Episode 73: Real Sister Wives of the Hebrew Bible or Pentecost +7A
Welcome to the Pulpit Fiction Podcast, where two local pastors discuss the lectionary reading for the week.
This is episode 73 for Sunday July 27, Proper 12A/Ordinary 17A/Pentecost +7, Year A.
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 - Lots of parables
Genesis 29:15-28 - A Tale of Sister Wives
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Introduction and Check-in
- Samuel
- First Sunday at 2 Rivers
- Jesus Jukes and Why We Need to Know Where You Stand
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- To not know is human. It’s where we all begin. There’s nothing shameful or wrong about not knowing where you stand on same-sex relationships.
- To not care is to think both of these scenarios are unworthy of time spent in study, in prayer, in speaking to God. To not care, in a way, is to not love.
- To not know is human. It’s where we all begin. There’s nothing shameful or wrong about not knowing where you stand on same-sex relationships.
Primary Scripture - Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 Lots of parables
- Initial Thoughts
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- Take them one at a time, focus on one, or look at grouping.
- Grouping:
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- Mustard Seed and Yeast - Addressed to crowd. Stresses God’s action. Kingdom of Heaven doesn’t work the way we expect it to.
- Treasure in the field, pearl of great value - Addressed to disciples. Stresses human response. Kingdom of Heaven is found in ordinary places, and is worth our whole life.
- Fish in the net - Kingdom of Heaven is something we can miss, but it is not our decision to decide who is in and who is out. Cast the net for all the fish.
- Mustard Seed and Yeast - Addressed to crowd. Stresses God’s action. Kingdom of Heaven doesn’t work the way we expect it to.
- Take them one at a time, focus on one, or look at grouping.
- Bible Study
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- Mustard seed in a field.
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- God’s work is barely perceptible at times, and yet produces enormous results.
- Mustard is closer to a weed than anything else. Would not be known as a good symbol of success, prosperity and fruitfulness.
- Planting a weed in a field is not normal behavior - in fact, it was the behavior of the evil one in the previous parable.
- Most farmers are not interested in having a big shrub that draws birds in the middle of the field.
- God’s work is barely perceptible at times, and yet produces enormous results.
- Yeast in flour.
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- Mixing yeast into flour would render the flour useless. It would have be thrown away at Sabbath.
- Three measures of flower is enough to make bread to feed 100 people.
- Leaven is even more subversive than yeast. “Leaven is a rotting, molding lump of bread. It usually is a negative symbol of corruption. (Matthew 16:6; 1 Corinthians 5:8) It is a "woman" who takes this leaven and "hides" (not "mixes" -- cf. below) it in the flour. Given the cultural perspectives of Jesus' day, all these details make it sound like something potentially sinister and furtive is going on.” (Mark Vitalis, Working Preacher)
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- Common English Bible translates “mixes” has “hid”
- Common English Bible translates “mixes” has “hid”
- Mixing yeast into flour would render the flour useless. It would have be thrown away at Sabbath.
- Treasure in a field.
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- “The kingdom of God within us is a treasure indeed, but a treasure hid from the world, and from the most wise and prudent in it. He that finds this treasure, (perhaps when he thought it far from him,) hides it deep in his heart, and gives up all other happiness for it." From John Wesley’s notes.
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- This is a note of prevenient grace, the grace that precedes any action, understanding, or initiative on our part. There is within every human heart a treasure that God has placed.
- This is a note of prevenient grace, the grace that precedes any action, understanding, or initiative on our part. There is within every human heart a treasure that God has placed.
- “The kingdom of God within us is a treasure indeed, but a treasure hid from the world, and from the most wise and prudent in it. He that finds this treasure, (perhaps when he thought it far from him,) hides it deep in his heart, and gives up all other happiness for it." From John Wesley’s notes.
- Pearl of great value.
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- Sold all he had to buy one pearl of great value.
- It is hard to imagine how this is a wise business decision.
- Kingdom of God takes full devotion. There is no halfway.
- Sold all he had to buy one pearl of great value.
- Net thrown into the sea.
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- There is a word of judgment with the Kingdom of God that cannot be ignored.
- Similar theme to the parable of the weeds and the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30, which was the gospel text for Pentecost +6A)
- We are not the fishermen.
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- It is not our job to be dividing the fish.
- It is not our job to be dividing the fish.
- All the fish are caught
- There is a word of judgment with the Kingdom of God that cannot be ignored.
- Mustard seed in a field.
- Preaching Thoughts
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- The Kingdom of God is:
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- Unexpected, unseen, perhaps subversive.
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- “God is at work, even though human eyes may fail to perceive what is happening.” (Douglas Hare, Interpretation: Matthew, p. 157)
- “God’s realm of justice and peace and freedom in this world is something unexpected. It works contrary to our expectations. The eventual success of God’s kingdom at transforming this world into a place of justice and peace and freedom would have been about as unexpected to the people who originally heard this parable.” (Alan Brehm, The Waking Dreamer)
- The Kingdom of Heaven disrupts. It afflicts the comfortable, rattles cages, and turns over tables. The Kingdom of Heaven is not about business as usual, but is about a new economy of God’s justice that doesn’t make sense to the way of the world.
- “God is at work, even though human eyes may fail to perceive what is happening.” (Douglas Hare, Interpretation: Matthew, p. 157)
- At hand.
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- Found in ordinary places, by people that are earnestly searching for it.
- Always present, even if we are unaware.
- Found in ordinary places, by people that are earnestly searching for it.
- Worth our whole lives
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- Just as Jesus gave his life for the Kingdom, so too should we.
- Just as Jesus gave his life for the Kingdom, so too should we.
- Unexpected, unseen, perhaps subversive.
- The Kingdom of God is:
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Secondary scripture - Genesis 29:15-28 - A Tale of Sister Wives
- Initial Thoughts
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- Traditional Marriage at its best…
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- Esau married his half cousin
- Jacob marries his cousins
- Esau married his half cousin
- Traditional Marriage at its best…
- Bible Study
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- Role reversal- this time Jacob is tricked- not the trickster
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- First born are married first- Jacob is literally tricked by the same generational tradition
- Empathy? Does Jacob finally see the consequences of his trickery?
- First born are married first- Jacob is literally tricked by the same generational tradition
- Jacob away from home
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- Yahwist writer (J)- Jacob is fleeing Esau (Gen 27:41-45)
- Priestly writer (P)- Jacob is following Isaac’s commands (Gen 28:5)
- Yahwist writer (J)- Jacob is fleeing Esau (Gen 27:41-45)
- Women
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- Women are viewed only as property- whom Rachel and Leah loves is unimportant to the author, Laban and Jacob are the subjects and actors, Leah and Rachel are seen only as property.
- Rachel and Leah are Jacob’s “wages”
- God working on behalf of women (Amy Howe, Feasting on the Word)
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- Hagar - Cast out in the desert - is blessed and line continued in Ishmael and then Esau
- Sarah - Barren - blessed with a son
- Leah - unloved. is married with standing and children
- Rachel - Barren - blessed with 2 sons and is loved
- Hagar - Cast out in the desert - is blessed and line continued in Ishmael and then Esau
- Women are viewed only as property- whom Rachel and Leah loves is unimportant to the author, Laban and Jacob are the subjects and actors, Leah and Rachel are seen only as property.
- Jacob loved Rachel
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- Seven years- well beyond what would be expected for marriage
- One of the few mentions of romantic love
- Seven years- well beyond what would be expected for marriage
- This passage cannot be separated from last week: Jacob’s Stairway Dream (Gen 28:15) “Know that I am with you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you [many descendants, nations, etc]” (Greg Garrett, Feasting on the Word)
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- Jacob’s series of unfortunate events:
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- Fleeing for his life
- Tricked by his uncle
- Works as a servant for 14 years
- Wife he loves will not conceive for a long time
- When she does, she will die in childbirth (second child)
- Uncle continues to treat him badly until he leaves
- Fleeing for his life
- God’s presence in the midst
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- Jacob’s life is spared
- Jacob flourished in the 14 years under Laban becoming wealthy and respected
- He has many children from Leah, Zilpah and Bilhah as well as 2 sons by Rachel
- Jacob’s life is spared again
- Jacob’s life is spared
- God’s presence moves in the midst of human weakness, sinfulness and failure working toward good- it does not prevent these things.
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- “We may want and even expect God's justice to be big and dramatic, but these stories show that the reality of God's intercession often is mundane, found in unexpected places. These stories give us eyes to see where the Divine can be sought and where we participate in that sweet union.” (Amy Howe, Feasting on the Word)
- “We may want and even expect God's justice to be big and dramatic, but these stories show that the reality of God's intercession often is mundane, found in unexpected places. These stories give us eyes to see where the Divine can be sought and where we participate in that sweet union.” (Amy Howe, Feasting on the Word)
- Jacob’s series of unfortunate events:
- Role reversal- this time Jacob is tricked- not the trickster
- Preaching Thoughts
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- How do we highlight God’s presence in the midst of suffering without trivializing, justifying or sanctifying the suffering itself?
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- Overall, we seem to do this badly- looking for platitudes to explain away the pain instead of acknowledging the pain and suffering while affirming God’s presence in the midst.
- Ritual (and tradition?) does this very well- it communicated more effectively than words. How do we reclaim more rituals that acknowledge suffering and God’s grace?
- Overall, we seem to do this badly- looking for platitudes to explain away the pain instead of acknowledging the pain and suffering while affirming God’s presence in the midst.
- How do we highlight God’s presence in the midst of suffering without trivializing, justifying or sanctifying the suffering itself?
CLOSING
TY listeners
Shout outs:
- Tom commented on episode 71. He began an interesting conversation about how and why God chooses. He concluded his comment by saying, “There are some groups who are excluded in the Old Testament because of the chosen-ness of Israel, but no one is excluded from Christ's salvation.” Eric offered a reply on the episode.
- Tom Lutes (@lutes_thomasp) asked on July 10 if it was Robb’s birthday. He was a day late, but it surely was a busy week.
- Lots of well wishes, prayers, comments, congratulations sent our way this week on Facebook for birth of Samuel and Robb’s birthday. Thanks everyone, we feel the love.
Featured Musician -
Featured Musician - Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, “The Seed Song,” from his kids’ album, Seeds of Faith. You can find more of Richard’s great music at worldmaking.net. Follow him on Twitter @PoMoPsalmist
Our theme music is Misirlou by Dick Dale and the Del Tones and our closing music is “Oh No” by Paul & Storm.
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