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The Woes cont.Woes against scribes and Pharisees (
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1. Topic 10 Judgment on the Complacent(Jesus Future Expectation) Kingdom of God brings salvation for the needy but judgment and disaster for the satisfied (rich, powerful, religious).
The Woes (pronouncements of doom/judgment) Jesus challenges the pious/respectable/powerful.
Woes against the rich (# 74 Lk. 6:24-26)
Counterparts to Lukes Beatitudes. (Jesus comforts the troubled; troubles the comfortable.)
Warnings of doom to the rich, full, laughing, well-spoken-of.
Wealthy oppressors depend on power/wealth; no need for God; no respect for Gods demands for justice.
Warns of eschatological reversal of fortunes: oppressed poor to be delivered; rich oppressors to be judged (cf. Rich Man and Lazarus).
2. The Woes cont.
Woes against scribes and Pharisees (# 154 Lk. 11:37-54 par. Mt. 23:1-26 cf. # 210)
Pharisees (v. 39-44)
Overemphasize rituals (purity; tithing) but neglect ethics (justice; mercy; faith; cf. Mt. 23:23).
Pose as models of righteousness (cf. Mt. 23:5-7) but really are stumbling-blocks (blind guides; cf. Mt. 23:24).
Scribes (v. 45-52) interpreters of Torah
Impose heavy burdens of Torah-interpretation levels of tithes, temple tax, sacrifices, purity, Sabbath kept poor peasants impure and excluded (cf. Mt. 11:28-30).
Reject kingdom of God for themselves and hinder others.
Climax long history of rejecting Gods messengers.
Judgment coming upon Jerusalem/temple (Lk. 11:49-51; Mt. 23:36-39;
Parable of Wicked Tenants (# 204 Mk. 12:1-12) Israels leaders rejected prophets; now Jesus; vineyard taken away.
Hypocrite (13 of 17 occurrences are in Mt.)
Theater term actor playing role behind mask.
Role-player; pretender; pretends to be religious but not sincere.
Pharisees not uniformly hypocritical; Mt. may heighten polemic due to conflict with synagogue at time of writing.
Such hypocrisy can infect any religion, even our own.
3. Two Eschatological Discourses The Little Apocalypse (Mk. 13 par. # 213-230) Unfolds eschatological drama scene by scene. v. 1-4 Setting: outside temple Temple will be destroyed. Questions about the End: when? signs? v. 5-8 Preliminary signs False messiahs, wars, earthquakes, famine (traditional apocalyptic signs of end). Not signs that end has come; only beg. of birth pangs. v. 9-13 Persecution of Jesus disciples Provides opportunity for witness; gospel must be preached. Assurance that the faithful will be saved. v. 14-23 The desolating sacrilege Orig. referred to desecration of temple by Antiochus IV in 167 BC (Dan. 9:27; 11:31: 12:11; 1 Macc. 1:54). Here refers to Roman destruction of temple in 70 AD; note graphic imagery of war, panic, flight. Perhaps influenced by Caligulas threat to put his statue in temple c. 40 AD.