Scripture with the Fathers

Locusts and Darkness lead up to the final plague as Pharaoh's heart becomes even more hardened. I AM has now destroyed the last of the agriculture of Egypt by the invasion of locusts, after which a supernatural darkness covers the land of Egypt for three days. Meanwhile the Hebrews experience none of these plagues, beginning with the fourth. Pharaoh tries to set terms for the liturgical worship of the Lord, the God of the Hebrews. Pharaoh's hardness of heart brings about more disaster and then curses God's mediator Moses.

Jesus gives his third discourse and explains the kingdom of God. However, there is a shift in the manner in which Jesus speaks and conveys this teaching. He explains the meaning to his disciples only, after the teaching to the crowds. Jesus is fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah in real time. The kingdom is explained in these sayings of Jesus in its various facets, what it is like, who it is that will enter and those who will not and each of their ends.

Systematically, "I AM" the God of the Hebrews, is systematically defeating the gods of Egypt, this time Apis, Hathor, Sekhmet, Nut, Shu, Tefnut, Senehem. Pharaoh at first ignores the plague, but upon the rain, hail and fire, pharaoh agrees to let the people go, and then goes back on his word. But in this pharaoh asks Moses to "entreat the Lord to relent the hail and I will let the people go," Is Pharaoh recognizing God? Pharaoh attempts to negotiate with God as he would as an opposing king, trying to keep the upper hand. This will not go well as we will see.

What is the sign of Jonah? Was it just one thing as Jesus articulates or is there more? He alludes to the third sign of Jonah and what that will be. We turn to St. Jerome and St. John Chrysostom to get insight. Is the return of the unclean spirit associated with the sign of Jonah? Next Jesus describes His true kindred as being those who do the will of His Father. In this statement, is He possibly rebuking His own mother? Was the one designated to be the Mother of the Word Incarnate somehow being disrespected by Christ Jesus? What is the Greek word for "brother" Does that mean sibling?

God sends Moses to Pharaoh to demand, on behalf of God to let His people go to serve the Lord God. God gives Pharaoh a choice, let my people go or the Nile will bring forth frogs. Pharaoh says no and the frogs come forth. But the magicians of Egypt did the same. Then the gnats from the dust of the earth. The magicians fail. Snakes from sticks, Nile water into blood, frogs from the Nile; all duplicated by the Egyptian magicians. God brings gnats from the dust, the magicians fail and say, "This is the finger of God." God is slaying or mocking each of these false gods (demons) of Egypt.

Jesus shows us the way in which to be meek and gentle, even when we are being attacked. However, as the Pharisees continue the false accusations this time reaching a point to which they have committed the unforgivable sin; the sin against the Holy Spirit. What is this sin that will not be forgiven in this age or the age to come? How can we know what this is to avoid it?

God hardens Pharaoh's heart. Pharaoh hardens his heart. Pharaoh's heart was hardened. So which is it? Who is hardening Pharaoh's heart? How can we decipher what is happening to Pharaoh's heart? In the first plague the waters in the Nile become blood. Why blood?

What is God doing in these plagues on Egypt? Who is God executing judgment upon with these plagues.

Matthew shows us a facet of Jesus as the warrior king, the goel, who comes to rescues His people; to take back that which belongs to Him. Jesus in demonstrating that which Isaiah wrote foreshadowing the anointed of God, the Messiah who would rescue the people from the tyrant, announces to His accusers, the Pharisees that He is that one. In doing so Jesus declares that, "if it is by the power of God, i.e. the Holy Spirit, that he "binds the strong man," then the kingdom of God is upon you...NOW! We here from St. Augustine, St. Jerome and St. John Chrysostom to give us the proper understanding.

We are introduced to the coming conflict between God and the gods of Egypt. Pharaoh, representing the tyrant of the devil responds to the modest request of a three days journey to enter into a feast, or liturgical sacrificial worship of God. Pharaoh does not know God and therefore intensifies the work required so as to consume all of the time of the Hebrews so that they cannot be idle. The worldly see time in rest (Hb. sabat) looking forward and back (Gen.2:3) as a time for rest in the Lord to worship Him to order things properly, God first, then work. Hence now in the New and everlasting covenant, we worship God on the first day, the first day of the New Creation, and giving to God the first fruits. The genealogy of Moses and Aaron is the demarcation, a breath if you will before we begin the confrontation of God with the gods of Egypt.

What is the proper understanding of the Sabbath Rest? Is it lawful to do good or evil, to save life or kill? In the Gospel of Mark, we see in the same event as recorded in Matthew 12. But why does Jesus ask this question? The reference interestingly enough is in the Old Testament. We look at Jesus equation of Himself with the Temple and as such He is the Lord of the Sabbath. We look to the Fathers to understand how all of this not only reveals Jesus' divinity and at the same time causes the Pharisees great consternation.