Blog:"and greet no one along the way": Difference between revisions
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In ancient Near Eastern culture people often gave very long greetings that tied them up sometimes for days (cf. Judg. 19:4-9; 2 Kings 4:29). Jesus did not mean that His disciples should be unfriendly or unsociable but that they should not allow these greetings to divert them from their mission. They were to pursue their work and not waste their time on lesser things. | In ancient Near Eastern culture people often gave very long greetings that tied them up sometimes for days (cf. Judg. 19:4-9; 2 Kings 4:29). Jesus did not mean that His disciples should be unfriendly or unsociable but that they should not allow these greetings to divert them from their mission. They were to pursue their work and not waste their time on lesser things. | ||
[[File:70Apostles.jpg|thumb|70 Apostles (Byzantine icon, Wikipedia)]] | [[File:70Apostles.jpg|thumb|70 Apostles (Byzantine icon, Wikipedia)]] | ||
Perhaps that's exactly what Jesus meant: don't get bogged down by some extended ritualistic normative cultural protocol. | Perhaps that's exactly what Jesus meant: don't get bogged down by some extended ritualistic normative cultural protocol. Well... | ||
Throughout Luke Chapters 9 and 10, Jesus is preparing the disciples for their mission to follow, teaching them in hints and broad statements, in baby steps and practice on their own. Prior to "The Mission of the Seventy-Two," he similarly sent the Twelve ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9?1 Lk 9:1-6]; told in [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10?1 Mt 10:5-15] and [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/6?7 Mk 6:7-13]<ref>The Seventy-Two appears only in Luke.</ref>) whom he instructed to pronounce that "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10?7 Mt 10:7]), only across Jewish lands only, whereas the Seventy-Two also went into Samaria and "pagan territory."<ref>The Twelve were told not to go to Samaria or pagan lands ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10?5 Mt. 10:5]); whereas, evidently, the Seventy-Two did (see Constable's notes on [https://netbible.org/bible/Luke+10 Luke 10:1])</ref> | Throughout Luke Chapters 9 and 10, Jesus is preparing the disciples for their mission to follow, teaching them in hints and broad statements, in baby steps and practice on their own. Prior to "The Mission of the Seventy-Two," he similarly sent the Twelve ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9?1 Lk 9:1-6]; told in [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10?1 Mt 10:5-15] and [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/6?7 Mk 6:7-13]<ref>The Seventy-Two appears only in Luke.</ref>) whom he instructed to pronounce that "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10?7 Mt 10:7]), only across Jewish lands only, whereas the Seventy-Two also went into Samaria and "pagan territory."<ref>The Twelve were told not to go to Samaria or pagan lands ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10?5 Mt. 10:5]); whereas, evidently, the Seventy-Two did (see Constable's notes on [https://netbible.org/bible/Luke+10 Luke 10:1])</ref> | ||
There is the thought that Luke's audience was Gentiles, and Matthew's Jews, thus the emphasis on the Seventy-Two in Luke<ref>In Luke, the Mission of the Twelve is six verses long ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9?1 Lk 9:1-6] -- and much longer in Matthew), whereas the Mission of the Seventy-Two extends into 24 verses in [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?1 Luke 10]</ref>, but it makes complete sense that Jesus would gradually extend the Good News, first within Jewish communities through the Apostles, then to Samaritans and pagans with a larger crew of disciples. It also follows the pattern of fulfilling the Old Covenant for the Jews first, then bringing it and the New Covenant across the world. | There is the thought that Luke's audience was Gentiles, and Matthew's Jews, thus the emphasis on the Seventy-Two in Luke<ref>In Luke, the Mission of the Twelve is six verses long ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9?1 Lk 9:1-6] -- and much longer in Matthew), whereas the Mission of the Seventy-Two extends into 24 verses in [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?1 Luke 10]</ref>, but it makes complete sense that Jesus would gradually extend the Good News, first within Jewish communities through the Apostles, then to Samaritans and pagans with a larger crew of disciples as he himself ventured into those areas. It also follows the pattern of fulfilling the Old Covenant for the Jews first, then bringing it and the New Covenant across the world. | ||
Thinking allegorically, a "way" or "path" is what lies between point A and B. The early Church -- and it's so amazing, was called, "The Way", as Jesus is "the way" to salvation. | Thinking allegorically, a "way" or "path" is what lies between point A and B. The early Church -- and it's so amazing, was called, "The Way", as Jesus is "the way" to salvation. It's in the getting there we find trouble, and not just allegorically. | ||
While we may be situated in modes and places, it is in moving about, and, especially moving between circumstances that we are especially vulnerable to the world's definitions upon us. Travel has inherent uncertainty, and as anyone who has traveled much can attest, the world of travelers can be rather unsavory. Travel means exposure to the world. | |||
Indeed, the Lord mentions the word "world" frequently, generally as a reference to creation and mankind or as the fallen "world" ruled by Satan. In Luke's version of the Temptation of Jesus, | |||
Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/4?5 Lk 4:5]) | Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/4?5 Lk 4:5]) | ||
The "world" is that which is not of Heaven and God. You know, where we live | The "world" is that which is not of Heaven and God. You know, where we live -- which is why Jesus instructs us to be like a beacon upon a mountain, | ||
You are the light of the world. ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?14 Mt 5:14]) | You are the light of the world. ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?14 Mt 5:14]) | ||
That lamp is not to be extinguished on its way up the hill. So, sending out of the Seventy-Two is preparation for the larger journey to follow Christ's Death and Resurrection, when the world will be much larger and far more dangerous. Jesus needs them to get ready, needs them to discern good from evil, and to wield the powers and protections of Faith. | That lamp is not to be extinguished on its way up the hill. So, sending out of the Seventy-Two is preparation for the larger journey to follow Christ's Death and Resurrection, when the world will be much larger and far more dangerous. Jesus needs them to get ready, needs them to discern good from evil, and to wield the powers and protections of Faith. | ||