Lectionary Year C
August 12, 2001
Luke 12:32-40

Context

Step IV - Context

A. Primitive Christianity

(JFC) In Paul's farewell address to the Ephesians (Acts 20:28), he described God's Church as "a flock whom God obtained with His own blood". Then I Peter 5:2 admonishes the leaders of the people "to tend the flock that is in your charge, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it . . ." In Matthew 6:20, Jesus teaches, "store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust consume nor thieves break in and steal." Mark 10:21 records a confrontation Jesus had with a man whom he told, "Sell all you own and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come follow me." And, in Revelation 3:20 we read, "Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you and you with me." And, I Thessalonians 5:2 warns, "For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." First century Christians lived with the expectation of their Savior's Parousia rather immediately. They took right seriously the admonitions to be and remain prepared for such a return. They comprehended the advice to "gird up loins and keep lamps ready to be lit". Wedding Feasts were every bit as big a celebration in their day as they are in ours, if not more so, in that they could occupy a whole week's time for the guests, et. al. Aristocrats heading households could quite naturally go to out-of-town Weddings, leaving domestics to stay at home tending the chores there. Thievery must have been a critical temptation then and there, it was so frequently mentioned in Scripture. From Daniel 7:14 to Luke 19:10, just to pick a couple of extremes, the name of "the Son of Man" is very meaningful to early Christians. This title in this passage would provoke attention and memory of the hearers/readers. Could this term mean, as might the term "servant", "Servant of the Lord", "Suffering Servant", as alluded to in this pericope, also provoke awareness of the "Son of Man" also referring to corporate identity, as seems to be the case with some mentions of the Son of Man as a collective or corporate entity?

B. Old Testament and Judaism

(JFC) Shall we begin recalling Psalm 23's using the image of God as a shepherd providing for a flock of followers in need? In Exodus 12:11, God instructed the celebrants to eat with "loins girded, sandals on your feet, staff in your hand; . . ." Elijah girded up his loins, too, when running to lead Ahab to Jezreel, in I Kings 18:46. Consult also II Kings 4:29, 9:1 and Job 38:3 and 40:7. Loins girded indicated a costume of preparation for work. Isaiah 41:14, in the Septuagint, refers to Jacob's/Israel's being a small flock not needing to fear for God's having helped them. God's people as servants are so described in Isaiah 65:13-15, Ezekiel 20:40 and Malachi 3:18. The Son of Man title comes from Daniel 7, I Enoch chapters 37-41 and IV Ezra. Then, as the second century BCE - fourth century CE, Martyrdom and Ascension of Isaiah anticipated the second coming of the Lord, in 5:16, it says, "the Lord will strengthen those who are found in the body (the living righteous), together with the saints in the robes of the saints (the costume of righteousness) and will serve those who have kept watch in this world." Is that a good job description for the coming Lord, or what?

C. Hellenistic World

(JFC) The Book of Acts, beginning with 6:1-6, tells us of the Hellenists' propensity to negativism and/or constructive criticism, for they more than just identified problems, they also suggested solutions. Verse 5 of that passage reports that the entire community approved of the selection of benevolence practitioners in addition to the disciples. That entire community must have included the Hellenists, surely. Their complaints hastened, of course, some additional functionaries in the Church who would take care of widows, and, presumably, also the orphans and sojourners within the gates. These Greek-speaking philosophers, remember, were highly and ethically concerned for the well-being of the many. Recall, "they understood themselves to be responsible for each other," as writes Goppelt's Theology of the New Testament. Could these strategies be the first "Faith-based Social Services Initiatives"? So, is President George W. Bush a modern-day Hellenist? Who said he apparently lacks the scholastic acumen of the early Hellenists? They certainly must have taken exception to the order to sell all possessions. Yet, to sell all in order to support the poor, must have been an admonition that, at least in theory, could have appealed to them. Furthermore, the Hellenists were somewhat aristocratic; therefore, they might easily relate with the lord of the manner away for a Wedding Feast and with servants to care for the home-place and to readmit him upon his return. Now, what about the nobleman becoming a table-servant? What would the Hellenists do with that image?

| Return to gospel text listings | Return to Epistle text listings |
| Return to Old Testament listings | Return to Psalms listings |
| User response form |