 Today we are making available the third installment of our new online video series for Economics in the Gospels. Labor (Part 2) From servants to flute players, crooks to bankers, farmers to spies, there is a wide spectrum of jobs in the Gospels. Then there are the slaves… This a particularly challenging part of the study because we have to confront slavery, a ubiquitous form of labor in Jesus’s day in the Roman empire. It is particularly difficult because it is taken as a given and a theological or historical point of view is complicated, at best. Especially coming from a WASP man. You can see for yourself how it goes as this installment to the video course will be up and available for all to see over the next week before moving into the course collection with the others. With all that said let’s review what we find in the Gospel economy labor-wise. A mix of servants includes many in positions of high responsibility and are valued confidants. There are also distinctions made with references to hired men as we see when Peter (Simon) left his business and boat with ‘”hired men”: Mark 1:20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. We also see gardeners as in this famous case where the presumed gardener mentioned was Jesus himself. John 20:15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” Because she thought he was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him.” If we look hard we can even see restaurant jobs, not just servants but more evolved professions like the head steward in this famous episode where it appears to be a job found today – arranging for the wine. John 2:8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the head steward,” and they did. Slaves in the Gospels are ever-present and often play key roles in the parables - and are a focal point in many stories. Sometimes, they are featured as a kind of catalyst as in this story of the slave girl: Mark 14:66 Now while Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s slave girls came by. 14:69 When the slave girl saw him, she began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” Then there are “jobs” one might miss simply because they are not what we might expect in our own time. The “wise men” for instance are some of the most enigmatic of all the “professions” in the Gospels. They lend credibility to Jesus’s birth and bring presents, also of interest from an economic perspective. Along the same lines we find the Prophetess: Luke 2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having been married to her husband for seven years until his death. Not surprisingly in an advanced economy for its day with associated agricultural accomplishments we find people in the fields like tenant farmers and herdsmen. In the following the term herdsmen denotes a herder of pigs: Mark 5:14 Now the herdsmen ran off and spread the news in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. Also, not particularly surprising we find an entire criminal class represented with criminals and outlaws, thieves, and robbers. Not unexpectedly we also find prisoners, which while surely a stretch, are still potentially a form of labor. Certainly, the executioner has a key role in the Gospels. Moving along we also find eunuchs, messengers, flute players, prostitutes, beggars, and spies: Luke 20:20 Then they watched him carefully and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They wanted to take advantage of what he might say so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. Throughout this section on labor I imagine many are looking for their own job, or something close to it. So, for the finance types I am glad to offer this one mention from the parables, one exceedingly interesting from a financial system point of view. Matthew 25:27 Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received my money back with interest! Lastly, one of the most famous passages in the Gospels feature the peacemakers… Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God. Next up: Management For more information about the course click here. To view the video click here. For the study text click here. Here's the full text from the study:
Household Manager Herod had a manager of his household. Luke 8:3 and Joanna the wife of Cuza (Herod’s household manager), Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their own resources. Servant (24) Slaves and servants are the most oft talked about job in the Gospels. They are very important as receivers of several Jesus’ healings, at the request of their bosses, who are shown to have great faith. Mother Mary refers to herself as a servant. Luke 1:48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed, Many servants reach positions of high responsibility, position, and are valued confidants. The disciples themselves are also spoken of as servants, as in the following passage. Mark 9:35 After he sat down, he called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” Hired Men Another expression for servant is hired men… Mark 1:20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Eunuchs (3) Perhaps not the most desirous of positions, is the eunuch. Matthew 19:12 For there are some eunuchs who were that way from birth, and some who were made eunuchs by others, and some who became eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this should accept it.” Doorkeeper (3) And then there was the keeper of the door. John 18:17 The girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You’re not one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” He replied, “I am not.” Slave (79) Many mentions of slaves are made in the Gospels, often in terms of reverence – they play key roles in the parables and are often the focal point. Matthew 20:26 It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, 20:27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave – 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all. Luke 17:10 So you too, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say, ‘We are slaves undeserving of special praise; we have only done what was our duty.’” Call to Faithful Stewardship Luke 12:35 “Get dressed for service and keep your lamps burning; 12:36 be like people waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 12:37 Blessed are those slaves whom their master finds alert when he returns! I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, have them take their place at the table, and will come and wait on them! 12:38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, blessed are those slaves! 12:39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 12:40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” 12:41 Then Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” 12:42 The Lord replied, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his household servants, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 12:43 Blessed is that slave whom his master finds at work when he returns. 12:44 I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions. 12:45 But if that slave should say to himself, ‘My master is delayed in returning,’ and he begins to beat the other slaves, both men and women, and to eat, drink, and get drunk, 12:46 then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two, and assign him a place with the unfaithful. 12:47 That servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked will receive a severe beating. 12:48 But the one who did not know his master’s will and did things worthy of punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked. High Priest’s Slave (6) Not just any slave, but the slave of the high priest. In this case the slave gets his ear cut off as Judas was betraying Jesus. Jesus immediately healed the ear. Luke 22:50 Then one of them struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his right ear. Slave of Sin (1) Aren’t we all… John 8:34 Jesus answered them, “I tell you the solemn truth, everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. Slave Girl (6) Sometimes, slaves are featured as a kind of catalyst in the story. Neither good nor bad, but they are key… Mark 14:66 Now while Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s slave girls came by. 14:69 When the slave girl saw him, she began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” Flute Players While there aren’t many mentions, musicians are represented in the texts. Matthew 9:23 When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the disorderly crowd Wise Men (5) The wise men are some of the most enigmatic of all the “professions” in the Gospels. They lend credibility to the birth and bring presents, also of interest from and economist’s perspective, especially the gold. Matthew 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem 2:2 saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Prophetess Prophetess does not appear to be a widely held career but gets a mention nonetheless. Luke 2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having been married to her husband for seven years until his death. Prostitute (3) The “oldest profession” is mentioned and alluded to. Luke 7:39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” The Parable of the Two Sons Matthew 21:28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 21:29 The boy answered, ‘I will not.’ But later he had a change of heart and went. 21:30 The father went to the other son and said the same thing. This boy answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go. 21:31 Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, tax collectors and prostitutes will go ahead of you into the kingdom of God! 21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. Although you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him. Beggar (3) While not a profession exactly, it is a sort of livelihood nonetheless and receives attention in the texts. John 9:8 Then the neighbors and the people who had seen him previously as a beggar began saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Messenger (6) Jesus is seen as a messenger himself as was John the Baptist, figuratively speaking. Though in the literal Gospel passage below, it is a job of taking messages from one place to another, just as today. Luke 7:24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? Herdsmen (3) The term herdsmen in this reference denotes a herder of pigs. Mark 5:14 Now the herdsmen ran off and spread the news in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. Gardener (2) In the case below, the gardener mentioned was Jesus himself. John 20:15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” Because she thought he was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him.” Criminal (4) and Outlaw (5) Criminal and Outlaw appear pretty much synonymous in the Gospels. Usually not an esteemed labor source, criminality has always been a part of society, and presumably a productive resource for the perpetrator, and his/her beneficiaries. In the following passage, Jesus himself is accused of being a criminal. John 18:30 They replied, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” Matthew 27:38 Then two outlaws were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Thief (6) Mentions of thieves and robbers often appear side by side in the Gospels. John 10:1 “I tell you the solemn truth, the one who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. Robber (8) In this passage from the story of the Good Samaritan the robber in question provided a rather vicious mugging. Luke 10:30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him up, and went off, leaving him half dead. Prisoner (5) Surely a stretch, prisoners are still potentially a form of labor. In the Gospels the other prisoners accompanying Jesus play significant roles. Matthew 27:15 During the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd, whomever they wanted. Spies Spying is nothing new either. Luke 20:20 Then they watched him carefully and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They wanted to take advantage of what he might say so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. Executioner The executioner has a key role in the Gospels. Mark 6:21 But a suitable day came, when Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his court officials, military commanders, and leaders of Galilee. 6:22 When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” 6:23 He swore to her, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” 6:24 So she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother said, “The head of John the baptizer.” 6:25 Immediately she hurried back to the king and made her request: “I want the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” 6:26 Although it grieved the king deeply, he did not want to reject her request because of his oath and his guests. 6:27 So the king sent an executioner at once to bring John’s head, and he went and beheaded John in prison. Bankers This one mention is exceedingly interesting from a financial system point of view. Matthew 25:27 Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received my money back with interest! Head Steward (2) The head steward appears to have a similar job today – arranging for the wine. John 2:8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the head steward,” and they did. Reapers The reapers are mentioned in the Parable of the Weeds and in the explanation below as angels. Matthew 13:36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 13:37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 13:38 The field is the world and the good seed are the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 13:39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 13:40 As the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 13:41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes sin as well as all lawbreakers. 13:42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears had better listen! Peacemakers One of the most famous passages in the Gospels feature the peacemakers… Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
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