Matthew 6:1:
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
I think this is a good practice, because if you give only so that other people are watching, you are not truly giving from your heart.
Why did Tiberius Gracchus attract so much suspicion from the Roman Senate?
Tiberius Gracchus was a Roman veteran who was elected as a plebeian tribune in 133 B.C. He recognized the need to provide land for other veterans, as many had sold their farms after returning home. Their fields had been neglected and ravaged while they were away, making them difficult to restore to productivity. As a result, many veterans sold their land, expecting to continue serving in the army; however, the Roman army no longer accepted landless men.
Tiberius proposed a land redistribution program in which unused excess land would be taken by the Roman government and redistributed to citizens without land. In doing so, he bypassed the Roman Senate, breaking tradition. Although the Concilium Plebis passed the law and the Senate later approved it, the Senate refused to fund the program. When Tiberius ran for reelection, again defying tradition, violence broke out during the election. He raised his hand to his head as a signal of danger, but it was mistaken as a sign that he sought a crown. This misunderstanding led to a revolt, which ended in Tiberius dying.
Matthew 5:44:
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
I think this is a very good lesson that we should all strive to follow, even if it is hard.
I found it interesting how Jesus called Peter and Andrew in Matthew 4:19, inviting them to follow Him and become “fishers of men.”
Matt. 4:19: “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
The liberty of the ancients includes collective political power exercised through direct participation in public decision-making. Citizens expressed freedom through assemblies, voting, and shared sovereignty, believing liberty meant being an active member of the community. Modern liberty focuses on individual rights, such as freedom of expression, religion, property, and personal independence. It emphasizes private pursuits, personal autonomy, and protection from government intrusion, relying on representative government rather than direct political participation. Modern people would find ancient liberty lacking because it offers little personal freedom or privacy and demands heavy involvement in public life.
Plutarch’s Life of Alexander includes the famous episode of Alexander taming Bucephalus. When the wild horse refused all riders, Alexander realized it feared its own shadow. He turned the horse toward the sun, calmed it, and mounted it successfully. Philip II told him that Macedonia was too small for someone of his greatness. The episode is meant to show Alexander’s intelligence, perception, confidence, courage, and natural authority. It also highlights his emotional control, as he mastered Bucephalus through understanding rather than force. Plutarch uses this story to foreshadow Alexander’s future leadership, ambition, and military brilliance.