Sometimes, things are not what they seem at first blush. Take, for example, the following:
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the Angels of Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." (Matthew 24:36)
What Jesus stated above is what is called a Jewish idiom. In brief, an idiom is an expression taken to mean something entirely different from the normal definition of the individual words found within the idiom. We use idioms in our own speech all the time. Examples of American idioms commonly stated are "hold your horses" or "keep your pants on," neither of which has a thing to do with horses or pants, but instead they both mean "be patient."
So how does all of this relate to what Jesus said in Matthew 24:36? It means we are not to take these English words literally. This is a perfect example as why Paul instructed, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 [RSV]). It is incorrect for us to apply a literal meaning to these English words that were not meant to be taken in that fashion as they were spoken in the Aramaic (Hebrew) originally and understood by that First Century audience. So what, then, is meant by this Jewish idiom, "But of that day and hour, no one knows"? According to the Jewish rabbis I have researched, this is an expression used in reference to Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year in which the shofar, the ram’s horn, was blown. The Jews operated on a lunar calendar year, not a solar one as we do, so the New Year began at different times from one year to the next, as much as 36 to 48 hours. That is why the Jewish Rosh Hashana is celebrated over two days, and not one, because it required two witnesses to determine the new month had arrived at dusk when the New Moon or sliver of the Moon first appeared in the sky. The Rosh Hoshana shofar ram's horn was then blown, and the celebration began. So Jesus was referring to Rosh Hashana in this verse!
So it is possible Jesus was saying that when these things occur He was speaking about in Matthew 24, a new day would be dawning for mankind.
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the Angels of Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." (Matthew 24:36)
What Jesus stated above is what is called a Jewish idiom. In brief, an idiom is an expression taken to mean something entirely different from the normal definition of the individual words found within the idiom. We use idioms in our own speech all the time. Examples of American idioms commonly stated are "hold your horses" or "keep your pants on," neither of which has a thing to do with horses or pants, but instead they both mean "be patient."
So how does all of this relate to what Jesus said in Matthew 24:36? It means we are not to take these English words literally. This is a perfect example as why Paul instructed, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 [RSV]). It is incorrect for us to apply a literal meaning to these English words that were not meant to be taken in that fashion as they were spoken in the Aramaic (Hebrew) originally and understood by that First Century audience. So what, then, is meant by this Jewish idiom, "But of that day and hour, no one knows"? According to the Jewish rabbis I have researched, this is an expression used in reference to Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year in which the shofar, the ram’s horn, was blown. The Jews operated on a lunar calendar year, not a solar one as we do, so the New Year began at different times from one year to the next, as much as 36 to 48 hours. That is why the Jewish Rosh Hashana is celebrated over two days, and not one, because it required two witnesses to determine the new month had arrived at dusk when the New Moon or sliver of the Moon first appeared in the sky. The Rosh Hoshana shofar ram's horn was then blown, and the celebration began. So Jesus was referring to Rosh Hashana in this verse!
So it is possible Jesus was saying that when these things occur He was speaking about in Matthew 24, a new day would be dawning for mankind.
A few themes linked to this Jewish festival of Rosh Hashana are resurrection, repentance, kingship, coronation and a marriage feast. Rosh HaShanah is not only the start of the Jewish New Year, it is also the day of the resurrection! It has to do with the Moon and its 29-day cycle of renewal.
In this period of slightly less than 30 days, the Moon goes from darkness to light and back to darkness again. This is not a haphazard occurrence attributed to evolution or science. God planned it for many reasons, one being as a picture of resurrection and renewal. With each cycle of nearly 30 days the ancient rabbis understood the Moon was being reborn or "born again" (Sefard Siddur, Mussaf for Shabbat and Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, p. 509 and 646-648). And that is why God had them operate on a lunar cycle as a constant reminder of resurrection in Him!
Fascinating!
No comments:
Post a Comment