XLII. The Sermon on the Mount - Part II (Mt 6:1-34; Acts 20:35c)
"Take care, guard against, and be aware not to perform your
merciful, compassionate almsgiving or charity before or in front of men
in order to be seen, gazed upon and observed by them. [The motivation of
approbation lust is the issue.] Otherwise, you have not reward from your
Father in the heavens. Therefore, whenever you might be executing and thus
manifesting merciful, compassionate almsgiving, you may not sound a trumpet
before you (to announce it in advance to be noticed), just like as the
hypocritical religious counterfeits are constantly doing in their assemblies
and congregations (synagogues and churches) and in their streets (in public),
in order that they might be magnified (their ego fed) in receiving recognition
from men. In truth I say unto you, they are currently enjoying the reward
they seek in full. But you, in practicing merciful, compassionate almsgiving
or charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
in order that your compassionate kindnesses and mercies may remain in the
realm of secrecy, being hidden or concealed, and your Father, seeing in
the realm of secrecy, will himself recompense or repay you in the realm
of openness (publicly).
"And whenever you may be offering prayer, you shall not be
just like as the hypocritical religious counterfeits, because they are
wont, accustomed, prone or inclined to offer prayer, standing in their
assemblies and congregations (synagogues and churches), and on the projecting
corners of their broad streets (in public), hoping that they might show
or be visible to the people. [Approbation lust.] In truth, I say unto
you that they are currently enjoying the reward they seek in full. But
you, whenever you may be offering prayer, enter into your private bedroom,
car, closet, chamber, place, and shutting your door, pray to your Father
in the realm of secrecy; and your Father, seeing in the realm of secrecy,
will himself recompense or repay you in the realm of openness (publicly).
"Also, when praying, you may not babble, using vain repetition
[e.g. the Rosary, our Father, and hail Mary], just like as the heathen;
for they think, imagine, suppose, presume that in their loquaciousness
or volume of words their petition will be accepted. Therefore, do not
be like them; for your Father knows absolutely what things you need,
require, or want, before you have to ask him.
"So then, you be praying: "Our Father in the heavens: Your
Name be consecrated, sanctified and reverenced as holy. Your kingdom
come. Your will, purpose, design and sovereign pleasure be done, fulfilled
and satisfied, like as in heaven, so also over the inhabitants of the
earth. Give to us this day sufficient daily bread, necessaries of life,
and maintenance for the coming day. And pardon, pass over and forgive
us our delinquencies, offenses, faults and sins, as we are also pardoning,
overlooking and forgiving delinquents, offenders, and those who fail
us in duty. And please lead us not into trial, testing, calamity and affliction,
but save, deliver, rescue, and drag us out of bad, wrong, and evil; Because
the kingdom, and the power, and the glory is yours unto the ages. Amen
(so be it)." Therefore, if you pass over, pardon and forgive people their
trespasses, faults, offences, transgressions and ineptitudes, your heavenly
Father will pass over, pardon and forgive you also. But if you do not
pass over, pardon and forgive men their trespasses, faults, offences,
transgressions and ineptitudes, neither will your Father pass over, pardon
and forgive your tresspasses, faults, offences, transgressions and ineptitudes.
[Your repentance, confession to God, forgiving, and pardoning is necessary
for restoration. 1st John 1:9]
"And whenever you may be fasting, do not assume that character
and appearance - a stern, morose, sour, gloomy, and dejected countenance
- like as the hypocritical religious counterfeits; for they are deforming
and disfiguring their faces so as that they might show or be visible to
the people to be fasting. [Approbation lust.] In truth, I say unto you
that they are currently enjoying the reward they seek in full. But when
you are fasting, groom your head, and wash your face, so as not to appear
to people to be fasting, but to your Father in the realm of secrecy; and
your Father seeing in the realm of secrecy, will recompense or repay you
in the realm of openness (publicly).
"Do not be amassing, collecting or gathering up treasures for
yourself upon the earth, where moth and corrosion are consuming, and where
thieves are breaking in and stealing. But be laying up or storing precious
deposits for yourself in heaven [by maturing in The Faith, being obedient,
doing righteousness, doing good deeds, and investing in souls], where neither
moth nor corrosion are consuming, and where thieves are not breaking
in nor stealing; for where your treasury is, there will your heart be
also. Also it is better, more enjoyable, and profitable to give, bestow
or supply as a resource than to continually receive.
"The intellectually perceptive eye is the light or enlightenment
of the body or person. If then your intellectually perceptive eye is
dedicated and functional (single as in uncompounded by duplicity, and
sound as in being used for the virtuous purpose of beholding and pursuing
good), your entire body or person will become light (a witness or testimony),
and illumuinated (knowledgeable), and enlightened (spiritually mature).
But if your intellectually perceptive eye is evil and dysfunctional (bad
as in malignant, and unsound as in being used for the wrongful, impious
purpose of beholding and pursuing evil), your entire body or person
will become dark (spiritually destitute and ignorant, dismal, obscure,
menacing, wicked, evil and thus futile, useless and worthless). If then
the light, illumination or enlightenment in you is becoming moral and
spiritual darkness, how great that darkness is! [You become what you
look to and inculcate yourself with; and the nature that you feed becomes
the strongest. Sow to those things pertaining to the Spirit and reap capacity
for life and fellowship with God; sow to the carnal nature and reap miserable
corruption and temporal separation from God: Romans chapter 8.]
"No one is able to be occupied in the service of two lords;
for either he will care less for the first one, and be devoted to the
other; or he will exercise a zealous care for the first one, and the other
he will slight or neglect. You are not able to be occupied in the service
of both God, and money for self.
"With a view to this I say unto you, do not be concerned for
your life, what you might eat, and what you might drink, nor for your
body, what you might put on. Is not living more than its maintenance,
and the body more than a garment? Look attentively to the birds of the
air, for they are not sowing, nor are they reaping, and they are not collecting
substance into a storehouse, yet your heavenly Father is providing for
them all. Are you not highly superior to them? But who among you expending
careful thought by worrying and obsessing is presently able to adjoin
or add onto the duration of his life one span of time? And concerning
clothing: why are you anxious and worrying? Contemplate, thoroughly
observe, diligently learn, and consider accurately the lilies of the
cultivated field, how they are growing: they are not spent, fainting
or wearied with toil or labor, nor are they spinning cloth (for garments).
But I say unto you that not even Solomon, in all his glory and majesty,
was clothed as one of these. But if the verdure or lush herbage of the
cultivated field God is so clothing, exists today, and is being put into
an oven tomorrow, are you not much greater in degree, you whose faith is
scant and weak? Therefore try not to be anxious or solicitous or obsessing,
saying, "What can we eat?" or, "What are we going to drink?" or, "What
may we be clothed with?" Because the multitudes are continually seeking
all these with anxiety and concern, and your heavenly Father knows absolutely
everything that you are continually needing and wanting. But first, before
all other things, be seeking and striving for the Kingdom of God [Jesus:
the kingdom is where the King is.], and his Righteousness [Jesus is our
righteousness - investiture with the attribute of imputed virtue, integrity
and rectitude that is set to the account of those trusting into Jesus],
and all those things (food, drink, clothes) shall be adjoined, added
or supplied unto you. Therefore try not to be anxious or solicitous or
obsessing, anticipating the next day; for the next day will have its
own anxieties and concerns. Sufficient from dawn to dawn is it's own
trouble, calamity and evil."
XLIII. The Sermon on the Mount - Part III (Mt 7:1-29)
"Do not assume censorial power over, call to account, or judge
others, so that you may not be yourselves criticized, called to account,
or judged; for with whatever judgment, award or sentence you presume
to judge, criticise or call to account, you will be judged, criticized
and accounted; and with whatever standard or measure you mete out, deal
out, or utilize, it will be measured, dealt out to, or used on you in
return. All, then, whatsoever you may be desiring that people might always
be doing to you, so also you be constantly doing to them. For this is
the meaning and thrust of the Law (Torah) and the (Old Testament) Prophets.
[Jesus' audience, as well as himself, was still under the dispensation of
Jewish Law at that time.] Also, why are you always observing the sliver,
as it were, in the eye of your brother, but are not discerning and discovering
the plank, as it were, in your own eye? Or how shall you say to your
brother, "Permit, let or allow me to extract the sliver from your eye?"
And behold! The plank is in your own eye! You moral religious hypocrite!
First remove the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly
to remove the sliver out of the eye of your brother.
"You may not give that which is hallowed, sacred, sanctified,
consecrated and ceremonially pure to dogs (those who are miscreants),
nor may you throw your pearls (that which you highly value such as truth
or wisdom) before boars (those who are as wild unclean animals), lest perchance
they trample them down under with their feet (spurn them without appreciation),
and turning back around they might bite, tear or lacerate you (make
you pay for your indiscretion).
"Be continually asking, and what you ask will certainly be
supplied, delivered, granted or given unto you; be continually seeking,
and you will certainly discover, meet and find (even mentally and experientially);
be continually knocking, and the door will be opened unto you. [Persistence
is key.] For each one continually asking, keeps on receiving; and he
continually seeking, keeps on finding; and to the one continually knocking,
the door will be opened. Or who out of you being a man, which if his
son should ask of him a loaf of bread: will he give into his hands a stone?
Certainly not! And if he should ask for a fish: will he give into his
hands a serpent? Certainly not ! If you, then, being evil, absolutely
know now how to give good, proper, beneficient gifts to your children,
how much more certainly will your Father in the heavens give good, proper,
beneficient things to those who are asking him!
"Enter or come in through the place or medium of the straight
and narrow gate (faithing or trusting into Jesus), seeing that wide is
the gate and broad is the way or road conducting into ruin or perdition
(trusting in yourself and in your works), and many are those going and
entering in through it. For straight and narrow is the gate (Jesus), and
compressed, narrow and bigoted is the way or road (the true Gospel) conducting
into spiritual life (deliverance from the penalty of sin), and few are
those finding and landing upon it.
"Now beware of and take heed, guarding against the false prophets
[those who falsely claim to speak by divine inspiration, foretelling the
future, or teaching strange doctrine], who are coming to you, particularly
in sheep's clothing (in order to deceive for self interests); but within
themselves they are wildly ravenous persons, like wolves in character.
You will certainly discern and detect them by deriving knowledge from
the observation of their fruits [habitual conduct and actions]. Clusters
of grapes are not being gathered forth, derived or originating from thorn
bushes, neither are figs derived or originating from thistles. So every
good, beneficient tree (or person) continually bears, yields and produces
select, choice, excellent and goodly fruits [habitual and observably good
conduct and actions as in Galatians 5:22-23; all nine fruits are concurrently
evident when one is controlled by the Holy Spirit], but the bad, corrupt
tree (or person) continually bears, yields and produces evil, bad and
unsound fruits [habitual and observably bad conduct and actions]. A good,
beneficient tree (or person) is not intrinsically and absolutely able
to be characteristically producing, bearing, yielding evil, bad and unsound
fruits [evil conduct and actions]; nor a corrupt tree (or person) to be
characteristically producing, bearing, yielding select, choice, excellent
and goodly fruits [consistently good conduct and actions]. Every tree (or
person) not characteristically producing, bearing, yielding select, choice,
excellent and goodly fruits is being cut off, removed, and thrown into
fire [John the Baptist said "And even now the axe is already laid at the
root of the trees. Therefore every tree not producing good fruit will be
hewn down, and cast into fire"]. Surely, then, you will certainly discern
and detect them (false prophets) by deriving knowledge from the observation
of their fruits [habitual conduct and actions].
"Not all of those saying unto me, "Lord, Lord," will enter
into the kingdom of the heavens [e.g. will be saved], only those continually
doing and persevering in the will, purpose, design of my father in the
heavens [e.g. faithing or trusting into his Son]. Masses will say unto
me in that my day, "Lord, Lord, did we not exercise the functions of
spokesman, interpreter and prophet in your Name, and cast out evil spirits
or demons in your Name?" and, "We made, did, effected, caused to take
place and brought to pass many mighty accomplishments and results in your
Name!" And then at that time I will openly and solemnly declare and avouch
unto them, "Depart and go away from me, you who are actively trafficking
in sin and iniquity; for I do not acknowledge you. [They are sinners who
faith or trust in their works rather than in Christ for righteousness and
salvation. Their language betrays their affiliation. Having believed the
lies of Satan concerning or regarding salvation, they in essence matriculated
with the Devil]"
"Now then, everyone, whosoever is listening, hearing and heeding
these my words, and is doing, executing, keeping, observing, fulfilling
and obeying them [alluding back to the statement of Matthew 5: 19],
I will compare, likening him to a prudent man who built his house upon
the bedrock. And the rain fell down, and the floods came, and the winds
blew and rushed violently upon and beat against that house; yet it fell
not; for its foundation had been laid upon bedrock. And everyone listening
and hearing these my words, and not heeding, doing, executing, keeping,
observing, fulfilling and obeying them, will be likened and compared to
a foolish man or moron who built his house upon the sand; And the rain
fell down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and dashed against and
beat upon that house; and it fell in ruins, and great was its collapse."
And it happened that, when Jesus had finished these words,
the multitudes were astonished at his teaching: For he taught them as
having authority, and not as their scribes.
XLIV. Healing the Centurian's Servant (Mt 8:1, 5-13; Lk 7:1-10)
After he had ended all his sayings in the ears of the people,
he came down from the mountain, and great multitudes followed after him
as he entered into Capernaum. And when he was entered into Capernaum,
there was a certain centurian's servant, who was precious, honourable and
dear unto him, sick, and at the point of death. And when the centurion
heard concerning Jesus, he sent unto him elders of the Jews, asking him
that he would save his bondservant. And they, when they came to Jesus, besought
him earnestly saying, "He is worthy that you should do this for him: for
he loves our nation, and he himself built us our synagogue." And so Jesus
went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurian
came out unto him with some friends, beseeching and saying unto him, "Lord,
my servant lies in the house sick with convulsions, and is grievously tormented."
And Jesus said unto him, "I will come and heal him." Then the centurian
answered and said, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that
you should come under my roof, neither thought I myself worthy to come out
unto you; but only say a word, and my servant shall be healed; for I also
am a man set under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say unto
this one, "Go," and he goes; and to another, "Come," and he comes; and to
my servant, "Do this," and he does it." And when Jesus heard these things,
he marvelled at him, and turned and said to the multitude that followed
him, "Truly I say unto you, I have not encountered such great faith in Israel.
And I say unto you, that many will come from east and west (and north and
south - e.g. foreigners), and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
in the kingdom of the heavens: but the sons of the kingdom (unbelieving,
religious, Israelitish persons) will be dismissed, expelled and cast out
into the realm of outer or external gloomy darkness: there shall be weeping
and the gnashing of teeth." And Jesus said unto the centurian, his friends,
and those he had sent, "Go your way! According as you have believed, so
be it unto you." And the bondservant was healed in that hour, and they that
came to Jesus, returning to the house, found the bondservant whole.
XLV. Raising the Widow's Son (Lk 7:11-17)
Now it came to pass on the next day that Jesus went to a city
called Nain. His disiples went with him, and also a great multitude. And
when he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, there was carried out
one that was dead, the only son of his mother. She was a widow: and many
people of the city were with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion
on her, and said unto her, "Stop crying." Then he came near and touched
the beir: and the bearers stood still. And he then said, "Young man, I
say unto you, Arise." And he that was dead sat up and began to speak. And
he then gave him to his mother. Fear took hold on all: and they recognized
God saying, "A great prophet is arisen among us," and, "God has visited
his people," and this report went forth concerning him in the whole of Judaea,
and all the region round about, and the disciples of John the Baptist
told him of all these things.
XLVI. Incarcerated, John the Baptist Begins to Have Doubts (Mt 11:2-30;
Lk 7:18-35)
Now when John heard in prison of the works of Christ, he called
unto himself two of his disciples, and sent by them to the Lord to ask
of him, "Are you the One that is to come, or may we expect another?" And
when the men were come unto Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist has sent
us unto you, asking, "Are you the One that is to come, or may we expect
another?"" During that time Jesus cured many of the people's diseases,
scourges and plagues, and he expelled evil spirits; and upon many who were
blind he bestowed sight. And Jesus answered the disciples and said unto
them, "Go your way, and relate to John the things which you have seen and
heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk about, the lepers are
cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor are evangelized.
Fortunate he is whoever may not be affected with scruples or repugnance towards
me with regard to my claims and pretensions."
And when these messengers of John departed and went their way,
Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, "What did you
go out into the wilderness to see, a reed being shaken by the wind? But
what did you go out for to see, a man dressed in soft garments? Behold,
those that wear soft splendid apparel, and live in luxury, are in the courts
and houses of kings! But what did you go out to see, a prophet? Yes, I say
unto you: even one more excellent than a prophet! For this is he about whom
it has been written, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who
shall prepare your way before you." For truly I say unto you, among those
born of women there has not arisen any greater than John the Baptist: yet
the one that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he [cf. Matthew
5:19]. All of the people and publicans who heard John, avouched God to
be both good and true by being baptised with John's baptism; but the Pharisees
and lawyers set aside and rejected the counsel of God regarding themselves
by refusing his baptism. And from the days of John the Baptist until
now the kingdom of the heavens remains the object of an impetuous movement,
and all of those who are forceful in eager pursuit, avidly and eagerly
seize upon and appropriate it. For all the (Old Testament) Prophets
and the (Jewish) Law prophesied up until John; and if you are willing
to receive it, he (John the Baptist) is Elijah, the one who according
to scripture was about to come. [See Malachai 4: 5-6 where Elijah is the
last sign mentioned in the Old Testament; and that prophecy was followed
by 400 years of silence from heaven.] He that has ears to hear, let him
hear [e.g. note that this is important].
"But to what shall I compare the men of this generation? To
what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the marketplaces,
calling unto one another, even their playmates, saying, "We piped unto
you, and you did not dance; we mourned unto you, and you wept and wailed
not." For John the Baptist has come, neither eating bread nor drinking
wine, and they say, "He has a demon." The Son of Man has come eating
and drinking, and they say, "Behold, a gluttonous man and a wine drinker
- a friend of tax collectors and sinners!" But wisdom has received vindication
derived from her children." [Expended efforts and attempted communications
are broken down exercises in futility to this settled, inactive, unwise,
self-righteous, critical and cynical generation; for unjaded, perceptive
children normally and naturally get up and affirmatively respond in kind
to one another's call. The faith of a child is trusting and simple - thus
we have Jesus' call that we must become like little children if we want
to enter the kingdom of heaven. Those who wisely and properly respond
to God's call avouch wisdom to be a true and good thing by their simple,
child-like responses of acceptance and obedience.]
Then Jesus began to upbraid and reproach the cities wherein
his most powerful deeds had occurred because they repented not: "Woe unto
you Chorazin! Woe unto you Bethsaida! For if the powerful deeds happening
in you had occurred in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago
in sackcloth and ashes. Nevertheless I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable
for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgement, than for you. And, Capernaum,
who has been exalted even to heaven: you shall be brought down to the
pits! For if the powerful deeds happening in you, occurred in Sodom, it
would have remained until this day. Nevertheless I say unto you, that it
shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgement,
than for you."
At that same time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and avowed
saying, "I celebrate you, O Father, Lord of the heaven and the earth,
that you concealed these things from the educated and sagacious, and revealed
them to the simple and babes. Yes, Father, for in your sight and estimation
this way is your good pleasure, purpose and intention." Then he said
to them, "All has been committed and entrusted to me by my Father. And
no one is arriving or attaining to a knowledge of who the Son is through
the observation of preliminaries except the Father; nor is anyone arriving
or attaining to a knowledge of who the Father is through the observation
of preliminaries except the Son, and unto whomsoever the Son may be desiring
and intending to reveal him.
"Come unto me all those of you being spent, fainting and wearied
with labor and that have been heavily burdened, and I will soothingly
and refreshingly cause you to rest. Take up and bear my yoke of service
and obligation upon you (e.g. willingly submit to pulling together in
the same harness, working for a common purpose) and be taught and learn
from me (deriving applicable experiential knowledge); for I am meek, gentle,
kind, forgiving and modest, humble in heart (e.g. in the core of my being):
and you shall find, land upon, discover, acquire, gain and realize rest
or pause unto your souls (as the seat of moral and religious sentiments).
For my yoke of service and obligation is easy, pleasant, benign and agreeable,
and my burden (of imposed precepts) is light with regard to its weight."