Monday, 2/25/ 13
Jesus said, “The measure with which you measure will be
measured back to you.”
Sometimes when you buy a box of fancy crackers, and turn
back the cardboard lid, you find
that the top third of the box is empty. You have been gypped.
Something similar could happen in Our Lord’s time. Of course,
they didn’t have pre-packed grains and liquids back then. A merchant had to use
an open-topped box that supposedly contained an even pint or quart or
gallon. He would dish up the grain, filling the measuring box; then he would
run a ruler over the top to show you that you were getting every mini-ounce
coming to you. Those measuring boxes themselves were known as “measures.” They
seemed to be fool-proof, but the Old Testament and early church law contained
numerous warnings against false measures, and going along with such warnings
were the penalties meted out to merchants who cheated. Through the ages
merchants have been clever in devising false bottom measures. They used weights
marked as 16 ounces when they only came to 14.
Of course, in his preaching, Jesus wasn’t getting into the
grocery business. He was using such measuring devices as metaphors for our
generosity or our meanness is dealing with each other and with God.
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