Q: In Matthew 12:42 (and in Luke 11:31), Jesus says, a greater than Solomon is here. But in First Kings 3:12, God promises Solomon, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. So whos smarter -- Solomon or Jesus?
A: Jesus. But this doesnt undo the contents of First Kings 3:12, since Jesus was not like Solomon. Solomon accumulated wisdom the hard way, like a hang-glider who glides farther than anyone else, but only after several experimental crashes. Jesus wisdom was not a gift, but an inherent endowment, like the flight of an eagle. Plus, Jesus statement is a comparison of two people -- Solomon and Jesus -- while the statement in First Kings is about one particular characteristic, and it does not say that no one /greater/ than Solomon shall ever arrive, only that there will be no one /like/ him in regard to his wisdom. To put it another way: Solomons wisdom was primarily /administrative/ wisdom -- good decision-making skills, and the statement in First Kings 3:12 pertains to Solomons use of this gift -- while Jesus statement here in Matthew 12:42 is about the individual Solomon himself.
An alternative solution is of the Slice-The-Knot variety: simply observe that Solomon was told that there would be no one like him, /not/ that there would be no one better.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
P.S. Theres an objection in the side-bar about Matthew 12:43-45, but no category-icon accompanies it.
A: Jesus. But this doesnt undo the contents of First Kings 3:12, since Jesus was not like Solomon. Solomon accumulated wisdom the hard way, like a hang-glider who glides farther than anyone else, but only after several experimental crashes. Jesus wisdom was not a gift, but an inherent endowment, like the flight of an eagle. Plus, Jesus statement is a comparison of two people -- Solomon and Jesus -- while the statement in First Kings is about one particular characteristic, and it does not say that no one /greater/ than Solomon shall ever arrive, only that there will be no one /like/ him in regard to his wisdom. To put it another way: Solomons wisdom was primarily /administrative/ wisdom -- good decision-making skills, and the statement in First Kings 3:12 pertains to Solomons use of this gift -- while Jesus statement here in Matthew 12:42 is about the individual Solomon himself.
An alternative solution is of the Slice-The-Knot variety: simply observe that Solomon was told that there would be no one like him, /not/ that there would be no one better.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
P.S. Theres an objection in the side-bar about Matthew 12:43-45, but no category-icon accompanies it.
