Tag Archive for: Pharisaical Judaism

Isaiah 58:9b-14

The Book of Isaiah is a composite of writings from three distinct periods in Israel’s history. Chapters 1-39 are called “First Isaiah” and were written in the 20 years before Jerusalem was under direct siege by the Assyrians in 701 BCE. “Second Isaiah” is Chapters 40 to 55 and brings hope to the Judeans during the time of the Exile in Babylon (587 to 539 BCE) by telling them they have suffered enough and will return to Jerusalem. “Third Isaiah” is Chapters 56 to 66 and reflects the difficult issues facing the Judeans in the period after the Exile. In today’s reading, the author prophesies (that is, speaks for YHWH) by offering conditional encouragement to the Judeans that their fortunes will be restored if they care for the hungry and observe the Sabbath.

Hebrews 12:18-29

The Letter to the Hebrews is an anonymous sermon addressed to Jewish and Gentile Jesus Followers urging them to maintain their Faith in the face of persecution. Most scholars agree it was written after Paul’s death in 62 CE. Today’s reading reflects the growing separation – after the Destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E. – between the Jesus Follower Movement (which morphed into Christianity in the last part of the First Century) and Pharisaical Judaism (which morphed into Rabbinic Judaism). The author contrasts Mount Sinai as a place of terror with Mount Zion where the spirits of the righteous are made perfect by Jesus. He says the blood of Abel cried for vengeance (Gen. 4:10) but the blood of Jesus “speaks a better word” (v. 24). He paraphrases the prophet Haggai 2:6 for the expression “Yet once more” as a basis for the removal of created things in favor of “that which cannot be shaken” (v. 27). The actual context in Haggai is that the Lord would cause the return of riches from foreigners so the Temple could be rebuilt in splendor after the Exile ended in 539 BCE.