The writer is speaking in terms of Platonic thought, but
that thought is also in keeping with the Word, God's revelation of Himself and
of truth. The temple on the mountain is
a copy of an ideal temple, the one in the mind of God. We see that idea again and again in
Scripture. God told Moses to make it
exactly as He was instructed, Noah was given exact instructions for the
ark. Ezekiel sees the temple God wants
and then John sees the city of God coming down from above. We live in a world that could have looked
like what God wanted but for our sin. We
seek wisdom and knowledge from the wrong sources in our creating so that we
make poor copies. In order to have true
wisdom to order things rightly and make just decisions we need God's Holy
Spirit from on high. Knowing that truth
and seeking that Spirit can make all the difference in the world.
The woman who comes to anoint Jesus is known to be a
"sinful" woman, apparently a prostitute in the city. The Pharisee, Simon, said to himself, “If
this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is
who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”
Said to himself, and Jesus answered him.
Does that mean Simon said this under his breath or that Jesus understood
his thoughts. Jesus' reply makes clear
He knows exactly who this woman is but her supplication on his behalf has been
her sacrifice of confession and she is forgiven. He makes clear also that Simon has sinned
against Him by not respecting Him enough to even provide basic hospitality. I see in this story the basic pattern of
Jesus in dealing with people. For those
who are outside the community, such as this woman who was shunned by those
inside the community, grace comes first but there is truth, the parable makes
plain her situation. For those insiders,
the self-righteous, they receive truth but the offer of grace is there if they
are willing to accept the truth.
Paul gives instructions for how to live in the household and
outside it. Wives are to submit to their
husbands, a most infamous idea nowadays but does it mean more than that wives
respect husbands? We have come to
believe in an egalitarian view of the sexes but is that cultural progress or
disobedience? Complementarianism is a
more biblical view of the relationship between men and women, from beginning to
end. Husbands are to love their wives,
tempering that desire to rule over women that comes in the original curse in
Genesis 3. Most of the advice Paul gives
for inter-household relationships is easy to follow and then he speaks of
outsiders, "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the
time." That wisdom of making the
best use of time needs some prayer and thought but it is clearly a witness to
those who are outsiders. Ask the Lord
today how you can best use the time He has given you.
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