Here is an extended quote relevant to discussions about the
Bible, a “closed canon” and the concept of continuing (or progressive)
revelation subsequent to the end of the “biblical era,” and perhaps also how we approach the issue of biblical hermeneutics.
The book is The Parables: Jewish Tradition and Christian Interpretation, by Brad H. Young.
My hope is that we'll gain an even deeper appreciation for the need to continually be open to God the Holy Spirit in our Bible reading, study, interpretation and application.
“In another rabbinic parable dealing
with the theme of stewardship, the relation between the written and oral Torah
is debated. In the eyes of some, the written word should be sufficient for
Jewish faith and practice without consulting the oral teachings of Mishnah. The
purpose of Mishnah however, is to refine the deeper meaning of the written
Torah as it explores the mysteries of everyday living.
“The concept of stewardship is portrayed [in this parable]
in the simple pictures from home life. The process of using wheat to bake bread
from flour and using flax to make a tablecloth illustrates the way that Mishnah
is used for a proper interpretation of the Bible. The Bible is given as a trust
from God. Employing Mishnah to understand the written word properly is good
stewardship of the sacred trust.
The King’s Wise and Foolish Servants
My son, were not both the Bible and Mishnah spoken by the mouth of the
Almighty? If so, what is the relationship between them? The distinction between
them may be illustrated by a parable. To what may the matter be compared? To a
mortal king who had two servants whom he loved with utter love. To one he gave
a measure of wheat and to the other he gave a measure of wheat; to one a bundle
of flax and to the other a bundle of flax.
What did the wise one of them do? He took the flax and wove it into a
tablecloth. He took the wheat and made it into fine flour by sifting the grain
first and grinding it. Then he kneaded the dough and baked it, set the loaf
upon the table, spread the tablecloth over it and kept it to await the coming
of the king.
But the foolish one of the two did not do anything to it. After many
days the king came into the house and said to the two servants: My sons, bring
me what I gave you. One brought out the table with the loaf baked of fine flour
on it, and the tablecloth spread over it.
The other brought out his wheat in a
basket with the bundle of flax over the wheat grains. What a shame! What a
disgrace! Need it be said which of the two servants was the more beloved? He of
course who laid out the table with the loaf baked of fine flour upon it.
“The parable used the sharp contrast between two servants,
one wise and the other foolish, to illustrate the relationship between Bible
and Mishnah. The oral teachings of the sages are fundamental for the proper
stewardship of biblical revelation. Both are words of God. The written word
requires refinement through careful study and proper interpretation.
“This parable uses the common motif of the king who leaves
his servants in charge of a trust while he is away. The images in the story are
taken from the daily lives of the people, who were familiar with the hard work
required to make bread from the raw ingredient of wheat or to make a tablecloth
from flax. After hearing the parable, the routine of baking bread or making
cloth would remind the audience of the way the Mishnah refines the deeper
meaning of the Bible.”
Then there is this remembrance of a
former Chief of Staff, the Commissioner who was second in command Internationally,
of The Salvation Army. He was speaking to a group of Salvation Army Officers at our pastoral
retreat on the subject of preaching, and the need for us to not take short cuts in our study and preparation:
“Your people need fresh bread.”
Finally, I leave you with the words of one of my more favored hymns, this one by Mary Artemisia Lathbury (1841-1913) and Alexander Groves (1843-1909). In The Salvation Army Songbook (1987), it is #650.
Break thou the bread of life, O Lord, to me,
as thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;
beyond the sacred page I seek thee, Lord;
my spirit pants for thee, O living Word!
Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me,
thy holy word the truth that saveth me!
Give me to eat and live with thee above;
teach me to love thy truth, for thou art love.
O send thy Spirit, Lord, now unto me,
that he may touch my eyes and make me see;
show me the truth concealed within thy word,
and in thy book revealed I see the Lord.
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"Fresh Bread Promotion" graphic: metro.ca
