Read this Book! - 06/29/01 06:48 AM
It brings to light the importance of first knowing what the Bible writers said to their own culture before trying to bring it "up to date" and apply it to ours.
There is an example:
Matthew 8:21-22 mentions a would-be follower of Jesus who said to Him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Jesus replied, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead." This strikes some readers as rather unkind--after all, a dutiful son was making a simple request to bury his father, which Jesus should rave respected, right? But scholars familiar with Middle Eastern culture interpret it differently: most likely the man wasn't saying his father had just died--rather, he was saying to Jesus, "I can't follow You until after my father is dead and buried." Obviously Jesus' message was more urgent than that. His reply to the man might have been His way of saying, "Cut the excuses, you're just trying to dalay your commitment." The scholars say that even today Middle Easterners use "Let me bury my father first" as a polite way of refusing a request.
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You have done many good things for me, Lord, just as you promised. I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge. Psalm 119:65-66 NLT