Interrogation for 09-07-2023, Gospel reading for this Sunday: Matthew11:16-19, 25-30

 

Theme

….wisdom is vindicated by her dreams.

 

NRSV version

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

16 ‘But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another,
17 “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
   we wailed, and you did not mourn.”


18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; 19the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.’

 

…………………………..

 

Jesus Thanks His Father

25 At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

 

28 ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’


Gospel for Hearers version

16 What shall I compare this generation to?

It is like children sitting in the square, calling to the other children.

'We played for you the flute but you did not dance.

We wept and wailed for you but you did not beat your breast.'

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say,

'He has a demon.'

The son of man came eating and drinking, and they say,

'Look at the glutton and drunkard,

friend of tax collectors and sinners!'

Even wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."

 

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

25 In that hour, Jesus declared,

"Praise be to you, Father,

Lord of heaven and earth,

because you have hidden these things from the wise and clever,

and have revealed them to the simple.

Yes, Father, for such was your intention.

Everything has been given me by my Father,

and no one but the Father knows the Son,

nor does anyone know the Father except the Son,

and whoever the Son decides to reveal Him to.

 

28 Come here to me all who labour under heavy burdens

and I will refresh you;

come you under my yoke1 and learn from me

that I am gentle and lowly of heart;

and you will find rest for your souls,

for my yoke is kind and my burden is not heavy."


From Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30, in The Gospel for Hearers (Translated from the Koine Greek by Elizabeth B. Edwards, Formatted by the Rev William A. Johnston), 2013, Diangellia Press.

 

Robot comment

 

What are the serious issues raised by this passage?

(An AI robot's response: Note that the robot here provides opinion, not fact and should not be taken as authoratative)

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 is a passage in the Bible that contains two distinct sections. The first section (verses 16-19) is about the people’s reaction to John the Baptist and Jesus. Jesus compares them to children who cannot agree on what game to play. John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say he has a demon. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.

The second section (verses 25-30) is about Jesus’ relationship with God. Jesus praises God for revealing things to little children that are hidden from the wise and learned. He then invites all who are weary and burdened to come to him for rest. He says that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

 From <https://edgeservices.bing.com/edgesvc/chat?udsframed=1&form=SHORUN&clientscopes=chat,noheader,channelstable,&shellsig=97254e9bb60fd16abcb9decc6c60c778be87e872&setlang=en-US&lightschemeovr=1>

 

Some questions raised by the text:

  • Who is Jesus talking to?
  • Who was the evangelist talking to?
  • Is this reading suggesting that the faith is like child's play?
  • What do you make of the idea that wisdom is "vindicated by her ideas". Is this the same as saying that actions speak louder than words -- or is it that wisdom needs to be matched up with appropriate and consistent ideas?
  • What point is Jesus trying to get across when he talks about the difference (or is it similarity?) between Jesus and John the Baptist.
  • When Jesus tells his hearers that his "yoke is easy", and his "burden is light", to what might he be referring? Have we not also been taught that the Christian life is hard, and that it goes hand-in-hand with suffering?

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