Lectionary Reading Introduction
This site provides something different: many sites and books provide a brief summary of the reading - so that people read out or have in their pew sheet an outline of what they are about to hear. They are told beforehand what to expect. Does this not limit what they hear the Spirit address them? This site provides something different - often one cannot appreciate what is being read because there is no context provided. This site provides the context, the frame of the reading about to be heard. It could be used as an introduction, printed on a pew sheet (acknowledged, of course), or adapted in other ways. This is an experimental venture and I will see how useful it appears.
Genesis 22:1-14
From 2 Chronicles 3:1 there has been an assumption that Abraham took Isaac to Jerusalem. But taking wood from Beersheba to Jerusalem where wood was plenteous appears unusual. Hence, in this story, the land of Moriah probably refers to Sinai near Kadesh.
Jeremiah 28:5-9
The context is the prophet Hananiah is a false prophet. The people preferred Hananiah's proclamations to Jeremiah's because Hananiah's appeared more positive.
Romans 6:12-23
Paul has argued that our justification and peace with God is by faith, and that this is a free gift. Now he turns to the obvious, resulting issue: if that is the case - why cease from sinning?
Matthew 10: (37-39) 40-42
One context of today's text is the Mediteranean understanding of family in Jesus' day. The extended family was the primary unit - Jesus' community provided leaving the primary unit and cleaving to His community as a new primary unit. The second context is that of Middle Eastern hospitality, which was provided to strangers, and by doing so enhanced one's honour. These contexts are the converse of much of our contemporary context in which even the "traditional" nuclear family is no longer a primary unit, and hospitality is extended to family and friends.
Today's readings online (link off this site)