Text Study for the Eighth Sunday in Pentecost

– Year C
The Rev. Joseph Winston
July 17, 2010

Commentary
Genesis 18:1-10a
Three strangers pass by Abraham’s encampment and Abraham invites them to stay
by offering them food, water, and a time to relax. They take Abraham up on his
offer. Then the abrupt change in conversation proves they know more than what
might appear at first glance. As One, they want to know where Abraham’s wife is
and they also call her by name. One promises to come back and when He does,
Sarah will have a male child.

Genesis 18:1 The L ORD appeared – The narrator of the story tells the audience
something that Abraham does not know yet.
he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day – This is nothing out
of the ordinary and to be expected behavior.

Genesis 18:2 and saw three men – The patristic interpretation is that the group is
actually the Trinity.
he ran from the tent entrance to meet them – This is not the expected behav-
ior from a man at this time much less on the world’s richest men.
bowed down to the ground – Apparently, Abraham’s behavior makes the
statement that he believes that these men are not normal visitors.

Genesis 18:3 My lord, if I find favour with you – A formal invitation to spend
some time with Abraham.

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 Genesis 18:4 Let a little water be brought – Water brings life and it cannot be
wasted unless you know where your next drink is coming from.
rest yourselves under the tree – Abraham’s forces are in control of the strate-
gic areas that are necessary for survival in this part of the world.

Genesis 18:5 bring a little bread – Abraham is being very cautious with how
much that he actually reveals to the three strangers.
you have come to your servant – The trip in Abraham’s mind is not acci-
dental.
Do as you have said – The strangers command Abraham to keep his word.

Genesis 18:6 Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour – The work is
being delegated from the man’s world into the woman’s.

Genesis 18:7 Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good – Abra-
ham does more than he promised by selecting a fatted calf for the meal.

Genesis 18:8 he stood by them under the tree while they ate – Abraham is not
acting like the powerful man that he really is. Instead, Abraham is behaving
like a slave.

Genesis 18:9 They said to him – The pronoun betrays the identity of the Tree.
They act and think as One.
Where is your wife Sarah? – Somehow, they know the name of Sarah and
by doing so, they have power over her.
And he said – Abraham does not express surprise over their information nor
does he protect Sarah like he did earlier (Genesis 12:10-20).

Genesis 18:10a Then one said – One brings the pronouncement of a blessing on
the family.

Psalm 15
The psalm reinforces the viewpoint that good and evil reside in the heart (mind)
because the psalmist asserts that the blameless do good because truth is found in
their hearts (intellect) and they refused to be moved from what they know is right.

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 Psalm 15:1 O L ORD, who may abide in your tent? – This rhetorical question with
the obvious answer of “No,” indicates that all of humanity lives far from the
L ORD and His way of life.
Psalm 15:2 Those who walk blamelessly – The Greek and the Hebrew have mas-
culine third person singular here and throughout the rest of the psalm. This
was translated in the RSV as “He who walks blamelessly.”
speak the truth from their heart – This is not an emotional appeal since for
the Jews of this time, the heart is the seat of logic. Like the first part of this
verse, the pronoun is “he” and not their.
Psalm 15:3 do not slander with their tongue – Obedience to the law occurs both
inside and outside of the body.
Psalm 15:4 in whose eyes the wicked are despised – Eyes at this time send out
rays rather than taking in light. The follower of the law by their looks tells
others what they know to be right.
Psalm 15:5 do not lend money at interest – The issue here is receiving a benefit
without the need to work.

Colossians 1:15-28
The author of this section, generally not believed to be Paul, uses different metaphors
to explain Christ’s role in the universe. Jesus is the One who brings everything into
existence. He leads the Church. He is the first One to be made alive again. He is
the One that makes everything new again.

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God – This idea will be used to
explain how people on earth can see what God is doing in the world.
the firstborn of all creation – The author does not mean that there is a time
where Jesus does not exist. Rather, this is a way of speech that draws on
the common understanding that the eldest male child has certain rights and
privileges not granted to anyone else in the family.
Colossians 1:16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created – God
the Father gives His Son the universe and all that is in it.
created through him – The Son participated in this action. This gives Him
ownership and responsibly for what happens here.

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Colossians 1:17 him all things hold together – The One in charge keeps pulling
everything together.

Colossians 1:18 He is the head of the body, the church – The imagery of leader-
ship continues in the Church.
the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in
everything – Nothing in this world is exempt from the leadership brought
by Jesus.

Colossians 1:19 all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell – Somehow the
entirety of God is contained in a single Man.

Colossians 1:20 God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things – Because of
Christ’s work, God accepted the universe and its people.
making peace through the blood of his cross – The act of atonement, making
a wrong right, is the blood shed by Jesus during His death.

Colossians 1:21 you who were once estranged and hostile – The people of this
world do not want to recognize the true ruler.

Colossians 1:22 he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death – The
suffering and death of Jesus brings the outcast back to God.
so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him –
The work that Jesus performed makes you acceptable to Him.

Colossians 1:23 provided that you continue – The author argues that the work
of holding onto the Gospel assures this grace. In other words, acceptance is
not a gift but is conditional on you doing something correctly.

Colossians 1:24 in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions

– Something else is needed to make Christ’s work complete and that is why
the author is suffering.

Colossians 1:25 I became its servant according to God’s commission that was
given to me for you – The calling to leadership was not for the author’s
benefit but instead for the people in Colossae.

Colossians 1:26 the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and gen-
erations but has now been revealed to his saints. – A mystery is not a riddle

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 that can be solved by intellectual force. Rather, a mystery is something that
cannot be understood even when it is shown.

Colossians 1:27 among the Gentiles – The Word, once reserved for Israel, is now
given to the entire world.

Colossians 1:28 teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present every-
one mature in Christ – The reason for education is that believers grow.

Luke 10:38-42
Luke 10:38 Martha welcomed him – This is the only appearance of Martha in
Luke’s account.

Luke 10:39 She had a sister named Mary – There is no need to associate this
character named Mary with Mary Magdalene.1
who sat at the Lord’s feet – This posture indicates learning from a teacher
(Luke 7:38; 8:35; 8:41; 17:16; Acts 4:35; 4:37; 5:2; 22:3).2
listened to what he was saying – The Greek reads, ἤκουεν τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ,
“heard His Word.”

Luke 10:40 was distracted by her many tasks – The use of πολλὴν διακονίαν by
the author means Martha is simply overwhelmed by what needs to be done
at the house.3 Her mind is not continuously filled with thoughts that Mary
is shirking her responsibility as a woman.4
Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me – Martha wants Jesus to
solve this problem she is having with Mary.
Tell her then to help me. – Tell her that a woman’s place is in the kitchen.
Remind her that a woman serves men. Teach her that woman need not learn.

Luke 10:41 you are worried and distracted – The verb μεριμνάω translated by
the NRSV as worried typically means being caught up in the cares of this
1
Luke Timothy Johnson; Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., editor, The Gospel of Luke, Volume 3,
Sacra Pagina, (The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1991), p. 173.
2
Ibid.
3
Ibid.
4
Ibid.

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 life (Matthew 6:25-34; 1 Corinthians 7:32-43; Luke 12:26).5 The second
verb θορυβάζω rendered as distracted is only found in this verse and no
where else in the New Testament. It carries the sense of placing “yourself
in an uproar.”6 A more literal translation would be, “You are caught up with
the cares of this world and you are placing yourself in an uproar.”

Luke 10:42 there is need of only one thing – This line has caused problems for
years. Some versions of the text change “one” to “a few”, as in you only
need to make a few entrees.7 It appears that Jesus states the primary idea
behind hospitality is to pay attention to the guest.8
Mary has chosen the better part – The adjective “better” is a form of ἀγα-
θός. This indicates a moral decision.9

References
Johnson, Luke Timothy; Harrington, S.J., Daniel J., editor, The Gospel of Luke,
Volume 3, Sacra Pagina, (The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN: The
Liturgical Press, 1991).

5
Johnson, Luke, p. 174.
6
Ibid.
7
Ibid.
8
Ibid.
9
Ibid.