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A good rule of thumb is always to read Scripture as if you are the one addressed, not least when warnings are given, whereas our tendency in these cases is to think of the other guy, you know, our favorite whipping boy, the cultural other or whoever. Nevertheless, there are always exceptions that prove the rule and these days I find myself often reminded of this dominical utterance and I take it as a warning to myself and a reminder to beware those who may appropriate the name of Christ for their own advantage.

21 ‘It is not anyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 When the day comes many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name?” 23 Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, all evil doers!

(Matthew 7:21–23, NJB)

"Recognizing the contradiction provides not only a crucial key to reading Genesis 1–2 in the contemporary world, but also to apprehending the truth of revelation as divine condescension. Little is gained in harmonization and much is lost." N. Mastnjak

Was Moses an historical person? Did something like the Exodus happen? Are these traditions rooted in historical memory? Scholarship is in fact not settled on these questions. For a positive answer see Richard Elliott Friedman's book The Exodus, or his article "The Historical Exodus" at TheTorah.com. (Key word above: "rooted." There's no implication in this post or by Friedman that the book of Exodus can be read like a modern historical chronicle.)

An excellent book for the intermediate student, who wants to learn to read the Gospels well, despite some minor complaints in my review below.

Would you like to learn Biblical Hebrew with me, online? (Or Sanskrit with someone else?) Enrollment is open even to students outside the McMaster community as well as to "Listeners" from the general public. Spring Hebrew classes will run Tues/Thurs from 9am to 12pm online over Zoom. Summer classes will run from 4pm to 7pm. Our textbook will be The First Hebrew Primer, EKS Publishing -- a wonderfully accessible and user friendly introduction to the language. Contact me or check out the Summer Language Institute for more information.

For the text, see
https://didaskalos.ca/blessed-is-the-fruit-of-your-womb-reading-beneath-the-surface-of-lukes-gospel/