The tenth in a series on restoring
the drama to the study of the Word of God.
Am
I advocating eisegesis? Am I reading
meaning into the text instead of drawing out the real, single meaning of
the text?
I
did not tell you: “The woman is the United States; the issue of blood is abortion;
the need is for revival; and when that happens the bloodshed will stop.” However, I did try to recount the incident in a way that could prompt life-directive motivation (aka "application").
Unless
a teacher is simply giving a running commentary, exposition should aim at motivation for living to the glory of God; and living requires visual points of reference. Such a lesson from the woman in the crowd could unfold this way.
- A reminder of Luke’s heartbeat for the overlooked and disenfranchised.
- An explanation of Jesus’ identification as Messiah, by means of authoritative words and actions, before the show down in Jerusalem.
- A sketched overview of how those things come into play in chapter eight.
- Women in Jesus’ entourage.
- Purpose of parables.
- Jesus’ role as elder brother and first-born son to all believers.
- Jesus’ authority over two major categories of nature.
- Jesus’ care for a Gentile demoniac.
- This brings us to our central text.
- The main event - the plea of a Jewish religious official
- The interruption – an ordinary woman with no official resources.
- The support cast – a clueless crowd and pessimistic naysayers.
- The action – the woman’s desperate approach.
- The result – healing, recognition, commendation of faith.
All
of these unfold the “meaning” of the text. Now, Scripture invites us to find personal applications. This may be one of the most obvious:
Jesus’ attention is not based on how much of a support group you have. He was fully responsive to the woman’s
desperate, solitary, faith while everyone else was preoccupied with the father’s
urgent and publicly known need. And this point is enhanced by other Scripture.
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Throw Away Your Study Books !!!
NEXT: It’s Not About Morals
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