02-24-2013, 02:52 PM
I like this thread here, from 2007. Hopefully the earlier discussion was fruitful, especially the comment from Aran Younan about generosity. It makes me think that when when we overcome our obstacles to sharing with others (often from our fear of lack), we can really shine with open hands of genorosity, letting abundance flow through us! Something like that <!-- s
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Regarding Matthew 6:22-23 ("The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, if your eye will be simple, your whole body also is enlightened. But if your eye will be evil, your whole body will be dark."), another perspective occurred to me in the context of this passage from Matthew 25:1-13 (translation by Magiera):
Possible deduction: If oil in the lamp/eye represents a person reading a written witness/testimony (sehed), and the goal of the reader is to have his or her lamp/eye be simple (peshitta), then it seems like this may be a sign (or trail marker) guiding the faithful to read the witness of the Peshitta gospel. And by further deduction from Matthew 25:1-13, a faithful person or assembly would not want to find herself in a situation (in the middle of the night/tribulation) where she had to rush out and buy a Peshitta text to attempt to read quickly (to find the door of invitation) so she could catch up to the messiah. I mean, maybe I'm overlooking it, but what else other than a genuine bible could a person buy that is like oil in a lamp helping to find the messiah?
--><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s -->Regarding Matthew 6:22-23 ("The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, if your eye will be simple, your whole body also is enlightened. But if your eye will be evil, your whole body will be dark."), another perspective occurred to me in the context of this passage from Matthew 25:1-13 (translation by Magiera):
Quote:"Then the kingdom of heaven will be compared to ten virgins, those who took their lamps and went out for the arrival of the bridgegroom and bride. Now five of them were wise and five were foolish. And those foolish took their lamps but did not take oil with them. But those wise took oil vessels with their lamps. Now when the bridgegroom was delayed all of them tired and went to sleep. And at midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridgegroom comes. Go out to meet him.' Then all those virgins got up and put their lamps in good order. And those foolish said to the wise, 'Give us of your oil, because, behold our lamps have gone out.' These wise answered and said, 'Will there be enough for us and for you? But rather go to those who sell and buy for yourselves.' And while they went to buy, the bridgegroom came. And those who were prepared entered with him into the banquet hall and the door was shut. Now later, those other virgins also came and said, 'Our Lord, our Lord, open for us.' But he answered and said to them, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.' Therefore, watch, for you do not know that day or hour.'
Possible deduction: If oil in the lamp/eye represents a person reading a written witness/testimony (sehed), and the goal of the reader is to have his or her lamp/eye be simple (peshitta), then it seems like this may be a sign (or trail marker) guiding the faithful to read the witness of the Peshitta gospel. And by further deduction from Matthew 25:1-13, a faithful person or assembly would not want to find herself in a situation (in the middle of the night/tribulation) where she had to rush out and buy a Peshitta text to attempt to read quickly (to find the door of invitation) so she could catch up to the messiah. I mean, maybe I'm overlooking it, but what else other than a genuine bible could a person buy that is like oil in a lamp helping to find the messiah?