26Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. (Ezek 22:)
CONFUSING AT THE MINIMUM
Have you ever had one of those awarenesses that comes to you somewhere between the twilight of sleep and dawn of wakefulness? I'm sure you have. I had just such an occurrence this morning. A song came to me: a song that never has existed, nor probably ever will. The song had these lyrics: "It doesn't sound different; but it doesn't sound the same."
I had a feeling these words had a special meaning, but I couldn't quite attach a significance to them. Then I remembered this piece that is to follow that I had just finished.
It was not finished. It had not yet said what it was intended to say. I pulled it from Thoughts and Comments and made this, its own page.
I am now in the process of gathering information regarding the different processes the churches tell us we must follow in order to be saved. Every church has its own view of the subject, and its own rituals. Figuring out the format for such a complicated study is going to be difficult and may take a while. In the meantime, I have this little piece to offer. There is also the long study SAVED that touches on the subject of Salvation which you might think is the same as "saved," but it isn't. That is, it is, but because of the confusion created by the churches, it isn't. What I mean is it is what the Bible says is Salvation, but it isn't what any of the churches teach as Salvation.
Confused? Then imagine what it's like having to be the one to sort through the mess and present a curlicue of doctrine in a straight line of scripture.
Writing these pieces, which take a huge chunk of time for not only the writing of them, but especially for the research, often seems like a waste to me. I nag the Lord with my complaint that no one is going to see these writings, and those who do see them will either dismiss them as false doctrine, or the ravings of a madman. At best there might be someone who agrees with what I say because they see it in the Bible; but it will do them no good if the understanding of the words are not made clear to them by the Holy Spirit. And in order for the Holy Spirit to explain the Word, a person must first empty themselves out of ego and turn their back on their own interests.
No church teaches a person to do such a thing. Some think they are teaching such a doctrine, but they are just rewording old saws that point to what benefits the individual, not what serves God.
The churches, all of them, preach doctrine, not Scripture. Oh, they quote Scripture to support their doctrine, but they misinterpret the Scripture so it supports their view. The conventional denominations are noted for accusing the "cults" of doing this, which they are; but what the churches don't realize is that they are doing the very same thing. The mote and the log.
The hardest person to convince that they are deceived is someone who is deceived, but thinks they are not, believing that everyone else is deceived.
Someone who is in doubt will be open to Truth. Someone who is convinced they already have the Truth will believe that whatever doesn't fit that truth they have accepted must be a lie.
With all the many thousands of views of the "Truth" in the world I would expect that somewhere, someone might have a little doubt about their own view. But they don't. It's this doubt I am attempting to plant in the minds of people so they will look outside their preconceived ideas and allow the Holy Spirit to direct them.
I don't see this happening.
I see some people who have doubts about the established views, but I see none led to actually find the Truth. How will I know if someone is being led by the Holy Spirit and looking for Truth? Is it that they will want to read all I have written? Is it that I think I, and I alone have the Truth to offer? Hardly. I will know because that person will be able to do little else but search the Scriptures for Truth. And because they are so directed and so obsessed all they will want to talk about is that which they are obsessed over.
Do you find that obsession in any of the churches? When the sermon isn't being preached, what are people talking about? God? The sermon? Jesus? The Bible? Or do they talk about the family, and their illnesses, and their vacation? And this is in the house of God! What do you suppose they are talking about the rest of the week?
I highly suspect that unless God has someone out there He wants to read what I am writing, I will end up being the only one to get anything out of it; which certainly is enough reason for me to keep at it.
It doesn't sound different; but it doesn't sound the same. Do you experience such a thing when you read the Scriptures on your own and compare them to what your church teaches? Do you sometimes wonder how the Pastor could have possibly seen the Scripture he read from the pulpit the way he taught it? Do you sometimes wonder how the Pastor missed seeing the verses right next to those he read that clearly conflict with what he said it means? Or have you heard him actually read those verses in his attempt to prove just the opposite of what he was teaching, and seemed to be totally unaware of their meaning?
Have you listened to a sermon given by your Pastor, or read a book by a theologian, and found their reasoning to be sound? That is, it seems to be the same as what the Bible says; but when you read farther you find that what appears the same, is actually different than the Scriptures? It's as if the answers given fit the question for the moment, but once thought is given to the answers, they don't actually fit the question or the Scriptures? Do you sometimes find such teachings similar to the rhetoric of a politician who is pressed on a subject he doesn't want to discuss?
If you have experienced any of the above, and you have not attributed the disparity to your own ignorance of the Scriptures, then perhaps there is hope for you.
It doesn't sound the same; but it doesn't sound different.
When we hear an "expert" talk on a subject, we assume they have researched the subject thoroughly and that they know what they are talking about. We assume any difference in our perception and the expert's is purely due to our lack of knowledge.
If that were only so.
The fact is that on any, I reiterate and emphasize: any subject there will be at least as many counter and conflicting opinions by experts who are just as qualified as the expert we are listening to. And all those experts may very likely be quoting from the very same references.
Is this never more so than in the churches? Thousands of conflicting "expert" and educated opinions being taught out of the very same Book? Isn't it amazing? And each of these "experts" will very likely tell you they are right because they are being led by the Holy Spirit to teach what they are teaching.
Oh well. It doesn't sound different; but it doesn't sound the same. On with the study.
Jesus said in order to be saved, all a person has to do is believe. This people hear and accept gladly. It's easy. Believe and receive eternal life. How difficult is that to understand? Anyone can understand that if they have half a brain.
I believe the Huskies are going to win their game tomorrow. I believe that Chevy is better than Ford. I believe that gas prices are going to continue to raise. I believe that tomorrow it will rain. I believe that vitamins will help keep you healthy.
See? Nothing to it. Nothing to it at all. Believing is as easy as falling off a log, as the lumberjacks would say. We do it all the time. And to think, for something this easy we can gain eternal life in Heaven, floating around on a cloud and playing on a harp. Amazing. God sure makes it easy on us. I wonder why Jesus and the Apostles and the early Christians didn't get the message, the true message that God has given us. Just think, all those people wouldn't have had to suffer as they did if they had only known the truth as we know it today. And all those heathens of the world, the unconverted nonbelievers and those who haven't heard the Word; they will burn forever in a pit of fire just because they didn't take that tiny bit of effort to believe.
Believe, that's all we have to do. It says so many times in the Bible, so there's no getting around it; all you have to do is believe.
You know me, if you have read anything at all that I've written. You know I have a thought or two up my sleeve (isn't that where you keep your thoughts? up your sleeve?)
"At the end of this term I'm going to give you a test," the teacher says. "Everyone who gets one answer correct will get an 'A' for the semester, even if they are flunking the course."
"Oh, that's nice," you think to yourself. "All I have to do is get one answer right out of maybe a hundred questions and I'm assured an 'A'. I like this idea. I'm getting bad grades as it is and I'll probably flunk. Now, this way I not only get to pass this class, but this 'A' will make me a shoo in for a diploma."
Sounds good doesn't it? Of course that would never happen, would it? I had a math teacher when I was in High School who did this very same thing. He gave us a problem to figure out and told us that we had till the end of the semester to work it out; and an 'A' was the prize for the right answer. There were about five of us, as I recall, who got it right. I think I cheated, but cheat or not, I not only had the answer, but fully understand the question, which was a requirement to pass the class. Even to this day some 50 years later I remember the question, and the answer.
The problem posed by the teacher in this study is a little different. He told his class that if they get just one question correct, they would pass the course. Did you catch the "catch?"
"If you take out the trash," mother tells her son, "I will take you to Disneyland."
Now what child wouldn't like to hear their mother tell them that for merely taking out the trash they will get to go to Disneyland? Mother says: "If you take out the trash," and the chances are that's all the child is going to hear. And the chances are good that is all you hear as well. But if you had been around this home for very long, and if you knew the mother and her methods, you would know what the mother meant, not merely what she said.
Mother is not one to say something she does not mean. And she says exactly what she means. But it takes experience working with her to know that when mother says: "take out the trash," she is not referring to a single occurrence, but an ongoing experience. And by her saying that if the child takes out the trash faithfully every day it is understood that all other commands she has issued the child applies as well. One command does not supercede others, but is added to them.
In the case of the teacher who offers such a grand prize for such a simple task; if one knew the teacher and how he works, one would know that there is more to his statement than meets the eye. Such a statement as the one made by the teacher allows his students to be the person they truly are without fear of reprisal for their lack. In other word, if a student is inclined to be slovenly in their studies, they can do so in his class having full confidence that at the end, without work, they can reap the same rewards due the diligent. At the same time, this offering to the diligent the opportunity to be slack and still reap the same rewards, will not effect their drive or determination because it is in their nature to work hard.
Normally in a class situation there is a grey area that is filled with people who are not interested in what they are studying, nor are they really wanting to study at all. But for fear of being denied advancement, they dabble at study in effort to merely pass to the next grade. By offering these dabblers the opportunity to pass without the earnest effort required, the teacher has created a clear distinction between the serious students and the slothful, emptying out the gray area.
The Bible gives us some examples of God doing the very same thing. One such example is the story of Korah and his band of rebels. God had all those who felt as did Korah to stand with him, and then He opened the ground a swallowed them up. Those who avoided the pit were consumed by fire. You can read about this in the 16th Chapter of Numbers. Another such incident occurred on Mt. Carmel where Elijah brought fire on the worshipers (priests) of Baal (1Kings Chapter 18). Of course you and I know, or at least have been taught that such a thing couldn't happen in this day and age. The examples given were in the Old Testament. Take a peek at the 8th and 9th verses of Revelation Chapter 20. After you read these verses, don't stop, there's more about fire and the separating of the slothful from the diligent.
Another set of Scriptures you might read is the 25th Chapter of Matthew where Jesus speaks of separating the sheep from the goats; and the 13th Chapter of Matthew where Jesus tells a parable concerning tares and wheat; and then again you might try Matthew Chapter 25 where Jesus speaks of ten virgins who are waiting for their Bridegroom, five believing they were ready, but were not; and again in the 7th Chapter of Matthew where the castoffs were some people who were certain they were of the chosen few having done wonderful works in the Name of the Lord; and if you still have an interest in this topic you might try the 25th Chapter of Matthew to see what happens to slothful servants.
Getting back to our teacher, did you figure out the catch in his offer to his students? The students only had to get one answer correct. The catch is: he didn't tell them which question is the one that must be answered.
Does that seem unfair to you? If your intention was to work for your grade and learn all you could from the class the teacher was teaching, the question wouldn't effect you one way or the other. On the other hand, if you only wanted a passing grade and didn't want to learn, therefore ready to forget what you learned once the test was over, you were given the opportunity to spend six months of worriless pleasure after which, in the end, you would get what you worked for and deserved.
Of course we know God would not set out to deceive us as did the teacher, don't we. After all, the whole purpose of the Bible is to make it perfectly clear what God wants from us, and to let us know about all the wonderful gifts He is willing to give us for doing nothing at all. Isn't that right? Before you answer, I suggest you read Matthew 13:13 and the surrounding Scripture; 2Thes 2:7-12, and Isaiah Chapter 66.
Like the statements made by the teacher and the mother, we can't go by our own understanding of their statement, but we must abide by their meaning of the statement. We can argue the justice of our stance until the sun goes down, but it will avail us nothing. We must know what the person who is making the statement means in order to reap the rewards they offer.
If I, as a dogface in the Army, am told that I must finish a certain job or suffer the consequences, I had best do two things. First I had better ask what the job is that I must do, and second I might ask what the consequences are for not doing the job. If I find the consequences worth the risk, I might choose to not do the job given me. On the other hand, if I am a good soldier, I will do the job to the best of my ability and not need to inquire as to what the consequences are.
Another example of this is a stop sign. If a stop sign is placed on a dangerous intersection, it would matter little to me that the punishment for running that stop sign is sever. If the intersection is dangerous I will stop at that intersection with or without the stop sign.
Paul referred to this concept several times, the 6th and the 10th Chapters of 1 Corinthians for example where he says that all things are lawful for him, therefore for us.
Again he relates to our not being under the law in Romans Chapter 6. Many people and churches who like the idea of not having to follow any law take this to mean that we don't (even shouldn't) follow any laws. But who Paul is talking to is not people who are trying to escape the law, but those who have chosen to follow Jesus to the death, ready to obey every command He gives through the Holy Spirit. He is speaking to people who have taken on the full armor as did the Apostles and are preparing themselves for war. These people don't have to follow any law because the standards they have set for themselves far exceed the laws of the land or of the church.
Unbelievers, and those who claim to be "believers" are not under the law as well because they are not in the same company as the believers. They are not in the Master's sheep fold. Not a servant of the Lord. Not a soldier under the command of God and at His beck and call. They might think they are part of the Lord's company, that is the Church, but they are only deceiving themselves and listening to others who are likewise self-deceived.
Understanding what the teacher and the mother meant by their offer. Obviously we have to understand their meaning. But how can I understand if they haven't told me what they meant?
I can ask.
Of course, if I already have a preconceived idea what they meant, or if I have listened to someone else's concept of what they meant, I won't bother to ask because I will think I already know what they meant.
Too late I discover I was wrong, and therefore miss out on the reward offered.
How can we ask Jesus what He meant by "believe?" It's not like we can walk up to Him, as did the Rich Young Ruler and ask Him a question. Besides, it would do us no good even if we could ask Him. If we have to ask, then we won't like the answer any more than did the Rich Young Ruler.
As with the stop sign, and following the orders as a dogface, those who are inclined to do what is expected of them do not have to ask, they just do. For instance, the student who is going to do the best he can and answer every question correctly doesn't have to know what the teacher meant. The child who is anxious to do his or her part as a family member does not have to be given rewards to get him to do a job, he will do it just because he sees it needs to be done.
A Christian who is anxious to serve the Lord does not have to be offered rewards to get him to do his job. And those who do need offers of reward are not serving God, but their own lusts. Take away the offer of the reward, and away goes the effort. It was not out of duty, nor for love that the act was accomplished, but to satisfy one's own lust.
What did Jesus mean by "Believe?" We can be quite certain that He didn't mean a mental consent as so many are teaching. I think even the most gullible of person knows in their heart that Salvation isn't that simple. But if not a mental consent, then what did Jesus mean? Did He give us any clues?
Yes, Jesus and the Apostles left us with not only clues, but out-and-out clear statements as to what "believe" means.
Jesus said if you do not follow His commandments you can not be His disciple. Jesus said if you do not love Him with all your heart, even to the exclusion of your family and your own life, you are none of His. Jesus said that His disciples should follow Him, even to the cross of sacrifice.
I'm not going to give quotes here, I have them all through this website, and they are right there in your Bible, if you happen to have one, where you can look it up for yourself.
In the Old Testament the Israelites were instructed to not only worship God, but to live God. All their life and their being was to be centered around God. This was no more exemplified than in their forty years in the wilderness. There was nothing but God for them.
During the time of Jesus, when even the best of the Jews were far behind what they should have been, their lives were centered around the Temple, the Scriptures, and God. They had a corrupted view of what God intended, which was one reason Jesus came to earth, to show them (and us) the correct way in which they were to worship God. But from childhood a Jew was taught by his or her mother, father, and in every aspect of their life what it meant to be a God-fearing Jew. Even until now Jews (some) are known to do the same. The problem now is, as it was in Jesus' time and long before, people worshiped God in their own way, and they worshiped Him by their own concept of Him, and called that concept "God." But it wasn't God they were worshiping, but an image of their own making.
Never more true is this than it is now. We have millions, if not billions of people worshiping something they call "God," and every one of those images is different. We see the Angry God that must be appeased. We see the Loving God that would never hurt a fly and will ultimately take everyone into His kingdom. We see the Loving God that would never hurt one of His own and wants nothing better than to shower them with gifts, yet is getting ready to torture and destroy everyone who is not one of His own, doesn't go to your church, and who isn't whisked away into a cloud before the destruction begins. And don't you know, this same Loving God is going to burn all the unrepentant souls in hell forever for their lack of faith in your belief, while you and your fellow church members languish in luxury eating fried chicken and flying around a huge 1,500 mile cubed mansion.
There are many aspects to God, that is made clear by the Scriptures. But as I see it, none of the views of the church come near describing God for who He really is. And just what is God like? What are we to be like if we are to enter into Glory? Take a close look at Jesus without all the trappings of church doctrine.
Are you a believer? Are you one who is making a mental consent? Or are you a follower of Jesus, one of His flock that will be taken with Him into His sheepfold?
[Caution!! If by reading any of this I've written, or by reading any of the verses I pointed out, you get a bit nervous; don't fret. All you have to do is go to your Pastor and tell him of your discomfort and I have no doubt he is fully ready and capable to explain away anything I have said, thereby alleviating you of any distress.]
References
23And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 24Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation. 25There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. 26Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 27Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. 28And her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken. 29The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 30And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. 31Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezek 22:)
32Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 33And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction. 34But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it. (Jer 32:)
23And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 25And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 26And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. 27So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. 28And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. 29If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. 30But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. 31And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: 32And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. 34And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
35And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. 36And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 37Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed. 38The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel. 39And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar: 40To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses. (Num 16:)
21And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 22Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: 24And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. 25And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. 26And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. 27And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. 28And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. 29And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. 30And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 33And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. 34And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. 35And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. 36And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. 40And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. (1Kings 18:)
5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 7And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Rev 20:)
1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. 14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Mat 25:)
3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2Thes 2:)
1Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. 3He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. 4I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. (Isa 66:)
12All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. 14And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. 15Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1Cor 6:)
23All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 24Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. 25Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: 26For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. (1Cor 10:)
1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom 6:)
18And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. 20Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 21And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 22Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 23And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. 24And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? 27And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. 28Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 29And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 30Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. (Mark 18:)
25And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 34Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Luke 14:)
1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17These things I command you, that ye love one another. (John 15:)
15If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. (John 14:)
6He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. (Mark 7:)
17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 5:)
1Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Mat 15:)
30Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD. 31And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. 32And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. 33And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them. (Ezek 33:)
1The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 18Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. 31Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. 33Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 34All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. 36Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 51Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 52Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
53And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. 54And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. (Mat 13
Tumbleweed
