They are salivating for the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" anticipated by their eschatology. They believe they will be "taken away" and those "left behind" will suffer.
This is because they have not read their own scriptures. Matthew begins the pericope by talking of the flood, where the wicked are washed away, and only the pure remain. He has Jesus quote Psalm 37: "Blessed are the meek, for the meek will inherit the earth".
But Psalm 37 is clear, the meek inherit the earth because the wicked are taken away:
10 Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there. 11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
It's a fitting irony that they're praying to be on the wrong side of the judgement. And maybe there will be justice, and they will get their wish. In the meantime...
They are salivating for the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" anticipated by their eschatology. They believe they will be "taken away" and those "left behind" will suffer.
ReplyDeleteThis is because they have not read their own scriptures. Matthew begins the pericope by talking of the flood, where the wicked are washed away, and only the pure remain. He has Jesus quote Psalm 37: "Blessed are the meek, for the meek will inherit the earth".
But Psalm 37 is clear, the meek inherit the earth because the wicked are taken away:
10 Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
It's a fitting irony that they're praying to be on the wrong side of the judgement. And maybe there will be justice, and they will get their wish. In the meantime...