LXXIII. Mission of the Seventy (Mt 8:19-22; Lk 9:51-10:24)
It was November, A.D. 29, and it came to pass that the point
in time where he should be taken and received up was to soon be completed
[the passion of the Christ]; and he steadfastly set his face in anticipation
of this to go into Jerusalem; and he sent forth messengers in advance
of his personal presence: and going on their way they came and entered
into a village of Samaritans in order to make ready and prepare for him.
But they hospitably entertained and received him not, because his sights
were set on going into Jerusalem. So seeing this, his disciples James
and John said, "Lord, are you willing that we might bid or call fire to
come down or fall from heaven for to consume them, even as Elijah effected?"
But wheeling about he reproved, rebuked or censured them, saying, "You
know not of what kind, sort or manner of spirit or nature you are of;
for the Son of Man came not to utterly destroy the souls of men, but to
save or preserve them safe and unharmed." And they passed on their way
into another village.
And it came to pass - he traveling with them on the way -
that one scribe drawing near unto him said, "Teacher, I will follow
you as a disciple wheresoever you may go, Lord." And Jesus said unto
him, "The foxes are keeping dens, and the birds of the air, roosts;
but the Son of Man has no place where he can lay down his head and rest."
[In volunteering for discipleship, count or consider the cost of following
Jesus - self-sacrificial itinerancy with resultant discomfort can be
involved.]
And he said unto another of the disciples, "You! Imitate and
follow me as a disciple." But the disciple said unto him, "Lord, permit
or allow me to be going away first for to inter my father." But Jesus
said unto him, "You follow me, and leave those who are themselves dead
and without life to bury the dead, and going forth, publish abroad the
kingdom of God." [When God calls you into service after your spiritual
birth, immediate obedience to that call takes precedence over all else.
Even as Matthew abandoned his tax booth, and Andrew, Peter, James and
John abandoned their fathers, boats and nets, do not concern yourself
with unfinished temporal business; for the world and its concerns will
go on without you, as it has always done prior to your entrance into it.
The ever present ostensibly urgent, and perceived temporal duties and
obligations, must never be allowed to come before or supplant the real
and truly important things of eternal consequence.]
And another said also, "I will imitate and follow you, Lord:
but first permit or allow me to take leave and bid farewell to those
in my house." But Jesus said unto him, "No one laying his hand upon,
or applying his hand to, a plow, while aiming for reference at those furrows
which are behind him, is rightly disposed with a view to, or properly fit
for the use and service of the kingdom of God." [The good farmer when plowing
always sets his sights on a mark ahead of him on the opposite end of the
field - the goal being to properly plow parallel and straight furrows in
cultivating his field. Putting one's family first ahead of Christ indicates
where the heart is. Looking back to where the heart is for reference, will
not properly get the job done, nor be conducive to attaining to the objective.
Having a new heart means one must be looking ahead to a new goal - that
of the kingdom of God.]
And after these things the Lord openly showed or demonstrated
as an example the appointment of seventy other men also, and he sent
them forth in parties of two, ahead of or in advance of his appearance
or personal presence, into every city and place whither he was intending
to go. Then he said for their benefit, "The harvest of the Gospel is
truly plenteous, but the spiritual workmen or labourers are few: therefore,
you all being in want or need, be petitioning the Lord of the harvest
that he might send forth artisans, practitioners, labourers and workmen
out into his harvest of the Gospel.
"You all go now. Behold, I send you all forth as lambs in
the midst of or among wolves. Carry no bag or purse, no sack for provisions,
scrip or wallet, neither anything bound under foot. Also, initiate confidence
in no one on the roadway during your systematic course of pursuit. And
into whichever dwelling you all may enter and present yourself, first
say, "Peace to this house." And if in fact the Son of Peace exists there
in that place [meaning Jesus is accepted and welcome], your peace will
rest upon and abide with it resulting in its participation: but if not
at all, it will deflect or return back again upon you all. But (if it rests
or abides) you stay or lodge in that same house, eating and drinking their
provisions: for the workman or labourer is worthy and deserving of his
due.
"Move not from house to house. And into whichever city you
all may enter, and they should accept and receive you, eat those things
being placed before you; and heal or cure the helpless and sick - ministering
to the afflicted and distressed - rendering service and attending to
those men that are weak and infirm therein - even mentally and spiritually
- and say unto them, "The kingdom of God has come upon, and is drawing
near unto, you [e.g. Messiah has arrived and is approaching]." But into
whichever city you all may enter, and they should accept and receive
you not, going out into its main streets, you say, "Even the dust rising
from your city that is adhering or clinging to us, we are wiping off
of ourselves for your sake, but nevertheless understand this: that the
kingdom of God has come upon, and is drawing near unto you [e.g. Messiah
has arrived and is approaching anyway, and you cannot stop him]." And
I say unto you all, that it will be more tolerable for Sodom in that the
day of judgment than for that city."
Then he said, "Woe unto you Chorazin! Woe unto you Bethsaida!
For if those efficacious instances of manifested miraculous power happening
in you for your benefit, happened in Tyre and Sidon, they would have
already repented and reformed long ago, sitting in a mourning garment
of sackcloth and in ash for their own sake. But nevertheless it will
be more tolerable in Tyre and Sidon in the judgment, than for you. And
you, Capernaum, being elevated and exalted, rising and lifting up aloft
unto the extent of heaven - you will be caused to descend, being brought
or thrust down until you reach the lowest place in the pit of hell. The
one hearing, heeding and obeying you is hearing, heeding and obeying me;
and the one rejecting, contemning and setting you aside, is rejecting,
contemning and setting me aside; and the one rejecting, contemning and
setting me aside is rejecting, contemning and setting aside the One sending
me forth into action."
Some time later, the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord,
even the devils, demons or evil spirits are subjecting themselves unto
us by rendering obedience in your Name." [Both the Received text and
the Alexandrian text have "subject one's self," present middle indicative
third person singular: it should be plural according to the context.]
And Jesus said unto them, "I was viewing, observing or watching Satan falling
out of the air or sky like lightning as it were. Behold, I have given you
the authority, power and prerogative to tread upon serpents and scorpions,
and over all that the enemy or adversary is capable of: and nothing will
in any way hurt, harm or injure you. [This is directed at apostles, and
is in no way to be misconstrued to mean that we are not vulnerable today.]
Nevertheless rejoice not in this: that the spirits are subjecting themselves
and rendering obedience unto you all; but rather rejoice that your names
are written in the heavens."
In that same hour Jesus celebrated in the Spirit and said,
"I praise you and celebrate, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, and
therefore confess agreement; for you withheld and concealed these things
from the intellectual and the sagacious, and disclosed or revealed them
unto quiet, unlearned, simple babes: yes, Father; for in your estimation
such a condition or circumstance was your appointed good pleasure, purpose
and intention." Then he said, "All has been committed, intrusted, delivered,
given and handed over unto me by my Father. And no one is understanding
perfectly who the Son is, save the Father; and who the Father is, save
the Son, and whomsoever the Son may choose, intend, desire to - be pleased,
willing or disposed to - reveal him." And turning aside toward the (twelve)
disciples, he privately said, "Fortunate are the eyes beholding and observing
those things which you are seeing: For I say unto you, that many prophets
and kings wished to be admitted to witness those things which you are
seeing, and saw them not; and to hear those things which you are hearing,
and heard them not."
LXXIV. The Good Samaritan and the Best Dish (Lk 10:25-42)
And behold, after this, a certain teacher and interpreter
of the Mosaic Law stood up, sounding, prooving and trying him, thereby
putting Jesus to the test, saying, "Teacher, what am I to be doing so
that I might acquire, obtain or inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said
unto him, "What is there, that has been written in the Law? What exact
knowledge are you gathering, recognizing or discerning there as you are
reading?" And answering he said, "You will with faithful fidelity love,
value, esteem, delight in, seek the good of, set store upon, and care
for, the Lord your God, with all your heart as the seat of desire, feeling,
impulse and affection, and with all your soul as the seat of religious and
moral sentiment, with all your energy, faculty and ability, and with all
your thought, intellect and understanding; and your neighbor as you would
yourself." And Jesus said unto him, "You have answered rightly and correctly.
Do this and you yourself will live." But the man, desiring or intending
to justify or vindicate himself, said unto Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
And Jesus, catching on to his underhandedness, took the thing up and continued
answering him and said, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem unto
Jericho; and he fell among highway robbers, both stripping him and inflicting
him with blows, who disappeared, leaving him alone, being half dead. And
accidentally, by chance, a certain priest was going down upon that road:
and beholding him, he passed along by without consideration. And likewise,
in a similar manner, a Levite also, approaching near the spot or place,
coming and beholding, passed along by without consideration. [Both text-types
have "I might come" - 1 person singular 2nd aorist subjunctive. By context
it should be "(he) coming" - nominative masculine singular 2nd aorist
participle, as is also "(he) beholding".] But one traveling Samaritan
came upon him, and beholding him, became moved with pity and compassion,
and approaching or coming unto him, pouring olive oil and wine on them,
he bandaged his wounds; and mounting him upon his own beast of burden,
he brought him into a public inn where travelers lodged, and took care
of him. And departing on the next day, taking out two hundreds, he gave
them unto the innkeeper, and said unto him, "Care for him; and whatever
expense you may incur over and above this, upon my return I will repay
you even more." Therefore, which of these three appears to you to have
become neighbor unto the one encountering the robbers?" And he said, "The
one blessing and treating him with the compassionate benefits of kindness
and mercy." Then Jesus said unto him, "You go and do likewise."
And it came to pass that as they proceeded on their way [Both
text-types have "to proceed" - a present infinitive. It should be by
context an aorist indicative - "proceeded".], Jesus also entered into
a certain village: and one woman, Martha by name, received him into
her house and entertained him as a guest. And to her was a sister being
named Mary, who was sitting down by, even at the feet of Jesus, and
was listening to his word. But Martha was being distracted - encumbered
and busied about - concerning much hospitality. And coming near, and
jumping all over him, she scolded, "Lord, aren't you concerned? Don't
you care that my sister abandoned me to serve alone without assistance?
Now then, tell her that she should help me." But answering quietly,
Jesus said unto her, "Martha, Martha. You are too anxious, solicitous,
concerned and preoccupied, and you are stirred up, disquieted and perturbed
- troubling yourself respecting many things: but there exists only one
real and true need or neccessity, and Mary has chosen or selected it for
herself - the generous, profitable and beneficient portion, serving or
dish which will not be removed or taken away from her (the word)." [Churches
are full of busy Christians who ought to give priority to learning the Word
of God so that they can mature in the Faith. Doing does not equate with being;
but if what you are is right, then what you do will be right. As Gideon's
soldiers were whittled down to a few quality men, so, more can be done with
less.]
LXXV. Healing a Man Born Blind (Jn 9:1-41)
And later, moving along from there, Jesus noticed a man blind
since birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, "Rabbi, who missed
the mark, erred or sinned, this one, or his parents, that he should have
been born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this one sinned, nor his parents;
but he is blind so that the works or deeds of God can be made evident,
manifested or displayed through him. It is necessary for me to do or
perform the works or deeds of the One sending or dispatching me while
it is yet day: night is coming when no one is able to work because it is
dark [e.g. day = Christ is here: night = Christ - the light of the world
- will be gone]. While I can be here for the world ["kosmoi" - dative case],
I am a source and dispenser of the light of the world ["kosmou" - genitive
case - e.g. no spiritualizing here. He makes men physically able to see.
He intends to use this blind man as a lesson against the Pharisees as follows]."
Upon saying these things, he spat on the ground, and made clay out of
the saliva, and smeared the clay upon the eyes of the blind one, and
said unto him, "Go! Wash yourself in the pool of Siloam -which is being
translated, "being sent." He departed, therefore, and washed himself,
and came back seeing. Then the neighbors, and those formerly contemplating
him - that he was blind - said, "Is not this one the one that was sitting
and begging alms?" Others said that this is he. And others that he is
like him. He said that "I am." Then they said unto him, "How did it come
to pass that your eyes were opened?" And he said, "An individual, being
called Jesus, prepared clay and anointed my eyes, and told me, "Go to
the pool of Siloam and wash yourself." And going forth and washing myself,
I received my sight." Therefore they said unto him, "Where is he?" He
said, "I don't know for sure."
They scuttled him off - the one that was formerly or previously
blind - unto the Pharisees; for it was a sabbath on the day when Jesus
prepared the clay, and opened his eyes. Then, the Pharisees also
asked him again how he received his sight. And he said unto them,
"He put clay upon my eyes, and I washed myself, and I have the faculty
of sight and do see." Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This man
is not from God, because he is not strictly keeping or observing the sabbath."
Others said, "How is a depraved, sinful, detestable man who deviates from
the true path of virtue able to do convincing, miraculous signs and wonders
of this type, kind or sort?" And a schism arose among them. They said
unto the one that was blind again for their own purposes, "Seeing that
he opened up your eyes, what are you now saying about him?" And he said
that he is a prophet. Therefore the Jews believed nothing about this man
- that he was blind and received his sight - until after they summoned
the parents of him having received sight; and they interrogated them,
saying, "Is this your son, whom that you say was born blind? How then,
is he presently seeing?" His parents answered them and said, "We know
for certain that this is our son, and that he was born blind: but how
he is now seeing, we have no idea; or who opened up his eyes, we have no
idea. He is a mature adult; interrogate him: he will speak for himself."
His parents said these things because they themselves were apprehensively
fearing and dreading censure from the Jews: for the Jews had already agreed
together, coming to a mutual understanding that if anyone should confess
and profess Jesus as Christ, or Messiah, he could be excommunicated, expelled
and excluded out of the synagogue, forfeiting all societal rights and privileges
as a Jew. Because of this his parents said, "He is a man: interrogate him!"
Therefore they called the man who was blind again the second
time, and said unto him, "Give glory to God [a form of swearing]; we
know for sure that this man is a depraved, sinful, detestable sinner who
deviates from the true path of virtue." Then he answered and said, "Whether
he is a depraved, sinful, detestable sinner who deviates from the true
path of virtue, I know not for sure: one thing I do know for sure, that
being once blind, I now have the faculty of sight." And they said unto
him, "What did he do unto you? By what means opened he your eyes?" He
answered them, "I told you all already and you listened not! Why are you
wanting to hear further or again? You all are not wanting to become his
disciples also, are you?" Then they reviled and railed at him, and said,
"You are his disciple, but we are the disciples of Moses. We know for certain
that God has spoken what we presently have through Moses: but this fellow,
we have no idea where he is from." The man answered and said unto them,
"Now in this is amazement - seeing that you have no idea where he is from
- and yet he opened up my eyes; for we absolutely know that God is not
heeding or obeying depraved, detestable, sinful persons: but if any person
is pious, godly, and devout, and a sincere worshipper reverencing God,
who also would do, execute, perform, practice, effect or accomplish his
will and behest, this one he is heeding and obeying. Since the beginning
of time it has never been heard that anybody opened eyes of a man that
has been born blind. If this One were not from God - no - he would have
had ability to do nothing." They answered and said unto him, "You have
been totally birthed in sins, and you are teaching us?" And they forcefully
cast him outside.
Jesus heard that they forcefully cast him outside; and apprehending
him, he said unto him, "Are you mentally persuaded, believing into the
Son of God?" He responded and said, "Who is he, Lord, so that I may
believe into him?" Jesus said unto him, "You too have seen him, and it
is he that is speaking with you." And he said, "Lord, I believe." And
he worshipped him. And Jesus said, "For judgement and the administration
of justice I came into this world, in order that those not having the faculty
of sight may see; and those having the faculty of sight may become blind."
And those of the Pharisees being with him heard these things, and said
unto him, "We are not also blind." Then Jesus said unto them, "If you were
all blind, you would have no guilt or imputation of sin: but now that you
are saying, "We are seeing," consequently your sin remains."
LXXVI. The Right Good Shepherd (Jn 10:1-21)
Then Jesus said, "Most certainly I say unto you, the one not
entering through the gate into the sheep-pen, but climbing in elsewhere
through another way, he is a predacious thief and a rapacious robber.
But the one entering through the gate is shepherd to the sheep. The gatekeeper
opens for this shepherd; and the sheep are hearing, heeding and obeying
his voice - admitting it to mental acceptance: and he is calling to his
own sheep according to name, and is bringing or leading them forth. And
whenever he may bring out his own sheep, he is proceeding, going or moving
in front of them, and the sheep are following him: because they surely
know his voice. And they can not in any way follow a stranger, but will
stand fearfully aloof and flee from him: for they do not recognize the
voice of strangers." Jesus spoke this figurative discourse, similitude or
parable unto them: but they did not perceive, understand or discern the
things of consequence which were spoken unto them. [God is the gatekeeper
and Jesus is the gate. The shepherd is any pastor who is in Christ. The
thieves and robbers are Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians.] [Both text-types
have the nominative plural neuter interrogative "what", but the context
demands the accusative plural neuter indefinite "things of consequence."
There were no accents or aspirations when the Greek was originally in uncial
form. These were applied later.]
Jesus therefore said unto them again, "Most certainly I say
unto you that I am the Gate - the Medium or Means of entrance - for
the sheep. All as much as have come ahead of or prior to me, or above
or before me in preference, are thieves by imposture and robbers by imposture
(e.g. I am the true Messiah in contradistinction to all others): but
the sheep listened not to them nor payed them any heed. I am the Gate
- the Medium or Means of entrance. If any one should enter in through
me, they will be saved and preserved, and will go in, and will come out,
and will light upon, obtain, find or discover pasturage. The thief is
not coming except that he might steal or pillage, and might kill or slay,
and might utterly destroy or neutralize. I came so that they might have,
retain or be furnished with spiritual life - deliverance from the proper
penalty of sin - and that they may have it in full abundance."
"I am the true, right and proper Shepherd. The true, right
and proper Shepherd is laying down his soul life over, for, in behalf
of, or in place of the sheep. For the hireling, not even being a shepherd,
whose own the sheep are not, is beholding the wolf coming, and is giving
up, leaving, forsaking and abandoning the sheep, and is shrinking back,
taking flight and escaping, and the wolf is seizing them, and scattering
and dispersing the sheep: For the hireling is shrinking back, taking
flight and escaping because he is merely an employee with no vested interest
in the flock, and the welfare of the sheep is of no concern to him. I am
the true, right and proper Shepherd, and I intimately know the sheep that
are mine, and I am known intuitively by the sheep that are mine, even as
the Father is intimately knowing me, and I also intuitively know the Father;
and I lay down my soul life over, for, in behalf of, or in place of the
sheep. And I have other sheep, which are not of this pen (the Gentiles).
It is my right and prerogative to lead them also; and they will hear and
heed my voice; and they will all become one flock of disciples under one
Shepherd. The Father loves me for this reason: because I lay down my soul
life, in order that I might take the same, or that very thing, up again.
No one is taking my soul life away from me, but I lay my soul life down
by myself. I have the ability, power, authority and prerogative to lay
my soul life down, and I have the ability, power, authority and prerogative
to take my soul life up again. This directive I received from my Father."
Therefore a schism occurred among the Jews again because of
these words. And many of them said, "He has a demon or evil spirit,
and is mentally ill, mad or crazy! Why are you listening to him?" Others
said, "These are not the words of one being possessed, afflicted or vexed
by a demon or evil spirit. A demon is not able to open up blind eyes."
LXXVII. Christ at the Feast of Dedication (Jn 10:22-42)
Now at that time the annual eight day feast of dedication
took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter; and Jesus was walking in
the temple - in the porch of Solomon. Therefore the Jews surrounded
him, and put forth unto him, "How long are you going to be keeping us
in suspense? If you are the Christ or Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus
answered them, "I have told you already, and you are not believing. The
works which I am doing in the Name of my Father, these are evidentially
testifying or bearing testimony concerning me. But you are not believing,
for you all are not of my sheep. As I have already told you, my sheep
are hearing, heeding and obeying my voice - admitting it to mental acceptance
- and I know them intimately, and they are following me: and I give eternal
life unto them; and living on into the extent of eternity they shall never
perish; and no one will snatch them away by force out of my hand. My Father,
who has given them unto me in eternity past with the present result that
they are now mine, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them
away by force out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are, existing as
One." [This does not apply to those who choose to jump out of his hand
- known to be doing so from eternity past by divine omniscience. God honors
free volition, and brings them through the same processes as all believers
in fairness to all, until they choose to fall away in unbelief. See the
Parable of the Sower, and John 15:6. See also: "The Doctrine of Falling
Away:" Appendix "C"] Therefore the Jews again picked up stones in order
that they might pelt and kill him with them. And Jesus responded to them,
"I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which work of these
are you all going to stone me?" The Jews answered him, saying, "We are
not stoning you over any good work, but over blasphemy; and because that
you, being a mere man, are making God of yourself." Jesus responded to them,
"Is it not so, having been written in your Law (the Torah), "I said you
are all being gods or deities [from the Hebrew idiom applied to potentates]?"
Since he (God) called them gods or dieties with whom the Word of God originated
- and the scripture is not to be broken - are you saying of him, whom
the Father has consecrated, sanctified, regarded as holy, and sent forth
into the world, "You are blaspheming," because I said, "I am Son of God?"
If I am not doing the works of my Father, be not believing me. But
since I am doing them, although you may not believe me, believe because
of, or for the sake of, the works, so that you may know, understand and
believe that the Father is in me, and I in him." Then they were desiring
to seize him again: but he escaped out of their hand.
And he passed on again on the other side of the Jordan into
the place where John was at first baptizing, and he stayed there. And
many came unto him; and they said that John indeed did or performed
not one sign, but that all things whatsoever John said about this One
were true; and many believed into him there.
LXXVIII. A Discourse on Prayer, and More against the Pharisees (Lk
11:1-54)
And it came to pass, Jesus being in a certain place offering
prayer, as he caused himself to pause or cease, one of his disciples
said unto him, "Lord, you teach us to pray, even as John also taught
his disciples." And he said unto them, "Whenever you all may pray, you
all say: "Our Father, who occupies unto the heavens [omnipresence]: Let
your Name be regarded and reverenced as holy (consecrated - set apart
from that which is common or profane). Let your kingdom come [the Holy Spirit].
Let your will, purpose and design be kept or done, as for in heaven, even
so upon the earth. Supply to us every day sufficient daily bread, maintenance
and necessities of life. And relent, pass over and forgive us our sin and
offense; for we ourselves are also relenting, passing over and forgiving
all owing or indebted to us. And please lead us not into testing, trial,
calamity or affliction, but rescue us from evil, bad, wrong and wickedness.""
And he said unto them, "Which of you will have at hand a friend,
and will go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, "Friend, lend me
three loaves, because a friend of mine has arrived from a journey unto
me, and I have nothing I can set before him." And answering, he within
might say, "Do not be a cause of bother to me: the door is closed, having
been already shut, and my children are with me in bed. I am not able to
be getting up to give unto you." I say unto you, even though he will not
be getting up to give unto him because of being his friend, at the very
least because of his inordinately urgent and persistent petitioning (importunate
solicitation), or resolute, tenacious, stubborn adherence to persistence
(pertinacious importunity), being aroused and awakened, he will give
him as much as he is needing. And I say unto all of you, ask repeatedly,
and it (what you ask) will be given you; seek continually, and you will
find; knock persistently, and it (the door) will be opened unto you.
For each one repeatedly asking is receiving; and the one continually
seeking is finding; and for the one persistently knocking, it (the door)
will be opened. And of which father of you all will his son ask for a loaf?
He will not give to him a stone. And if a fish? He will not give to him
a snake in place of a fish. Or if he should ask for an egg also? He will
not give to him a scorpion. If all of you then, being evil, know for sure
how to give proper gifts to your children, how much more will the Father
of heaven give the Holy Spirit unto those asking him?"
One day Jesus was casting out a demon which was causing dumbness.
And it came to pass that when the demon was exiting, the dumb-mute conversed,
and the multitudes marvelled. But some of them said, "He is casting
out the demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons." And others, mischievously
putting him to the test, were seeking, requiring and demanding from
him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them,
"Every kingdom being in a state of dissension against itself is being
brought to ruin; and a family or household (dissenting) against the same
family or household is falling in ruins. And also, since you are saying
that I am to cast out the demons by Beelzebub, if Satan has been divided
against himself, how will his kingdom be set or firm? And if I cast out
the demons by Beelzebub, by whom are your sons casting them out? On account
of this they shall be judges of you. But if the demons are cast out by
the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has overtaken and come upon
you. Whenever the strong, being fully armed, may guard or defend his home,
his possessions are in tranquillity, safe or at rest: but as soon as one
stronger than himself, attacking, shall overcome and subdue him, he (the
attacker) takes away his armor upon which he had relied and trusted, and
is dividing or distributing his booty, plunder or spoil. The one being
not with me is against me; and the one not collecting or gathering together
with me is dissipating or scattering.
"Whenever the lewd, foul, impure or unclean spirit happens
to depart away from a man due to riddance, it travels over land, wandering
about through dry, barren, desert areas seeking after a place to inhabit,
stay or live; and locating and acquiring none, it then says, "I will
turn back and return unto the use of my dwelling from whence I came
out." And coming it discovers the man again, having been swept clean
and adorned and set in order. Then it proceeds and takes along together
with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and forcefully
breaking in and entering the man they dwell there in that abode; and
the results for that man become progressively worse or more severe than
his original state."
And it occurred, while he went to speak on these same things,
a certain woman out of the multitude, raising her voice said unto him,
"Blessed is the womb bearing you, and the breasts which nursed you!"
But he said, "Yea rather, blessed are they hearing the Word of God, and
observing it."
And when the multitudes were gathering together, collecting
and pressing close in upon him, he began to say regarding himself,
"This generation is an evil, wicked, malignant, afflictive, impious
generation, anxiously searching for, carefully seeking after, endeavouring
to obtain an assuring token, evidential sign or convincing proof. None
will be given unto it but for the assuring, convincing, evidential sign,
token, or proof of Jonah the prophet; for inasmuch as Jonah became an
assuring, convincing, evidential token, proof or sign unto the Ninevites,
so thus, in this way, will also the Son of Man be unto this generation.
The southern queen will be raised up from the dead with the men of this
generation during the judgement, and will show them guilty by her presence:
for she came from the farthest end or extremity of the earth to hear
the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a more greater than Solomon is here
in this place. Men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgement with this generation,
and will show them guilty by their presence: for they repented, making
changes in principle and practice in accordance with the public inculcation,
proclamation and preaching of Jonah; and behold, a more greater than Jonah
is here in this place.
"Now no one lighting a lamp is placing it with a view towards
concealment, not even under the corn measure, but upon the lampstand,
so that those entering in may see the light. The lamp of your body
is the eye. Therefore, when your eye may be functional, operating and
dedicated, your whole body is illuminated and enlightened also; but
whenever it may be fouled, inoperative and evil, your body is darkling
and dark also. Use diligence, watch, and take care, then, that the light
in you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is illuminated
and enlightened, not having any part or portion darkling and dark, it
will be completely illuminated and enlightened, like as when the brightness
of the lamp may give off light to shine upon you." [What you look to
always has an internal influence on your soul, and you become what you
look after. Be diligent in guarding what you take in via the eyegate.]
Now as he went to speak on, a certain Pharisee began asking
that Jesus might take lunch with him; and entering in he reclined back
to eat. And the Pharisee, observing, was astonished that he had not first
been washed before the meal. But the Lord said unto him, "Now all you Pharisees
are cleansing to purify the exterior of the cup and the plate; but your
interior is full of rapacity and corruption. You idiots! Does not the
One making the exterior make the interior also? Nevertheless, you are
to distribute alms of those things which are within, and behold, all
is cermonially clean unto you.
"However, woe unto you Pharisees; for you are giving tithes
of the garden mint and the rue and every garden herb and vegetable,
and are passing over, disregarding and neglecting the equitable justice
and devoted loving care of God: these you ought to have been doing, not
forsaking and dismissing those also. Woe unto you Pharisees; for you
are loving, esteeming, valuing and delighting in the chief, highest and
most honorable seats in the synagogues, and the salutations and greetings
in the public concourses, forums and marketplaces. Woe unto you, scribes
and Pharisees: hypocrites! For you are as the indistinct, inapparent,
concealed, hidden, unmarked graves; and the people above walking over
them know it not."
"And one of the interpreters and teachers of the law, responding,
said unto him, "Teacher, in saying these things you are outraging us
also." And he said, "Woe unto you lawyers also; for you are loading men
down with burdens of imposed precepts oppressively difficult and grievous
to be borne, and you yourselves are not touching those burdens with even
one of your fingers. Woe unto you; for you are constructing and expanding
the memorial monuments of the prophets, and it was your fathers that killed
them. So, therefore, you are all declaring and consenting with a stamp
of approval to the deeds and actions of your fathers: for they indeed
killed them, and you are the ones constructing and expanding their memorial
monuments. And on account of this the wisdom of God has said: "I will
send forth unto them prophets and apostles; and these they will vex, harass,
persecute and kill, in order that the blood being shed from all of the
prophets, beginning from the foundation of the world, may be required,
demanded or exacted from this generation; from the bloodshed of Abel even
unto the bloodshed of Zachariah, himself perishing between the altar of
burnt offering and the seat. Yes, I say unto you, it will be required, exacted
and demanded from this generation. Woe unto you lawyers; for you all took
away the key for entrance into knowledge, you yourselves entered not
in, and those (who would be) entering in you hindered or prevented." And
while he was speaking these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees
began to be vehemently exasperated, and commenced to lead him on to speak
without premeditation concerning more things, lying in ambush, endeavouring
to catch unguarded words, and seeking to seize upon something from out
of his mouth so that they might accuse him.