Notes from today:
About the adverb “behind” in Matt 16:23 and “after” in Matt 16:24:
In reference to time, our adverb (somewhat counterintuitively) refers to the future (i.e. the time that comes after now).
Since the past is known and thus continuously regarded, we humans face the past and the past is thus in front of us.
That means that the future is behind us, and we back into it, and a movement in the direction of our adverb results in
moving backward relative to our field of vision but forward in time. When Jesus famously told satan first (Matthew 4:10)
and Peter later (16:23) to get behind him, he both told them to get out of his present field of concern (get out of my sight),
and that he would deal with him later (get out of my past and into my future). Conversely, when Jesus told his
disciples-to-be to come behind him, he invited them into the future he opened to them (Matthew 4:19).
Notes from the first teaching:
Follow the Messiah
1. Hebrew vs Greek mindset
2. Word study
3. Walk the second mile
1. Hebrew vs Greek mindset
The ancient Hebrew mindset is – earthly – relational – action-oriented – communal
It sees Yah as active in the real world, and life as a journey of faithful response to His covenant love.
Hebrew:
Hear = listen & obey
Obedience = to hear + to obey
To know Yah = walk in His ways
Language is action-oriented
Ex: Emunah (faith) is about steadfastness, loyalty – more about action than belief.
Ex: Shalom (peace) means wholeness, completeness, not just the absence of conflict.
Hebrew mindset is concrete with focus on what can be experienced through the senses.
“Truth is something or someone you can rely on”
Ancient Hebrew mindset vs Ancient Greek mindset a comparison
View of reality:
Hebrew: Concrete, experiential, rooted in lived experience
Greek: Abstract, philosophical, rooted in ideas and ideals
Knowledge:
Hebrew: “To know” = to experience, obey, walk with
Greek: “To know” = to understand mentally, define logically
Faith:
Hebrew: Trust and loyalty in relationship
Greek: Intellectual belief in doctrines (pistis)
Humanity:
Hebrew: Unified whole (body, soul, spirit together)
Greek: Dualistic (body vs soul; physical vs. spiritual)
Truth:
Hebrew: What is reliable, faithful, proven in life
Greek: What is logically consistent, objectively true
God:
Hebrew: Personal, relational, involved in history
Greek: Often impersonal or abstract
Goal of Life:
Hebrew: Walk with Yah, obey His will, be faithful in covenant
Greek: Seek wisdom, live a virtuous and rational life
Scripture Interpretation:
Hebrew: Narrative, poetic, experiential
Greek: Analytical, systematic, often allegorical
2. Word study
Will G2309 – verb
to will, have in mind, intend
to be resolved or determined, to purpose
to desire, to wish
to love
to like to do a thing, be fond of doing
to take delight in, have pleasure
To be about to, To will, i.e. to have in mind, to purpose, to intend, be pleased
Dict. Resolve:
– To come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something)
– to reach a firm decision about
– when you resolve to do something, you make a firm decision to do it.
– Determination to do what you have decided to do
Come G2064 – middle voice of a prim. Verb
To come from one place to another (– in nature, mindset, perspective etc)
Deny G533 vb – Matt 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23
Fr. G575 and G720
to deny
to affirm that one has no acquaintance or connection with someone
to forget one’s self, lose sight of one’s self and one’s own interests
– to deny utterly, that is, disown, abstain: – deny.
When followed by G1438 (oneself); to deny oneself, i.e. to disown and renounce self, to disregard all personal interests and enjoyments.
Dict. Disown:
to refuse to acknowledge as belonging or pertaining to oneself; deny the ownership of or responsibility for; repudiate; renounce.
1: to refuse to acknowledge as one’s own
2a: to repudiate any connection or identification with b: to deny the validity or authority of
Dict. Renounce
to refuse to follow, obey, or recognize any further
to give up or put aside voluntarily
to repudiate; disown (repudiate: to reject as having no authority or binding force, to cast off or disown.)
G575 – primary article off, that is away (from something near)
of separation
of any kind of separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed
Preposition
THE UNION AND FELLOWSHIP WITH AUTO-SELF MUST BE DESTROYED
G720
to deny
to deny one’s self
to disregard his own interests or to prove false to himself
to deny, abnegate, abjure
To contradict, that is, disavow, reject, abnegate: – deny, refuse.
Dict. Abnegate:
– to refuse or deny oneself (some rights, conveniences, etc.); reject; renounce.
– to give up.
– surrender,
– restrain, esp. from indulging in some pleasure
3. Walk the second mile