Sorry this has taken me 12 days since the last post. It was work and then vacation to enjoy. However, we are back! Continuing with Matthew’s testimony of the life of Christ in chapters 12 and 13, my comments will be held to a minimum. This post will cover Christ’s usage of mind blowing parables to the Pharisees.
SAINT MATTHEW CHAPTER 12 SYNOPSIS:
JESUS WENT ON THE SABBATH DAY THROUGH THE CORN; AND HIS DISCIPLES WERE HUNGRY AND BEGAN TO PLUCK THE EARS OF CORN AND EAT THEM.
BUT WHEN THE PHARISEES SAW IT, THEY SAID TO JESUS, “YOUR DISCIPLES DO THAT WHICH IS NOT LAWFUL TO DO ON THE SABBATH.”
JESUS REPLIED TO THEM, “HAVE YOU NOT READ WHAT DAVID DID (SEE 1 SAMUEL 21:3-6) WHEN HE WAS HUNGRY, AND THEY THAT WERE WITH HIM; HOW HE ENTERED INTO THE HOUSE OF GOD AND ATE THE SHEWBREAD, WHICH WAS NOT LAWFUL FOR HIM TO EAT, NEITHER FOR THEM WHICH WERE WITH HIM, BUT ONLY FOR THE PRIESTS? OR HAVE YOU NOT READ IN THE LAW (OF MOSES), HOW THAT ON THE SABBATH DAYS THE PRIESTS IN THE TEMPLE PROFANE THE SABBATH, AND ARE BLAMELESS? (SEE NUMBERS 28:9-10).”
“BUT I SAY TO YOU, THAT IN THIS PLACE IS ONE (CHRIST REFERS TO HIMSELF) GREATER THAN THE TEMPLE.” (COMMENT: WHAT A SHOCK THIS MUST HAVE BEEN TO THE PHARISEES!)
“BUT IF YOU HAD KNOWN WHAT THIS MEANS — I WILL HAVE MERCY, AND NOT SACRIFICE — YOU WOULD NOT HAVE CONDEMNED THE GUILTLESS.”
(COMMENTARY: WHAT DID CHRIST MEAN BY “I WILL HAVE MERCY, AND NOT SACRIFICE?”CHRIST PREFERS MEN TO HAVE CHARITY AND LOVING-KINDNESS TO THEIR FELLOW MAN NO MATTER WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK, MORE THAN HE DESIRES TO SEE PRIESTS FOLLOWING RIGID RITUALS OF THE LAW OF MOSES, AT LEAST IN THIS REGARD FOR ANY SABBATH EMERGENCY.)
“FOR THE SON OF MAN IS LORD EVEN OF THE SABBATH DAY.”
(COMMENTARY: JESUS MAKES A THINLY VEILED REFERENCE TO HIMSELF. THIS ALSO MUST HAVE BEEN ANOTHER GOOD SHOCK TO THE PHARISEES.)
JESUS DEPARTED FROM THERE AND WENT INTO THEIR SYNAGOGUE.
THERE WAS A MAN THERE WITH A WITHERED HAND AND THE PHARISEES ASKED JESUS, “IS IT LAWFUL TO HEAL ON THE SABBATH?” (THAT THEY MIGHT ACCUSE HIM.)
AND JESUS SAID TO THEM, “WHAT MAN SHALL THERE BE AMONG YOU, THAT SHALL HAVE ONE SHEEP, AND IF IT FALL INTO A PIT ON THE SABBATH DAY, WILL HE NOT LAY HOLD ON IT, AND LIFT IT OUT? HOW MUCH THEN IS A MAN BETTER THAN A SHEEP? WHEREFORE IT IS LAWFUL TO DO WELL ON THE SABBATH DAYS.”
“THEN SAID JESUS TO THE MAN, STRETCH FORTH YOUR HAND. AND HE STRETCHED IT FORTH; AND IT WAS RESTORED WHOLE, LIKE AS THE OTHER.
THEN THE PHARISEES WENT OUT, AND HELD COUNCIL AGAINST HIM, HOW THEY MIGHT DESTROY HIM.
BUT WHEN JESUS KNEW IT HE LEFT FROM THERE: AND GREAT MULTITUDES FOLLOWED HIM, AND HE HEALED THEM ALL; AND CHARGED THEM THAT THEY SHOULD NOT MAKE HIM KNOWN.”
THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY THE PROPHET ISAIAH SAYING, “BEHOLD MY SERVANT, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED, IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL PLEASED: I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL SHOW JUDGEMENT TO THE GENTILES. HE SHALL NOT STRIVE, NOR CRY; NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS. A BRUISED REED SHALL HE NOT BREAK, AND SMOKING FLAX SHALL HE NOT QUENCH, TILL HE SEND FORTH JUDGEMENT UNTO VICTORY. AND IN HIS NAME SHALL THE GENTILES TRUST.”
(COMMENTARY: THE GENTILES WOULD TRUST HIM BECAUSE UNLIKE THE JEWS, THEY WERE READY TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD.)
THEN WAS BROUGHT TO HIM ONE POSSESSED WITH A DEVIL, BLIND, AND DUMB: AND HE HEALED HIM, INSOMUCH THAT THE MAN BOTH SPAKE AND SAW.
AND ALL THE PEOPLE WERE AMAZED, AND SAID, “IS NOT THIS THE SON OF DAVID?”
BUT WHEN THE PHARISEES HEARD IT, THEY SAID, “THIS FELLOW DOES NOT CAST OUT DEVILS, BUT BY BEELZEBUB THE PRINCE OF THE DEVILS.”
AND JESUS KNEW THEIR THOUGHTS, AND SAID TO THEM, “EVERY KINGDOM DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF IS BROUGHT TO DESOLATION; AND EVERY CITY OR HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF SHALL NOT STAND: AND IF SATAN CAST OUT SATAN, HE IS DIVIDED AGAINST HIMSELF; HOW SHALL THEN HIS KINGDOM STAND? AND IF I BY BEELZEBUB CAST OUT DEVILS, BY WHOM DO YOUR CHILDREN CAST THEM OUT? THEREFORE THEY SHALL BE YOUR JUDGES. BUT IF I CAST OUT DEVILS BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS COME TO YOU.
“OR ELSE HOW CAN ONE ENTER INTO A STRONG MAN’S HOUSE, AND SPOIL HIS GOODS, EXCEPT HE FIRST BIND THE STRONG MAN? AND THEN HE WILL SPOIL HIS HOUSE.”
“HE THAT IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME; AND HE THAT GATHERS NOT WITH ME SCATTERS ABROAD.”
(COMMENTARY: IF YOU ARE NOT A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST THEN YOU FOLLOW THE DEVIL, IF YOU ARE NOT OUT GATHERING OTHERS TO FOLLOW CHRIST THEN YOU ARE THE CHAOS OF SEPARATIONS AND DIVISIONS INSPIRED OF THE DEVIL.)
“ALL MANNER OF SIN AND BLASPHEMY SHALL BE FORGIVEN MEN: BUT THE BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST SHALL NOT BE FORGIVEN MEN.”
“AND WHOSOEVER SPEAKS A WORD AGAINST THE SON OF MAN, IT SHALL BE FORGIVEN HIM: BUT WHOSOEVER SPEAKS AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST, IT SHALL NOT BE FORGIVEN HIM, NEITHER IN THIS WORLD, NEITHER IN THE WORLD TO COME.”
“EITHER MAKE THE TREE GOOD, AND HIS FRUIT GOOD; OR ELSE MAKE THE TREE CORRUPT, AND HIS FRUIT CORRUPT: FOR THE TREE IS KNOWN BY HIS FRUIT.”
“O GENERATION OF VIPERS, HOW CAN YOU, BEING EVIL, SPEAK GOOD THINGS? FOR OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKS.”
“O GOOD MAN OUT OF THE GOOD TREASURE OF THE HEART BRINGS FORTH GOOD THINGS: AND AN EVIL MAN OUT OF THE EVIL TREASURE BRINGS FORTH EVIL THINGS.”
“EVERY IDLE WORD THAT MEN SHALL SPEAK, THEY SHALL GIVE ACCOUNT THEREOF IN THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT.”
“FOR BY YOUR WORDS YOU SHALL BE JUSTIFIED, AND BY YOUR WORDS SHALL YOU BE CONDEMNED.”
THEN CERTAIN SCRIBES OF THE PHARISEES ANSWERED, SAYING, “MASTER, WE WOULD SEE A SIGN FROM YOU.”
HE ANSWERED, “AN EVIL AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION SEEKS AFTER A SIGN; AND THERE SHALL BE NO SIGN GIVEN TO IT, BUT THE SIGN OF THE PROPHET JONAH,” —
“FOR AS JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND NIGHTS IN THE WHALES BELLY; SO SHALL THE SON OF MAN BE THREE DAYS AND NIGHTS IN THE HEART OF THE EARTH.”
“THE MEN OF NINEVEH SHALL RISE IN JUDGEMENT WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SHALL CONDEMN IT : BECAUSE THEY REPENTED AT THE PREACHING OF JONAH; AND, BEHOLD, A GREATER THAN JONAH IS HERE.”
(COMMENTARY: AGAIN CHRIST SHAKES UP THE PHARISEES BY FORESHADOWING HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION IN THREE DAYS, AND BY MENTIONING THAT HE IS GREATER THAN THE PROPHET JONAH. PLUS CHRIST VERIFIES THAT THE JONAH AND THE WHALE STORY IS TRUE!)
“THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH (QUEEN OF SHEBA, SHEBA IS NOW SOUTHERN ARABIA) SHALL RISE UP IN JUDGEMENT WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SHALL CONDEMN IT: FOR SHE CAME FROM THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH TO HEAR THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON; AND BEHOLD, A GREATER THAN SOLOMON IS HERE.”
(COMMENTARY: ONCE AGAIN, CHRIST BLEW THE PHARISEES MIND’S WITH THIS COMMENT OF HIS BEING GREATER THAN SOLOMON.)
CHRIST SPEAKS CONCERNING EVIL SPIRITS ~
“WHEN THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT IS GONE OUT OF A MAN, HE WALKS THROUGH DRY PLACES, SEEKING REST, AND FINDING NONE. THEN HE SAYS, I WILL RETURN TO MY HOUSE FROM WHERE I CAME OUT; AND WHEN HE IS COME, HE FINDS IT EMPTY, SWEPT, AND GARNISHED. THEN HE GOES AND TAKES SEVEN OTHER SPIRITS MORE WICKED THAN HIMSELF, AND THEY ENTER IN AND DWELL THERE: AND THE LAST STATE OF THAT MAN IS WORSE THAN THE FIRST. EVEN SO SHALL IT BE ALSO UNTO THIS WICKED GENERATION.”
WHILE JESUS STILL TALKED TO THE PEOPLE, HIS MOTHER AND HIS BRETHREN STOOD OUTSIDE, DESIRING TO SPEAK TO HIM.
HE ANSWERED WITH, “WHO IS MY MOTHER? AND WHO ARE MY BRETHREN? HE STRETCHED FORTH HIS HAND TOWARD HIS DISCIPLES, AND SAID, “BEHOLD MY MOTHER AND MY BRETHREN!”
“FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL DO THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN, THE SAME IS MY BROTHER, AND SISTER, AND MOTHER.”
SAINT MATTHEW CHAPTER 13 SYNOPSIS:
JESUS SAT BY THE SEASIDE AND SO GREAT A MULTITUDE GATHERED THAT HE WENT INTO A SHIP WHILE THEY STOOD ON THE SHORE.
HE SPOKE MANY THINGS TO THEM IN PARABLES SAYING, “BEHOLD, A SOWER WENT FORTH TO SOW (MEANING CHRIST SPREADS THE SEED OF THE GOSPEL). AND WHEN HE SOWED, SOME SEEDS FELL BY THE WAYSIDE, AND THE FOWLS CAME AND DEVOURED THEM.
(COMMENTARY: SOME OF THE SEEDS OF THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL WERE WASTED ON UNFRUITFUL MEN).
SOME FELL UPON STONY PLACES, WHERE THEY HAD NOT MUCH EARTH: AND THEY DID NOT TAKE ROOT. WHEN THE SUN CAME IT SCORCHED THEM AND THEY WITHERED AWAY.”
(COMMENTARY: THE GOSPEL WAS TAUGHT TO MEN WITH STONY HEARTS WHO WOULD NOT ALLOW IT A PLACE IN THEIR LIVES. THE SUN/ ACTIONS AND EVENTS OF THE PASSING DAY, CAUSED THE MESSAGE TO WITHER AWAY IN THEIR HEARTS.)
“AND SOME FELL AMONG THORNS; AND THE THORNS SPRANG UP, AND CHOKED THEM.”
(COMMENTARY: MEANING SOME PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED THE WORD OF THE GOSPEL FELL AMONG “THE THORNS OF SOCIETY” WHOM RAN THE WORD AWAY FROM THE HEARTS OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAD RECEIVED IT. THIS IS A REFERENCE TO PEER PRESSURE.)
“BUT OTHERS FELL INTO GOOD GROUND, AND BROUGHT FORTH FRUIT, SOME A HUNDREDFOLD, SOME SIXTYFOLD, SOME THIRTYFOLD.”
“HE WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR.”
AND THE DISCIPLES CAME, AND SAID, “WHY DO YOU SPEAK IN PARABLES TO THE PEOPLE?”
CHRIST ANSWERED, “BECAUSE IT IS GIVEN TO YOU TO KNOW THE MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, BUT TO THEM IT IS NOT GIVEN.”
(COMMENTARY: THE DISCIPLES UNDERSTOOD THE TRUTHS CHRIST SPOKE BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT UNDERSTAND HAD OBVIOUSLY NOT RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT. THIS IS WHY IT IS HARD FOR SECULARIZED INDIVIDUALS OR NON-CHRISTIANS TO UNDERSTAND THE WORDS OF CHRIST. THEY HAVE TO OPEN THEMSELVES UP TO RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST, THESE TEACHINGS ARE ONLY MINIMALLY UNDERSTOOD BY THE HUMAN INTELLECT.)
“FOR WHOSOEVER HAS, (RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT) TO HIM SHALL BE GIVEN AND HE SHALL HAVE MORE ABUNDANCE: BUT WHOSOEVER HAS NOT (RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT) FROM HIM SHALL BE TAKEN AWAY EVEN THAT HE HAS.”
(COMMENTARY: THE LONGER WE ENDURE LIFE WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE LESS WE TRULY KNOW ABOUT LIFE, OR ABOUT THE LIFE IN CHRIST, WHICH IS THE TRUE MEANING AND MEASURE OF OUR EXISTENCE.)
“THEREFORE I SPEAK TO THEM IN PARABLES: BECAUSE THEY SEEING SEE NOT; AND HEARING THEY HEAR NOT, NEITHER DO THEY UNDERSTAND. THEY ARE THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAH WHICH SAID THIS VERY THING OF THEM.”
“FOR THIS PEOPLE’S HEART IS WAXED VULGAR AND OBSCENE, 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 (TO THE GOSPEL), AND I SHOULD HEAL THEM.”
(COMMENTARY: HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY IS NEVER AT ITS PEAK OUTSIDE OF CHRIST. I CAN TELL YOU THAT CHRIST IS THE ONLY MEANS OF TRUE HEALING. I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN HEALED OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTIONS AT AN EARLY AGE, AND OTHER MUCH MORE SERIOUS ILLNESSES OVER TIME THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE NAME OF JESUS THE CHRIST! I HAVE DETAILED AND DOCUMENTED RECORDS AND THE TESTIMONIES OF MANY CREDIBLE WITNESSES FOR THE THINGS I HAVE EXPERIENCED. I HAVE REAL LIFE EVIDENCE OF THE WHAT CHRIST DOES FOR PEOPLE IN TROUBLE.)
“BUT BLESSED ARE YOUR EYES, FOR THEY SEE: AND YOUR EARS, FOR THEY HEAR.”
“FOR MANY PROPHETS AND RIGHTEOUS MEN HAVE DESIRED TO SEE THOSE THINGS WHICH YOU SEE, AND HAVE NOT SEEN THEM; AND TO HEAR THOSE THINGS WHICH YOU HEAR, AND HAVE NOT HEARD THEM.”
“HEAR YOU THEREFORE THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER. WHEN ANY ONE HEARS THE WORD OF THE KINGDOM, AND DOESN’T UNDERSTAND IT, THEN COMES THE WICKED ONE (SATAN), AND CATCHES AWAY THAT WHICH WAS SOWN IN HIS HEART. THIS HE WHICH RECEIVED SEED BY THE WAY SIDE. (OR WHILE ON THE ROAD THEY HEAR THE GOSPEL IN PASSING.)
“BUT HE THAT RECEIVED THE SEED INTO STONY PLACES (THEIR HARDENED HEART), THE SAME IS HE THAT HEARS THE WORD, AND WITH JOY RECEIVES IT.”
“YET HAS HE NOT ROOT IN HIMSELF (THE GOSPEL HAS NOT TAKEN ROOT) BUT ENDURES FOR AWHILE: AND WHEN TRIBULATION AND PERSECUTION ARISES BECAUSE OF THE WORD, BY AND BY HE IS OFFENDED.”
(COMMENTARY: I HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE WHO FIND THE TRUTH IN CHRIST AND THEN BECOME OFFENDED OR ASHAMED THROUGH LIFE TRIALS AND THEN LEAVE THE GOSPEL BEHIND.)
“HE ALSO THAT RECEIVED SEED AMONG THE THORNS IS HE THAT HEARS THE WORD; AND THE CARE OF THIS WORLD, AND THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, CHOKE THE WORD, AND HE BECOME UNFRUITFUL.”
(COMMENTARY: MATERIALISM AND THE PURSUIT OF SURFEITING, MONEY, ENTERTAINMENTS CAN EASILY CHOKE THE GOSPEL IN A PERSON’S LIFE.)
“BUT HE THAT RECEIVED SEED INTO THE GOOD GROUND IS HE THAT HEARS THE WORD, AND UNDERSTANDS IT; WHICH ALSO BEARS FRUIT, AND BRINGS FORTH, SOME AND HUNDREDFOLD, SOME SIXTY, SOME THIRTY.”
ANOTHER PARABLE CHRIST PUT FORTH TO THE MULTITUDE SAYING,
“THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IN LIKE A MAN WHICH SOWED GOOD SEED IN HIS FIELD. BUT WHILE MEN SLEPT, HIS ENEMY CAME AND SOWED TARES (CHOKING WEEDS) AMONG THE WHEAT, AND WENT HIS WAY.”
(COMMENTARY: CHRIST IS THE MAN SOWING GOOD SEED, SATAN SOWS TARES/WEEDS.)
“BUT WHEN THE BLADE WAS SPRUNG UP, AND BROUGHT FORTH FRUIT, THEN APPEARED THE TARES ALSO.
SO THE SERVANTS OF THE HOUSEHOLDER CAME AND SAID TO HIM, ‘SIR, DID YOU NOT SOW GOOD SEED IN THE FIELD? FROM WHERE THEN HAS IT TARES?’
“HE SAID TO THEM, ‘AN ENEMY HAS DONE THIS.’
THE SERVANTS SAID TO HIM, ‘WILL YOU WANT US TO GO AND GATHER THEM UP?’
“THE HOUSEHOLDER SAID, ‘NO: UNLESS WHILE YOU GATHER THE TARES, YOU MIGHT PULL UP SOME OF THE WHEAT WITHIN THEM. LET BOTH GROW TOGETHER UNTIL THE HARVEST; WHEN I WILL SAY TO THE REAPERS, GATHER TOGETHER FIRST THE TARES, AND BIND THEM IN BUNDLES TO BURN THEM, (THE TARES ARE THE WICKED PEOPLE OF EARTH TO BE BURNED AT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST) BUT GATHER THE WHEAT INTO MY BARN.’ (THE RIGHTEOUS WILL BE GATHERED TO CHRIST).
ANOTHER PARABLE CHRIST POSED TO THE MULTITUDES,
“THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED, WHICH A MAN TOOK, AND SOWED IN HIS FIELD. WHICH INDEED IS THE LEAST OF ALL SEEDS: BUT WHEN IT IS GROWN, IT IS THE GREATEST AMONG HERBS, AND BECOMES A TREE, SO THAT THE BIRDS OF THE AIR COME AND LODGE IN THE BRANCHES THEREOF.”
ANOTHER PARABLE CHRIST SPOKE TO THEM,
“THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE LEAVEN (A SUBSTANCE WHICH INDUCES A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER) WHICH A WOMEN TOOK, AND HID IN THREE MEASURES OF MEAL, TILL THE WHOLE WAS LEAVENED.”
ALL THESE THINGS JESUS SAID TO THE MULTITUDES IN PARABLES; AND WITHOUT A PARABLE HE DID NOT SPEAK TO THEM.
(COMMENTARY: WHY DID CHRIST SPEAK IN PARABLES? HE MEANT TO VEIL THE TRUE MEANING. TO UNRIGHTEOUS INDIVIDUALS THEY ARE MERE STORIES, WHILE TO THE SPIRITUALLY WISE THEY CONVEY THE SECRETS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.)
THAT IS MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY THE MOUTHS OF THE PROPHETS, SAYING, I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL UTTER THINGS WHICH HAVE BEEN KEPT SECRET FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.
THEN JESUS SENT THE MULTITUDE AWAY, AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE: AND HIS DISCIPLES CAME SAYING, “DECLARE TO US THE PARABLE OF THE TARES OF THE FIELD.”
HE ANSWERED TO THEM, “HE THAT SOWS THE GOOD SEED IS THE SON OF MAN (REFERRING TO HIMSELF).
THE FIELD IS THE WORLD;
THE GOOD SEED ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM;
BUT THE TARES ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE WICKED ONE;
THE ENEMY THAT SOWED THEM IS THE DEVIL;
AND THE HARVEST IS THE END OF THE WORLD.”
(COMMENTARY: OR TEOTWAWKI – THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT; THE END OF THE CORRUPT SECULAR SOCIETY WE NOW LIVE IN AND THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ONE GOVERNED BY CHRIST);
AND THE REAPERS ARE THE ANGELS.
AS THEREFORE THE TARES ARE GATHERED AND BURNED IN THE FIRE; SO SHALL IT BE IN THE END OF THIS WORLD.
THE 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; AND SHALL CAST THEM INTO A FURNACE OF FIRE: THERE SHALL BE WAILING AND GNASHING OF TEETH.
THEN SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN IN THE KINGDOM OF THEIR FATHER. WHOEVER HAS EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR.
“AGAIN, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A TREASURE HID IN A FIELD; WHICH WHEN A MAN FOUND, HE HIDES, AND FOR JOY GOES AND SELLS ALL THAT HE HAS, AND BUYS THE FIELD.”
AGAIN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A NET CAST INTO THE SEA, GATHERING FISH OF EVERY KIND. WHICH, WHEN FULL, THEY DRAW TO SHORE, GATHERING THE GOOD INTO VESSELS, BUT CASTING AWAY THE BAD. SO SHALL IT BE AT THE END OF THE WORLD; THE ANGELS SHALL COME FORTH, AND SEVER THE WICKED FROM AMONG THE JUST. AND SHALL CAST THEM INTO THE FURNACE OF FIRE: THERE SHALL BE WAILING AND GNASHING OF TEETH.
JESUS SAID TO THEM, “HAVE YOU UNDERSTOOD ALL THESE THINGS?” THEY SAID, “YES, LORD.” THEN HE SAID, “THEREFORE EVERY SCRIBE WHICH IS INSTRUCTED IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A MAN THAT IS A HOUSEHOLDER, WHICH BRINGS FORTH OUT OF HIS TREASURE THINGS NEW AND OLD.”
WHEN JESUS HAD FINISHED THESE PARABLES, HE DEPARTED TO NAZARETH (HIS HOMETOWN).
WHEN HE CAME IN HIS OWN COUNTRY, HE TAUGHT THEM IN THEIR SYNAGOGUE, INSOMUCH THAT THEY WERE ASTONISHED AND SAID, “WHERE DID THIS MAN GET HIS WISDOM, AND THESE MIGHTY WORKS? IS NOT THIS THE CARPENTER’S SON? IS NOT HIS MOTHER CALLED MARY? AND HIS BRETHREN JAMES, AND JOSES, AND SIMON, AND JUDAS? AND HIS SISTERS, ARE THEY NOT ALL WITH US? WHERE DID THIS MAN GET ALL THESE THINGS?”
AND THEY WERE OFFENDED IN HIM,
BUT JESUS SAID TO THEM,
“A PROPHET IS NOT WITHOUT HONOUR, SAVE IN HIS OWN COUNTRY, AND IN HIS OWN HOUSE.” AND HE DID NOT MANY MIGHTY WORKS THERE BECAUSE OF THEIR UNBELIEF.
NEXT . . . SAINT MATTHEW CONTINUES