PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS

Tag: Pride

  • Notes and Useful Applications for Luke 14:1–11 from Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877)

    The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Holy Gospel for the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity, Luke 14:1–11, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.

    I. A miracle upon a man with dropsy at the meal. (v. 1–6)
    II. A warning, that one ought not desire to sit at the highest place. (v. 7–11)

    Annotated Text

    1. And it came to pass that He came (without doubt on account of a previous invitation) into a house of a ruler of the Pharisees in order to each bread on a Sabbath (to have a meal, in order that he might have pretext and opportunity to instruct him and his fellow people of the order *); and they (the Pharisees, who were in that same house) ** paid attention to Him (they laid in wait for Christ, whether He would say or do something, from which they might seize the opportunity to accuse Him as a transgressor of the Law).

    * Or those who were of his sect and party, to which the majority of the people of both sexes adhered to.

    ** Mark 3:2

    2. And behold, there was a man before Him who had dropsy (whom, without doubt, the Pharisees had requested there so that they may see whether Christ also would heal him on the Sabbath. For if He did it, they would have cause to despise Him as a transgressor of the Sabath; but if He did not do it, then they wanted to blame Him as being either so unmerciful or so powerless that He either would not or could not accomplish it).

    3. And Jesus answered (began to speak), and spoke to the scribes and Pharisees, and said, “Is it also lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

    4. But they were still silent (maliciously, in order to not betray themselves). And He took him (the man with dropsy), and healed him, and let him go.

    5. And He responded and said to them, “Who among you, whose ox or donkey has fallen into the well, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” (How much more is it not unlawful that I have helped this poor man on the Sabbath, who otherwise would have suffocated from dropsy?)

    (Luke 13:15)

    6. And they could not give an answer back to Him again.

    7. Now He spoke a parable to the guests (He admonished them to humility through a suitable example taken from a feast), when He noticed (in looking at them He perceived) how they chose to sit in the highest places (how each one eagerly wanted to have the place of best seat at the feast), and said to them:

    (Matthew 23:6)

    8. When you are invited by someone to a feast (or to another honorable banquet), do not sit down in the highest place, so that someone more honorable (who is held in greater honor) than you be invited by him.

    (Proverbs 25:6–7)

    9. And then the one who has invited you and him should come and say to you, “Give way for this man,” and you have to sit down at the lowest with shame.

    10. But rather when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, in order that when the one who has invited you comes, he says to you, “Friend, move up higher.” Then you will have honor before those who sit at table with you.

    (Sirach 3:20)

    11. For * whoever exalts himself (holds himself high in his heart, always striving after a higher estate, wanting to be more noble, more holy, and more pious than others and displays such pride openly with words, gestures, and works), he shall be humbled (be despised by God and men, put to shame, robbed of his goods and honors, and finally cast into the deep hell); and whoever humbles himself (gladly remains in a lowly estate, not thinking too much of himself, considering others more than himself, and acknowledges himself as guilty of the deepest hell on account of his sin), he shall be exalted (be brought to honor here, temporally, and there, eternally).

    * Matthew 23:12ff. (Luke 18:14; Proverbs 29:23; 1 Peter 5:5)

    Useful Applications

    I. CORRECTION: That one ought not neglect an opportunity to do good to others, as here Christ cared for the man with dropsy and healed him (v. 2–4). II. WARNING: Concerning wretched pride, when one chooses to sit at the highest place or considers himself in his mind to be higher, better, and more pious than others—such people are surely humbled by God and are cast down with shame (v. 7–11). DOCTRINE: Positions of honor remain in their order and worth; but to strive after them before others is not fitting, see Romans 13:7; 12:16.

  • Notes and Useful Applications for Proverbs 25:6–14 from Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877)

    The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Old Testament Reading for the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity, Proverbs 25:6–14, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.

    III. How a man ought to conduct himself wisely at court. (v. 6–23)

    Annotated Text

    6. Do not flaunt * before the king (do not put yourself forward to preside over a high office, and to carry out great affairs of the kingdom), and do not stand (in a presumptuous manner and of yourself, out of pride and lust for honor) in the place of the great (of the foremost royal counselors and servants),

    (Sirach 3:22ff., 7:4–6, 13:13)

    * Hebrew: “Do not force your way into positions of honor”

    7. For it is better for you (if you are gifted and made fit by God to serve in distinguished offices, cf. Proverbs 22:29) that one say to you, * “Come up here,” than that you (on account of your presumption, greed for honor, and self-willed exaltation) before the prince (or before another eminent, honorable, and wise man) be humbled , so that your eyes must see ** (and afterwards you yourself have to be ashamed of it, Luke 14:9).

    * Luke 14:8ff.

    ** Hebrew: “whom your eyes have (previously) seen, (but whom you may now no longer be seen by).” See the Hebrew of 2 Kings 25:19.

    8. Do not rush hastily to quarrel; for what will you do afterwards (and how will it go with you), when your neighbor has shamed (injured and damaged) you? * (Will it not be done to you as you thought to do to your neighbor? And will they not in turn disgrace you and punish you fittingly? Deuteronomy 19:19)

    (Proverbs 20:13; 17:14)

    * Hebrew: “when your neighbor (opponent) puts you to shame (and demonstrates publicly how you have acted rashly)”

    9. Argue your (own) case with your neighbor (mildly and modestly; counsel and help, as much as ever possible toward reconciliation and toward peace, Matthew 5:23–25, 18:15), and (above all things) do not reveal another’s secret (do not mix yourself in other people’s affairs).

    (Sirach 19:13ff.)

    10. So that he who hears it does not rebuke you for it (and with these words, in return, disgrace and shame you), and your evil rumor never ceases.

    (Proverbs 11:13, 20:19; Sirach 19:6, 19:7, 19:10, 42:29)

    11. A * word, spoken in its time (with good deliberation according to the circumstance, place, time and persons) is like golden apples (Luther: “as if they were oranges and lemons”) in silver ** vessels (it is quite fitting, also pleasant and delightful to reasonable people).

    * Proverbs 15:23 (Sirach 41:21)

    ** Hebrew: “skillfully crafted”

    12. He who reproves a wise man who listens to him (so that in this way the speech of discipline achieves its desired effect), he is like a golden headband and a golden necklace (Proverbs 1:9).

    * Psalm 141:5 (Proverbs 9:8–9; Sirach 6:30ff.)

    13. Like the cold of the snow at the time of the harvest (namely, when the snow or ice is kept in deep pits under the earth until summertime, and then is used for the cooling of drinks and for the refreshing of languishing bodies), so is a faithful messenger to those who have sent him, and he refreshes the soul of his lords (when returns, and he has carried out his business well. Luther: “A faithful servant or subject cannot be paid enough”).

    * Proverb 13:17

    14. Whoever speaks much and does not keep it (Luther: “as the world does”), he is like clouds and wind without rain (Luther: “good words and nothing behind them”).

    * 2 Peter 2:17 (Jude 12; Sirach 4:34)

    Useful Applications

    III. CORRECTION: That one ought to humble himself before high-ranking people, v. 6–7; CORRECTION: That one faithfully keep what has been spoken, v. 14.