Wisdom Lecture #12      Diane Jacobson

On Wisdom and Jesus Continued: Teachings, Christology, and the Cross

 

Matthew 11: 28-30 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

O Wisdom, who proceeds from the mouth of the Most High,

reaching out mightily from end to end,

and sweetly arranging all things:

come to teach us the way of peace

This prayer is the first of the O Antiphons from the fourth century, sung in third week of Advent.  We most often sing these antiphons through the hymn “O Come, O come Emmanuel,” though frequently this particular verse is not listed.

O come, thou Wisdom from on high,

            Who ord’rest all things mightily;

            To us the path of knowledge show,

            And teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

Come, Thou Wisdom of God, and bid us come that we might learn from you and find rest for our weary souls.  Amen

 

I.              Wisdom in Matthew

            A. Jesus as Wisdom Teacher

                        1. Wisdom forms - especially prohibitions, aphorisms, and instructions

                        2. Sermon on the Mount -- Mat.5:1-7:29

                        3. Teacher of  Parables

            B. Jesus as Sophia

                        1. Jesus as Son of David -- Something greater than Solomon is here.

                        2. Matthew 11-12 - Wisdom is justified by her deeds.

                        3. Sirach 4:11-19 Wisdom’s story

                        4. Matthew 23:34 Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes,

                                    some of whom you will kill and crucify,

                                    and some you will flog in your synagogues

                                    and pursue from town to town

 

II.           Wisdom in Luke -- 7:31-35, 49; 11:31

 

III.         Effects of the identification of Jesus and Wisdom on Christology and Theology

A.        What incarnation in Jesus bring to Wisdom

B.        What Wisdom brings to brings to Christology

1.            Who Jesus is -- “The Rabbi”

2.            What Jesus says

3.            How Jesus says it

4.            Jesus and creation, law, discipleship

 

IV. Paul and The Epistles -- Christ Crucified is the Wisdom of the World

            A. I Corinthians 1-2 (Romans 1, etc.)

            B. Colossians 1:15-19; Ephesians 3:8-10

 

V. James -- Christian Disciple as teacher of Wisdom

            A. Many parallels with Proverbs, intertestamental books, and Jesus’ teachings (p.240)

            B. James’ Parallels (Witherington, Jesus the Sage, pp.237-238)

                           James           Proverbs         Sirach

                           1:12-18                                 15:11-20

                           3                                           19:6-12; 20:4-7,17-19; 35:5-10; 38:13-26

                           3:18              9:30

                           4:6                3:34

                           5:20              10:12 (LXX)

Chap. 3 uses specific wisdom language that contrasts spiritual wisdom with worldly wisdom. (Carl Hoffman)

CHRISTIAN WISDOM                   WORLDLY WISDOM

Oval: God Oval: World
 


SOURCE

 

 

 

Oval: Gift by means of prayer Oval: Absorbed from culture
 


HOW WE GET IT

 

 

                                                                  

 

Oval: Earthly Unspiritual Devilish Oval: Spiritual Pure Peaceable Gentle Yielding CHARACTERISTICS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Oval: Disorder Wickedness Oval: Community without partiality Authenticity Peace Mercy CONSEQUENCES

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew and Trees

(Amy Fontroy Eich)

 

 

Matthew 3:10

10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

 

Matthew 7:17-19

17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

 

Matthew 12:33-37  

33 “Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

 

Matthew 21:18-22

18 In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once. 20 When the disciples saw it, they were amazed, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” 21 Jesus answered them, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' it will be done. 22 Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.”

 

Matthew 24:32-34

32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.”