# Wisdom of Sirach

**Objective:**

- <span class="text Job-1-1" id="bkmrk-job-and-his-family-i-1">Faith in God</span>
- <span class="text Job-1-1">Honoring your father and mother</span>

<span class="text 2Kgs-9-1" id="bkmrk-jehu-anointed-king-o"></span>

**Resources:**

- [Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary](https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21ABiBrSBsBvIg4yo&id=67000DBCF3EF5901%21538&cid=67000DBCF3EF5901)
- [Catena Bible Commentary](https://catenabible.com/sir/1)
- [Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)](https://youtu.be/D2FPrkBXyIs?si=tJTD-X-NQXMqXgRV)



**Reading:**

- Sirach 2: 1-11
- Sirach 3: 1-34
- Sirach 4: 1-11
- Sirach 6: 1-17
- Sirach 24: 1-17
- Sirach 38: 1-15
- Sirach 51: *To be prayed at the end as a group prayer*

**Key verse(s):**

<span class="text Job-1-21">“You that fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward shall not fail</span><span class="text Job-1-21">” Sirach 1:8</span>

**Comments:**

- Also known as Joshua the Son of Sirach
- The last of the Wisdom Books
- It is the longest of the Wisdom Books
- We read multiple chapters/paragraphs during the Great Lent in our Coptic Lectionary
- Sirach was written close to the Nativity of our Lord
- It was originally written in Hebrew and then translated into Greek
- The Book contains plenty of virtues and practical and reflective wisdom
- Sirach 51 is a thanksgiving prayer by Joshua
- Ch.2 
    - V.1: When we grow spiritually, the devil will increase the wars as long as we are getting closer to Christ as he wants us to fail 
        - This is opposite to the people who think that being close to God will prevent temptations from them
    - V.5: As gold gets more purified when tried in fire, the man also increases spiritually and gets purified more when he resists the devil
    - V.11: God took care of the people before us and took care of us before in our lives, He will not stop!
- Ch.3 
    - Ch. 2 talks about how to honor your father and mother
    - This chapter expands on the commandment that God gave Moses
    - V.1: The spiritually wise people come together to form the Church
    - V.19-34: Talks about the difference between a pure heart and an unwise heart
- Ch. 4 
    - V.1-11: The importance of giving donations and supporting those who are in need
    - This has to be done with wisdom lest we give money to people who use it in bad/wrong means
    - V.11: If you support the poor, you become a child of God
- Ch.6 
    - The importance of a Godly friend
    - V.17: Fearing god = Choosing friends who fear God too = Healthy friendships
- Ch. 24 
    - The Fathers understand this chapter to be a reference to Christ
    - V.5: Begotten from the Father before all ages
    - V.7: He is a heavenly God
    - V.13: He incarnated as a seed of Jacob
    - V.14: He is an Etenral God
    - V.17: He was exalted on the Cross in front of multitudes
- Ch. 38 
    - Medicine and medications are from God
    - V.2: God has blessed us with medicine and medications
    - V.3: The knowledge of a doctor is a talent that God gave to use for the glory of His name
    - V.4: Taking medications is not against the faith. We understand that God blessed us with these. The herbs are created by God that cause the cure
    - V.9: Being sick should encourage the person to pray more, not an excuse to not pray
    - V.9-12: shows the correct order. You pray and repent first, and then rely on medicine
    - V.14: A message to the doctor. Don't forget God's hand and always pray for the patients
    - V.15: Sometimes God uses the disease for people to pray and repent (e.g. Covid 19)
- Ch. 51: To be prayed at the end as a group prayer.

**Review/recap questions:** *\*\*Servant may add more questions*

1. 

**Homework:** *\*\*Servant may add more questions*