Our text is Matthew 15:21-28, the Syro-Phoenician Woman. Bailey notes that most western Christians are embarrassed by how Jesus puts this woman through the wringer before He grants her request. The rhetorical flow of the passage is ABCBA. A. The woman’s request B. Jesus is for Israel C. The Parable of Children, Dogs and Bread…
Tag: Bible history
JTMEE: Chapter 15b
Jesus mentions to this Samaritan woman the gift of God and living water. He’s talking about the Word of God, but not in a document. Rather, it’s Himself; He is the Covenant (Isaiah 42:6). The term “living water” would typically refer to spring water. How could He produce spring water when He can’t even get…
Misreading Scripture: Racism 01
In chapter two of Misreading Scripture, R/OB attempt to talk about race and ethnicity. They do a poor job, trying to virtue signal without noticing that the Bible is quite racist. Here’s my point: human are racist by wiring. Infants are racially aware. It is utterly impossible to turn that off, though we have been…
Quite Intentionally
Above and below; there’s so much to explore in that territory. Symbolism in the Bible is not always straightforward, and seldom simple for those of us with western educations. There’s always a bridge between above and below. It varies with the context, but the whole point is the call and response. Heaven calls; the earth…
The Whole Command 01
While there are broader meanings in the words themselves, here I’ll use “grace” to refer to eternal election and redemption. The word “mercy” will emphasize God’s tolerance for our fallen human nature through the Covenant. God granting the Covenant of Moses to Israel was an act of mercy, but not a conduit of grace. When…
When Men Have Had Enough
Recall the biblical model of what men are like. Adam was preoccupied in the Garden, and failed to object to the Tempter’s message to Eve. He went along with it because he had more important things to worry about, managing the Garden and all. Maybe the job would get easier if he could decide for…