I find it amusing that the closest any of the translators come to calling the prostitute who comes to bathe Jesus' feet what she is, is to say she is a woman of the city. Jesus comes to eat with Simon the Pharisee who must have been more than a little put out at his guest Jesus for allowing the attentions of this lady of the night in his home at his table. We get the Parable of the Forgiven Sinner. Somehow I get the feeling that the men traveling with Jesus must have teased him just a little about all these woman pouring perfume on his feet. Named are several of the woman who accompanied Jesus and the Disciples on their travels. This is one of the few times that the women in Christ's life are freely acknowledged. One would suppose they cooked for the men and washed and mended their clothing and provided other services that would not be discussed in discrete society.
The OT Lesson is prefaced by the story of Uriah the Hittite whom David the King directs his General, Joab, to place in harm's way after David's adulterous trysts with Uriah's wife Bethseba results in her pregnancy. This after David clandestinely arranged for Uriah to get leave from battle during which Uriah abstained from having carnal relations with his wife.
Nathan the prophet comes and tells David the parable of the poor neighbour's lamb prompting David to condemn himself with the words of his own mouth. Omitted from today's reading is Nathan's full prediction of the retribution of the Lord upon David in verses 11&12. It would seem that frank discussion of David's wives having sex in broad daylight with another man is not considered proper for Sunday morning reading from the Lectern.
Instead the emphasis is placed upon David's contrition. Nathan prophesies that the child of Bethsheba and David's adulterous relationship would die and in the verses following today's reading that does happen. This is the Deuteronomic Principle at its best illustrating that not even the King is above the law.
Today's Psalm is one of rejoicing in the forgiveness of the Lord.
In the Epistle Paul makes the point that we are put right with God not by means of the Law or by the good works we do, but by the freely given Grace of God provided through Jesus Christ. We cannot buy God's Forgiveness or earn it by close observance of the law, it is freely given.
It would seem obvious that the framers of today's pericope intended a theme emphasizing the nature of sin and God's Mercy and Forgiveness.
Simon the Pharisee was a righteous man who had no time for a common tramp whom he felt demeaned Jesus by her very presence. David the King fell prey to his carnal lusts and was called on it by God through Nathan the prophet. In OT thinking a direct connection is made between David and Bethsheba's sinful act and the death of the child, the product of that act. In the New Covenant emphasis is placed on contrition and repentance. Go and sin no more. Even in the OT after the death of his child David mourns no more but goes to worship in the the Temple before returning to his beloved, Bethseba to beget another son who turns out to be Solomon.
Yes, we must confess our sins but having received God's freely given forgiveness we must not dwell on them but freed from guilt rejoice in that forgiveness like the Psalmist and respond to God's Love with lives lived in His service.
The OT Lesson is prefaced by the story of Uriah the Hittite whom David the King directs his General, Joab, to place in harm's way after David's adulterous trysts with Uriah's wife Bethseba results in her pregnancy. This after David clandestinely arranged for Uriah to get leave from battle during which Uriah abstained from having carnal relations with his wife.
Nathan the prophet comes and tells David the parable of the poor neighbour's lamb prompting David to condemn himself with the words of his own mouth. Omitted from today's reading is Nathan's full prediction of the retribution of the Lord upon David in verses 11&12. It would seem that frank discussion of David's wives having sex in broad daylight with another man is not considered proper for Sunday morning reading from the Lectern.
Instead the emphasis is placed upon David's contrition. Nathan prophesies that the child of Bethsheba and David's adulterous relationship would die and in the verses following today's reading that does happen. This is the Deuteronomic Principle at its best illustrating that not even the King is above the law.
Today's Psalm is one of rejoicing in the forgiveness of the Lord.
In the Epistle Paul makes the point that we are put right with God not by means of the Law or by the good works we do, but by the freely given Grace of God provided through Jesus Christ. We cannot buy God's Forgiveness or earn it by close observance of the law, it is freely given.
It would seem obvious that the framers of today's pericope intended a theme emphasizing the nature of sin and God's Mercy and Forgiveness.
Simon the Pharisee was a righteous man who had no time for a common tramp whom he felt demeaned Jesus by her very presence. David the King fell prey to his carnal lusts and was called on it by God through Nathan the prophet. In OT thinking a direct connection is made between David and Bethsheba's sinful act and the death of the child, the product of that act. In the New Covenant emphasis is placed on contrition and repentance. Go and sin no more. Even in the OT after the death of his child David mourns no more but goes to worship in the the Temple before returning to his beloved, Bethseba to beget another son who turns out to be Solomon.
Yes, we must confess our sins but having received God's freely given forgiveness we must not dwell on them but freed from guilt rejoice in that forgiveness like the Psalmist and respond to God's Love with lives lived in His service.
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