Matthew 11 is full of strangeness. I don't want to bore you by enumerating all of it, but let's start with a couple of obvious oddities. John the Baptist, who is imprisoned (without explanation) sends a messenger to ask if Jesus is "the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" He's evidently pretty dense, because in Chapter 3, he baptized Jesus and heard the voice of God say "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." Jesus also makes an odd remark in the following verse, "From the days of John the Baptist until now . . ." since John is still alive.
Jesus says that John is a reincarnation of Elijah, which the other synoptic gospels support in different words. However, the Gospel of John rejects the claim: "This is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? ... And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not." (John 1:19).
Jesus prophecies the destruction of several towns, including his home town of Capernaum, but this never happened.
The bottom line is that these are all rather poorly edited compilations of oral tradition. They contain innumerable contradictions and nonsensical passages. As I have said many times, the people who believe in the Bible most fervently have not read it. Tufts Professor Daniel Dennett published a book with Linda LaScola in 2013 titled "Caught in the Pulpit: Leaving Belief Behind." They interviewed numerous clergy, who had the revelatory experience of actually reading and studying the Bible in the seminary and discovering that it is a total pile of bullshit. They became secret atheists, but because being Christian ministers was their only marketable skill, they stayed on the job, rationalizing that they were providing comfort for people. Really. Of course, a lot of them just do it for the big bucks.
11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]
2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’[c]11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[d] and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
Woe on Unrepentant Towns
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[e] For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
The Father Revealed in the Son
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 11:1 Greek in their towns
- Matthew 11:5 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
- Matthew 11:10 Mal. 3:1
- Matthew 11:12 Or been forcefully advancing
- Matthew 11:23 That is, the realm of the dead
1 comment:
Gobbledygook. Rubbish. Nonsensical ramblings.
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