 because of Jesus talking about signs and omens and think it refers to the Apocalypse. However many scholars also think it refers to the Jewish wars or the persecution of the early Church and then there's the people fixated on the "RAPTURE"

I think people should start any study of this chapter by looking at the GREEK verbs and their tense and Aspect and especially at VERSE 6

for it must happen but NOT YET is the end

NOT YET translates oupoo and note the use of estin - present and genesthai Aorist Middle

Its not a definite fixed event  YET

and note verse 14 and then will come the end

and then will have to come  / it will have come to the point

the verb is HEEKOO Future heeksei

then verse 34 this generation will not pass away Autee this

and verse 36 but of that day and hour no one knows oudies oiden

and 37 EVEN JESUS the SON does not know

There seems to be NO fixed date for the Apocalypse?

Many general signs and omens but no fixed detailed prophecies?

But but Revelations you say ...
 yes but JESUS HIMSELF states what is more important is how we behave
we can't use it as an excuse for sin

BUT NOT YET IS THE END may be the key to this chapter

next time some more in depth discussion of Matthew 24

Please read the LSJ entries on HEEKOO and consider the mixture of verbal tenses not just the signs and omens when reading this chapter ?

LIKE A CHILD

#biblestudy #greeknewtestament #matthew #whatjesussaid

Matthew Chapter 18 Verses 1-4

I know some bibles include 5 in the first paragraph of this chapter.

The word for word translation rough and ready !
Verse One
In that hour / time came forth / towards the students/ learners (its matheetai)
 to the Jesus saying

Who (ara is emphatic particle) most / greatests is in the Realm of the heavens?

Verse Two
and forthcalling a child he place/positioned/stood that child in middle in them

Verse Three
and said

Truly I say to you if not you turn around
 (yourself implied its an aorist passive subjunctive in greek )
and become as / like children
not / never (double negative in greek)
you will enter / come into the realm of the heavens!

Verse 4
Whoever therefore will humble himself as /so / like this child
this one is the greatest in the realm of the heavens

Will Humble is tapeinoosei tapeinow so to be humble and meek like a very small innocent child or perhaps a sensible child with good manners?

Maybe this child had be quietly edging his or her way closer and closer to Jesus and had been standing on the edge of the group quietly humbly waiting until Jesus called that child forward into the middle of the group?

Unlike the disciples he just wanted to listen or be near Jesus.

A good lesson when one spends too much time on hypothetical questions?

Don't just ask about the Divine BE with the Divine!

Though it is okay to ask hypotheticals if you get your priorities right!

Its Mothers Day in my country.

If you need an ecard or a file you can use as a starter for your own ecards or late minute designs please visit my www.glyphika.blogspot.com and if you like the png use it!

BE Confident Fear NOT

#metousia 300  #aristotlesethics #matthewgospel #aristotle #courage #faith

still hardly any followers ???

You've read the tags and might be wondering what Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics might have to do with the Gospel of Matthew and my ongoing #Whatjesussaid series of posts  ?

Okay Todays short quote really demos how knowing some Greek and reading "pagan" literature and philosophy is a good thing for Christians doing Bible Study and GREEK Philosophy students!

Matthew 14:27

The apostles have seen Jesus walk on water towards them and think its a ghost of spirit or something. Note that Matthew uses the word PHANTASMA in Greek in verse 26. Now Phantasma is the origin of Phantom and a Phantom is NOT just a ghost or spirit but the APPEARANCE of something that SEEMS and can be SEEN as UNREAL ODD UNUSUAL such as a man walking on water on a dark and stormy night? They really werent quite sure what they were seeing but it startled them literally "Spooked" them?!

Jesus doesnt give them a long speech about the nature of reality or miracles but just short and simply commands and encourages them

THARSEITE EGOO EIMI  MEE PHOBEITE 

Tharsoo is one of those multiple meaning words varying on context.

It could be translated here as be brave / confident / happy /
and its coupled with its opposite state PHOBEOO / PHOBOS FEAR

So where's the Aristotle link?

Are you aware of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics and his Doctrine of Means.

Read book two and read other sections in which he discusses courage.
WHile he uses the word andreia note how he uses thrasutees to mena rashness or over confidence and a kind of BAD courage.

Yes Thrasutees also comes form Tharsoo due to the greek habit of reversing some syllables ! especially thra /  thar clusters!

Aristotle's usage confirms that a word can change meaning in different contexts or have an extra meaning that that mind require a NOTE added to the translation.

Thi ties too to 14:31 which we will dicuss next time!

Please do consider reading Aristotle's Ethics if you have not already done so if only to increase your vocabulary of words used to discuss ethics!

And read the whole second part of Matthew 14 with its theme of the power of faith.

Finally in reference in recent events don't support ISLAMOPHOBIA

Remember we share a PROPHET.

Reach out to any Muslim neighbours with RAOK random acts of kindness. Don't preach or discuss politics unless they want to! Show them they have nothing to fear and protecting them from bigots is the best way to prevent "radicalization".

Thank you for reading this.

Jesus to John - One

#Matthew matthew 11 4 - 6 #bible study #greeknewtestament

#Jesus had a cousin called #John. John the Baptist.
His response to a group of John's disciples was this:

I'm just going to do a loose translation since there's no unusual words or syntax in this section

"Go back Proclaim to John what things you hear and see!
blind see again cripples walk
lepers are cleansed and deaf hear
 (possibly deafmutes not merely hearing impaired no cochlear implants or hearing aids back then so most deaf people if deaf from birth  would have been mute as well and had no choice but to use some sign of sign language)
and dead raise up (see story of  synagouge officials daughter and lazarus)
and the poor receive good news.
and blessed are who ever should - its ean and an aorist passive subjunctive in Greek -  not be offended / shocked / caused to sin / angered by me !

Note what comes last in this list ! Evangelising.
 Helping and helping comes First!

We can't perform miracles but we can support having a decent low cost health care system or welfare for the disabled.

None of that The Poor are Lazy and Don't Deserve help nonsense.

FAITH AND WORKS

You may be noticed I post at different times of the day depending on what i'm doing on Sunday mornings or afternoons.

If you're reading this on Google Plus please remember if you follow the blog directly you can get an message about new posts?

Swords and Peace

Matthew 10: 34 - 37 #biblestudy #gospel #guns

It really worries me that these verses especially 34 are often cited to support things like concealed carry and the right to bear arms etc

I notice that people who cite these verses rarely if ever mention Jesus appears to be quoting from the Prophet Micah 7:6

Furthermore in parallel passages in Luke and Mark as with this one Jesus seems  be  prophesying the persecutions of later centuries and perhaps even the religious wars of Catholic versus Protestant ?

People seem to over look the possibility the guy capable of overturning tables at the Temple might have been doing irony as well?

So time to look at the original or as close to the original as we can get ...

not think that i have come to cast throw bring peace upon the earth
not i have come to bring peace but a sword

is casting down a sword a gesture of peace or surrender?

remember the verb is balloo?

verses 35 and 36 are a quote from Micah 7:6 so he is talking about prophecies !

note that dikhasai is an aorist infinitive form of the verb dikhazoo split differ

37 he who is loving a father or mater over me not is of me worthy
and he who is loving a son or daughter over me not is of me worthy

38  and whoever not takes the cross of his him and follows behind me / after me not is of me worthy

39 he who is finding  the life / spirit of him will lose it
and he who is destroying the life / spirit of him for the sake of me he will

auteen is literally her and refers back to psykheen the word often transcribed as psyche in English.

I think when reading this verse bear in mind the next section about rewards.

You are not ... well so it seems to me .. being called on to take violent action but to beware sometimes violence and dissent is evitable?

There is certainly nothing about guns or encouragement to personally take violent actions!

This is on my mind cos last week I saw some one cite this verse in a discussion about concealed carry and some Catholic priest in the US supporting using his church hall for teaching classes in it.

Make sure when you study this section and verses you read or reread the verses before and after!

Please think about Content and Context!

as St Paul said in his letter to the Thessalonians

PANTA DOKIMAZEI  Examine Everything !

Matthew Chapter 8 Verse 7

Matthew 8:7

I coming I will help is a literal translation.

Most translations render Therapeusoo as heal.
 Quite reasonable  and sensible given the events described.
However consider this. Therapeuoo also means attend to serve care for like a servant at a healing shrine or a courtier or valet?

He's not just saying he will heal the official's son.
Jesus is saying he will give the man's son his personal attention.
And its after he makes this promise that then he lauds the father for his faith and trust in him.

False Prophets and Bad fruit

#gospel #biblestudy

Matthew Chapter 7 15 - 20

literal translation

15  beware of false prophets

(bear in mind prophets were also teachers not just seers or wonder workers )
who(ever)  its hostis in greek ! comes towards you in clothing  dative of enduma used of sheep probatoon  inside but they are wolves ravagers

16  from the fruit of them you should know them!

future form of epiginooskoo

 not you gather from thorns bunches of grapes or from nettles figs?


17 likewise  so each good tree fine fruit makes
and the bad tree wretched fruit makes

note new word sapron

18 not it is possible tree good fruit bad to make
nor tree bad fruit fine to make

19 each tree not to make fruit fine it is cut up and into fire throw

20  surely from the fruit of them you will know them

Something to consider ?

Sick or poor quality trees can sometimes be improved  of coppicing
removing dead or diseased wood and branches and old growth ?

Its late afternoon in my time zone and we've had yet another violent storm sweep over the city. Pray and HELP storm victims and bear in mind the Phillipines too where its hurricane season !

Matthew 7: 3-5

#gospel #biblestudy #matthew #beatitudes

Matthew Chapter 7 Verses 3 -5

Here's a word for word translation of the Greek.

why you look at the mote the object in the eye of the brother of you the but in the of you eye beam / log not percieve / notice.

how you will say to the brother of you
Let me cast out the mote from the eye of you

Behold the beam in the the eye of you
Hypocrite cast out first the beam out of the eye of you

and then you will clearly to cast out the mote out of the eye of the brother of you.

Nows what noteworthy in the greek that differs from the English and can add to your insight without removing wood be it dust or huge chunks!

Mote is karphos something small wooden and dry splinters chaff sawdust

Dokos by contrast is a log or plank a large length of timber used as a roof support or bar or shaft.

Many translations say look or see but the verb is katanoew perceive notice understand THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE SEEING  thoughtful observation?

Verse 4 seems to contain a quote? Perhaps from another preacher regarded as a hypocrite by some?

Was some one talking about spiritual blindness or comparing sin to dust ?

Note also that every form of ekballoo cast out / throw away  in these verses is spelt with a single L which means they are AORIST!

Finally we have another form of Blephoo see look but with dia added.

This gets translated as see clearly in English but can also mean to look through something or focus and give special attention while looking.

I hope these notes have added to your understanding and pleasure while studying the Beatitudes!

The Light and the Dark

#Matthew 6. 22 - 23 #bible study #greek #whatjesussaid

see also #Luke 11. 33 - 36

word for word translation

the lamp of the body is the eye
if therefore is (note subjunctive / conditional ) the eye of you open/ sincere/ simple (2nd declension adjective with multiple meanings) whole the body of you bright /shining will be.

if but the eye of you evil is whole the body of you dark will be.
if therefore the light to you dark is the dark how much !?


Note the parallelism and the subjunctives.

Lamp often gets translates as Light but the greek is luknos!

Here is the ancient concept of the eye being a gate or link to the soul.

I think however given the subjunctives our Lord is talking as much about spiritual as physical perception. Letting in the light? He is not linking physical disability to sin as a cause or effect!

This is light as an energizing force as much spiritual as physical?

Think of those verses in which he or others spoke of the Light of the World?


A note for fellow Whovians.  Last week the Doctor spoke of never seeing paradise and this week he's into the darkness! We joke What would the Doctor do?

It would seem this season our favorite Gallifreyan is seeking redemption and healing for himself and others.

We don't need a Tardis for that and have a Companion and Friend to call on for help!

STAMMER SPEAK

(running a bit late with this post sorry!) 

Stammer speak

Matthew 6: 7-8

This is another of those verses of which EVERY translation differs.

Here's a word for word translation:

(when or while cos present participle) Praying and not STAMMERSPEAK (N.B. Aor. Subj.)

like the pagans they seem to think for that in a manyword of them they will be heeded.

Not therefore make similar to them

knows for the father of yours what need you have before of the (need?) you to ask him.

This verse is often used to criticize the devotional practise of repeated prayers and mantras and similar spiritual tools by Catholics Hindus Orthodox and Buddhist. More about that in a moment.

When praying do not stammerspeak. This usually gets translated as empty prayers or vain repetitions as the KJV phrases it but the verb literally means stammerspeak!

We know from Aristophanes and Attic dramas that invocations of gods included repeting names and syllables. Io! Io! Etc.Why say stammer speak? Was it a popular insult directed towards Pagans by Jews of that time?

Were some jews using prayers that involved repeating epiphets of the divine?

Perhaps the point is not simply that repetitions are wrong but meaningless repetitions.

The Jesus Prayer devotional practise involving repeating one short prayer over and over again and has been discouraged by some writers and lauded by others.

The point of such repetitions is not to earn karma or reduce anxiety or reach a meditative state but to achieve communion with the Divine by placing yourself in a receptive state. But if you don't really focus on the divine on the intent of your prayer it can become merely a kind of autohypnosis.

Jesus next saids like the nations the ethnikoi the pagans and note he uses eisakouoo not just hear but listen or hearken … they seem to think dokeoo they fut pass form they will be heeded … greek in manywords perhaps should be by speaking many words over and over again.

The repetitions become an error if you think the repetition is more important than the purpose.

Do not make yourself like them. Or pray because you need something?

God knows your needs before you ask. A relationship with the Divine like many human relationships should not be based solely on need.

The next section is the Lord's prayer and we'll leave that for next week!

Matthew 6:1 Justice and Giving

Matthew 6: 1 Justice and Giving.

This is one of those verses that really demonstrate why its important to think about the Greek version. Compare this verse and the following section also to Matthew 23:5

Here's the original version in Greek:

Προσέχετε τὴν δικαιοσύνην ὑμῶν μὴ ποιεῖν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων πρὸς τὸ θεαθῆναι αὐτοῖς.

εἰ δὲ μή γε, μισθὸν οὐκ ἔχετε παρὰ τῷ πατρὶ ὑμῶν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς

Beware or take heed Προσέχω the righteousness of yours not make before people to be seen Aorist Infinitive Passive of θεάομαι by them dative agent

if and / but not !!! reward not yours from the father of yours the one in the heavens

Now if you own more than one Bible or have access to them online or in a library compare the RSV to the NJV, the KJV or EV Rieu's 4 gospels, or the Douai translations.

EEK one says virtues another piety yet another charitable deeds an another alms.

Yet the Greek says righteousness and the Latin uses Attendite Iustitiam!

Now the next 3 verses talk about alms so how does righteousness of public actions go with alms giving? Almsgiving is an action what we would call donating to charity.

Righteous actions in front of others made to be seen could be things like say a politician who only visits a veterans' or other public or chairty hospital or clinic when an election is due or the media will be there and NEVER visits or donates at any OTHER time. Another example might be only donating to a charity because its popular or trendy or attending a charitable fund raiser and ignoring other charities also in need of help? A third example could be someone “volunteering” simply to get out of doing something at home or for a relative or to fulfil a business or welfare requirement and doing a half hearted barely adequate job.

Why do I offer those examples. Note which verb of seeing is used of the several used in Greek.

Θεάομαι the stem of this verb is also used to make words like theatre and spectacle or show.

Its not just being seen by others its making a show that draws attention for personal benefit?

When was the last time you saw a politician or celebrity sneak into say a soup kitchen the back way and beg people to turn off their phones so he or she could get on with cooking or cleaning without the media being aware. It does sometimes happen but not often?

Charity isn't about you being seen to do the right thing it's doing the right just thing.

Love your Neighbour and do not Hate!

Matthew 5. 43 – 48

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOURS KIN AND ENEMIES

Jesus asks us not to hate μισέω but (44) to love ἀγαπη our enemies.

I but say to you love ἀγαπᾶτε (note imperative form) the enemies of yours kai pray for them (hyper means for rather than over here) and not it is literally pray for those who hunt you for διωκω is to hunt prey and persecute a later meaning taken from the Greeks using this verb is also mean accuse in a court case to hunt someone to justice!

An ἐχθρός is the person you hate or loathe not merely dislike or are uncomfortable with. They may or may not feel the same way about you. Whatever the situation and however mutual the feeling and whatever degree hate is something to avoid.

45 Note the idea of benevolent behaviour towards the good and the evil the sun rises a natural process and rain comes a blessing to all. Are we, can we, make prayer a natural process, as inherent say as breathing? Easily said than done?

A language note ἀνατέλλει is one of those verbs which has a double ll in the present and a single elsewhere and is to related to ἀνατολη, the east, the direction of the sun rise and hence the origin of Anatolia, the area we know call Turkey.

46. if for you love those who love why why reward has? No indedd and the tax collections the selfsame thing do?

It's easy to love those who love back but even the reviled tax collectors could do that.

Telooonai were what we might currently call independent contractors. They collected various revenues taxes fees and data for assessing taxes for the Roman Empire but it was an outsourced role. They were not actually government employes or civil servants and since they earnt their profit as part of the tax … the role was open to corruption. Not a popular job!

47 and if you salute / greet respectfully your brothers and kin only what / how is (that) better no indeed the Nations (Gentiles used the way a Roman or Greek meant use barbarian) the same thing do!

Perhaps you have had the experience of making someone who's a perfect gentleman at home but a hoon or a thug to their neighbours or any one who's not a close relative?

Its not just enough to love your relatives or neighbours we are called on to love more widely.

48. you are to become therefore perfect as / like god is

τελειος isn't an end state its a process of achieving and maintaining a state of entireness completion fullness. It may be an end state but also a process. Why do I stress this. Consider the Greek perfect tense and which word the Greek grammarians used to describe it. Process leads to results.

Transcending hate is hard work but brings us closer to the divine?

Time for prayer.

Matthew 5: 42

τῷ αἰτοῦντί σε δός

To those who ask you GIVE!

My favorite part of last week's study.

Matthew Giving as much and more than due

Matthew 5: 38 – 42 GIVE (See also Luke 6: 27 - 36)

Verse 38

Jesus begins by quoting a the eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth concept from the Old testament (Exodus 21: 24, Lev. 24: 20, Deut. 19: 21)

But then he tells us to go beyond this and give!

39 I but say to you plural Do not STAND AGAINST EVIL μὴ ἀντιστῆναι τῷ πονηρῷ!

This is usually translated in to English as resist though it literally means stand against and is also an excellent example of an Aorist Infinitive used as an Imperative Command like several other verbs in this section.

But whoever you accusative strikes onto, εἰς means onto or on here, note accusative of motion, the right cheek, turn στρέψον an Aorist Imperative, to him / her, read καὶ as also, the other cheek.

40 and he who wishes or wants from you to have after a judgement your tunic taken let him also take the cloak.

Note the evils he speaks of resisting are minor and seem petty to us. Bear in mind he spoke at a time when one or two tunics and an cape or cloak as an over garment might be a person's only clothes. The tunic taken might be your other best embroidered linen kept for special occassions and hence a valuable item that could be sold to pay a debt.

Note κριθῆναι an Aorist Passive Infinitive

41 Jesus then applies this to a law stating Roman soldier could force ἀγγαρεύσει civilians to carry their packs for a mile or so. He asks his listeners not to carry the pack for just one mile but two!

We should fulfil our civil and legal obligations to the fullest extent and generously.

42. Finally, and check Luke 6: 27 – 36 for a parallel verse, he states to him or her who asks you GIVE δός and those wishing from you to make a loan / middle so borrow from you not turn away / refuse. Δανίζω and ἀποστρεφω.

Read this and then the next linked following section about loving enemies.

It is not enough to give and love when it is easy. Jesus challenges us here.

May the Divine have mercy onto all us sinners who fall short of this and other challenges.

Vows and Oaths

Oaths Vows and Promises Matthew 5: 33 – 37

Word for word …

“ Again you have heard that it was said to the ancients

Not you swear falsely / break an oath give back but / rather to the Lord (what you promised) the vows of you ….

(See Lev 19:12 Numbers 30:2 and Deut. 19:21 )

I but say to you (plural) not to swear / vow wholly (translate holoos as at all entirely completely neither (by what is ) in the heaven that the throne is of god nor by the earth that footstool is of the feet his nor (by what is in) Jerusalem that city is of great king nor by your head shall you swear that not being able one hair white or black to make let be but the word of yours Yes Yes (or) No No what but more (than) these things out of evil is.

Note in Greek the Dative Agent and the command not swear vows and sacred oaths by heaven earth the Holy City or your own head or self.

Hoti could and has been translated as because instead of that here is it is being used to link a string of clauses rather than indirect statements

To make an oath is to declare a contract to do something.

Better to simply say you will or will not do something.

Epiorkeeseis to break an oath horkos a masculine noun apodooseis give back pay return

note also two forms of the verb omnuoo promise vow swear aorist infinitive omosai and omoseeis

more here is not mallon but perisson which can have the sense of going OVER a limit.

Excuse me not typing the Greek but this blog is behind schedule due to me breaking my right arm and while I can type with one finger and my left hand I'm still getting some pain from the arm.

See the post before or after this How to support metousia !  

Moikhey males Matthew 5:27 - 30

Moikhey Males

Matthew 5:27 – 30

There are whole passages about evil seductresses in certain parts of the Old Testament and while the new Testament certainly condemns adultery and fornication and other sexual activities here Jesus firmly places the blame on men. Notice in this section after quoting the relevant commandment,

“οὐ μοιχεύσεις” , it is the men who are rebuked not the women.

All πας who look at a woman desiring her are adulterers.

Nothing about women tempting men.

He also condemns divorce for causes other than adultery but gives as a reason that such a act can cause sin the original meaning of σκανδαλιζω.

Perhaps he was addressing men who divorced wives for barrenness or disability or loss of beauty or to marry younger wealthier women with more useful political or business connections.

There are men who do that to this day, “trading up” or “rewarding” themselves with trophy wives. 

Matthew 5 19 to 20

Jesus' teachings on the Law continued
matthew 19 to 20

There are no unusual language features that I havnt already discussed in prior posts so I'm just going to go straight to a word for  word literal translation.

Verse 19

Who
or rather who ever cos a subjunctive  luseei follows  os
 which is next to ean  ei + an

whoever therefore loosens one of these commandments the least
and teaches  subjunctive again note the ee !
outoos so or even henceforth to men
least he will be called (future passive)  in the realm of the heavens

so be careful how you teach and note the next verse carefully


who but ever shall act/ do practise sounds better in english AND teach

PRACTICE AND TEACH !

this person great will be called in the realm of heaven.


Its not just a literal interpretation but an ACTION

This verse doesn't condemn "liberals" it reminds us we all have to try to practise what we teach.

Verse 20

I say for to you that whenever not is overflowing / abundant / the righteousness of yours more than (that) of the scribes and pharisees emphatic double negative no not shall you come into / enter into the realm of the heavens.

Sounds hard and harsh? Read on for further on in this chapter  Jesus continues to point out righteousness can be created by practical compassionate actions!

Good news follows!

Matthew AMEN

Matthew 5: 17 – 18 AMEN

Jesus begins his comments on the “LAW”

Μὴ νομίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι τὸν νόμον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας.

οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαι, ἀλλὰ πληρῶσαι.

Ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἕως ἂν παρέλθη ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ,

ἰῶτα ἓν ἢ μία κεράία οὐ μὴ παρέλθη ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου,

ἕως ἂν πάντα γένηται.

Literally not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets (the Old Testament)

not I came to destroy but to fulfill!

Truly for I say to you until pass away the sky and the earth (or heaven and the world)

dot one or one stroke = not any part however small will pass away of the law

until all happens (as prophesied)

νομίσητε from νομίζω N.b. Aorist Subjunctive plus negative

he is commanding his audiences to pay careful attention to his message

sometimes this use of the aorist subjunctive as a negative prohibition is translated as Let Not !!!

It's an order. While Greek did have an aorist Imperative there sems to be a preference for the subjunctive for “Don't do” type orders

καταλῦσαι is the aorist infinitive of καταλῦω …my aim is not to destroy ...

the law and the prophets

the books of law and prophecies were regarded as the most important part of the Old Testament

Amen is a loan word from Hebrew. Verily truly really indeed is all valid translations.

The amen says that the speaker wants you to trust what he says s being true and reliable.

There are many words in Hebrew Arabic Syriace and Aramaic derived from the A – M – N radical.

Παρέλθη another Aorist subjunctive

a dot or stroke … remember this is an age of handwritten letters.

Part of a letter could be intentionally or accidentally scraped off papyrus or parchment.

Note the DOUBLE NEGATIVE lest no not no none nothing οὐ μὴ until all happens

Now go and reread the whole passage in Greek or English or both!

However while the law abides to the world's end we have to apply the Law with compassion and justice. He does not say obsess on every detail he drwas our attention to its endurance. Some people claim only the most literal interpretations of scriptures are valid.

More on this next time. A note given the length of the following passages I will be not doing a word for word translation just drawign your attention to certain features of importance in greek.

Next week our Lord teaches about the Ten Commandments! Go and read Matthew 5 to get ready!

Readers in australian time zones I normally get this posted earlier but there was wifi interference! Sorry!