Wisdom chapter 3

[This chapter is in Orthodox and Catholic Bibles] The destiny of the righteous. On being without children

 


 

The Book of Wisdom is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches

 


 

THE DESTINY OF THE RIGHTEOUS

 

VERSE 1. But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will touch them.

 

VERSE 2. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died. Their departure was considered affliction,

they seemed to have died. We humans grapple with the reality of death. However, death is only a factor in the time-space continuum. In the realm of eternity, all are alive. Read more »

 

VERSE 3. and their travel away from us ruin; But they are in peace.

their travel away from us ruin. To all appearances, when we die, our existence has been annihilated.

However, as we saw in the previous verse, we are still alive.

 

VERSE 4. For even if in the sight of men they are punished, their hope is full of immortality.

their hope is full of immortality. We have the hope of eternal life.

 

VERSE 5. Having borne a little chastening, they will receive great good; because God tested them, and found them worthy of himself.

 

VERSE 6. He tested them like gold in the furnace, and he accepted them as a whole burnt offering.

he accepted them as a whole burnt offering. Our lives are a sweet-smelling offering to the Most High God:

2 Corinthians 2:15. For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved and in those who perish:

 

VERSE 7. In the time of their visitation they will shine. They will run back and forth like sparks among stubble.

 

VERSE 8. They will judge nations and have dominion over peoples. The Lord will reign over them forever.

 

VERSE 9. Those who trust him will understand truth. The faithful will live with him in love, because grace and mercy are with his chosen ones.

Those who trust him. We wonder if this refers to the Lord Jesus Christ.

will understand truth. The Lord Jesus says he is the way, the truth, and the life. We don’t know of any other person in world history who has claimed to be those things. Read more »

 

VERSE 10. But the ungodly will be punished even as they reasoned, those who neglected righteousness and revolted from the Lord;

 

VERSE 11. for he who despises wisdom and discipline is miserable. Their hope is void and their toils unprofitable. Their works are useless.

 

VERSE 12. Their wives are foolish and their children are wicked.

 

ON BEING WITHOUT CHILDREN

 

VERSE 13. Their descendants are cursed, because the barren woman who is undefiled is happy, she who has not conceived in transgression. She will have fruit in the visitation of souls.

the barren woman. In those days, if a couple did not produce any children, it was blamed on the wife. She would be called “barren.”

However, we now know that infertility can be caused by the man.

 

VERSE 14. So is the eunuch which has done no lawless deed with his hands, nor imagined wicked things against the Lord; for a precious gift will be given to him for his faithfulness, a special favor, and a delightful inheritance in the Lord’s sanctuary.

the eunuch. Eunuchs receive a more gratifying heritage in the temple of the LORD God.

In this context, what does the word “eunuch” mean?

a delightful inheritance. Sometimes the LORD God leads ministers to change the course of their life.

While such a thing can seem to be a big setback, it can actually bring greater glory to God.

It can lead to an even more gratifying ministry in the kingdom of God.

 

VERSE 15. For good labors have fruit of great renown. The root of understanding can’t fail.

 

VERSE 16. But children of adulterers will not come to maturity. The seed of an unlawful bed will vanish away.

children of adulterers. In the Medieval era, the Catholic church called such offspring “illegitimate children.”

The Catholic Church harshly discriminated against them.

However, we do not see that in the life of Jesus Christ.

Rather, he welcomed all children:

Matthew 19:14. But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.”

Luke 18:16. Jesus summoned them, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and don’t hinder them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.

 

VERSE 17. For if they live long, they will not be esteemed, and in the end, their old age will be without honor.

they will not be esteemed. In the Medieval era, the Catholic church made sure that “illegitimate children” would be disrespected.

 

VERSE 18. If they die quickly, they will have no hope, nor consolation in the day of decision.

 

VERSE 19. For the end of an unrighteous generation is always grievous.

 


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WISDOM

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Chronology

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.