Jesus Taught by Explaining the Meaning of Words: Jesus explained the meaning of the word"possession" by the evil spirit and the Holy Spirit in connection with the cure of a blind and mute person who was possessed by an evil spirit. Jesus cured the possessed person restoring both his speech and sight at which the bystanders wondered whether this could be the Son of David. However, the Pharisees, and in Mark's Gospel the Doctors of Law from Jerusalem were positive that Jesus was driving out the devils by Beelzebub, the Prince of devils.
"Possession": How was it that the ordinary people could think of the possibility of the fulfillment of the promise made by God about the Messiah, while the authorities could not, at the cure effected by Jesus? Matthew hints at the reason for this by saying that Jesus knew what was in the mind of the authorities. While the ordinary people had no axe to grind by what happened around them and therefore could be open and straightforward in their thinking, for the Jewish authorities their authority was at stake. They had to dissuade people from believing in Jesus in order to keep their position and prestige intact. Hence they attributed to Jesus possession by the evil spirit whereas he was possessed by the Holy Spirit. Jesus had to clear up this confusion deliberately created by the Pharisees and therefore he explained the meaning of the word "possession" by describing its consequences. So far, Jesus said, Satan was not bound and his kingdom stood united as was evident from what their sons did in casting out devils. Their sons would agree that the devils could not be cast out by the Prince of devils as they had been trying to do all along and have always failed miserably. That is why the possessed people had to be brought to Jesus for a real cure that is done by the power of God, i. e., the Holy Spirit. "But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out the devils, then be sure the Kingdom of God has already come upon you" (Matthew, 12:28).
Immediately after his baptism from John the Baptist at the Jordan, Jesus was led away by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (See Matthew, 4: 1). Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God in the power of the Spirit and was working so zealously that he did not have time even to eat, hearing which his own people came to take charge of him fearing that he was out of his mind (See Mark, 3: 20-21). Thus the possession by the evil spirit transforms a person into its own likeness as in the case of the Pharisees and the Doctors of the Law with an evil mind , whereas the possession by the Holy Spirit transforms a person in the likeness of God Himself realized in Jesus. The word "possession" had different meanings depending on the results produced by the possessed just as a tree is known by its fruits. "A good man produces good from the store of good within himself; and an evil man from evil within produces evil" (Matthew, 12: 35).
The Unclean Spirit: Jesus clarified further what was the plight of that wicked generation by explaining how the unclean spirit worked. Coming out of a person it wanders over the deserts and finding no place to rest it decides to return to from where it came out. When it returns, it finds the house unoccupied although kept clean and tidy. Unable to enter the house by itself , it goes and fetches seven other spirits more wicked than itself and they settle down there making the person's plight worse than before (See Matthew, 12: 43-45). The lesson for us is that to ward off evil influences it is essential to let the Holy Spirit abide and work in our hearts.
Re-Definition of Words: Jesus gave new meaning to words like "mother". "brother", "sister" etc., when he asked 'Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?' Jesus was not asking for information unknown to him but was trying to redefine them in the context of his mission. In the process his mother may be addressed as "woman" and the disciple "brothers" and "friends". His parameter for defining and giving meaning to those terms was eschatological expressed in absolute terms thus: "Whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, my mother" (Mark, 3: 35). In the context of the proclamation of the Kingdom of God, every word takes on new colors and meaning is accordingly changed, modified, enriched or transformed as per the requirements of the Gospel Proclamation. Unless and until we understand the proper context of the words used in the overall context of the announcement of the Good News, we shall not truly understand their message. The alternative is to misinterpret them in accordance with our own preconceived ideas thereby missing their true import and our own liberation. [ This is possible because the meaning of a word is not like a label attached to a thing or to an object, but means as it is appropriately used in relevant contexts].
Real Meaning of Words: Jesus explained the real meaning of words like "defilement", "cleanliness" and "tradition" by correcting the existing meaning of these words. Here the point is about ritual purification that is religious and makes a man acceptable or unacceptable to God. It is not about hygienic purification that is taken for granted and is not relevant by itself to ritual purification. Similarly, Jesus talks about a tradition that was misused and misinterpreted by teachers of the law making ineffective the divine tradition. Eating food with defiled hands, i. e. , unwashed hands was against their ancient tradition, which the disciples of Jesus did not follow. When someone neglects the commandment of God in order to maintain the tradition of men, the very meaning of the word 'tradition' is twisted to serve one's own purpose. This attitude of the hypocrites was foretold by prophet Isaiah in these words: "This people pays me lip-service, but their heart is far from me: their worship of me is in vain, for they teach as doctrines the commandment of men" (Isaiah, 29: 13). Jesus also refers to the practice of setting aside the command of God to honor one's father and mother by the tradition of men. Thus they made the Word of God null and void by their own tradition (See Mark, 7: 1-13).
In order to correct their understanding of "tradition", "defilement" and "cleanliness", Jesus had to ask them to get back to the real meaning of those words intended by God Himself. The basic principle about defilement and cleanliness supported by divine tradition is this: "...nothing that goes into a man from outside can defile him; no, it is the things that come out of him that defile a man: (Mark, 15). "For from inside, out of a man's heart, come evil thoughts, acts of fornication, of theft, murder, adultery, ruthless greed and malice; fraud, indecency, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly; these evil things all come from inside, and they defile the man" (Mark, 7: 21-23) In the light of what really defiles a man, it becomes evident that all foods are clean and that washing one's own body is relevant only for hygienic reasons. However, washing the feet or giving baptism is significant as it is done by someone to invite another to participate in divine life. (To be Contd).
"Possession": How was it that the ordinary people could think of the possibility of the fulfillment of the promise made by God about the Messiah, while the authorities could not, at the cure effected by Jesus? Matthew hints at the reason for this by saying that Jesus knew what was in the mind of the authorities. While the ordinary people had no axe to grind by what happened around them and therefore could be open and straightforward in their thinking, for the Jewish authorities their authority was at stake. They had to dissuade people from believing in Jesus in order to keep their position and prestige intact. Hence they attributed to Jesus possession by the evil spirit whereas he was possessed by the Holy Spirit. Jesus had to clear up this confusion deliberately created by the Pharisees and therefore he explained the meaning of the word "possession" by describing its consequences. So far, Jesus said, Satan was not bound and his kingdom stood united as was evident from what their sons did in casting out devils. Their sons would agree that the devils could not be cast out by the Prince of devils as they had been trying to do all along and have always failed miserably. That is why the possessed people had to be brought to Jesus for a real cure that is done by the power of God, i. e., the Holy Spirit. "But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out the devils, then be sure the Kingdom of God has already come upon you" (Matthew, 12:28).
Immediately after his baptism from John the Baptist at the Jordan, Jesus was led away by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (See Matthew, 4: 1). Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God in the power of the Spirit and was working so zealously that he did not have time even to eat, hearing which his own people came to take charge of him fearing that he was out of his mind (See Mark, 3: 20-21). Thus the possession by the evil spirit transforms a person into its own likeness as in the case of the Pharisees and the Doctors of the Law with an evil mind , whereas the possession by the Holy Spirit transforms a person in the likeness of God Himself realized in Jesus. The word "possession" had different meanings depending on the results produced by the possessed just as a tree is known by its fruits. "A good man produces good from the store of good within himself; and an evil man from evil within produces evil" (Matthew, 12: 35).
The Unclean Spirit: Jesus clarified further what was the plight of that wicked generation by explaining how the unclean spirit worked. Coming out of a person it wanders over the deserts and finding no place to rest it decides to return to from where it came out. When it returns, it finds the house unoccupied although kept clean and tidy. Unable to enter the house by itself , it goes and fetches seven other spirits more wicked than itself and they settle down there making the person's plight worse than before (See Matthew, 12: 43-45). The lesson for us is that to ward off evil influences it is essential to let the Holy Spirit abide and work in our hearts.
Re-Definition of Words: Jesus gave new meaning to words like "mother". "brother", "sister" etc., when he asked 'Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?' Jesus was not asking for information unknown to him but was trying to redefine them in the context of his mission. In the process his mother may be addressed as "woman" and the disciple "brothers" and "friends". His parameter for defining and giving meaning to those terms was eschatological expressed in absolute terms thus: "Whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, my mother" (Mark, 3: 35). In the context of the proclamation of the Kingdom of God, every word takes on new colors and meaning is accordingly changed, modified, enriched or transformed as per the requirements of the Gospel Proclamation. Unless and until we understand the proper context of the words used in the overall context of the announcement of the Good News, we shall not truly understand their message. The alternative is to misinterpret them in accordance with our own preconceived ideas thereby missing their true import and our own liberation. [ This is possible because the meaning of a word is not like a label attached to a thing or to an object, but means as it is appropriately used in relevant contexts].
Real Meaning of Words: Jesus explained the real meaning of words like "defilement", "cleanliness" and "tradition" by correcting the existing meaning of these words. Here the point is about ritual purification that is religious and makes a man acceptable or unacceptable to God. It is not about hygienic purification that is taken for granted and is not relevant by itself to ritual purification. Similarly, Jesus talks about a tradition that was misused and misinterpreted by teachers of the law making ineffective the divine tradition. Eating food with defiled hands, i. e. , unwashed hands was against their ancient tradition, which the disciples of Jesus did not follow. When someone neglects the commandment of God in order to maintain the tradition of men, the very meaning of the word 'tradition' is twisted to serve one's own purpose. This attitude of the hypocrites was foretold by prophet Isaiah in these words: "This people pays me lip-service, but their heart is far from me: their worship of me is in vain, for they teach as doctrines the commandment of men" (Isaiah, 29: 13). Jesus also refers to the practice of setting aside the command of God to honor one's father and mother by the tradition of men. Thus they made the Word of God null and void by their own tradition (See Mark, 7: 1-13).
In order to correct their understanding of "tradition", "defilement" and "cleanliness", Jesus had to ask them to get back to the real meaning of those words intended by God Himself. The basic principle about defilement and cleanliness supported by divine tradition is this: "...nothing that goes into a man from outside can defile him; no, it is the things that come out of him that defile a man: (Mark, 15). "For from inside, out of a man's heart, come evil thoughts, acts of fornication, of theft, murder, adultery, ruthless greed and malice; fraud, indecency, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly; these evil things all come from inside, and they defile the man" (Mark, 7: 21-23) In the light of what really defiles a man, it becomes evident that all foods are clean and that washing one's own body is relevant only for hygienic reasons. However, washing the feet or giving baptism is significant as it is done by someone to invite another to participate in divine life. (To be Contd).
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