🇬🇧 Glory be to Jesus Christ! 🌞
Romans IX, 11 – ‘προθεσις’ – ‘prothesis’ – ‘laid
before (in particular, the bread of the offering in the temple)’. It is
often understood that God chose Jacob, and that is why he really became
a saint. But the fact is that God knew that Jacob would be a saint, knew
how he would use and exercise his freedom, so without restricting human
freedom in any way, God foresaw who should be called and established.
That is why the promises were given to those people for whom they were
important. See:
03042023.html
This is a general opinion.
Romans IX, 13 – ‘εμισησα’ – ‘emisesa’ – ‘hated’ – from ‘μισεω’ -
‘miseo’ – ‘to hate’ (i.e. showed less love). Here it is less honoured
rather than hated
, because God does not hate His creation, but cares
for it. Nevertheless, the blessing was given more to Jacob than to the
elder Esau.
Romans IX, 15 is a difficult passage to translate accurately. It is
closest in meaning to: I will show mercy on whom it may be shown, and I
will show compassion on whom it may be shown.
See also more about this:
06062023.html
It is about the promises of God. God promises something important to people, not because they want it or strive for it, but because He is Merciful and Loving; God promises not because of people’s deeds, but as a gift, nevertheless, to those who can keep these promises and for whom they will really matter.
Matthew X, 32, 33 – ‘εμοι’ – ‘emoi’ – Me
(in the original:
Me
). ‘εμπροσθεν’ – ‘emprosthen’ – ‘before the
face, before’.
On the confession, see the link:
11062023.html
Regarding family and Christ – often people put their family, or rather their interests related to their close ones, above God, in which case they will hinder their Christian life and/or faith. This is the situation the Lord is talking about here. There may also be other priorities that people put before God, with the same result. The rest of the passage is not read here, but in it Christ says what is right in this case.
To Saint John of Tobolsk:
For the
Apostle’s readings, see:
22052023.html
About the Gospel:
14052023.html
Glory be to Thee, our God, glory be to Thee!