Information about the meaning the original Hebrew or Greek of what seem to be key words is provided in blue. It is provided beneath the specific reading it relates to.
Hyperlinks to collections or analysis of other scriptures addressing principles similar to those set out in these readings are provided after the reading they correspond to.
Excerpts collected in yellow at the end of this post tell us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him.
Excerpts collected in green at the end of this post tell us about something God wants us to do.
Excerpts collected in red at the end of this post tell us about something God does not want us to do.
Reading I: Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15
Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There an angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. So Moses decided, “I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned.” When the LORD saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!”
He answered, “Here I am.”
God said, “Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your fathers,” he continued, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
But the LORD said, “I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers, so I know well what they are suffering. Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
***
Moses said to God, “But when I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?”
God replied, “I am who am.” Then he added, “This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.”
God spoke further to Moses, “Thus shall you say to the Israelites: The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.
“This is my name forever; thus am I to be remembered through all generations.”
go over, coming over = סוּר= sûr Blue Letter Bibleto turn aside
see = רָאָה= rā'â Blue Letter Bible to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider; learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out; consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish; gaze at;enjoy, have experience, take heed; indeed; spy, stare; enjoy the light; be pleased with the sight; provide or care for, go to see
called= קָרָא= qārā' Blue Letter Bible to call, cry, utter a loud sound; to proclaim; to read aloud, read (to oneself); the idea of accosting a person met; address by name;call=name=give name to; to call upon or to
answered = אָמַר= 'āmar Blue Letter Bible certify; declare; to command, to promise, to intend; to avow, to avouch; bear forth, bring to light;to speak, utter; to say in one's heart, to think
Here = הִנֵּה= hinnê Blue Letter Bible behold, lo, see; pointing to; points generally to some truth either newly asserted, or newly recognized; serves to introduce a solemn or important declaration
Responsorial Psalm:Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11
R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills,
He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
The LORD secures justice and the rights of all the oppressed. He has made known his ways to Moses, and his deeds to the children of Israel.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
kind = רַחוּם= raḥûm Blue Letter Bible compassionate; merciful
merciful = חַנּוּן=channuwn Blue Letter Bible gracious, benignant
bless = בָּרַךְ= bāraḵ Blue Letter Bible to kneel; be adored; to praise, salute; celebrate, adore
pardons = סָלַח= sālaḥ Blue Letter Bible to forgive, pardon, spare; lightness, lifting up
heals = רָפָא= rāp̄ā'Blue Letter Bible to heal, make healthful; to mend by stitching; repair, make whole
redeems = גָּאַל= gā'al Blue Letter Bible act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman; to redeem (by payment); redeem from death, bondage; buy back
kindness = חֶסֶד= ḥeseḏ Blue Letter Bible goodness, kindness, faithfulness; favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy; kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable), mercy; lovely appearance; of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescending to the needs of his creatures; redemption from enemies and troubles;in preservation of life from death; in quickening of spiritual life; in redemption from sin; in keeping the covenants; fidelity; abundant, plenteous in kindness (goodness); greatness of thy mercy; everlasting; plural mercies, deeds of kindness, the historic displays of lovingkindness; desire, ardor; zeal; benignity, benevolence, pity, mercy; grace
Scriptures describing similar principles are collected at Wisdom Principles—God Loves and Calls Us to Him, In Spite of our Sin
Reading II: 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and all of them were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was the Christ. Yet God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the desert. These things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evilthings, as they did.
***
Do not grumble as some of them did, and suffered death by the destroyer. These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us, upon whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.
unaware = ἀγνοέω = agnoeō Blue Letter Bible to be ignorant, not to know; not to understand; to err or sin through mistake, to be wrong; to ignore (through disinclination); Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon not to perceive or recognize, not to discern, fail to understand;to be ignorant of; forget; go wrong, make a false step, act amiss
pleased = εὐδοκέω = eudokeō Blue Letter Bible to be well pleased, to think it good; is one's good pleasure; to prefer;to be well pleased with, take pleasure in, to be favourably inclined towards one; to approbate (a person or thing); Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon to be well pleased or content; to be content with, find pleasure in a person or thing; consent, approve, agree to; happy; to be favored; approved; to be well-pleasing or acceptable, find favour with
examples, example = τύπος = typos Blue Letter Bible a type, figure; the representation or pattern of anything; a mark or impress; the mark of a stroke or blow, print; a figure formed by a blow or impression; a form;a dissuasive example, pattern of warning or an example to be imitated; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon the effect of a blow or of pressure; impression; hollow mould or matrix, cast or replica made in a mould; form, shape; archetype, pattern, model; character recognizable in a number of instances, general character, type; an approximate indication of the thing; prescribed form, model to be imitated
desire = ἐπιθυμητής = epithymētēs Blue Letter Bible covet, lust, long for, a crave, love, be eager for
evil= κακός = kakos Blue Letter Bible evil; amiss; bad in character; base, malignant, destructive, injurious; grievous, grievously; harm; miserable; badly ill;noisome; of a bad nature; not such as it ought to be; base, wrong, wicked;troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful; worthless; depraved; wrong, crime; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon ugly, ill born, mean; craven, base; bad of his kind, i. e. worthless, sorry, unskilled; wretched; evil, pernicious; abusive, foul; unlucky; ill; trouble, pest, nuisance
grumble = γογγύζω = gongyzō Blue Letter Bible to mutter, murmur, grumble, say anything in a low tone; confer secretly together; discontentedly complain
warning = νουθεσία = nouthesia Blue Letter Bible admonition, exhortation; calling attention to
standing = ἵστημι = histēmi Blue Letter Bible to stand, to make to stand; to set; appoint, establish; to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set; hold up; to set or place in a balance; to weigh; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon make to stand; set up; place; appoint; establish, institute; place in the balance, weigh
take care = βλέπω = blepō Blue Letter Bible behold, perceive, take heed; “to look, see," usually implying more especially an intent, earnest contemplation; "to have sight, to see," then, "observe, discern, perceive," frequently implying special contemplation; to see, discern; to turn the eyes to anything: to look at, look upon, gaze at; to perceive by the senses, to feel; to have (the power of) understanding; to discern mentally, observe, perceive, discover, understand; to turn the thoughts or direct the mind to a thing, to consider, contemplate, to look at, to weigh carefully, examine; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon see, have the power of sight; look; look longingly, expect, propose; look to a thing, beware; see, behold
fall = πίπτω = piptō Blue Letter Biblelosing its authority or ceasing to have force; to reduce to inactivity; to faint; to "fall" down from; to descend from a higher place to a lower; overcome by terror or astonishment; used of suppliants and persons rendering homage or worship to one; to lose authority, no longer have force; to be thrust down; to be cast down from a state of prosperity; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon fall down, and (when intentional) cast oneself down; throw oneself down, fall down; sink
Verse Before the Gospel: Matthew 4:17
Repent, says the Lord; the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
repent = μετανοέω = metanoeō Blue Letter Bible to change one's mind;to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins; to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction);Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon perceive afterwards, concur subsequently; change one's mind or purpose
kingdom = βασιλεία = basileia Blue Letter Bible primarily an abstract noun, denoting sovereignty, royal power, dominion; denoting the people over whom a king rules; the right or authority to rule;reign; royal power and dignity; the rule of God; God's rule, the divine administration; the universe subject to God's sway, God's royal domain;Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon Dominion; being ruled by a king; reign
Gospel: Luke 13:1-9
Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”
And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”
repent—see above
cultivate = σκάπτω = skaptō Blue Letter Bibledig, spade; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon dig about, cultivate by digging
fertilize = κοπρία = kopria Blue Letter Bible dung, manure
bear = ποιέω = poieō Blue Letter Bibleto do, make; used of spending a time or tarrying, in a place; to acquire, to provide a thing for one's self; to produce, bear, shoot forth; to carry out, to execute; to celebrate, keep; to perform; abide; continue; perform; to labor, to do work; to be operative, exercise activity; accomplish Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon make, produce; create, bring into existence; bring about, cause;make, render;do; practice;to be doing, act; be efficacious
fruit = καρπός = karpos Blue Letter Bible that which is produced by the inherent energy of a living organism; the visible expression of power working inwardly and invisibly; advantage, profit;sanctification; that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result;work, act, deed; utility;Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon the fruits of the earth, corn, harvest, produce; taxes paid in kind; seed with seed-vessel;returns, profits; reward
Meditations on/studies of other scriptures using agricultural themes are collected at Gardening Themed Scripture Meditations—topically organized series and stand-alone meditations
What these readings tell us about God & His ways:
When the LORD saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him
I am the God of your fathers
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob
I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry
I have come down to rescue them
lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey
God replied, “I am who am.”
The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.
This is my name forever; thus am I to be remembered through all generations
The Lord is kind and merciful.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities
heals all your ills,
He redeems your life
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
The LORD secures justice and the rights of all the oppressed
He has made known his ways to Moses
his deeds to the children of Israel.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD
slow to anger and abounding in kindness
For as the heavens are high above the earth
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him
The Lord is kind and merciful.
These things happened as examples for us
These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us
kingdom of heaven is at hand
if you do not repent, you will all perish
if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”
I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down
What these readings tell us to do:
Moses decided, “I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see
He answered, “Here I am.”
Bless the LORD
bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD
whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.
Repent
repent
repent
bear fruit
What these readings tell us not to do:
be unaware
desire evilthings
grumble
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