Teach Me Thy Statutes

We began our discussion on Peter's epistles and their unique audience of the Jewish Diaspora, highlighting how Peter shares the same message as Paul, but with slightly varying language due to the different audience. We concluded by focusing on Peter's admonition to husbands and wives, highlighting the historical context. 

In discussing James, we are confronted with a teaching that some believe contradicts Paul's teaching on salvation. In highlighting a comprehensive biblical understand of grace and faith, we show how James and Paul's teachings are actually complementary. 

We discuss our innate tendency to judge others, but how the Bible, generally, and St James in his epistle, specifically, call us to overcome this sin. We talk about practical ways of changing our thoughts so we are not as inclined to be judgmental. 

Fr Aaron provides an overview of the Epistle to the Hebrews, paying special attention to the difficulties faced by early Jewish Christians in maintaining their radical faith as a minority group. We also discussed how we might gain spiritual endurance of the type described in the Epistle. 

We discuss the implications of Jesus telling us that he who loves parents or spouses or children more than Him are not worthy of Him. What does that mean and how should it be applied? Are the two often synonymous, meaning loving our family is showing love for God? We conclude with a brief discussion on the meaning of the first will be last and the last will be first. 

We discuss why Jesus seemingly pesters Simon Peter about whether he loves Him. We also emphasize the reason Simon is referred to in this passage as the "son of Jonah." Finally, we discuss John's statement that "Jesus did many other things not written in this book." 

In discussing 2 Corinthians 8, we referred back to Paul's collection from the Corinthian church for the church in Jerusalem. Fr Aaron highlighted the historical circumstances that led to Paul taking this collection, but also taught us about how this collection was strategic by St Paul to help unite the Jews and the Gentiles. 

In highlighting the biblical account of the Transfiguration, Fr Aaron showed how that event relates both in Scripture and in the Orthodox Church tradition to Christ's work on the Cross. Further, we discussed the significance of Transfiguration occurring during the Feast of Booths, or the Feast of Tabernacles. Ultimately, Jesus' Transfiguration during this feast follows the biblical tradition, which gives the Tabernacle the "upper hand" over the Temple. 

We discussed the dangers of placing the traditions of men above the Scriptures. Tradition is important, but we must ensure that nothing we do contradicts Scripture, nor serves to make us an exclusive community that prevents sinners from participating. Finally, we discussed how paying only lip service to God is among the chief sins a person can commit. 

In discussing the parable of the sower, we recognized it should rather be referred to as the parable of the seed. For the emphasis of the parable is on the seed—spreading spreading the Gospel message in word and in deed. After all, even if there is good soil, it can bear no fruit without the seed. We further discussed how we should not be discouraged when the seed does not grow or take root, for it is God alone who gives the growth. Our job is to plant the seed.