tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805369423841502949.comments2023-07-26T10:45:31.419-04:00Jubilee Justice Chiapas09http://www.blogger.com/profile/16153785119257336519noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805369423841502949.post-22645776177830381942015-03-11T16:27:29.155-04:002015-03-11T16:27:29.155-04:00Russell,
Thanks.
You may well be right about tha...Russell, <br />Thanks. <br />You may well be right about that. A number of scholars have noted that the language of forgiveness in the New Testament is based on the debt forgiveness passages of Leviticus 25 and Deuteronomy 15. Luke's version of the Communion language makes this pretty clear, "Forgive us our <i>debts</i> as we forgive our debtors. <br />StanStan G Duncan https://www.blogger.com/profile/01757624042233162584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805369423841502949.post-28899106759483449732015-03-08T21:47:00.128-04:002015-03-08T21:47:00.128-04:00Great article, Stan!
I've concluded that when...Great article, Stan!<br /><br />I've concluded that whenever Jesus pronounces forgiveness in Galilee according to the Synoptics, he's actually relieving someone of paying the debt-penalty established on top of the torah.<br /><br />NT forgiveness generates economic freedom.Russell Meyerhttp://floridachurches.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805369423841502949.post-57588218012964690622014-11-15T18:30:06.103-05:002014-11-15T18:30:06.103-05:00Mark,
That’s the right question to ask. If one i...Mark, <br /><br />That’s the right question to ask. If one is preaching Matthew’s interpretation of Jesus, then the Master going away and coming back at the end of time to judge us makes sense—a little judgmental, but logical in terms of Matthew’s slightly judgmental tone (note the very harsh punishment on the “goats” in the next parable). I think most people actually follow Matthew in interpreting this parable (and the next), but just leave out the “bad” parts. <br /><br />On the context, Matthew set up the context that you were noting, and chose (and edited) the parables to fit that context. Matthew does that often (as do the other evangelists as well). A few weeks ago the Lectionary covered three encounters (out of four) of Jesus with the religious authorities. It’s not likely that one day all of the Pharisees and Sadducees lined up to ask him accusatory questions and watched patiently as each one in front of them got shot down by Jesus before they had their turn. It’s <i>more</i> likely that Matthew hauled these stories together and tweaked (“redacted”) them to fit his local issues and concerns.<br /><br />But if one is trying to preach Jesus, underneath Matthew’s overlay (which, as you guessed, I am doing), then you are forced to look for different, alternative messages. It’s unlikely that Jesus would have created an allegory about himself going away for a long time and then coming back to judge us (to people who had no idea that he was going away, let alone coming back), and it’s unlikely that he would judge the poor who remained behind by taking everything they had and giving it to the rich. What is <i>more</i> likely (if you are trying to ferret out the original Jesus--admittedly difficult) is that he was trying to describe what real life is like in poisonous, unfair, unequal Palestine. In real life, wealthy people steal from poor people. Their underlings do the dirty work for them and get rewarded for it, and if anyone stands up and says you are a thief and you harvest other peoples’ crops, they get shut down and punished for it. Sometimes the magic works and sometimes it doesn’t. This seems to be a story that says, you <i>have</i> to stand up to evil, but if you do so, you have to expect a likelihood that you will not win. Actually, that is the parable of the life of Jesus, so it’s not impossible to think that he would construct a parable here and there which says the same thing.<br /><br />Does any of this get at your questions? Keep in touch.Stan G Duncan https://www.blogger.com/profile/01757624042233162584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805369423841502949.post-8824687937195062382014-11-13T06:52:26.441-05:002014-11-13T06:52:26.441-05:00Thanks, Stan. This is really compelling, and close...Thanks, Stan. This is really compelling, and closely argued. But what about context? This parable is set in the context of "the son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (24:44), then the parable of the servant set over the household. Surely that set up suggests seeing the son of man represented by the master of the household in that story (it's hard to argue the drunken and abusive wicked servant is actually the good guy there). But the general structure of the three parables is pretty similar -- wouldn't Matthew have seen the potential for confusion? I guess what I'm asking is this:in your analysis above, are you looking for the parable's original intent in the (unknown) context in which Jesus originally used it, or are you arguing that the author of the gospel of Matthew would have agreed with your analysis?<br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />Mark.mwphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04133736448740478605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805369423841502949.post-90273634161955582242011-02-17T15:12:11.436-05:002011-02-17T15:12:11.436-05:00Dear Jubilee Justice Network:
I am posting a rece...Dear Jubilee Justice Network:<br /><br />I am posting a recent statement from the four Massachusetts Catholic Bishops: "Standing in Solidarity with All" -- it is their statement on the economy, which might be of interest. Here is the link to paste in your web browser--<br />http://www.macathconf.org/11-BishopsStatementPovertyStandinginSolidaritywithAllFINALFeb9Corrected.pdf<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Sr. Linda Bessom SND<br />Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, 15 Bubier St., Lynn, MA 01901-1704, 781-595-7570 x 18<br />linda@mahomeless.orgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805369423841502949.post-61316974981420756412010-09-29T07:20:07.765-04:002010-09-29T07:20:07.765-04:00Unemployment is up. Growth is down. Deficits are...Unemployment is up. Growth is down. Deficits are at a record. What has gone wrong in Washington? <br /><br />Congressman Jim Himes voted for the stimulus bill, but he does not think that it went far enough. He admits that he would vote for pork barrel stimulus spending again if we give him the chance. <br /><br />Congressman Jim Himes voted for the healthcare takeover, but he wants to go further. His only regret is that he had to act incrementally while the voters are watching.<br /><br />November 2nd, 2010 will be a referendum on the Himes record. If you think that there is a better way, you can do something about it here: http://www.40seats.com/ct4ccdemuthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11113484086529028973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805369423841502949.post-33801946597104372402009-01-02T11:00:00.000-05:002009-01-02T11:00:00.000-05:00Well done. Enjoyed the first hand descriptions of...Well done. Enjoyed the first hand descriptions of the protest and how you worked in the history of NAFTA.<BR/><BR/>I had never heard of the disagreement involving Metaclad. That is crazy. Obama has been talking about free and FAIR trade, for the sake of all parties involved (minus a few corporations, of course) let's hope that happens.<BR/><BR/>Please let me know when you're book comes out.<BR/><BR/>Kelsey Timmerman<BR/>author of "Where am I Wearing?"<BR/>kels00@yahoo.comKelseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088536857799079287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805369423841502949.post-40162144824729940942008-06-11T07:47:00.000-04:002008-06-11T07:47:00.000-04:00I like this idea. Let's put something like this in...I like this idea. Let's put something like this in our own blog.Stan G Duncan https://www.blogger.com/profile/01757624042233162584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805369423841502949.post-73159764858006254812008-03-30T23:15:00.000-04:002008-03-30T23:15:00.000-04:00If you are interested in seeing the whole Somos De...If you are interested in seeing the whole Somos De Cafe movie - please e-mail us at sixteen.nine.productions@gmail.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com