THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE

What Was God Doing When God Was Not SpeakingOctober 16, 2019

What was “church” like for you as a child?

What kind of environment would be required for the gospel

message to propagate?

A Common Language

A Bible in that Language

A Secure World

Ease of travel

A place that offers the

opportunity of a

message

“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to

read.” (Luke 4:16)

“And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and

was teaching.” (Mark 1:21)

“When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the

synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.” (Acts 13:5)

“Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number

of both Jews and Greeks believed.” (Acts 14:1)

“For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”” (Acts 15:21)

“And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.” (Acts 22:19)

“And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat

those who believed in you.” (Acts 22:19)

Where did this thing called “synagogue” come from?

No definite point but probably during the Babylonian captivity

Without the ability to offer sacrifices, they found a way to worship.

Means “to assemble together”

Flourished during the Dispersion

““Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have

received their reward.” (Matthew 6:2)

The Jewish Ghetto in Rome

10 Families

No more than a Sabbath’s Day’s journey from home.

Worship at the Synagogue

Governed by elders

A reader who sat in Moses’ seat (Mt 23:2)

Ruler who organized services

3 year cycle of readings From the OT

An offer to comment

“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the

scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was

written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He

has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s

favor.”” (Luke 4:16–19)

“but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading

from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying,

“Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.”” (Acts

13:14–15)

How It Related to the Temple

SacrificesThree Required

Pilgrimages

Passover Pentecost

Tabernacles (Acts 2)

No Sacrifices

Weekly worship on

Sabbath

The synagogue provided a place of common

values, an educated and readied audience, and the

offer to speak.

The Opposing Forces

Pharisees Scribes

Saduccees Elders

These thought patterns come into conflict with Jesus’s teaching.

The Pharisaic Code

Oral tradition which becomes written law based on Rabbinic interpretation. It used the principle of

“precedent.”

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the

kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders

will be liable to judgment.’” (Matthew 5:20–21)

“And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for

any cause?”” (Matthew 19:3)

Hillel gave any excuse.

Shimmei said it had to be sexual unfaithfulness.

Which school do you belong to?

A list of 310 issues of disagreement

The Mishna

Defines “Orthodoxy”

Mishna Had Two SectionsThe Mishna itself: “Repeat” (things you memorize)

The Gemara: “Master by study”

Halaka—the legal requirements Haggadah—Jewish Lore

At first sin is like a thread, which can be snapped with least effort. Bu in the end it is like a cable that cannot

be broken. (Rabbi Akiba)

Sin is at first only a guest; in the end, however, it has become the host. (Rabbi Isaac)

““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and

faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” (Matthew 23:23)

The Saduccees rejected the oral

tradition and did not accept proselyte

converts.

Zealots

“Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:4)

An extremist and militant group (think PLO)

Refused to pay taxes or accept Roman rule

Violence was justified

“And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s

opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to

Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?”” (Mark 12:14)

Into this volatile mixture of politics,

religious fundamentalism, and centuries of

tradition, the gospel came.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you

will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28–29)

The gospel is attractive because it

transcends any human rule and any earthly government.

It changes a person without oppressing

him.