The Lord has pronounced judgment against Judah and Jerusalem for their sins and corruption. He has condemned the nation's leaders—the elders and princes—for exploiting the poor and crushing the needy. God has declared that He will enter into judgment with these leaders who have devoured the vineyard and filled their houses with plunder taken from the afflicted. The rulers have ground the faces of the poor into the dust while living in luxury themselves. Following this condemnation of the leadership, the Lord now turns His attention to the wealthy women of Jerusalem who have participated in and benefited from this oppression, living in pride and self-indulgence while their society crumbles under unjust leadership.
[16] Moreover the Lord says:
“Because the daughters of Zion are haughty,
And walk with outstretched necks
And wanton eyes,
Walking and mincing as they go,
Making a jingling with their feet,
[17] Therefore the Lord will strike with a scab
The crown of the head of the daughters of Zion,
And the Lord will uncover their secret parts.”
[18] In that day the Lord will take away the finery:
The jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents;
[19] The pendants, the bracelets, and the veils;
[20] The headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands;
The perfume boxes, the charms,
[21] and the rings;
The nose jewels,
[22] the festal apparel, and the mantles;
The outer garments, the purses,
[23] and the mirrors;
The fine linen, the turbans, and the robes.
[24] And so it shall be:
Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench;
Instead of a sash, a rope;
Instead of well-set hair, baldness;
Instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth;
And branding instead of beauty.
[25] Your men shall fall by the sword,
And your mighty in the war.
[26] Her gates shall lament and mourn,
And she being desolate shall sit on the ground.
[1] And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying,
“We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel;
Only let us be called by your name,
To take away our reproach.”
St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians 1:25-30
Paul has begun his letter by addressing divisions in the Corinthian church, where believers have aligned themselves with different leaders. He emphasizes that he came to Corinth proclaiming Christ crucified, not with eloquent wisdom that might attract followers to himself. Paul explains that God's method of salvation through the cross appears foolish to those who are perishing, yet it demonstrates divine wisdom that surpasses human understanding. He contrasts worldly wisdom with God's wisdom, noting that God chose what the world considers foolish and weak to shame the wise and strong. Paul reminds the Corinthians of their own humble origins when God called them, pointing out that few were wise, powerful, or of noble birth by worldly standards.
[25] Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
[26] For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. [27] But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; [28] and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, [29] that no flesh should glory in His presence. [30] But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—
In the preceding verses, Jesus has been teaching his disciples about humility and the kingdom of heaven, using a child as an example of the humble attitude required to enter God's kingdom. He warned against causing little ones who believe in him to stumble, stating it would be better to have a millstone hung around one's neck and be drowned than to lead them astray. Jesus emphasized the seriousness of sin by instructing his followers to take drastic measures to avoid temptation, even if it means cutting off a hand or foot or plucking out an eye that causes them to sin. He stressed that entering life maimed is preferable to being thrown into eternal fire with all one's members intact. Jesus is addressing his disciples.
[10] “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. [11] For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
[12] “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? [13] And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. [14] Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.