In my previous email we discussed the correct meanings
of the Hebrew idioms “good eye” and “evil eye” found in the
teachings of Jesus. He used this saying in two different contexts. Today I will
discuss the first place it appears (Matthew 6:19-24). This parable has three parts
and the idioms are in part 2.
Part 1 (vv. 19-21):
Do not lay up for
yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust
destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
but lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor
rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This part uses two parallelisms to set the stage for the
opening question and statement.
● Parallelisms: Will you lay up treasures on
earth for yourself or treasures in heaven with God?
● Opening Statement: Your heart is where your
treasure is.
Part
2
(vv. 22-23):
The lamp of the body is
the eye.
If you are a
generous person that gives food to the poor,
your whole body will be
full of light.
But if you are a
greedy stingy person that does not give anything to the poor,
your whole body will be
full of darkness.
● What purpose was a lamp created to fulfill? It was
created to give light.
● “The eye” is a play on the words of the two
Hebrew idioms – good eye (generous person) and evil eye (stingy person).
● The body was created to be “full of light” by doing
generous things that meet people’s needs.
● The body of a stingy person is like at lamp that doesn’t
give light.
Part
3
(v. 24):
No one can serve two
masters;
for either he will hate
the one and love the other,
or else he will be loyal
to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God
and mammon.
● Note the words used in contrast to each other: hate
or love; loyal or despise.
● The generous person loves God,
is loyal to God, and serves God.
● The stingy person hates God,
despises God, and serves mammon (wealth).
● A generous person’s heart is with
God.
● A stingy person’s heart is with
mammon.
Jesus appears to have been familiar with two
scrolls that are not part of the Jewish Scriptures today. The first is Ben Sira,
which was written between 200-175 BCE. The words below are from Ben Sira
29:8-13:
● Be understanding with those who are poor;
do not keep them waiting for your generosity.
● It is better to lose your money by
helping a relative or a friend than letting it rust away.
● Use your wealth (mammon) as
the Most High has commanded.
● Count among your treasures
the fact that you give to the poor.
● It will save you from all
kinds of trouble and be a defense against your enemies.
The
second scroll is Tobit 4:7-11 (written about 150 BCE).
● Give generously to
anyone who faithfully obeys God.
● If you are stingy in giving to the poor,
God will be stingy in giving to you.
● The more you have, the more you should
give.
● This is as good as money saved.
● You will have your reward in a time of trouble.
● Taking care of the poor is the kind of
offering that pleases God in heaven.
● Do this and you will be kept safe
from the dark world of the dead.
Jesus was repeating ideas that had been in
circulation for almost two centuries before he was born. Be sure to note
Tobit’s connection of “giving to the poor” to “being
kept safe from the world of the dead.” The idea of “being
generous and inheriting eternal life” didn’t originate with Jesus. Please share and
discuss it with others.
Jim Myers
☼ Donate and help us provide
much more information! Click Here to Donate.
☼ Like the
BHC Facebook page so more people will explore. Click Here.
☼ Visit
the BHC website to see previous emails and other information. Click Here.
☼ Subscribe so you will not miss future emails. Click Here.
☼
Contact Us – reply@biblicalheritage.org or use contact form Click Here.
No comments:
Post a Comment