Texts in Conversation
2 Maccabees describes punishment as a measured response that comes only after sin has reached its limit, echoing a tradition also alluded to in Tobit, which describes a measured response to sin before mercy comes.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Tobit 13:5
Deuterocanon
3 Give thanks to him before the Gentiles, you children of Israel, For he has scattered you among them, 4 And there he has shown you his greatness; And extol him before all the living. Because he is our Lord, and he our God, and he our Father, Yes, he is God to all the ages: 5 He will chastise you for your iniquities, And will show mercy to you all. 6 When you turn to him out of all the nations Wherever you shall be scattered, With your whole heart and with your whole soul, to do truth before him, Then he will turn to you, and will no longer hide his face from you. And now see what he has done with you, And give him thanks with your whole mouth, And bless the Lord of righteousness, And exalt the everlasting King. I, in the land of my captivity, give him thanks, And show his strength and majesty to nations of sinners.) Turn, you sinners, and do righteousness before him. Who can tell if he will accept you and have mercy on you?
Date: 225–175 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
2 Maccabees 6:15
Deuterocanon
13 For indeed it is a sign of great kindness that those who act impiously are not let alone for a long time, but immediately meet with retribution. 14 For in the case of the other nations, the Sovereign Lord waits patiently to punish them until they have attained to the full measure of their sins; but not with us, 15 that he may not take vengeance on us afterward, when we have come to the height of our sins. 16 Therefore he never withdraws his mercy from us; but though he chastens with calamity, he doesn’t forsake his own people. 17 However let this that we have spoken suffice to remind you; but after a few words, we must come to the narrative.
Date: 160–63 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Concerning the three passages where πληρόω is used in the active form (Matthew 3:15; 5:17; 23:32), the exegesis is more complex. In 23:32 πληρόω is used as an ironic imperative: “and you, fill up the measure of your fathers.” (Compare also Daniel 8:23; 2 Maccabees 6:14; 1 Thessalonians 2:16) A parallel often quoted in order to explain this verse is Genesis 15:16: “And they shall return here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete).” It means that, before punishing, God waits for the completion of the iniquity. Jesus’ imperative can thus be interpreted in this way: “fill up the measure of your fathers ... and you will receive the punishment you deserve.” ..."
Matteo Munari, “Fulfilling Every Act of Righteousness (Matt 3:15),” LASBF 66 (2016): 69–79.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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