Whatever your own stance is on interpreting the Bible, there’s no denying its place as a foundational source of literary references in our culture. Our understanding of so much writing is richer if we know where the allusions come from. For example, when high-schoolers read John Steinbeck’s “East of Eden,” they probably have a discussion of the significance of the title (especially since you can’t assume they’ve all heard the original story!). Along with Shakespeare, we keep the Biblical language in circulation because it gives us a shared cultural understanding.
Matthew: The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed
Martha: Which a woman hid in three measures of meal.
One: A Blessing on you who are poor
Many Yours is the household of God
One A blessing on you who mourn
Many: you shall be comforted
Something really bothers me Lord
You said that we have to be like little children
But I’ve just come from my sister’s house
And my little nephew was there
And he was having a right tantrum
