Sunday, October 11, 2009
Walk a mile (or two) in these shoes! - Matthew 5:38-48
8:18 PM | 
Posted by
Fidel V
THE FACTS!
Before 250 BC, the via Appia, and after 124 BC, most viae (Roman roads), were divided into numbered miles by milestones. The modern word mile derives in fact from the Latin milia passuum, "one thousand paces", which amounted to 4,841 feet (1,480 m). A milestone, or miliarium, was a circular column on a solid rectangular base, set for more than 2 feet (60 cm) into the ground, standing 5 feet (1.50 m) high, 20 inches (50 cm) in diameter, and weighing more than 2 tons. At the base was inscribed the number of the mile relative to the road it was on. In a panel at eye-height was the distance to the Roman Forum and various other information about the officials who made or repaired the road and when.
THE BIG DEAL?
Jesus was most likely making an allusion in v.41, to the practice of Roman and some Eastern nations, who, when government dispatches had to be forwarded, obliged the people not only to furnish horses and carriages, "but to give personal attendance" (as in carrying loads and crap), often at great inconvenience, when required. Meaning a Roman officer could at times ask with a considerable amount of time, from people around the area for assistance and/or goods, as well as to also "ask" a bystander for "help" on the side of the road without necessarily discussing the individuals previous destination or social schedule.
WHAT JESUS WASN'T MERELY SAYING?
Play nice and don't have "badditude" when it is your turn to fulfill the social contract with other people.
WHAT IT MEANT TO A FIRST CENTURY JEW?
1st. Century Jew: Wait, Wait, WAIT!!! Messiah will come and drive our enemies to the ground, and as I understand it, you, Sir Jesus are by all accounts saying you are "He"...do you not understand? it has been almost 400 years of exile and/or war and oppression by either these or those nations, and besides, Yahweh has said that if we remain faithful, He will fulfill all the promises He made to our forefather Abraham, and you come here announcing deliverance and announcing HIS Kingdom is here, yet you say not one, but TWO MILES!!!...and to Love our enemies?...clearly this was, an all out shaking of the foundations of Jewish sunday school dogmas.
THE RESHAPED STORY?
The offensive nature of the sermon of the mount (Matthew Chp. 5), on first century Jewish theology and idiosyncrasy, shapes and provides context to the message of the 4 Gospels, but for now I will limit myself on this article to the discussion of this sole verse (v.41), and in a scholarly and informed manner wish to perhaps inspire, a re-reading of such a passage and let God through his Spirit energize, and drive our character to a state of constant submission, to God's ultimate goal; Both in and through us, even as we are faced with adversity and evil, as such, first century Jewish listeners and early Christians would have been.
May these words remind us, God's Kingdom is not limited to a physical conquest of adverse events (which will happen eventually in God's own manner and time), but also to the shaping of our character into HIS own.
Before 250 BC, the via Appia, and after 124 BC, most viae (Roman roads), were divided into numbered miles by milestones. The modern word mile derives in fact from the Latin milia passuum, "one thousand paces", which amounted to 4,841 feet (1,480 m). A milestone, or miliarium, was a circular column on a solid rectangular base, set for more than 2 feet (60 cm) into the ground, standing 5 feet (1.50 m) high, 20 inches (50 cm) in diameter, and weighing more than 2 tons. At the base was inscribed the number of the mile relative to the road it was on. In a panel at eye-height was the distance to the Roman Forum and various other information about the officials who made or repaired the road and when.
THE BIG DEAL?
Jesus was most likely making an allusion in v.41, to the practice of Roman and some Eastern nations, who, when government dispatches had to be forwarded, obliged the people not only to furnish horses and carriages, "but to give personal attendance" (as in carrying loads and crap), often at great inconvenience, when required. Meaning a Roman officer could at times ask with a considerable amount of time, from people around the area for assistance and/or goods, as well as to also "ask" a bystander for "help" on the side of the road without necessarily discussing the individuals previous destination or social schedule.
WHAT JESUS WASN'T MERELY SAYING?
Play nice and don't have "badditude" when it is your turn to fulfill the social contract with other people.
WHAT IT MEANT TO A FIRST CENTURY JEW?
1st. Century Jew: Wait, Wait, WAIT!!! Messiah will come and drive our enemies to the ground, and as I understand it, you, Sir Jesus are by all accounts saying you are "He"...do you not understand? it has been almost 400 years of exile and/or war and oppression by either these or those nations, and besides, Yahweh has said that if we remain faithful, He will fulfill all the promises He made to our forefather Abraham, and you come here announcing deliverance and announcing HIS Kingdom is here, yet you say not one, but TWO MILES!!!...and to Love our enemies?...clearly this was, an all out shaking of the foundations of Jewish sunday school dogmas.
THE RESHAPED STORY?
The offensive nature of the sermon of the mount (Matthew Chp. 5), on first century Jewish theology and idiosyncrasy, shapes and provides context to the message of the 4 Gospels, but for now I will limit myself on this article to the discussion of this sole verse (v.41), and in a scholarly and informed manner wish to perhaps inspire, a re-reading of such a passage and let God through his Spirit energize, and drive our character to a state of constant submission, to God's ultimate goal; Both in and through us, even as we are faced with adversity and evil, as such, first century Jewish listeners and early Christians would have been.
May these words remind us, God's Kingdom is not limited to a physical conquest of adverse events (which will happen eventually in God's own manner and time), but also to the shaping of our character into HIS own.
We must remember that the ultimate purpose of HIS Kingdom, that is to put all things under Christ (Col 1:20-23), and through us build for it, in our churches and communities right now. So let's not grow tired, weary or afraid for God is in control.
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