November 2, 2023 – Does the Bible Say…?

Does The Bible Say King Solomon Ordered a Baby Cut in Half?

“Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. One of them said, “Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us. “During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. The next morning, I got up to nurse my son—and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.” The other woman said, “No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.” But the first one insisted, “No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.” And so they argued before the king. Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son who is alive, and your son is dead,’ while the other says, ‘Not so! Your son is dead, and my son is the living one.’ ” So the king said, “Bring me a sword,” and they brought a sword before the king.  The king said, “Divide the living boy in two; then give half to the one and half to the other.”  But the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because compassion for her son burned within her, “Please, my lord, give her the living boy; certainly do not kill him!” The other said, “It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it.” Then the king said “Give her the living boy; do not kill him. She is his mother.” All Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to execute justice.…” 1 Kings 3:16-28

Solomon was the son of David. When David was about to die, he set up his son Solomon as king. “So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.” (1 Kings 2:12) Solomon would prove to be a wise king, but also a troubled king – and in fact his reign would result in division. But it all starts out good:

“At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” (1 Kings 3:5)

Solomon then has a dream in which G-d offers him anything he wants. This is an amazing proposition. Many in this situation might ask for riches, for long life, for many, many wives. But instead of asking for money or power, he asks for wisdom so that he can rule the people of Israel with integrity. G-d is so pleased with this response, that Solomon not only receives wisdom in spades, he also is given wealth and power besides. This is the context of the famous, and odd story about the two women who come to Solomon, each claiming to be the mother of a certain child. It’s an illustration of his wisdom — he’s a man who can see beneath the surface and discern people’s motives and character. What was Solomon’s decision about the two women claiming the baby is theirs? He threatens to cut the baby in half – and when the true mother says to give the child to the other woman, the truth has come out.

Solomon’s reign, though beginning with great demonstrations of wisdom would prove to be a troubled reign. In fact, he would eventually be responsible for failed allegiances, and questionable decisions – seemingly squandering his wisdom. With great wisdom and insight comes great responsibility.

Pastor Dave

November 1, 2023 – Does the Bible Say…?

Does the Bible Say “Mary Magdalene Was A Prostitute?”

“Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.” Luke 8:1-3

Mary Magdalene receives her name because she was from the town of Magdala. It was a thriving fishing town on the coast of the sea of Galilee. Magdala is also within walking distance of Capernaum, an area Jesus was very familiar with. There are many “Mary’s” in the bible, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary the sister of Lazarus, and Mary, the woman Jesus cast out many demons. Why was she called a prostitute? She was called a prostitute thanks to her story being merged with that of a sinful woman from Luke 7:36-39:

“One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.”

This “composite Magdalene” was popularized in a sermon given by Pope Gregory I around 591 CE:

“She whom Luke calls the sinful woman, whom John calls Mary, we believe to be the Mary from whom seven devils were ejected according to Mark. And what did these seven devils signify, if not all the vices? It is clear, brothers, that the woman previously used the unguent to perfume her flesh in forbidden acts… What she therefore displayed more scandalously, she was now offering to God in a more praiseworthy manner.” — Pope Gregory the Great (homily XXXIII)

Conflating the stories of biblical characters was not uncommon in those days. But Mary Magdalene is named at least 12 times in the gospels, and not one of those references supports the label of prostitute. Yes, Mary Magdalene did have her issues. And, the fact that she was traveling with so many men, something that would not have happened in her day, this fact would have contributed to her being targeted for labeling. And yet, she did not shrink from serving Jesus. So the answer is no: Mary Magdalene was not labeled a prostitute in the bible – it was the gossiping that occurred hundreds of years later to which we must place the blame. The Catholic church would change that label for Mary in the mid-twentieth century. Everything you hear about Mary Magdalene, if it is negative labeling about her character, is pure speculation and nonsense. What we do know is she is one of the closest friends of Jesus – and a faithful disciple.

Pastor Dave