Template:Simonleper

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Simon the Leper

In Matthew 26:6–13 and Mark 14:3–9 we see Simon the leper.

Was this Simon the Leper also the same as Simon the Pharisee of Luke 7 containing a similar?

Some, who read the passage of Luke 7 where a Pharisee named Simon invites Jesus to dine, say the invitation was said to be "patronising", "ungracious", and even "hostile".

"The invitation was clearly due to a patronizing curiosity, if not to a worse and hostile motive. The whole manner of the Pharisee to Jesus was like his invitation, ungracious."[1]

When other Pharisees were "patronising and ungracious" with a "hostile motive" Jesus would tell them nothing. Jesus knew what this man "spake within himself" and took time to explain the importance of forgiveness.

If we read the text we see a woman with an alabaster[2] jar filled with expensive oil Anointing Christ with a Pharisee named Simon present.

"36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city[3], which was a sinner[4], when she knew that [Jesus] sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster[2] box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind [him] weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe [them] with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed [them] with the ointment.
39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw [it], he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman [this is] that toucheth him: for she is a sinner[4]. 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Luke 7: 36-42

We do not know the woman's name in Luke 7: 36-42 or her relation to the man Simon except that she is considered by him to be a "sinner"[4]".

Some suggest that she was a prostitute but a woman would be considered a sinner for many reasons. The fact that she is called a woman in the city or polis[3] does not suggest she was a prostitute or even an adulterer. There is some evidence that this woman is Mary Magdalene but there is also evidence that this Mary[5] is the sister of Martha[6]and Lazarus and the daughter of Simon the Leper who was also Simon the Pharisee. Unless we want to believe there was more than one event when a woman anointed Jesus we should accept this was one event with some details omitted and some included. and MarthaCite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag oil that was broken or syntrivo (συντριβω)[7] by this woman and completely used up by her exclusively on Jesus. She was also to save the rest for his burial. If she did we would expect her to be at the cross or at least at the tomb. That would be most significant since we have a detailed account of the women at his tomb.

The value of the spikenard, a Roman pound of 12 ounces or around 340 grams, was so expensive as an ointment that it could have been sold for what would amount to a year's wages, which Mark enumerates as 300 denarii. Why and how would she have such a large sealed container of such an expensive oil?

According to Mark 14 and John 12 verse 3 the oil was spikenard or nardos (ναρδος)[8]

That and the true identity of Simon and his relationship with this woman who is in his house may be significant.

Some question may be answered if this Simon is also Simon the leper?

Simons

"There were two Simons among the Twelve, and there are nine Simons mentioned in the New Testament alone, and twenty in Josephus."[9]

A leper would not be allowed around people nor live inside the cities if his or her skin was infected as the Torah law commanded. They could not be on the Sanhedrin and meet with others.

But also had healed many lepers but there seems to be no evidence that Simon needed healing or was healed including the healing reported in Matthew 8.

“‭2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” Matthew 8:2,

Who was this Simon?[10] "There were two Simons among the Twelve, and there are nine Simons mentioned in the New Testament alone, and twenty in Josephus."[11]


Son of Simon

This verse 4 about Judas being the son of Simon is omitted in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions. Simon was the father of Mary, Mariam, and Lazarus. If he was the father of Judas Iscariot that would mean Judas was their brother.

Jar maker

So, the Peshitta text reads Simon the jar maker or potter and this makes sense as he was anointed with a costly jar of perfume in the same verse.

A purveyor of oils or oil merchant would often also be a jar maker. 

The Hebrew word tsara (ערַצָ)[12] is translated leper.

Both Hebrew and Aramaic are written without the use of vowels. The Aramaic words for leper is GimelReishBeitAlef (גרבא) or GaRaBA. A jar maker or jar merchant is also GimelReishBeitAlef (גרבא) or GaRaBA. Could Simon the Jar maker be Simon the Jarmaker. Martha's is the Aramaic form of the Hebrew Mary.

Seems as though the translator may have gotten something understandably wrong.

Is this Mary daughter of a rich oil merchant Simon the Jarmaker, rich oil merchant, and a pharisee on the Sanhedrin who is becoming a follower of Christ?

A woman pours expensive oil from what would be considered to be a large alabaster[2] jar after breaking it open.

Why is their so much oil in the that jar?

What would that have to do with a "woman of the city"?

Was she sent back to her fathers house because she was caught in the act of adultery?

Or was she considered a sinner because she was betrothed and found with another man?

Had Jesus forgiven her that sin, keeping her from being stoned, thereby saving her life?


Nicodemus

While Joseph of Arimathea appears in all the Gospels Nicodemus only appears in John.[13]

Some say Simon the Leper and Simon the Pharisee was identical to the Talmudical Nicodemus ben Gorion who was reported to have miraculous powers and two daughters Mary[5] and Martha[6]. This is also said to be the same Nicodemus in John and had access to very expensive oil which would have almost been a kings ransom in value at a hundred Roman pounds.

Simon the Leper does not appear in John or Luke although their is a Simon who is also a pharisee in Luke.

We know there is an event of a woman at the feet of Jesus anointing him at the house of Mary[5] and Martha,[6] and Lazarus[14].

There is no mention of the head of the house as Simon in John. So the gospel of John seems to make no mention of either Simon the Leper and Simon the Pharisee but is the only Gospel that mentions this Nicodemus.

Are all these people the same?

Early Nicodemus

"Nicodemus" was not a normal Jewish name and its popularity varied over time. There had been a man years before who called himself Nicodemus but was one of the ambassadors sent by Aristobulus to request help from Pompey to oppose Hyrcanus and brought Rome to Judea.[15] With the coming of Rome there was the coming of the ideas of Rome at that time. Rome at that time was already degenerating from a free Republic into an indirect democracy and eventually the Imperial Cult of Rome.

Nakedimon

"The Talmud mentions a Nakedimon, so called from a miracle performed by him, who was the son of Gorion, and whose real name was Bonai.[16] It also gives the name Bonai as one of the disciples of Jesus. He was one of the three richest Jews when Titus besieged Jerusalem, but his family was reduced to the most abject poverty. So far the Talmud. The inference is that this change of fortune is connected with his becoming a Christian and with the persecution which followed, and he is himself identified with the Nicodemus of the Gospel. We can only say this may be so. The reader who cares for more on the subject will find full references in Lampe, and the extracts from the Talmud translated in Lightfoot. Others may be content to accept this latter writer’s conclusion. “It is not worth while to take great pains in a question which is very involved, if we may not also call it useless.”" Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

Traditions and the Talmud suggests that Nicodemus and his family, including a Mary and a Martha were arrested because of their involvement with a false Messiah. They were exiled to Gaul a few years after the crucifixion but Nicodemus had to remain because of his wealth. While the Pharisees wanted to murder him and confiscated his wealth the Romans seemed to show him favor.

Nick name

Why would the Gospel of John not mention Simon the Leper nor Simon the Pharisee but be the only one of the Gospels that mentions Nicodemus?

Is there a clue in the name?

There could be several reasons someone would be given such a name such as Nicodemus or Nicodemos.[17] It is said according to the Holman Bible Dictionary that Nicodemus means "innocent of blood"[18] while others translate it from the Greek components as “victory of the people.”

The author of the Gospel may have called this member of the Sanhedrin "innocent of blood" because he was innocent of the blood of Christ.

With a Greek origin the name Nikodemos, may be translated into “victory of the people.” But the name Nicolaitan can mean "conquered people" or "victory over the people" like the term "Balaam".

If we consider the Doctrine of Jesus which sets the captive free and is in opposition to the doctrines of men and their tables of welfare which are a snare and a trap entangling the people as merchandise in the cities of blood and the bondage of Egypt then the meaning of "innocent of blood" makes more sense. Those engaged in covetous practices are not innocent of blood which is why they become merchandise becoming entangled again in the yoke of bondage.

He is also mentioned by Josephus in The Jewish War. 2.17.10. and others[19]

  1. ↑ Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Commentary.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 211 ἀλάβαστρον alabastron [al-ab’-as-tron] from alabastros (of uncertain derivation), the name of a stone; n n; AV-alabaster box 3, box 1; 4
    1) a box made of alabaster in which unguents are preserved
    • The ancients considered alabaster to be the best material in which to preserve their ointments. Breaking the box, probably means breaking the seal of the box.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 4172 ~πόλις~ polis \@pol’-is\@ probably from the same as polemos 4171 meaning war, or perhaps from polus 4183 meaning many, much, large; n f AV-city 164; 164
    1) a city
    1a) one’s native city, the city in which one lives
    1b) the heavenly Jerusalem
    1b1) the abode of the blessed in heaven
    1b2) of the visible capital in the heavenly kingdom, to come down to earth after the renovation of the world by fire
    1c) the inhabitants of a city
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 268 ~ἁμαρτωλός~ hamartolos \@ham-ar-to-los’\@ from 264 ἁμαρτάνω hamartano, without a share; adj AV-sinner 43, sinful 4; 47
    1) devoted to sin, a sinner
    1a) not free from sin
    1b) pre-eminently sinful, especially wicked
    1b1) all wicked men
    1b2) specifically of men stained with certain definite vices or crimes
    1b2a) tax collectors, heathen
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 3137 Μαρία Maria [mar-ee’-ah] or Μαριάμ Mariam [mar-ee-am’] of Hebrew origin 04813 מִרְיָם‎; n pr f; AV-Mary the mother of Jesus 19, Mary Magdalene 13, Mary the sister of Martha 11, Mary the mother of James 9, Mary the mother of John Mark 1, Mary of Rome 1; 54
    • Mary or Miriam  = "their rebellion"
    1) Mary the mother of Jesus
    2) Mary Magdalene, a women from Magdala
    3) Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha
    4) Mary of Cleophas the mother of James the less
    5) Mary the mother of John Mark, a sister of Barnabas
    6) Mary, a Roman Christian who is greeted by Paul in #Ro 16:6
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 3136 Μάρθα Martha [mar’-thah] probably of Chaldean origin (meaning mistress) מָרְתָא‎; n pr f; AV-Martha 13; 13
    • Martha  = "she was rebellious"
    1) was the sister of Lazarus and Mary of Bethany
  7. ↑ 4937 συντρίβω suntribo [soon-tree’-bo] from 4862 and the base of 5147; v; TDNT-7:919,1124; [{See TDNT 774 }] AV-bruise 3, break 2, broken to shivers 1, brokenhearted + 2588 1, break in pieces 1; 8
    1) break, to break in pieces, shiver
    2) to tread down
    2a) to put Satan under foot and (as a conqueror) trample on him
    2b) to break down, crush
    2b1) to tear one’s body and shatter one’s strength
  8. ↑ 3487 νάρδος nardos [nar’dos] of foreign origin cf. נֵרְדְּ‎, 05373; n f; AV-spikenard + 4101 2; 2
    1) nard, the head or spike of a fragrant East Indian plant belonging to the genus Valerianna, which yields a juice of delicious odour which the ancients used (either pure or mixed) in the preparation of a most precious ointment
    2) nard oil or ointment
  9. ↑ Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Commentary.
  10. ↑ Simon Peter(Matthew 10:2), and Simon the Zealot (Luke 6:15) both disciples, and Simon of Cyrene (Matthew 27:32) carried the cross of Jesus.
  11. ↑ Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Commentary.
  12. ↑ 06879 צָרַע‎ tsara‘ [tsaw-rah’] a primitive root; v; [BDB-863b] [{See TWOT on 1971 }] AV-leper 14, leprous 6; 20
    1) to be diseased of skin, be leprous
    1a) (Qal) to be a leper
    1b) (Pual) to have leprosy
  13. ↑ John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
    John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
    John 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
    John 7:50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
    John 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound [weight].
  14. ↑ 2976 Λάζαρος Lazaros [lad’-zar-os] probably of Hebrew origin 0499 אֶלעָזָר‎; n pr m; AV-Lazarus 11, Lazarus (the poor man) 4; 15
    • Lazarus  = "whom God helps" (a form of the Hebrew name Eleazar)
    1) an inhabitant of Bethany, beloved by Christ and raised from the dead by him
    2) a very poor and wretched person to whom Jesus referred to in #Luke 16:20-25
  15. ↑ Josephus (Ant. of the Jews, XIV, iii, 2)
  16. ↑ "The Nicodemus of the Talmud was also called Bunai, must have survived the destruction of Jerusalem, and was known under this latter name as a disciple of Jesus." Meyer's NT Commentary
    • "Nicodemus" He is mentioned only by S. John. It is impossible to say whether he is identical with the Nicodemus of the Talmud, also called Bunai, who survived the destruction of Jerusalem." Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
  17. ↑ 3530 Νικόδημος Nikodemos [nik-od’-ay-mos] from 3534 nikos victory or to utterly vanquish and 1218 demos people; n pr m; AV-Nicodemus 5; 5
    1) a member of the Sanhedrin who took the part of Jesus
    as a personal name it may mean "innocent of blood".
  18. ↑ Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
  19. ↑ Lamentations Rabbah, i. 5; Ecclesiastes Rabbah, vii. 11;
    Babylonian Talmud,
    Talmud - Mas. Ta'anith 19b pdf; Ktubot 65a-b, 66b, 67a; Gittin 56a (cf. Josephus, Jewish War, v. 1, § 4)
    "NAKDIMON BEN GURYON". Encyclopedia Judaica.
    Avot of Rabbi Natan, vi. 3.
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