Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 15:19-27, Exodus 16, Exodus 17:1-7
NT: Matthew 22:1-33
Ps: Psalm 27
Pr: Proverbs 6:20-26
Today´s notable verse:
Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.
Exodus 15:27 (NIV)
Israel entered Egypt with 12 sons and 70 descendants altogether (Exodus 1:5). Do the twelve springs and seventy palm trees at Elim have any relationship - symbolic or otherwise - with Israel's entourage, or are these two merely coincidental?
For many are invited, but few are chosen.
Matthew 22:14 (NIV)
Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
Matthew 22:30 (NIV)
At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.
Matthew 22:21 (NIV)
A trio of difficult-to-comprehend teachings from Jesus. The first invokes the debate between free will versus predestination with respect to salvation. I think our discussion of God's hardening of Pharaoh's heart is enlightening, and I think I can draw the same conclusion: God invites everyone to the marriage banquet, but only chooses those who would be chosen. What, though, to make of the man at the banquet without proper attire, who was thrown out?
The second teaching speaks to a question I have had regarding tithing; do I consider my actual income, or only my after-tax income, when deciding what my tithe is? It's really only a theoretical question, because while what I give now is actually between the two, I believe I am being called to give a different amount that would exceed either - and what part of that is a tithe, and what part is an offering matters little compared to the gratitude in my heart to be able to give to God out of that with which He has blessed and to which He has entrusted me.
The third teaching deals with life after the resurrection, and how it will compare to our earthly lives with respect to marriage. Jesus' teaching makes sense here in that, while in marriage the two become one flesh, the two remain two distinct spiritual beings. Of course, being able to make such a statement doesn't imply that I fully grasp its meaning...
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Psalm 27:13 (NIV)
What a beautiful and powerful statement in witness to faith in God's ability to overcome all circumstances!
The One Year Bible Blog asks:
Comments from you & Question of the Day - Based on God's words about the Sabbath in our Exodus readings today, do you take a Sabbath? What do you do - or not do - on the Sabbath? Does it bless the other 6 days of your week? How long have you been in the habit of taking a Sabbath? Is it hard to get in the habit? Any other "tricks of the trade" you can share with all of us about taking a Sabbath?
For one, my employer knows that, for me, work and Sunday are mutually exclusive. My employment does not even exist in my mind on Sundays. Beyond that, I am unsure - being that I am single, saying that Sunday is a "family day" has little meaning. My normal church service is Saturday night, though I do still attend one of the Sunday morning services occasionally (especially weekends that I work one service with the pre-schoolers). I'm curious to see what everyone else has to say on the matter.
Regarding the one at the wedding banquet who was thrown out…. It is as the point of obedience, when we are baptized that we “put on the robe of righteousness”. Only those who are “properly attired” can remain.
I don’t spend much time worrying about “how it will be after the ressurection.” God has it all under control, why would I “need to know?”
Regarding yesterday’s post, I agree; however, would like to see you say “What I think” vs “how I feel.” Feelings, by definition can’t be “wrong”. There really is such a thing as “stinking thinking!”
Love you,
Mom
Mom makes an interesting point.
Here’s how I see it:
Kingdom of God = the rule of God, whether in an individual’s life, a community’s corporate life or the whole Earth at the end of history
King’s Son = Jesus (duh!)
the wedding = the celebration of Jesus taking his bride, the church aka the People of God, to himself in the end of history
those first invited = the Jews of Jesus’ day.
King’s servants = the prophets, particularly John the Baptist, who all testified to the coming of Jesus.
King’s army = Rome who destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70
the “good” and the “bad” who entered the feast = not sure who the audience is right now, but generally Jews would say Us = good, Them (Gentiles) = bad
the one w/o wedding clothes = a crasher. did his lack of attire betray a disrespect for the host? Knowing the character of God the King, this guy isn’t booted because he was poor and unable to dress appropriately so was this man insulting the King in some manner? whatever the full explanation is, the King obviously knows who belongs to his people and who doesn’t and he will make a distinction whether anyone else does or not.
One last point: while only few are chosen, we only read of one being booted out. Is that meaningful in some way?
Thank you, both!
(And, how many bloggers actually have Mom contributing with thoughtful comments? How cool am I?)
I think I only start getting confused when the symbolism/metaphor of the parable – which, as evidenced by the two similar-yet-different meanings you two illustrate – starts to get blurred.
Though, it was more a question for discussion than anything; so thanks for contributing! 🙂
Mom,
RE: “what I feel” – I re-read the post, and only found “It is not often that I feel compelled to…”
I think that use of “what I feel” is appropriate. Compulsion is a feeling – I was under compulsion to react to a situation.
That reaction, by contrast, consisted of statements of my thoughts and beliefs. I, too, cringe at statements such as, “I feel that the Bible says…”
Hopefully the difference wasn’t too obscured?