Part 3
XXXIV. Matthew is Called (Mt 9:9-13; Mk 2:13-17; Lk
5:27-32)
XXXV. Question on Fasting (Mt 9:14-17; Mk 2:18-22; Lk
5:33-39)
XXXVI. Incident at the Pool Called Bethesda (Jn 5:1-47)
XXXVII. Eating Corn on the Sabbath (Mt 12:1-8; Mk 2:23-28;
Lk 6:1-5)
XXXVIII. Man with a Withered Hand (Mt 12:9-14; Mk
3:1-6; Lk 6:6-11)
Second Period of Galilean Ministry
XXXIX. The Second Tour (Mt 4:23-25, 12:15-21; Mk 3:7-12)
XL. The Choosing of the Twelve (Mt 10:2-4; Mk 3:13-19;
Lk 6:12-19)
XLI. The Sermon on the Mount - Part I (Mt 5:1-48; Lk 6:20a)
XXXIV. Matthew is Called (Mt 9:9-13; Mk 2:13-17; Lk 5:27-32)
And after these things Jesus went forth again by the side of
the sea; and all the multitudes came unto him and he taught them. Then
as he passed by from there, he saw and beheld a man who was called Matthew
- a tax collector sir-named Levi, the son of Alphaeus - sitting at the
tolling place. And he said unto him, "Follow me." And immediately he
arose, forsook all, and followed him. And Levi made Jesus a great feast
in his house. And it came to pass that as Jesus reclined to eat in the
house, behold, there was a great multitude of tax collectors, sinners and
others that also came and reclined to eat with Jesus and his disciples;
for there were many, and they all followed him. And when the Pharisees and
scribes among them saw that he was eating with the tax collectors and sinners,
they murmered amongst themselves and against him and his disciples and said
unto them, "He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners! Why do you
and your Master eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" And when
Jesus heard it, looking, he said unto them, "Those that are sound, strong
and healthy have no need of a healer or physician, only those that are sick
with illness. But go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, and not
sacrifice." For I have not come to call the "righteous," but sinners unto
repentance."
XXXV. Question on Fasting (Mt 9:14-17; Mk 2:18-22; Lk 5:33-39)
And at that time the disciples of John the Baptist and the
Pharisees happened to be fasting: so some came and said unto him, "The
disciples of John fast often, and make supplications; likewise also those
of the Pharisees; but your disciples fast not. They eat and drink!" And
Jesus said unto them, "Can you make the sons of the bridechamber fast and
mourn while the bridegroom (Christ) is with them? As long as they have
the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when
the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast
in those days." And he also spoke some parables unto them: "No one sews
an unshrunk patch of cloth on an old garment, lest the patch shrink and
pull away, and a worse tear occurs. No man tears a piece from a new garment
and sews it upon an old garment; otherwise, he ruins the new one, and the
piece from the new one will not match with the old one. And no man puts
fresh wine into old wine-skins; because the fresh wine will ferment and
burst the skins and spill out - both the wine and the skins will be wasted.
Fresh wine must be put into fresh wine-skins. [You must be born again.]
But no man, having drunk aged wine desires fresh wine: for he says,"The
aged is better.'" [The Jews prefer Old Testament Law.]
XXXVI. Incident at the Pool Called Bethesda (Jn 5:1-47)
After these things was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went
up to Jerusalem. And in Jerusalem by the sheep-gate is a pool having
five colonnades, which in Hebrew is called Bethesda. In the colonnades
were lying a great multitude of the infirm - those who were sick, blind,
lame, and withered - awaiting a moving of the water; for an angel of
the Lord descended at certain times into the pool and agitated the water:
whosoever first stepped in after the agitation of the water was made
whole of whatsoever disease he was gripped with. Now there was a certain
man there having been in the grip of an infirmity thirty-eight years.
Seeing this one lying there, and knowing that he had already spent much
time there, Jesus said unto him, "Do you desire to become whole?" And the
infirm one answered him, "Lord, I do not have a man to throw me into the
pool when the water is disturbed; for while I am yet coming, another goes
down ahead of me." Jesus then said unto him, "Rise. Take up your mat and
walk!" And immediately the man became whole, took up his mat and walked.
And on that day it was a sabbath, so the Jews said to the one
who had been healed, "It is a sabbath. It is not lawful for you to lift
or carry the mat." He answered them, "He that made me whole - that One said
unto me, "Lift up your mat and walk." Therefore they asked him, "Who is
the man who told you, "Lift up your mat and walk.?" But he did not know
who it was that made him well; for Jesus, a crowd being in that place,
had withdrawn. After these things Jesus found him again in the temple,
looked him in the eyes, and said unto him, "Note that you have become whole.
Sin no more lest something more severe happens to you." The man then went
away and told the Jews that Jesus is the One who made him whole. Therefore
the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him because he did these
things on a sabbath. But Jesus answered them, "My Father is currently working,
so I am working." Because of this, then, the Jews sought all the more to
kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath; but also because he called
God his own Father, making himself equal to God.
Therefore Jesus answered and said unto them, "Most certainly
I say unto you, the Son is not able to do anything from or out of himself
as a source, but only what he can see the Father doing. For whatsoever
things the Father can do, these same things the Son is doing also. For
the Father regards the Son with affection, and is demonstrating unto him
all the things that he is doing; And he will be teaching him greater works
than these in order that you might be astonished. For even as the Father
raises up and makes alive the dead, so also the Son makes alive whom he
wills. For the Father will not be judging anyone, but he has given all
administration of justice to the Son, that all may honour the Son, even
as they are honouring the Father. The one not honouring the Son, is not
honouring the Father - the One who sent him. Most certainly I say unto
you, the one heeding my word, and believing that the Father has sent me,
has life everlasting, and comes not into the administration of justice,
but has already passed out of spiritual death into spiritual life. Most
certainly I say unto you, the time has come and currently or presently exists,
when the spiritually dead will hear from the voice of the Son of God, and
those heeding will live. For even as the Father has life in himself, so
gave he to the Son to have life in himself also. And he also gave authority
to him to act as judge because he is the Son of Man.
"Marvel not at this; for a point in time is coming in which
all those in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out; those having
always done good (as the indicator of their salvation through faithing)
into a resurrection of life, and those having always practiced evil (as
the indicator of their faithless rebellion and separation from God)
into a resurrection of judgement.
"I am not able to do anything from or out of myself as a source;
as I hear, I judge: and my judgement is just; because I seek not my
own will, but the will of the One sending me - the Father. If I am testifying
concerning myself, my witness is not worthy of credit. There is another
(John) that is bearing testimony concerning me, and I know absolutely
that the witness he is deposing concerning me is credible. You have
sent unto John, and he has borne testimony to the Truth. And I need
not appropriate that testimony from the man, but I say these things
in order that you may be rescued or saved. He was the burning and shining
lamp, and you were willing to celebrate for a time in his light. But I
have the greater testimony than that of John; for or because the Father
has given me these works (Christ's miracles) in order that I might bring
them to completion. These works that I am doing testify themselves concerning
me, that the Father has sent me forth. And with the Father having sent
me, he himself has testified concerning me. You have neither heard his voice
at any time, nor have you ever seen his form, and you do not have his Word
abiding in you; for you do not believe the One whom this One sent. You have
been searching the scriptures, because you are presuming that in them you
have everlasting life, but they are those which bear testimony concerning
me! And you are not desiring to come unto me in order that you may have
life!
"I do not take approbation to myself from man; but I know you
already: that you do not have the esteem of God within yourselves. I have
come in the Name of my Father and you are not accepting me. If some other
one comes in his own name, you will accept that one! By what means can
you believe, when you are receiving approbation from one another, while
not even seeking approbation from the only God? Do not be presuming that
I will be accusing you to the Father. There is one already accusing you
- Moses - in whom you have trusted; for if you had believed Moses, you would
have believed me, for that one wrote about me. And if you do not believe
the writings of that one, how will you ever believe my words?" And having
said these words, he left them, and went on his way.
XXXVII. Eating Corn on the Sabbath (Mt 12:1-8; Mk 2:23-28; Lk 6:1-5)
Now it came to pass that Jesus was going through the cornfields
on the sabbath day, and his disciples were hungry and began to make their
way through a field, plucking the ears of corn, rubbing them in their
hands as they went, and they did eat. But certain of the Pharisees, when
they saw it, said unto him, "Behold! Why do your disciples do that which
is not lawful to do on the sabbath day?" And answering, Jesus said unto them,
"Have you not read even this: what David did when he had need and was hungry,
he and they that were with him: how that he entered into the house of God
in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did take and eat the shewbread,
and gave also to them that were with him, which it was not lawful for him
to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests alone?
Or have you not read in the Law, how that on the sabbath day the priests
in the temple profane the sabbath and are guiltless? But I say unto you
that One greater than the temple is here. If you had known what this means:
"I desire mercy, and not sacrifice," you would not have condemned the guiltless."
And then he said unto them, "The sabbath was made for man, and not man
for the sabbath: so the Son of Man is Lord even of the sabbath." And he
departed from there.
XXXVIII. Man with a Withered Hand (Mt 12:9-14; Mk 3:1-6; Lk 6:6-11)
And it came to pass on another sabbath, that Jesus entered
again into the synagogue and taught. And behold, there was a man there
who had his right hand withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched
Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath. And they baited
him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?" hoping they might
find a way to accuse him. But he knew their thoughts and said unto them,
"What man shall there be of you, that shall have one sheep, and if this
sheep fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it and
lift it out? How much greater then in value is a man than a sheep?" And
he said unto the man that had his hand withered, "Rise up and stand forth
in the midst of us." And he arose and stood forth. Then Jesus said unto
them, "I ask you, is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do
harm? to save a life, or to destroy it?" But they held their peace. Then
he stated, "It is lawful to do good on the sabbath day!" And when he had
looked round about, glowering on them all with anger, while at the same
time being grieved at the hardening of their heart, he said unto the man,
"Stretch forth your hand!" And he stretched it forth, and his hand was
restored, whole, as the other one. And the Pharisees were filled with madness,
and immediately went out and took counsel with the Herodians, communing
with one another against him, how they might destroy him; but knowing this,
Jesus withdrew from there.
Second Period of Galilean Ministry
XXXIX. The Second Tour (Mt 4:23-25, 12:15-21; Mk 3:7-12)
It was early summer, A.D. 28, and Jesus went about in all Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the Good Tidings of the
kingdom, and healing all manner of diseases and all manner of sicknesses
among the people. And the report of him went forth into all Syria: and
they brought unto him all that were sick, gripped with various torments
and diseases, the epileptic, the palsied, and demoniacs possessed with
demons. He healed them all, and charged them that they should not make
him known. And then Jesus with his disciples withdrew to the sea, and there
followed him great multitudes from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem
and Idumea and Judaea and from beyond the Jordan, and all about Tyre and
Sidon, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet,
saying: "Behold my Child whom I have chosen, my Beloved in whom my soul
has delighted: I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall declare judgement
unto the Gentile nations. He will not quarrel, wrangle or strive, nor holler
or vociferate; nor will anyone hear his cry in the streets. He will certainly
not break a reed that has been bent down, crushed or bruised, and he shall
not quench or extinguish a smoking, smouldering, flaxen wick, until he
can spread abroad justice and equity unto, resulting in, or amounting to
victory. And in his Name will the Gentile nations repose trust and confidence."
And the great multitude, hearing what marvelous things he did, approached
him. And he spoke unto his disciples that a little boat should wait on him
because of the crowd lest they should throng him: for he had healed many
insomuch that as many as had scourges fell upon him in order that they might
touch him. And the unclean spirits, whensoever they beheld him, fell down
before him, and cried, saying, "You are the Son of God!" And he charged them
much that they should not reveal his identity.
XL. The Choosing of the Twelve (Mt 10:2-4; Mk 3:13-19; Lk 6:12-19)
Now it came to pass in those days that Jesus went up into a
mountain to pray; and he continued all night in prayer unto God. And when
it was day, he called unto himself those whom he desired of his disciples,
and they went unto him. And he chose and appointed from them twelve, whom
also he named apostles, that they might be with him as apprentices, and
that he might send them forth to preach in the future, and to have authority
to cast out demons. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: the
first, Simon, whom he also surnamed Peter (Kephas), and Andrew his brother;
and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James: and them
he surnamed Boanerges, which means "Sons of Thunder;" and Philip and Bartholomew;
and Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; and James the son of Alphaeus,
and Judas Thaddaeus the son of James; and Simon who is called the Zealot,
and who became a Cananaean; and Judas Iscariot who became the betrayer or
traitor who handed Jesus over. And Jesus came down with them, and stood
on a level place, and a great multitude of his disciples, and a great number
of the people from all Judaea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre
and Sidon, came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; and they
that were troubled with unclean spirits were delivered. And all the multitude
sought to touch him: for power came forth from him and healed them all.
[Miracles were the credentials validating him as the Messiah.]
XLI. The Sermon on the Mount - Part I (Mt 5:1-48; Lk 6:20a)
And seeing the multitudes, Jesus went up into the mountain:
and when he had sitten down, his disciples all came unto him. He lifted
up his eyes on his disciples, and he opened up his mouth and taught
them, saying,
"Fortunate are the lowly in spirit or the humble; because
the kingdom of heaven consists of them.
"Fortunate are those mourning (because of sin); because they
shall be comforted.
"Fortunate are the meek, gentle, kind, forgiving [like as with
Christ and Moses - quiet strength of spirit]; because they shall inherit
the earth.
"Fortunate are those hungering and thirsting after integrity
and righteousness; because their desire shall be satisfied.
"Fortunate are the merciful and compassionate; because they
shall receive mercy, pity and compassion.
"Fortunate are the pure, sincere, unfeigned, upright, and virtuous
in heart; because they shall be admitted into the more immediate presence
of God.
"Fortunate are those cultivating peace and concord; because
they shall be called mature offspring of God.
"Fortunate are those being pursued and persecuted for the sake
of fairness, justice and integrity; because the kingdom of heaven consists
of them.
"Fortunate are you when men shall reproach you, and persecute
you, and may be saying every malignant accusation against you, speaking
falsely or deceitfully and lying on account of me; be rejoicing and
celebrate, because your reward in the heavens is great; for thus men
persecuted the prophets who preceded you.
"You are the salt of the earth [a preservative that seasons,
and makes men thirsty, and which also burns in the open wounds of sin].
But if the salt is rendered insipid, by what will the earth be seasoned
for preservation? Insipid salt is good for nothing but to be tossed
out into the street and to be trampled under foot by men.
"You are the light of the world; a city situated on a mountain
is not able to be hidden; nor do men light up a lamp and place it under
a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light unto all those in
the house. Thus let your light shine in the presence of men, so that
they may see your good works and recognize your Father in the heavens.
"Do not think that I came to abrogate the Law (Torah) or the
(Old Testament) Prophets. I came not to abrogate, but to consummate;
For truly I say unto you, if until even the heavens and the earth pass
away, in no way shall one point or one iota disappear from the Law until
all things can be satisfied. [Jesus fulfilled and satisfied all of the
requirements of the Law and Prophets for us. Thus we faith into him.] Whoever
then may infringe the smallest one of these following injunctions, precepts
or commandments [Christ has consummated, and thus presently supersedes
the Old Testament Law and Prophets as a higher standard for the believer
as indicated by the following words introducing his commandments, "You have
heard it said, but I say unto you..."], and may teach men so, he shall
be regarded as least in the kingdom of the heavens [There is no loss of
salvation here, only status, yet the least is greater than John the Baptist
- Matthew 11:11]; but whoever executes and may teach them (these following
precepts - not the Law or Torah), this one be shall be designated great
in the kingdom of the heavens.
"Also I say unto you, that if your virtuous rectitude is not
more excellent than that of the meticulous scribes and Pharisees, you
can in no way enter into the kingdom of the heavens. [This means you
won't be able to be saved by your own efforts or works as they try to
do; but when you first faith or trust into Jesus unto justification,
then Christ's virtuous rectitude, which is already more excellent than
that of the scribes and Pharisees, is divinely imputed to the believer.
Upon examination, though, in practising the following commandments, the faither
will indeed exceed the scribes and Pharisees in practical righteousness.]
"You heard that it was commanded to the ancients: "Do not commit
murder," and, "Whoever may commit murder, shall be liable to the court
of justice." But I say unto you, that each of you who is rashly angry,
indignant or enraged with his (or her) brother (or sister) shall be liable
to the heavenly court of justice [divine discipline may be administered
upon the believer].
"(You heard that it was commanded to the ancients): "Whoever
says to his brother, "Raca" (you worthless person), shall be liable
to the Sanhedrin." (But I say unto you), whoever says to his brother
"You fool!" [representative of disparaging remarks made in senseless,
loveless wickedness], shall be liable to the fiery valley of Hinnom [figuratively
indicating that we become disapproved, useless, good for nothing, and
discarded into the burning refuse dump, thus ultimately meaning "to be
put out of service" for God. The apostle Paul said that he keeps his body
subject - under control - lest after having preached to others, he himself
becomes a cast-off - unapproved and thus disqualified from service. Repent,
attempt to make amends, and then confess your sin to God in order to be
restored to service.]
"If, then, you may be offering your gift on the altar, and
there perchance remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to
your brother [make an attempt to be forgiven in order to be forgiven
and restored to service - the 70 x 7 rule of forgiveness - Matthew 18:21-29,
and the reciprocal forgiveness rule of Matthew 6:14-15 apply - but implacability
of the brother or sister then reverses the responsibility], and then,
returning, be offering your gift [indicating you are forgiven by God
and again acceptable for his work].
"Be cordial with your lawsuit opponent, immediately, even while
you accompany him to the entrance, lest perchance the lawsuit opponent
deliver you up to the judge, and the judge deliver you up to the officer,
and you be thrown into prison. [Debtor prisons were common.] Truly I say
unto you, you may in no way come out from there until you pay the last
coin.
"You heard that it was commanded to the ancients: "Commit not
adultery." But I say unto you, that each one casting a longing gaze upon
a woman so as to lust after her, has already committed adultery with her
in his heart [this today conversely applies in principle to women lusting
after men also.] So if your dominant right eye is continually causing you
to falter or err, excise the same and throw it from you; [This merely indicates
the extent of seriousness with which sin is viewed and is not actually
carried out in practice as a work having redeeming value. Remove or avoid
that which causes the temptation, then repent and confess your sin to
God for restoration.] for it is more expedient for you that you might
be deprived of one part of your body, and that your entire body not be
cast into the valley of Hinnom [again, figuratively, the refuse dump -
fellowship broken and being out of service.] And if your dominant right
hand is continually causing you to falter or err, amputate the same and
throw it from you; [Again, this merely indicates the extent of seriousness
with which sin is viewed and is not actually carried out in practice as
a work having redeeming value. Remove or avoid that which causes the temptation,
then repent and confess your sin to God for restoration.] for it is
more expedient for you that you might be deprived of one part of your
body, and that your entire body not be cast into the valley of Hinnom
[again, figuratively, the refuse dump - fellowship broken and being out
of service.]
"And (you heard) that it was commanded (to the ancients): "Whoever
may divorce his wife, he is to give her a deed of divorce." But I say
unto you, that whoever divorces his wife (or a woman her husband), except
for or apart from a plea or matter of adulterous fornication, causes her
(or him) to commit [present infinitive] or be guilty of adultery and/or
fornication (due to the human propensity to mate); and whoever the divorced
one may marry is committing [present indicative] and therefore guilty of
adultery (because that mate is illicitly acquired in the eyes of God).
"Again, you heard that it was commanded to the ancients: "You
shall not fail to observe your vows, but you will discharge your vows
to the Lord." But I say unto you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven,
because it is the throne of God; neither by the earth, because it is footstool
of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the Great King.
Neither should you swear by your head, because you are not intrinsically
able to make one hair black or white. But let your word be "Yes, yes;"
or "No, no;" For the over and above of these is out of the evil tendency
of man.
"You heard that it was commanded (to the ancients): "An eye
in retribution or return for an eye," and, "A tooth in retribution or
return for a tooth." But I say unto you, do not set yourself in opposition
to the evil of man, but to whosoever will be slapping you upon your right
cheek, turn unto him also the other; and to the one intending to sue
you for to seize your vest, surrender unto him also the jacket. And whosoever
shall compel you to go one mile [as Romans and Persians were wont to do
at that time], go with him (beyond the call of duty) two. Give to the one
asking of you, and do not turn away empty the one wanting to borrow money
from you.
"You heard that it was commanded (to the ancients): "You shall
value, esteem, be faithful towards, and manifest genuine concern for
your friendly neighbor," and, "You shall regard your enemy with hatred
and ill-will." But I say unto you, be continually seeking the highest
good of, and selflessly caring for, your enemies, valuing, esteeming and
manifesting genuine concern for, and being faithful towards them. Always
be invoking a blessing upon, and be speaking well of, those wishing and
imprecating evil upon you. Practice conferring benefits upon, and doing
good to, those hating you with ill-will. And be praying and offering prayer
in behalf of those harassing and insulting you, and in behalf of those
persecuting you, in order that you may become mature offspring of your
Father in the heavens: Because he causes his sun to rise upon the evil
and the good, and sends rain upon the just and the unjust. For if you perchance
lovingly care for those who are lovingly caring for you, what reward do
you now have? Do not even the publicans or tax collectors practice the
same? And if you perchance treat with affection your brothers only, what
do you do that is extraordinary? Do not even the publicans do so? You be
mature and without shortfall, then, even as your Father in the heavens
is himself mature and without shortfall."