He Came as a Thief in the Night

As stated, one wanted to explain sons and daughters differently this year; with reference to verses hinging on the numbers two and three. But in order to explain two and three, one had first to explain 'name'. So we will now jump into the verse one had in mind in order properly to substantiate these matters: "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). The literal sense of this verse can be seen clearly enough. It does not matter if people meet in a large group or a small group, in a cathedral or by a river, in a forest or in a living room; because what matters to God is people hearing and doing the Word while facilitating the hearing and doing of the Word for others. God does not really care about fancy buildings: humans do. God does not really care about fancy rituals: humans do. If two people share bread and wine on a wooden pier or in a factory cafeteria, what matters is not the location but whether or...

In Leviticus we read: "46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: 47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten" (Leviticus 11:46-47).  As the Church teaches, contemporary believers do need to obey the 10 commandments, both within themselves and in terms of their outward behavior and utterance; but do not need to care what clothing materials they wear or what animals or birds they eat. Still less do they need to burn cows to ashes or sacrifice doves.  Nonetheless, the Lord said: "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Matthew 5:18). The correct way to construe this statement involves the spiritual meaning of the ceremonial and sacrificial laws which the Jews were told to observe. For instance, w...