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R E LANGFORD JR
Oct 12, 2015, 3:21:25 PM10/12/15
to MARK, Bible Study
Rejoice, our risen Messiah Jesus grants us time
to repent and believe the gospel!
The Rev'd R E LANGFORD, FAPC, ELCA Pastor ! retired !
in glorious, downtown, historic, Charlestown, Maryland
@ the confluence of the North East River with the Chesapeake Bay
39.58°N by 75.98°W
to repent and believe the gospel!
The Rev'd R E LANGFORD, FAPC, ELCA Pastor ! retired !
in glorious, downtown, historic, Charlestown, Maryland
@ the confluence of the North East River with the Chesapeake Bay
39.58°N by 75.98°W
My clarity of conscience and my purity of heart are undisputed evidence that my memory is failing me.
Poverty of spirit is a treasure. Never exchange it for an easy life, only a gift of The Spirit..
Murphy was an optimist.
Poverty of spirit is a treasure. Never exchange it for an easy life, only a gift of The Spirit..
Murphy was an optimist.
`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸..·´¯`·...¸ ><(((((º> `·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((º> `·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.· ><((º>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: R E LANGFORD JR <r_e_lan...@ecunet.org>
Date: Thu, Aug 22, 2013 at 7:22 PM
Subject: MARK 9:43-50
To: "MARK, Bible Study" <mark-bible-...@ecunet.org>
Continuing this pericope, which many bible translators group including the single verse (42) which we studied last time, we find again the issue – or subject matter – that Jesus addresses is the cause or initiation into sin. In this sequence of the cause of sin, hand, foot, or eye, we discover that it is not us causing someone else who trusts /believes/ in Jesus to lose that trust, but we ourselves who come to lose trust because of some part of us.
MARK 9:43-47 = “43/44 “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter God’s kingdom with only one hand than to go into hell with two hands. In hell the fire never goes out. 45/46 “If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter God’s kingdom with only one foot than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 “If your eye causes you to sin, poke it out. It would be better for you to enter God’s kingdom with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.” [NIRV] Many commentators reference the “cut it off” or “poke it out,” some translations have “pluck,” in reference to the eye, rather than “poke.” Not a few of them consider such verbiage hyperbole, a figure of speech that is an exaggeration to make a point. Some of these say such hyperbole ought not be taken literally, for it illustrates the need to take drastic action. One such says that sin can often be conquered only by radical “spiritual surgery,” but it never tells us what that spiritual surgery might entail, nor does it say how to perform such a surgery. Another suggestion is that we ought to deal with such a sin within ourselves as drastically as is necessary to rid ourselves of the result of the cause. Thus, to the extent that some characteristic within us causes us to sin, we are to deal severely with ourselves – in part so that the verdict o the Judge on the Last Day shall not apply to us who have already remedied what was causing us to sin. As you can perhaps tell, I do not incline toward the hyperbolic sense of this passage. It seems to me that it’s far more likely Jesus expects that we will understand his advice literally. OTOH, nothing in the text causes me to think Mark or Jesus was promoting self-mutilation, a totally un-Hebraic activity!
MARK 9:44 = “In hell the fire never goes out.” [NIRV] Some commentators reference the “hell” comment, perhaps because of a fire and brimstone tendency in the way they consider our Redeemer on that Judgment Day. The Koiné Greek is ge(h)enna, often translated “hell” – not hades. This term derives its name from a deep ravine south of Jerusalem, the “Valley of (the sons of) Hinnom” (Hebrew: ge hinnom). During the reigns of Ahaz and Manasseh, (approx. 735 to 642 B.C.) human sacrifices to the Ammonite god Molech were offered there. In his reform of Israelite worship, King Josiah desecrated the valley because of the pagan worship there. The valley had become, by the time of Jesus, a kind of perpetually burning trash heap for the capital city. Hence, this is an allusion, or figure, of a place where God burns his trash in his spiritual city’s dump. It devolves into the place of final punishment. What ends up being burnt on God’s trash heap is what is essentially, totally, or absolutely worthless – not even the Redeemer can rescue such. Are the words of Jesus fair warning to us? Notice that they are not addressed to us about a way we may judge or condemn others, but only that we may take heed to ourselves about what might cause us to lose trust in the Messiah.
MARK 9:44, 45, 47 = “It would be better for you to enter God’s kingdom…” [NIRV] “The kingdom” in this translation is otherwise put elsewhere as “life,” meaning eternal life in the near presence of God. This “kingdom” forms a core in the teaching of Jesus, it is the kingdom for which we Christians pray daily in the prayer Jesus taught us (Dominical Oration), asking that it would come now among us, and through us to others. Of particular interest to some who study this section is the fact that verses 44 and 46 are not found in important early MSS of the gospels. These verses are identical with verse 48; to me this implies that some early preacher got his or her grubby hands on a copy of the original transcription, and thought it could be improved by a triplet of comments using ISAIAH 66:24.
MARK 9:48 = “48 In hell, The worms do not die. The fire is not put out.’ (Isaiah 66:24)” [NIRV] IMO, fire and brimstone is easily overblown and over worked! Isaiah seems to use the image as punishment for rebellion against God. As a final word from Isaiah, the passage had become a popular familiar pic of endless destruction by the time of Jesus. Anyone of us who had had a trash heap on their property, or has visited an ash pit where garbage is burned, knows that there are worms a plenty in such a place for rubbish . . . even in the winter. It always amazed me that the burning made the pit warm enough for such tiny kritters (vermin) to be up and about looking for something to nibble, even when there was snow just six inches away.
MARK 9:49 = “49 Everyone will be salted with fire.” [NIRV] This verse may suggest that everyone who enters “hell” will suffer its fire. OTOH, if the comment about salted, or preserved with fire, is only loosely connected with the previous triplet, it might mean that everyone who trusts in Jesus will in this present life expect to undergo the “salting” or the preserving “fire” of suffering and persecution. Just as every sacrifice had to be salted to be acceptable by God [LEVITICUS 2:13 = 13 “‘Put salt on all of your grain offerings. Salt stands for the lasting covenant between you and your God. So do not leave it out of your grain offerings. Add it to all of your offerings.” (NIRV)], so followers of Jesus discover that they must be “salted” or preserved through purification (an equivalent implication) of self-examination and self-denial. In MALACHI 3:2-3, we discover “fire” as a means by which God purifies servants: “But who can live through the day when he comes? Who will be left standing when he appears? He will be like a fire that makes things pure. He will be like soap that makes things clean. 3 He will act like one who makes silver pure. And he will purify the Levites, just as gold and silver are purified with fire. Then the Lord’s people will bring proper offerings.” [NIRV]
Verse 50 is unequivocal: “Salt is good;” or, at least Jesus thinks so. (In spite of what my family doc tells me every time I see him.) We remember that Roman soldiers were paid their “salt” or salaries, and that at that time salt was a commodity useful in striking a bargain. It had real value. We have already seen that the distinctive mark of discipleship typified by salt is allegiance to or loyalty to Jesus and the good news of God. We have already read and studied this in MARK 8:35-38 = “35 If he wants to save his life, he will lose it. But if he loses his life for me and for the good news, he will save it. … 38 “Suppose you are ashamed of me and my words among these adulterous and sinful people. Then the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” [NIRV]
Some commentators consider this the only likely part of the verse to have been a true logion of Jesus. They believe that the remainder of the verse is too much wrapped up in the concerns of the earliest church to be attributable to our Master. I am not prone to think thus, the reason is the clause, “have salt in yourselves,” as an answer to the earlier question. Surely even today, few are so silly as to think that salt which has lost its savor can by human intervention be made to become salty again. IMO, it is those who have been made to have salt in themselves by the Almighty who are the ones who become “the salt of the earth,” as the saying goes. Saltiness here, I put it to you, is discovered in the resolution of strife, with peace restored among those who recognize, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that we have a commonly held commitment to Jesus and to his good news of God.
This concludes chapter 9. Let me again urge you to read the entire gospel tale aloud. In such a way you may catch the meanings that the original hearers heard. This works best in a group setting where each individual reads from his or her preferred or favorite version of the text. While others are reading aloud do not, let me write it again, DO NOT follow along in your own gospel version, but seek to hear the tale Mark is trying to convey. Next time we begin to look at chapter 10.
Let us pray.
Holy and merciful God, you have taught us by the Holy Spirit. We ask you to pour your grace into our hearts and minds. Cause the gospel to bear fruit in us, so that being ever mindful of your mercies, the gift of your commandments, and right distinction between the Law which always judges and condemns and the Gospel which always comforts and encourages we may be directed to your will. Grant that we may daily increase in love toward you and one another. Enable us to resist all evil and to live godly lives. Help us to follow the example of our LORD and Savior, the Messiah Jesus, who studied your Word in the Tanakh. May we walk in his steps until we taste your kingdom here on earth, and come to possess the same in it fullness as it is prepared for us in heaven; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
From: R E LANGFORD JR <r_e_lan...@ecunet.org>
Date: Thu, Aug 22, 2013 at 7:22 PM
Subject: MARK 9:43-50
To: "MARK, Bible Study" <mark-bible-...@ecunet.org>
HAPPY EASTER GREETINGS! POSTED April 8 - last year
Here is a version of the prayer we used today for the second Sunday of the Easter Season.
Let us pray.
Grant, we ask you, Almighty God, that we who have celebrated the solemnities of our Lord’s resurrection may, by the help of your grace, bring forth daily the fruits thereof in our lives and conversations; through the same, your Son, our LORD Messiah Jesus, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
MARK 9:43-50
43/44 “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter God’s kingdom with only one hand than to go into hell with two hands. In hell the fire never goes out.
45/46 “If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter God’s kingdom with only one foot than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.
47 “If your eye causes you to sin, poke it out. It would be better for you to enter God’s kingdom with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. 48 In hell,
“‘The worms do not die.
The fire is not put out.’ (Isaiah 66:24)
49 Everyone will be salted with fire.
50 “Salt is good. But suppose it loses its saltiness. How can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves. And be at peace with each other.” [NIRV]Continuing this pericope, which many bible translators group including the single verse (42) which we studied last time, we find again the issue – or subject matter – that Jesus addresses is the cause or initiation into sin. In this sequence of the cause of sin, hand, foot, or eye, we discover that it is not us causing someone else who trusts /believes/ in Jesus to lose that trust, but we ourselves who come to lose trust because of some part of us.
MARK 9:43-47 = “43/44 “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter God’s kingdom with only one hand than to go into hell with two hands. In hell the fire never goes out. 45/46 “If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter God’s kingdom with only one foot than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 “If your eye causes you to sin, poke it out. It would be better for you to enter God’s kingdom with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.” [NIRV] Many commentators reference the “cut it off” or “poke it out,” some translations have “pluck,” in reference to the eye, rather than “poke.” Not a few of them consider such verbiage hyperbole, a figure of speech that is an exaggeration to make a point. Some of these say such hyperbole ought not be taken literally, for it illustrates the need to take drastic action. One such says that sin can often be conquered only by radical “spiritual surgery,” but it never tells us what that spiritual surgery might entail, nor does it say how to perform such a surgery. Another suggestion is that we ought to deal with such a sin within ourselves as drastically as is necessary to rid ourselves of the result of the cause. Thus, to the extent that some characteristic within us causes us to sin, we are to deal severely with ourselves – in part so that the verdict o the Judge on the Last Day shall not apply to us who have already remedied what was causing us to sin. As you can perhaps tell, I do not incline toward the hyperbolic sense of this passage. It seems to me that it’s far more likely Jesus expects that we will understand his advice literally. OTOH, nothing in the text causes me to think Mark or Jesus was promoting self-mutilation, a totally un-Hebraic activity!
MARK 9:44 = “In hell the fire never goes out.” [NIRV] Some commentators reference the “hell” comment, perhaps because of a fire and brimstone tendency in the way they consider our Redeemer on that Judgment Day. The Koiné Greek is ge(h)enna, often translated “hell” – not hades. This term derives its name from a deep ravine south of Jerusalem, the “Valley of (the sons of) Hinnom” (Hebrew: ge hinnom). During the reigns of Ahaz and Manasseh, (approx. 735 to 642 B.C.) human sacrifices to the Ammonite god Molech were offered there. In his reform of Israelite worship, King Josiah desecrated the valley because of the pagan worship there. The valley had become, by the time of Jesus, a kind of perpetually burning trash heap for the capital city. Hence, this is an allusion, or figure, of a place where God burns his trash in his spiritual city’s dump. It devolves into the place of final punishment. What ends up being burnt on God’s trash heap is what is essentially, totally, or absolutely worthless – not even the Redeemer can rescue such. Are the words of Jesus fair warning to us? Notice that they are not addressed to us about a way we may judge or condemn others, but only that we may take heed to ourselves about what might cause us to lose trust in the Messiah.
MARK 9:44, 45, 47 = “It would be better for you to enter God’s kingdom…” [NIRV] “The kingdom” in this translation is otherwise put elsewhere as “life,” meaning eternal life in the near presence of God. This “kingdom” forms a core in the teaching of Jesus, it is the kingdom for which we Christians pray daily in the prayer Jesus taught us (Dominical Oration), asking that it would come now among us, and through us to others. Of particular interest to some who study this section is the fact that verses 44 and 46 are not found in important early MSS of the gospels. These verses are identical with verse 48; to me this implies that some early preacher got his or her grubby hands on a copy of the original transcription, and thought it could be improved by a triplet of comments using ISAIAH 66:24.
MARK 9:48 = “48 In hell, The worms do not die. The fire is not put out.’ (Isaiah 66:24)” [NIRV] IMO, fire and brimstone is easily overblown and over worked! Isaiah seems to use the image as punishment for rebellion against God. As a final word from Isaiah, the passage had become a popular familiar pic of endless destruction by the time of Jesus. Anyone of us who had had a trash heap on their property, or has visited an ash pit where garbage is burned, knows that there are worms a plenty in such a place for rubbish . . . even in the winter. It always amazed me that the burning made the pit warm enough for such tiny kritters (vermin) to be up and about looking for something to nibble, even when there was snow just six inches away.
MARK 9:49 = “49 Everyone will be salted with fire.” [NIRV] This verse may suggest that everyone who enters “hell” will suffer its fire. OTOH, if the comment about salted, or preserved with fire, is only loosely connected with the previous triplet, it might mean that everyone who trusts in Jesus will in this present life expect to undergo the “salting” or the preserving “fire” of suffering and persecution. Just as every sacrifice had to be salted to be acceptable by God [LEVITICUS 2:13 = 13 “‘Put salt on all of your grain offerings. Salt stands for the lasting covenant between you and your God. So do not leave it out of your grain offerings. Add it to all of your offerings.” (NIRV)], so followers of Jesus discover that they must be “salted” or preserved through purification (an equivalent implication) of self-examination and self-denial. In MALACHI 3:2-3, we discover “fire” as a means by which God purifies servants: “But who can live through the day when he comes? Who will be left standing when he appears? He will be like a fire that makes things pure. He will be like soap that makes things clean. 3 He will act like one who makes silver pure. And he will purify the Levites, just as gold and silver are purified with fire. Then the Lord’s people will bring proper offerings.” [NIRV]
Verse 50 is unequivocal: “Salt is good;” or, at least Jesus thinks so. (In spite of what my family doc tells me every time I see him.) We remember that Roman soldiers were paid their “salt” or salaries, and that at that time salt was a commodity useful in striking a bargain. It had real value. We have already seen that the distinctive mark of discipleship typified by salt is allegiance to or loyalty to Jesus and the good news of God. We have already read and studied this in MARK 8:35-38 = “35 If he wants to save his life, he will lose it. But if he loses his life for me and for the good news, he will save it. … 38 “Suppose you are ashamed of me and my words among these adulterous and sinful people. Then the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” [NIRV]
Some commentators consider this the only likely part of the verse to have been a true logion of Jesus. They believe that the remainder of the verse is too much wrapped up in the concerns of the earliest church to be attributable to our Master. I am not prone to think thus, the reason is the clause, “have salt in yourselves,” as an answer to the earlier question. Surely even today, few are so silly as to think that salt which has lost its savor can by human intervention be made to become salty again. IMO, it is those who have been made to have salt in themselves by the Almighty who are the ones who become “the salt of the earth,” as the saying goes. Saltiness here, I put it to you, is discovered in the resolution of strife, with peace restored among those who recognize, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that we have a commonly held commitment to Jesus and to his good news of God.
This concludes chapter 9. Let me again urge you to read the entire gospel tale aloud. In such a way you may catch the meanings that the original hearers heard. This works best in a group setting where each individual reads from his or her preferred or favorite version of the text. While others are reading aloud do not, let me write it again, DO NOT follow along in your own gospel version, but seek to hear the tale Mark is trying to convey. Next time we begin to look at chapter 10.
Let us pray.
Holy and merciful God, you have taught us by the Holy Spirit. We ask you to pour your grace into our hearts and minds. Cause the gospel to bear fruit in us, so that being ever mindful of your mercies, the gift of your commandments, and right distinction between the Law which always judges and condemns and the Gospel which always comforts and encourages we may be directed to your will. Grant that we may daily increase in love toward you and one another. Enable us to resist all evil and to live godly lives. Help us to follow the example of our LORD and Savior, the Messiah Jesus, who studied your Word in the Tanakh. May we walk in his steps until we taste your kingdom here on earth, and come to possess the same in it fullness as it is prepared for us in heaven; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reflect on the significance of our Messiah's crucifixion and resurrection, daily!
The Rev'd R E LANGFORD JR, FAPC, ELCA pastor ! retired !
in glorious historic downtown Charlestown, Md., 39.58°N by 75.98°W, by the
confluence of the North East River @ the head of the Chesapeake Bay.
My clarity of conscience and my purity of heart are undisputed
The Rev'd R E LANGFORD JR, FAPC, ELCA pastor ! retired !
in glorious historic downtown Charlestown, Md., 39.58°N by 75.98°W, by the
confluence of the North East River @ the head of the Chesapeake Bay.
My clarity of conscience and my purity of heart are undisputed
evidence that my memory is failing me.
`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸..·´¯`·...¸ ><(((((º> `·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((º> `·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.· ><((º>```
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