Original link: http://www.ideobook.com/3169/sword/
“The church is not the same thing as the Bible, the Bible has always been the guilt of the church”, the German thinker Bloch said (pp. 9-10). This “guilt”, or to put it another way, the moral thought nurtured by this verse, the passover of creeds and sectarian positions (“thinking means passover”, Burt’s epitaph), is why holy books can never go out of style , speaks to everyone, is understood by readers of different times and peoples, and helps the suffering people face reality, resist oppression, and then “make history” one of the main reasons. This passage of the “sword” gospel is an example. How to interpret it has always been a headache for theologians. Even modern academic translations are often vague, such as the New Oxford Annotated/New Revised Standard Version (Third Edition), with only a short sentence: Jesus was present, causing the division. Who split? Why were they divided in the presence of the Son of Man? But dare not say. Christ came, according to Matthew, not to abolish the Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets, but to make it perfect, Matthew 5:17. Therefore, he repeatedly emphasized the observance of the Holy Law, and “every tittle” is indispensable, including honoring parents and loving neighbor as oneself, Exodus 20:12, Leviticus 19:18. For the true absolute “good”, ho agathos, is one, the Father–there is no other good but God, Matthew 19:16 below. But there is a commandment of fraternity, even “love your enemy”, “if anyone criticizes your right cheek, turn your left cheek and give it to him”, 5:39, 44, why is it declared that flesh and blood are enemies, and the family is divided, Should believers even abandon the love of parents and children? It turns out that the biggest difference between the Gospel of the Son of Man and the churches of the later generations is the view of history and the world. Jesus’ slogan, taken from the teacher John the Baptist, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”, 3:2, 4:17. He is standing before the end of holy history, “opening our eyes and ears” to give salvation, not teaching people to settle their daily family life, or comforting successful people and helping them enjoy “peace”. The end is imminent, and great evil will seize it at any time. This is the warning given by the prophets of Galilee to the faithful: soon, when the false prophets swarm, one by one, saying “I am the Christ”, there will be many deceived, 24:5. At that time, “brothers will hand over brothers to death, fathers will hand over children; children will rise up against their parents, and will not hesitate to kill them. You will be hated by everyone for my name; only those who persevere will be saved. “. So he sent his disciples to preach, with a very urgent task: Amen, I tell you, the Son of Man will come before you go through the cities of Israel, 10:21-23. Amen, I tell you, among those who stand here, there are some who do not have to taste death to see the Son of Man descend into his kingdom of heaven, 16:28, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:27. It will be an unprecedented catastrophe and test. “If those days are not shortened, there will be no way for the whole body to live.” How to do it? Salvation will come only if the loyal servants persevere in the battle, win the “election” and become the “remainder” of the people who will enter the kingdom of heaven, the holy ones, Isaiah 10:22, Romans 11:5, 24:21-22. At this decisive moment, the “pain of childbirth” in the new heaven and new earth begins, and those who raise their swords and seek the Tao will disregard the rules. 34 Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the world; I have not brought peace, but sword. 35 For I came to be against the father (the son) against the father, the daughter against the mother, the daughter-in-law against the mother-in-law – 36 The man against his own family. 37 Whoever loves his parents more than me is not worthy [follow] me; whoever loves his children more than me is not worthy. 38 Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy. 39 Anyone who finds his own life will lose it; but the life lost for my sake will be recovered. Note 10:34 I am not bringing peace: the confession that the Gospel will upend the old world or “this world,” including the family, patriarchal, and social relationships that sustain it. Accordingly, the “peacemaking” required by the “Nine Fortunes” is by no means abolishing the struggle, but focusing on the unity of the “warriors” within the Tao, note in Matt. 5:9. The sword, machaira, dagger, is a metaphor for the division and strife of the people caused by the gospel; Jesus himself became “a sign of reproach”, Luke 2:34. 10:35-36 Before the truth, the family is divided, quoted from Micah 7:6. 10:37 Love parents/children more than me: Love has degrees and does not tolerate infidelity, note on Exodus 20:5, Ezekiel 23:25. More importantly, the fear and love of the Lord, agape, is greater than human love, philia, serving the Lord should not be burdened with the family, Deuteronomy 33:9. 10:38 The Cross: The condemned man had to carry his own cross and go to be tortured outside the city, John 19:17. This is a metaphor for being ridiculed, persecuted, and even “giving up oneself” and voluntarily sacrifice, 16:24, 23:34. 10:39 Find (life): Win with grace, Proverbs 21:21. Resurrection, heuresei, resurrection into eternal life, Daniel 12:2 (Introduction to the Son of Man). Same as 16:24-25. This article is included in “Psalm Collection”
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