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The rest of this web site will seem very negative to many people.
The reason is that truth must be tested. What the Bible contains
had to be sifted, or winnowed.
John the Baptist said someone was to come with a winnowing fork
in his hand to gather the wheat into his barn and burn up the chaff
with unquenchable fire. This person would baptise with the Holy
Spirit and with fire. [Matthew 3 v 11-12].
This passage is seen as referring to the Christ/Messiah figure,
and so by Christians as Jesus. It seems to parallel the gathering
and sorting of the harvest of good and bad plants at the end of
the age in Matthew 13. It therefore is thought by most interpreters
to be apocalyptic and so connected with the return of Christ.
But could his mission, if it is Jesus being referred too here,
have been to winnow and burn with the words of his mouth? Do his
sayings winnow the seeds from the chaff and enable the true seed
plants to be discerned from the weeds? Are the angels doing this
work also the messengers coming later who would rightly interpret
the true seed from within the chaff?
We have seen from the studies on this site that the historical
details and even the main characters in the Bible are suspect,
but does it matter who said what and in what circumstance? The
question is: are they words of significance spiritually?
Words that convey spiritual insight to you personally are what
is of great value. They are like finding gold nuggets or precious
gems in a mountain of rubble.
As the "Inspired Sayings" page on this site shows there
are many spiritual insights passed on by non-Biblical writers:
and many are not even Jews or Christians.
Here are some gems from the Bible [you will probably know of others
as these are only a few of the many!]:
Be still and know that I am God. [Psalm 46 v 10]
The kingdom of God is within you. [Luke 17 v 20 -21]
God looks for those who worship in spirit and in truth. [John
4 v 23 &24]
Light [knowledge] without love is darkness still. [1 John 2 v9]
God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. [Isaiah 64 v4]
The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting
arms [Deuteronomy 33 v27a]
God does speak, now one way, and now another, though man
may not perceive it. [Job 33 v 13 -14]
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My
ways, declares the Lord. [Isaiah 55 v 8]
To the question "Which is the greatest commandment in the
Law" Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind." [ Deuteronomy
6 v 5]. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second
is like it: " Love your neighbour as yourself" [Leviticus
19 v 18]
All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments. {Matthew
22 v37-40]
The passage usually called "the
Beatitudes" in Matthew chapter 5.
Young's literal Translation:
5v3-12 " Happy are the poor in spirit - for theirs is the
reign of the heavens. Happy the mourning for they shall be comforted.
Happy the meek for they shall inherit the land. Happy those hungering
and thirsting for righteousness, because they shall be filled.
Happy the kind, because they shall find kindness. Happy the clean
in heart, because they shall see God. Happy the peace makers because
they shall be called Sons of God. Happy those persecuted for righteousness
sake - because theirs is the reign of the heavens. Happy are you
whenever they reproach you, and may persecute, and may say any
evil thing against you falsely, for my sake-, rejoice ye and be
glad, for great is your reward in the heavens, for thus did they
persecute the prophets who were before you."
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Other manuscripts have slightly different wordings which
give light to the meaning of this important passage.
For instance the Khaboris version:
AK) v3-12 "A heavenly attitude* is theirs whose home
is in rukha(the spirit): theirs is a heavenly state .A
heavenly attitude is theirs; those mourning their wrongs:
they shall be comforted. A heavenly attitude is theirs;
those with humility: they will gain the earth. A heavenly
attitude is theirs, those who hunger and thirst for justness:
they shall attain it. A heavenly attitude is theirs; those
whose love is without conditions; they will therefore receive
unconditional love. A heavenly attitude is theirs; those
without fault in their minds; they will see God. A heavenly
attitude is theirs; those serving the peace of God; they
shall be called the children of God. A heavenly attitude
is theirs; those being scorned for their justness; theirs
is the kingdom of heaven. A heavenly attitude is yours
when they harass you and scorn you and deceitfully speak
against you every evil word because of being with me. Rejoice,
be happy be joyful at the increase of your reward in heaven,
for in such manner were harassed the prophets before you."
*The Khaboris manuscript has this noticeable difference
of a heavenly attitude instead of blessed or happy. If
the idea of blessing is to bend the knee toward (see "Blessing
and Cursing") is right, this actually makes more sense.
Otherwise it is hard to see how you can be happy or blessed
if you are mourning, even if it is bewailing the spiritual
state of yourself, or the times! The Old Testament speaks
of blessings now, in this world, not a promise for the
next, after misery here. Most of these statements in Matthew
5 refer to the future - did Jesus expect the Messianic
age very soon to bring these in? What Christianity has
said is that they are rewards in the next world.
The Hebrew gospel of Matthew of Shem Tov: |
5v 3-12 " Blessed are the humble of spirit
for theirs is the kingdom of God. Blessed are those who wait for
they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit
the earth. Blessed are the innocent of heart for they shall see
God. Blessed are those who pursue peace for they shall be called
the sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they
persecute and revile you and say against you all kinds of evil,
for my sake, but speak falsely. Rejoice and be glad for your reward
is very great in heaven, for thus they persecuted the prophets.
Luke's version of the beatitudes is different in the Aramaic version:
6v20 -23 "Blessed are you poor that yours is the kingdom
of God. Blessed are those that hunger now who will be satisfied.
Blessed are those who cry now who will laugh. Blessed are you
who are hated by humanity and discriminated against and scandalised
and your name is projected as evil on behalf of the Son of
man; rejoice in that day and celebrate, for your recompense
is great in heaven. For this is what their forefathers did
to the prophets."
Here the poor are literal!
(Young's Luke 6 v 20-23)"Happy the poor because yours is
the reign of God. Happy those hungering now- you shall be filled.
Happy those weeping now- because you shall laugh. Happy are you
when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you, and
shall reproach you, and shall caste forth your name as evil; for
the Son of man's sake, rejoice in that day, and leap, for, lo,
your reward is great in heaven, for according to these things were
their fathers doing to the prophets."
Can two walk together unless they are agreed? [Amos 3 v 3]
What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God. [ Micah 6 v 8}
PSALM 23 (AV / KJV)
A Psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside
the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff
they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my
life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Young's Literal Translation
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1
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A Psalm of David. Jehovah is my shepherd, I do
not lack, |
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2
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In pastures of tender grass He causeth me to lie down,
By quiet waters He doth lead me. |
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3
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My soul He refresheth, He leadeth me in paths of righteousness,
For His name's sake, |
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4
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Also -- when I walk in a valley of death-shade, I fear
no evil, for Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff
-- they comfort me. |
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5
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Thou arrangest before me a table, Over-against my adversaries,
Thou hast anointed with oil my head, My cup is full! |
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6
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Only -- goodness and kindness pursue me, All the days
of my life, And my dwelling is in the house of Jehovah,
For a length of days |
In the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes there are many profound
practical observations:
A gentle reply turns away wrath. [Prov. 15 v 1]
A cheerful heart is good medicine but a crushed spirit dries up
the bones. [ Prov. 17 v 22]
A gossip separates close friends. [Prov 16 v 28]
Train a child in the way he should go and he will not depart from
it when he is old [ Prov 22 v 6]
Seldom set foot in a neighbour's house; too often and he will
hate you! [Prov. 25v 17]
If your enemy is hungry give him food to eat; if he is thirsty
give him water to drink. In doing this you will heap coals of fire
upon his head, and the Lord will reward you. [Prov. 25 v21 -22]
There is nothing new under the sun.[Eccl. 1 v 9b]
There is a time for everything. [Eccl. 3 v1]
The abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep. Naked a man
comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes so he departs. [Eccl.
5 v 12b and 15]
The more words the less the meaning, and how does that profit
anyone? [ Eccl. 6 v 11]
And the dust returns to the ground it came from and the spirit
to God who gave it. [Eccl. 12 v 7]
Fear God and keep His commandments: this is the whole duty of
man. [ Eccl. 12 v 13]
- Matthew 6 v 9-13. The Lord's Prayer.
- Book of Common Prayer (1559)
- Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this
day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive
them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation.
But deliver us from evil. Amen
Matthew 7 v 1 . Do not judge or you too will be judged. In the
same way you judge others you will be judged.
Matthew 7 v 12. In everything do to others what you would have
them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets.
Matthew 5 v 44 Love your enemies.
Matthew 10 v 8b. Freely have you received, so freely give.
Matthew 12 v 33. A tree is recognised by its fruit.
Matthew 26 v 39. Let this cup pass, but not my will but yours
be done.
Mark 10 v 15. If you do not receive the kingdom of God as a little
child, you will never enter it.
Luke's version of the Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this
day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive
those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen
Luke's version of the Beatitudes
- And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said: "Blessed
are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.
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- 21 Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh.
- 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude
and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of
the Son of Man.
- 23 Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward
will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets
in the same way.
- 24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your
consolation.
- 25 But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep.
- 26 Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors
treated the false prophets in this way.
- 27 But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to
those who hate you,
- 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 14 v 11. And 17 v 14. Everyone who exalts himself will be
humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
John 3 v 6 . Flesh gives birth to flesh and spirit to spirit.
John 3 v3. Unless a man is born from above he cannot see the kingdom
of heaven.
John 3 v 27. A man can receive only what is given to him from
heaven.
John 3 v 10. We speak of what we know and testify to what we have
seen.
John 4 v 37. One sows and another reaps.
John 7 v 18. The one who works for the honour of the one who sent
him is a man of truth.
John 8 v 31. The truth will set you free.
John 13 v 14. Wash one another 's feet.
Romans 9 v 16. It does not depend on mans desire or effort but
on God's mercy.
Romans 12 v 2. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Galatians 5 v 6b. The only thing that counts is faith expressing
itself through love.
Philippians 4v 11b. I have learned to be content whatever the
circumstances.
James 2 v 13b. Mercy triumphs over judgement.
James 2 v 17. Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action,
is dead.
1 John 4 v 8 and 16. God is love.
next section : Beliefs and Jesus
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