From: Steve Peterson (speterson@fast.net)
Date: Wed Oct 16 2002 - 21:53:26 BST
Is anyone sufficiently versed in the social context of Jesus' time that they
could describe the social establishment that Jesus would have been railing
against (if in fact he was not supporting that establishment)? e.g. Double
taxation, the Saducees, holiness, and the Pharisees and other reactions to
the problem of being a Jew under Roman occupation.
I will do some research and try to write a summary based on Marcus Borg's
study of the historical Jesus if there is no one else who can do so without
research.
I've thinking about some key Biblical passages that suggest a conflict of
Jesus with Judaism of his time, but establishing a social context first
seems important.
Here is one interesting example I think that doesn't require any special
historical context from the Gospel of Mark:
"38As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of
the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be
greeted in the marketplaces, 39and have the most important seats in
the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40They devour
widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be
punished most severely."
The Widow's Offering
41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the
offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple
treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor
widow came and put in two very small copper coins,[10] worth only a
fraction of a penny.[11] 43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell
you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the
others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her
poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."
"
I was looking for examples by searching for "Jesus, law" and I found this.
The part with the heading "The widow's offering" is a common reading in
churches around the time when people are supposed to make a pledge to give a
certain ammount of money or pledge voluteer work, but it is taken out of
context. Lines 38-40 are generally not read I think.
The headings such as "The Widow's Offfering" are not part of any "original"
text and can mislead interpretation. It suggests that lines 41 to 44 are a
complete idea while these lines actually refer to the "teachers of the law"
who "devour widows houses" in line 40.
Jesus is not praising the widow but is actually condemning a practice of the
church praying on widows, but the way it is often used by modern churches is
to make Christians feel guilty for not giving enough!
Anyway, is this an example of intellect conflicting with society?
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