It took a year to read the Bible, then almost 9 months to read the Apocrypha. Now, I'm going to try to offer reflections on the Narrative Lectionary. But, I won't be posting daily--at least, for a while.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Harvest, Reflecting on Matthew 13:36-43

In 13:24-30, Jesus is speaking to the crowd, telling them a parable. In 36-43, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, inside the house, responding to their request to explain the parable.
  • Even those closest to Jesus don't immediately get everything he is saying.
  • Being in the house enables a disciple to get closer to Jesus, that is, ask for explanation.
  • They can't stay in the house. The field is in the world.
Jesus tells them about the furnace of fire.
  • If we are accustomed to making distinctions between the OT God and the NT God, we need to remind ourselves of this passage and try to think where eternal punishment is mentioned in the OT.
  • The kingdom is on the earth.
  • The evildoers will be taken away; the righteous will be left to shine like the sun.
Why is it helpful to us to know that the wicked will be punished?

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