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Matthew 11:1-6: Trapped by an offensive misinterpretation of Jesus
1. Matthew 11:1-6: Trapped by an offensive misinterpretation of Jesus
2. Matthew 11
The discourse and ideas presented by Jesus in Matthew 11 were started in the previous chapter, Matthew 10.
3. Matthew 11:1-4 Context
The context is John the Baptist sending his followers to determine if Jesus is the Messiah or should they look for another.
Matthew 11:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. [kjv]
11:2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, [kjv]
11:3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? [kjv]
11:4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: [kjv]
The Greek for "
shew" as that of "
proclaiming".
- Not "go and show" but "go and explain" .
- Not "come and see" but "come and understand" .
4. Matthew 11:1 It came to pass
Matthew 11:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. [kjv]
και εγενετο οτε ετελεσεν ο ιησους διατασσων τοις δωδεκα μαθηταις αυτου μετεβη εκειθεν του διδασκειν και κηρυσσειν εν ταις πολεσιν αυτων [gnt]
- Not "go and show" but "go and explain" .
5. Matthew 11:1
KJV: And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
Greek: και εγενετο οτε ετελεσεν ο ιησους διατασσων τοις δωδεκα μαθηταις αυτου μετεβη εκειθεν του διδασκειν και κηρυσσειν εν ταις πολεσιν αυτων
6. Matthew 11:2 Prison
Matthew 11:2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, [kjv]
ο δε ιωαννης ακουσας εν τω δεσμωτηριω τα εργα του χριστου πεμψας δια των μαθητων αυτου [gnt]
The Greek translated as "
prison" is that of a place where someone is "
bound". The ending is the same as used by Jesus for "
sanctuary" or "
altar". This word is used by Paul and in the
LXX (Septuagint).
7. Strongs - prison
- *G1201 *4 δεσμωτήριον (des-mo-tay'-ree-on) : from a derivative of G1199 (equivalent to G1196); a place of bondage, i.e. a dungeon:--prison.
- δεσμωτηριον *2
- Acts 5:21 ... and sent to the prison to have them brought.
- Acts 5:23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with ...
- δεσμωτηριω
- Matthew 11:2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent ...
- δεσμωτηριου
- Acts 16:26 ... earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately ...
8. Usage - prison
*G1201 *4 δεσμωτήριον (des-mo-tay'-ree-on) : from a derivative of G1199 (equivalent to G1196); a place of bondage, i.e. a dungeon:--prison.
 |
Words: δεσμωτηριον=2 δεσμωτηριου δεσμωτηριω
|
9. Matthew 11:2
KJV: Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
Greek: ο δε ιωαννης ακουσας εν τω δεσμωτηριω τα εργα του χριστου πεμψας δυο δια των μαθητων αυτου
10. Matthew 11:3 Question
Matthew 11:3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? [kjv]
ειπεν αυτω συ ει ο ερχομενος η ετερον προσδοκωμεν [gnt]
The Greek word for "
another" is that of a
different (in some way) "
another".
The Greek word for "
look for" is that of an "
expectation" or "
opinion".
11. Strongs - look for
- *G4328 *16 προσδοκάω (pros-dok-ah'-o) : from G4314 and dokeuo (to watch); to anticipate (in thought, hope or fear); by implication, to await:--(be in) expect(-ation), look (for), when looked, tarry, wait for.
- προσδοκωμεν *4
- Matthew 11:3 ... thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
- Luke 7:19 ... thou he that should come? or look we for another?
- Luke 7:20 ... he that should come? or look we for another?
- 2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens ...
- προσδοκων *3
- Luke 1:21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled ...
- Acts 3:5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
- Acts 10:24 ... Cæsarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together ...
- προσδοκωντες *3
- Luke 8:40 ... for they were all waiting for him.
- Acts 27:33 ... is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
- 2 Peter 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found ...
- προσδοκα *2
- Matthew 24:50 ... a day when he looketh not for him, and in ...
- Luke 12:46 ... a day when he looketh not for him, and at ...
- προσδοκωντος
- Luke 3:15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused ...
- προσεδοκων
- Acts 28:6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and ...
- προσδοκωντων
- Acts 28:6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and ...
- προσδοκωντας
- 2 Peter 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, ...
12. Usage - look for
*G4328 *16 προσδοκάω (pros-dok-ah'-o) : from G4314 and dokeuo (to watch); to anticipate (in thought, hope or fear); by implication, to await:--(be in) expect(-ation), look (for), when looked, tarry, wait for.
 |
Words: προσδοκα=2 προσδοκωμεν=4 προσδοκων=3 προσδοκωντας προσδοκωντες=3 προσδοκωντος προσδοκωντων προσεδοκων
|
13. Matthew 11:3
KJV: And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
Greek: ειπεν αυτω συ ει ο ερχομενος η ετερον προσδοκωμεν
14. Tell John
Matthew 11:4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: [kjv]
και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν αυτοις πορευθεντες απαγγειλατε ιωαννη α ακουετε και βλεπετε [gnt]
The Greek word for "
go" is the word used by Jesus in the Great Commission.
The Greek word translated as "
shew" is that of "
tell" or "
announce" as in being a "
messenger".
- Not "go and show" but "go and explain" .
The same root Greek word is used for "
angel" as a "
messenger" and comes from the Persian.
15. Usage - tell
*G518 *46 ἀπαγγέλλω (ap-ang-el'-lo) : from G575 and the base of G32; to announce:--bring word (again), declare, report, shew (again), tell.
 |
Words: απαγγειλαι=3 απαγγειλατε=5 απαγγειλον απαγγελει απαγγελλει απαγγελλομεν=2 απαγγελλοντας απαγγελλοντες απαγγελλουσιν απαγγελλων απαγγελω=2 απηγγειλαν=15 απηγγειλεν=10 απηγγελη απηγγελλον
|
16. Matthew 11:4
KJV: Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
Greek: και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν αυτοις πορευθεντες απαγγειλατε ιωαννη α ακουετε και βλεπετε
17. Matthew 11:5 Context
Jesus says to tell John the Baptist the following.
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]
| blind |
receive sight |
| lame |
walk |
| lepers |
cleansed |
| deaf |
hear |
| dead |
raised up |
| poor |
gospel preached |
|
These are recognized as "signs" of the Messiah.
This is what Jesus has been doing.
What should the church be doing?
What should believers be doing?
|
The next verse is interesting.
18. Matthew 11:1-6: Trapped by an offensive misinterpretation of Jesus
Matthew 11:6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]
και μακαριος εστιν ος αν μη σκανδαλισθη εν εμοι [gnt]
… blessid… sclaundrid … [wy]
… happy … offended … [ty]
Jesus is speaking.
- Have you ever been "blessed" (happy)?
- Have you ever been "offended" (attacked) by Jesus?
The Greek for "
blessed" here means "
happy" or "
content". The Greek for "
offended" means "
entrapped" or "
ensnared" but, as an idiom, means "
ensnare yourself" or "
deceive yourself" or "
are deceived by others" or "
misinterpret".
The Greek word translated as "
temptation" (related to the Greek for "
pirate") means to be "
examined" to see if you can be "
deceived" by what you believe is true.
Have you ever "
misinterpreted" what Jesus said? How do you know? What might have motivated this statement by Jesus? Let us investigate.
Jesus is not trying to deceive, but human nature being what it is, people often hear what they want to hear and so deceive themselves with an unintended trap.
19. Matthew 11:6
KJV: And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me.
Greek: και μακαριος εστιν ος εαν αν μη σκανδαλισθη εν εμοι
Latin: et beatus est qui non fuerit scandalizatus in me
Wycliffe: And he is blessid, that shal not be sclaundrid in me.
Tyndale: And happy is he that is not offended by me.
Luther: und selig ist, der sich nicht an mir ärgert.
Spanish: Y bienaventurado es el que no fuere escandalizado en mí.
20. Matthew 5: A eulogy of some blessed words on being blissfully happy
Each of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 start with the word
"blessed". What does it mean to say someone is "
blessed"?
The Latin word
"beati" ≈ "happy, fortunate, blessed" and is the origin of the English word
"beatitude" and the name of the "
Beatitudes". Latin has
one word as "
fortunate" for which Greek has
two separate words:
- "blessed" from the Greek "happy" or "content".
- "blessed" from the Greek "good words" as in "eulogy".
Observation: It is easier for a priest, pastor, etc., to wave their hands and
"bless" you than to actually make you
"happy".
In English, both words are merged as one
"blessed" and, historically, conflated with the word "
bliss" which is associated with "
joy".
21. Matthew 11:6: Idiomatic misinterpretations that offend
Matthew 11:6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]
και μακαριος εστιν ος αν μη σκανδαλισθη εν εμοι [gnt]
… blessid… sclaundrid … [wy]
… happy … offended … [ty]
The ancient Greek word
"σκάνδαλον" ≈ "trap, snare" as in
entice,
tempt, etc. Jesus is speaking in Matthew 11:6.
The Greek word
"blessed" here means
"happy". The
"offended" means
"entrapped" as in being
"tricked" or
"deceived". Or is it? How could someone be
"deceived" by Jesus? How could someone be "
deceived" by themselves or someone else about what Jesus really means?
A simple
idiom as
"misinterpret" may explain this and other verses in the
GNT (Greek New Testament).
22. Matthew 11:5
KJV: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Greek: τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται
23. Luke 7:22-23
24. Luke 7:22
KJV: Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
Greek: και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν αυτοις πορευθεντες απαγγειλατε ιωαννη α ειδετε και ηκουσατε οτι τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν νεκροι εγειρονται πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται
25. Luke 7:23
KJV: And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Greek: και μακαριος εστιν ος εαν μη σκανδαλισθη εν εμοι
26. Blind
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, … [kjv]
τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"τυφλός" ≈ "blind, dark, unseen" and is related to the English word
"deaf" and the German word
"taub" ≈ "deaf".
The meaning can be literal or figurative depending on context.
What did the blind say to the drapes?
For all in tents, it's curtains for you! Did you see that blind joke coming?
[coffee stains, semicolons]
27. Song: Open my eyes that I may see
Psalms 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. [kjv]
… עיני … [he]
αποκαλυψον τους οφθαλμους μου και κατανοησω τα θαυμασια σου εκ του νομου σου [lxx]
The hymn "
Open my eyes that I may see" was based on Psalms 119:18. Additional verses cover the
"ears", "
mouth" and "
mind".
It was written in 1895 by
Clara Scott (American composer) . Growing up on a farm in the mid-west, the family moved to Chicago. She was the first woman to publish a volume of anthems. In 1897, returning from a funeral with some friends, she was thrown from her carriage and died instantly from the accident at age 55.
[hymn 486]
28. Verse 1
Open my eyes that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me.
Place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
29. Looking up
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, … [kjv]
τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"αναβλέπω" ≈ "looking up, looking ahead" and could, in a figurative sense, mean recovering sight where one was oblivious to something before. The word comes from two Greek words.
The modern Greek word
"αναβλέπω" (a-na-VLEH-po) ≈ "see again, look up" having been influenced by usage of the word in the
GNT.
Jesus literally gave the "
blind" the ability to "
see" but the same words can mean looking up or ahead to something to which one was, before, oblivious.
30. Looking up
Matthew 14:19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed… [kjv]
και κελευσας τους οχλους ανακλιθηναι επι του χορτου λαβων τους πεντε αρτους και τους δυο ιχθυας αναβλεψας εις τον ουρανον ευλογησεν και κλασας εδωκεν τοις μαθηταις τους αρτους οι δε μαθηται τοις οχλοις [gnt]
Mark 7:34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. [kjv]
και αναβλεψας εις τον ουρανον εστεναξεν και λεγει αυτω εφφαθα ο εστιν διανοιχθητι [gnt]
Luke 19:5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. [kjv]
και ως ηλθεν επι τον τοπον αναβλεψας ο ιησους ειπεν προς αυτον ζακχαιε σπευσας καταβηθι σημερον γαρ εν τω οικω σου δει με μειναι [gnt]
What is good advice (music to the ears) for a blind musician?
You need to see sharp (C ♯) or you will be flat (B♭). That is a natural (A ♮) joke.
31. Matthew 14:19
KJV: And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
Greek: και κελευσας τους οχλους ανακλιθηναι επι τους χορτους και του χορτου λαβων τους πεντε αρτους και τους δυο ιχθυας αναβλεψας εις τον ουρανον ευλογησεν και κλασας εδωκεν τοις μαθηταις τους αρτους οι δε μαθηται τοις οχλοις
32. Mark 7:34
KJV: And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
Greek: και αναβλεψας εις τον ουρανον εστεναξεν και λεγει αυτω εφφαθα ο εστιν διανοιχθητι
33. Luke 19:5
KJV: And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
Greek: και ως ηλθεν επι τον τοπον αναβλεψας ο ιησους ειδεν αυτον και ειπεν προς αυτον ζακχαιε σπευσας καταβηθι σημερον γαρ εν τω οικω σου δει με μειναι
34. Looking up
Mark 8:24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. [kjv]
και αναβλεψας ελεγεν βλεπω τους ανθρωπους οτι ως δενδρα ορω περιπατουντας [gnt]
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, … [kjv]
τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]
Here are some more seedy jokes to blind-side you.
Why is it hard for blind people to get a medical appointment?
They never get to see the doctor.
What happened to the blind carpenter?
He picked up a hammer and saw. I hope you can see past the poor construction used here.
35. Mark 8:24
KJV: And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
Greek: και αναβλεψας ελεγεν βλεπω τους ανθρωπους οτι ως δενδρα ορω περιπατουντας
36. Strongs - look up
- *G308 *25 ἀναβλέπω (an-ab-lep'-o) : from G303 and G991; to look up; by implication, to recover sight:--look (up), see, receive sight.
- αναβλεψας *7
- Matthew 14:19 ... the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, ...
- Mark 6:41 ... and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and ...
- Mark 7:34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and ...
- Mark 8:24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as ...
- Luke 9:16 ... the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed ...
- Luke 19:5 ... came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and ...
- Luke 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their ...
- ανεβλεψεν *5
- Mark 10:52 ... whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus ...
- Luke 18:43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, ...
- John 9:15 ... asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put ...
- John 9:18 ... blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
- Acts 9:18 ... as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
- αναβλεπουσιν *2
- Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers ...
- Luke 7:22 ... heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers ...
- αναβλεψω *2
- Mark 10:51 ... unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
- Luke 18:41 ... he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
- αναβλεψον *2
- Luke 18:42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
- Acts 22:13 ... Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
- ανεβλεψα *2
- John 9:11 ... I went and washed, and I received sight.
- Acts 22:13 ... Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
- ανεβλεψαν
- Matthew 20:34 ... immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
- αναβλεψασαι
- Mark 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: ...
- αναβλεψαντος
- John 9:18 ... blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
- αναβλεψη
- Acts 9:12 ... his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
- αναβλεψης
- Acts 9:17 ... hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
37. Usage - look up
 |
Words: αναβλεπουσιν=2 αναβλεψαντος αναβλεψας=7 αναβλεψασαι αναβλεψη αναβλεψης αναβλεψον=2 αναβλεψω=2 ανεβλεψα=2 ανεβλεψαν ανεβλεψεν=5
|
*G308 *25 ἀναβλέπω (an-ab-lep'-o) : from G303 and G991; to look up; by implication, to recover sight:--look (up), see, receive sight.
Notice how Strongs gives the usual definition of "
look up" but then needs to dance around to justify the definition of "
recover sight".
The ancient Greek word
"αναβλέπω" ≈ "looking up, looking ahead".
38. Matthew 15:14
Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. [kjv]
αφετε αυτους τυφλοι εισιν οδηγοι τυφλος δε τυφλον εαν οδηγη αμφοτεροι εις βοθυνον πεσουνται [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"τυφλός" ≈ "blind, dark, unseen". Jesus sometimes uses the Greek word for "
blind" in a figurative sense and not in a literal sense.
To not fall into a ditch, one must be aware of the surroundings.
English saying:
Turn a blind eye.
39. Astronomy
Astronomers study the stars.
Thales of Miletus was a pre-Socratic philosopher who studied astronomy. A story about him was included in
Aesop's Fables.
Thomas Aquinas (late 1200's) writes the following.
When Thales was leaving his house to look at the stars he fell into a ditch; while he was bewailing the fact an old woman remarked to him: "You, O Thales, cannot see what is at your feet and you expect to see what is in the heavens?"
Why did the blind man fall into the well?
He couldn't see that well. Water you saying. No. Well. It was dry humor as well.
Astronomy is a very difficult subject.
It's over my head! Watch out. What did I see? No comet.
40. Matthew 15:14
KJV: Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Greek: αφετε αυτους οδηγοι εισιν τυφλοι τυφλων εισιν οδηγοι τυφλος δε τυφλον εαν οδηγη αμφοτεροι εις βοθυνον πεσουνται
41. Lame and walk
Matthew 11:5 … and the lame walk, … [kjv]
τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"χωλός" ≈ "lame, limping". Figuratively, it meant maimed, imperfect, defective, etc.
*G5560 *14 χωλός (kho-los') : apparently a primary word; "halt", i.e. limping:--cripple, halt, lame.
42. Strongs - lame
- *G5560 *14 χωλός (kho-los') : apparently a primary word; "halt", i.e. limping:--cripple, halt, lame.
- χωλοι *4
- Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, ...
- Matthew 21:14 And the blind and the lame came to him in ...
- Luke 7:22 ... how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, ...
- Acts 8:7 ... taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
- χωλους *4
- Matthew 15:30 ... having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, ...
- Matthew 15:31 ... to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind ...
- Luke 14:13 ... call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
- Luke 14:21 ... and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
- χωλον *3
- Matthew 18:8 ... to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than ...
- Mark 9:45 ... better for thee to enter halt into life, than ...
- Hebrews 12:13 ... your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it ...
- χωλος *2
- Acts 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's ...
- Acts 14:8 ... impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's ...
- χωλων
- John 5:3 ... multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
43. Usage - lame
*G5560 *14 χωλός (kho-los') : apparently a primary word; "halt", i.e. limping:--cripple, halt, lame.
 |
Words: χωλοι=4 χωλον=3 χωλος=2 χωλους=4 χωλων
|
44. Lame jokes
Matthew 11:5 … and the lame walk, … [kjv]
This is the perfect place for some lame jokes!
I better walk that back. Wait! It's lame. How can it walk? One should not be running at the mouth when telling a lame joke. Instead, one should exercise restraint and not jump to conclusions. These are painfully lame jokes. Remember. No pain, no gain!
45. Walk
46. Colossians 2:6: Peripatetics
Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: [kjv]
ως ουν παρελαβετε τον χριστον ιησουν τον κυριον εν αυτω περιπατειτε [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"περιπατέω" ≈ "walk around" .
Aristotle, from Stagira, taught in Athens in the open rather than closed environments and had a habit of walking back and forth as he talked. One tradition has it that his followers were called "
peripatetics" for this reason.
Writing to a Greek audience, Paul appears to be saying that our walk should be with Jesus and not with the philosophy of man.
47. Song: Seek ye first
The hymn "
Seek ye first" is a popular praise song from 1972 by Karen Lafferty. Karen wrote the song in 1971 after a Bible Study on Matthew 6:33 at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, CA
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. [kjv]
ζητειτε δε πρωτον την βασιλειαν και την δικαιοσυνην αυτου και ταυτα παντα προστεθησεται υμιν [gnt]
The words are from this verse. Over time, others added additional verses from other scriptures.
48. Verse 1
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness;
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
49. Leper
Matthew 11:5 … the lepers are cleansed, … [kjv]
τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]
There are several related Greek words of interest here. The base word is the ancient Greek word
"λέπω" ≈ "peel".
- Scales as on a "fish".
- Small coin called a "mite".
- Skin disorder called "leprosy" - not (just) the modern Hanson's disease.
50. Strongs - scale
- *G3013 *1 λεπίς (lep-is') : from lepo (to peel); a flake:--scale.
- λεπιδες
- Acts 9:18 ... his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, ...
51. Usage - scale
 |
Words: λεπιδες
|
*G3013 *1 λεπίς (lep-is') : from lepo (to peel); a flake:--scale.
Acts 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. [kjv]
και ευθεως απεπεσαν αυτου απο των οφθαλμων ως λεπιδες ανεβλεψεν τε και αναστας εβαπτισθη [gnt]
… oculis … squamae … visum recepit … [v]
The ancient Greek word
"λεπίς" ≈ "scale, flake" as in the
"scale" of a fish. The Latin word
"squama" ≈ "scale, flake".
The ancient Greek word
"αναβλέπω" ≈ "looking up, looking ahead".
52. Acts 9:18
KJV: And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Greek: και ευθεως απεπεσον απεπεσαν αυτου απο των οφθαλμων αυτου ωσει ως λεπιδες ανεβλεψεν τε παραχρημα και αναστας εβαπτισθη
Latin: et confestim ceciderunt ab oculis eius tamquam squamae et visum recepit et surgens baptizatus est
53. Strongs - mite
- *G3016 *3 λεπτόν (lep-ton') : neuter of a derivative of the same as G3013; something scaled (light), i.e. a small coin:--mite.
- λεπτα *2
- Mark 12:42 ... widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
- Luke 21:2 ... casting in thither two mites.
- λεπτον
- Luke 12:59 ... till thou hast paid the very last mite.
54. Mark 12:42 Mite
 |
Words: λεπτα=2 λεπτον
|
*G3016 *3 λεπτόν (lep-ton') : neuter of a derivative of the same as G3013; something scaled (light), i.e. a small coin:--mite.
Mark 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. [kjv]
και ελθουσα μια χηρα πτωχη εβαλεν λεπτα δυο ο εστιν κοδραντης [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"λεπτόν" ≈ "small coin, small intestine" and is called a "
mite" in the
GNT. A "
mite" in the
KJV (King James Version) is a "
small coin". Before Greece adopted the Euro, the Lepton was the primary unit of currency in Greece. The word comes from the Greek word for "
scale".
55. Leptons
In physics, the English word
"lepton" is an elementary particle (of half-integer spin) such as an electron, neutrino, etc.
This is the modern Greek word for "
minute". Wait a minute, here are some small (minute) jokes.
I see you have a new watch.
Wait a minute. Is it a second hand watch? That was a timely joke.
56. Mark 12:42
KJV: And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
Greek: και ελθουσα μια χηρα πτωχη εβαλεν λεπτα δυο ο εστιν κοδραντης
Latin: cum venisset autem una vidua pauper misit duo minuta quod est quadrans
Wycliffe: But whanne a pore widewe was comun, sche keste two mynutis, that is, a ferthing.
Tyndale: And ther cam a certayne povre widowe and she threwe in two mytes which make a farthynge.
57. Strongs - leper
- *G3014 *4 λέπρα (lep'-rah) : from the same as G3013; scaliness, i.e. "leprosy":--leprosy.
- λεπρα *3
- Matthew 8:3 ... And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
- Mark 1:42 ... he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, ...
- Luke 5:13 ... be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
- λεπρας
- Luke 5:12 ... behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell ...
- *G3015 *9 λεπρός (lep-ros') : from the same as G3014 λέπρα; scaly, i.e. leprous (a leper):--leper.
- λεπροι *4
- Matthew 11:5 ... and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf ...
- Luke 4:27 And many lepers were in Israel ...
- Luke 7:22 ... see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, ...
- Luke 17:12 ... him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
- λεπρος *2
- Matthew 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, ...
- Mark 1:40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching ...
- λεπρου *2
- Matthew 26:6 ... in the house of Simon the leper,
- Mark 14:3 ... in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came ...
- λεπρους
- Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out ...
*G3014 *4 λέπρα (lep'-rah) : from the same as G3013; scaliness, i.e. "leprosy":--leprosy.
*G3015 *9 λεπρός (lep-ros') : from the same as G3014 λέπρα; scaly, i.e. leprous (a leper):--leper.
58. Usage - leper
 |
Words: λεπρα=3 λεπρας λεπροι=4 λεπρος=2 λεπρου=2 λεπρους
|
*G3014 *4 λέπρα (lep'-rah) : from the same as G3013; scaliness, i.e. "leprosy":--leprosy.
*G3015 *9 λεπρός (lep-ros') : from the same as G3014 λέπρα; scaly, i.e. leprous (a leper):--leper.
The ancient Greek word
"λέπρα" ≈ "skin disorder" and is called "
leprosy" in the
GNT (not the same as leprosy of today). To be "
cured" of this "
skin disorder" would be similar to a reptile shedding its scaly skin to be, in a sense, "
born anew".
The ancient disease called "
leprosy" does not appear to be the same as the modern "
Hansen's" disease.
59. Cleansed
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. [kjv]
μακαριοι οι καθαροι τη καρδια οτι αυτοι τον θεον οψονται [gnt]
11:5 … the lepers are cleansed, … [kjv]
τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"καθαρός" ≈ "clean, clear, pure".
A folk etymology is that the English name
"Catherine" comes from the ancient Greek word
"καθαρός" ≈ "clean, clear, pure" but it comes from the ancient Greek word
"Αἰκατερίνη" ≈ "Goddess Hecate". It is possible that they are related. Related English names are "
Caitlin", "
Karen" and "
Katrina".
60. Matthew 8:2-4
Matthew 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. [kjv]
και ιδου λεπρος προσελθων προσεκυνει αυτω λεγων κυριε εαν θελης δυνασαι με καθαρισαι [gnt]
8:3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. [kjv]
και εκτεινας την χειρα ηψατο αυτου λεγων θελω καθαρισθητι και ευθεως εκαθαρισθη αυτου η λεπρα [gnt]
8:4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. [kjv]
Some pastor's will preach on the "
Leper's prayer" from this (and related) verses. The Leper does not make a prayer in the modern sense. The Leper makes a request or puts forward a wish (the literal meaning of the Greek word).
Note: The Mark version has a disputed word (compassion or anger) not in Matthew or Luke. It is deceptive to preach on those disputed words or to conjecture and assert additional meanings for those disputed words.
61. Matthew 8:2
KJV: And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Greek: και ιδου λεπρος ελθων προσελθων προσεκυνει αυτω λεγων κυριε εαν θελης δυνασαι με καθαρισαι
62. Matthew 8:3
KJV: And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Greek: και εκτεινας την χειρα ηψατο αυτου ο ιησους λεγων θελω καθαρισθητι και ευθεως εκαθαρισθη αυτου η λεπρα
63. Matthew 8:4
KJV: And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
Greek: και λεγει αυτω ο ιησους ορα μηδενι ειπης αλλ αλλα υπαγε σεαυτον δειξον τω ιερει και προσενεγκε προσενεγκον το δωρον ο προσεταξεν μωσης μωυσης εις μαρτυριον αυτοις
64. Matthew 11:5 Deaf
Matthew 11:5 … and the deaf hear, … [kjv]
τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"κωφός" ≈ "dull, mute, deaf". The modern Greek word
"κουφός" (ku-FOS) ≈ "deaf" and whose meaning is influenced by translations of the
GNT.
The "
deaf" may not speak well and may be "
mute".
The English phrase
"turning a deaf ear" means not listening.
65. Strongs - deaf
- *G2974 *14 κωφός (ko-fos') : from G2875; blunted, i.e. (figuratively) of hearing (deaf) or speech (dumb):--deaf, dumb, speechless.
- κωφον *5
- Matthew 9:32 ... behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
- Matthew 12:22 ... blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake ...
- Mark 7:32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech ...
- Mark 9:25 ... unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge ...
- Luke 11:14 ... it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and ...
- κωφος *4
- Matthew 9:33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes ...
- Matthew 12:22 ... blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake ...
- Luke 1:22 ... unto them, and remained speechless.
- Luke 11:14 ... it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and ...
- κωφους *3
- Matthew 15:30 ... them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many ...
- Matthew 15:31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, ...
- Mark 7:37 ... well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
- κωφοι *2
- Matthew 11:5 ... the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, ...
- Luke 7:22 ... walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, ...
66. Usage - deaf
 |
Words: κωφοι=2 κωφον=5 κωφος=4 κωφους=3
|
*G2974 *14 κωφός (ko-fos') : from G2875; blunted, i.e. (figuratively) of hearing (deaf) or speech (dumb):--deaf, dumb, speechless.
The ancient Greek word
"κωφός" ≈ "dull, mute, deaf". The modern Greek word
"κουφός" (ku-FOS) ≈ "deaf" and whose meaning is influenced by translations of the
GNT.
67. Verse 2
Open my ears that I may hear
voices of truth thou sendest clear,
and while the wave notes fall on my ear,
ev’rything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
68. Hearing
Matthew 11:5 … and the deaf hear, … [kjv]
τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"ἀκούω" ≈ "hear" and assumes understanding of what is heard. It is the source of the English word words such as
"acoustic" and is cognate with the English word
"hear" and
"harken".
Note that there are those who "
hear" very well but may not "
listen" well.
69. Listening
Matthew 13:51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. [kjv]
συνηκατε ταυτα παντα λεγουσιν αυτω ναι [gnt]
Man to wife:
No, you're wrong... It doesn't even go in one ear!
Mother to (three) sons:
You can all hear just fine, but you don't listen.
[German voice for
GPS (Global Positioning System) map directions]
70. Amazon Alexa
Matthew 13:51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. [kjv]
συνηκατε ταυτα παντα λεγουσιν αυτω ναι [gnt]
Amazon Echo is a listening and speaking device, with the
Alexa (female) voice, that listens to commands and then does Internet searches, purchases, etc., and responds as if talking to a real person.
Some people worry about security and privacy since Alexa is always listening to what is said.
Why did Amazon use Alexa as a female personality?
They tried a male personality, Alex, but he did not listen to anything.
71. Matthew 15:10-12
Matthew 15:10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: [kjv]
και προσκαλεσαμενος τον οχλον ειπεν αυτοις ακουετε και συνιετε [gnt]
15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. [kjv]
15:12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? [kjv]
τοτε προσελθοντες οι μαθηται λεγουσιν αυτω οιδας οτι οι φαρισαιοι ακουσαντες τον λογον εσκανδαλισθησαν [gnt]
The disciples do not say that the Pharisees "
understood" what was said which is what Jesus said two verses earlier. How can one be "
offended" or "
entrapped" by something which one does not understand? Did they perhaps "
misinterpret" or "
misunderstand"?
72. Matthew 11:5 Dead
Matthew 11:5 … the dead are raised up, … [kjv]
τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"νεκρός" ≈ "dead" and is the source of the English word
"necropolis" as a "
city of the dead" or "
cemetery".
Being "
dead" is usually in a literal sense but can be used in a figurative sense as in a "
dead head".
73. Verse 4
Open my mind that I may read
More of thy love in word and deed,
What shall I fear while yet thou dost lead?
Only for light from thee I plead.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my mind, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
74. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 Dead in Christ
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [kjv]
οτι αυτος ο κυριος εν κελευσματι εν φωνη αρχαγγελου και εν σαλπιγγι θεου καταβησεται απ ουρανου και οι νεκροι εν χριστω αναστησονται πρωτον [gnt]
… iussu … tuba … descendet … mortui … [v]
The ancient Greek word
"νεκρός" ≈ "dead". There are jokes that the "
dead in Christ" are those in the "
denominational churches" as in the "
frozen chosen". That is, "
many are cold", a "
few are frozen".
The Greek for
"trump" is that of a
"trumpet" sound. The Latin word
"tuba" ≈ "war trumpet". The Greek for
"shout" is that of a
"command". That is, God "
declares" or "
says" and it is.
75. 1 Thessalonians 4:16
KJV: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Greek: οτι αυτος ο κυριος εν κελευσματι εν φωνη αρχαγγελου και εν σαλπιγγι θεου καταβησεται απ ουρανου και οι νεκροι εν χριστω αναστησονται πρωτον
Latin: quoniam ipse Dominus in iussu et in voce archangeli et in tuba Dei descendet de caelo et mortui qui in Christo sunt resurgent primi
76. Matthew 11:5 Raised
Matthew 11:5 … the dead are raised up, … [kjv]
τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"ἐγείρω" ≈ "awaken, raise up, erect a building"`. Jesus often uses the word for "
sleep" as "
dead". He thus, "
awakens" the "
dead" such as Lazarus. The same word is used for a "
lame" person who is "
raised up" to walk.
77. Lazarus
John 11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. [kjv]
ταυτα ειπεν και μετα τουτο λεγει αυτοις λαζαρος ο φιλος ημων κεκοιμηται αλλα πορευομαι ινα εξυπνισω αυτον [gnt]
11:13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. [kjv]
ειρηκει δε ο ιησους περι του θανατου αυτου εκεινοι δε εδοξαν οτι περι της κοιμησεως του υπνου λεγει [gnt]
11:12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. [kjv]
ειπαν ουν οι μαθηται κυριε ει κεκοιμηται σωθησεται [gnt]
11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. [kjv]
τοτε ουν ειπεν αυτοις ο ιησους παρρησια λαζαρος απεθανεν [gnt]
78. John 11:11
KJV: These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
Greek: ταυτα ειπεν και μετα τουτο λεγει αυτοις λαζαρος ο φιλος ημων κεκοιμηται αλλα πορευομαι ινα εξυπνισω αυτον
79. John 11:12
KJV: Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Greek: ειπον ειπαν ουν οι μαθηται αυτου αυτω κυριε ει κεκοιμηται σωθησεται
80. John 11:14
KJV: Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
Greek: τοτε ουν ειπεν αυτοις ο ιησους παρρησια λαζαρος απεθανεν
81. John 11:13
KJV: Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
Greek: ειρηκει δε ο ιησους περι του θανατου αυτου εκεινοι δε εδοξαν οτι περι της κοιμησεως του υπνου λεγει
82. Poor and Gospel
Matthew 11:5 … and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]
τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"πτωχός" ≈ "beggar" and means, literally, one who has fallen. The ancient Greek word
"πτῶσις" ≈ "falling" and, in grammar, is a case or inflection. The ancient Greek word
"πίπτω" ≈ "fall".
Jesus often refers to the "
poor" as those who are "
fallen" and need the "
Gospel" or "
Good News" which is the source of the English word
"evangelical".
5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [kjv]
μακαριοι οι πτωχοι τω πνευματι οτι αυτων εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων [gnt]
[good vs. bad]
83. Matthew 5:3
KJV: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Greek: μακαριοι οι πτωχοι τω πνευματι οτι αυτων εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων
Wessex: Eadige synde þa gastlice þearfan. forþan hyora is heofena riche.
Wycliffe: Blessed ben pore men in spirit, for the kyngdom of heuenes is herne.
84. Romans 3:23 All have sinned
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [kjv]
παντες γαρ ημαρτον και υστερουνται της δοξης του θεου [gnt]
If sinners were not allowed in church, there would be no one allowed in church.
The Greek here for
"all" is
plural which means there may be
exceptions. Who might be an exception?
The ancient Greek word
"ἁμαρτία" ≈ "error, mistake, fault, sin" as in, literally,
"not a witness". The Greek for
"glory" is that of
"opinion". Anything that is
"not a witness" for God
"falls short" or
"lags behind" of God's
"opinion" or
"expectation".
In logical reasoning, one should not universally quantify something without specifying the domain to which it applies and how it applies. The "
for all" would appear to refer to "
men" who are not "
God" (as in "
Jesus").
Paraphrase: For all have not been a (good) witness (of God) and not approached the opinion of God
85. Romans 3:23 Glory of God
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [kjv]
παντες γαρ ημαρτον και υστερουνται της δοξης του θεου [gnt]
Do we need to come up to the
"glory" of God? Perhaps a pastor could help us with that seemingly unattainable quest.
Paraphrase: All (with possible exceptions) have not been a (good) witness (for God) and have lagged behind the opinion/expectation of God.
It appears we do not have to reach the level of God. God has an
expectation/opinion of where we should be and we are
lagging behind that
expectation/opinion. This appears to be in line with Eastern Orthodox thought.
86. Gospel
Matthew 11:5 … and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]
τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]
Jesus often refers to the "
poor" as those who are "
fallen" and need the "
Gospel" or
"Good News".
What did the police confirm about the man who fell from the roof of a nightclub?
He was not a bouncer.
The ancient Greek word
"εὐαγγελίζομαι" ≈ "bring good news" and is the source of the English word
"evangelical" as in, literally,
"bringing good news".
87. Table
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]
| Six noun‑verb pairs |
| 1. |
blind |
sight |
| 2. |
lame |
walk |
| 3. |
lepers |
cleansed |
| 4. |
deaf |
hear |
| 5. |
dead |
raised |
| 6. |
poor |
gospel |
|
These signs are recognized as "
signs" of the Messiah. Is there a deeper meaning?
Jesus cites six pairs of nouns (representing people) and verbs (representing actions), shortened for table and discussion purposes.
Jesus often uses double meanings here the nouns represent something else while the verbs are carefully chosen. This requires looking at the Greek words in more detail.
88. Parables and secret codes used and explained by Jesus
Jesus often uses
code words so that sayings have more than one meaning.
All the meanings can be true. The encoded (literal) form makes (some) sense and the decoded form makes sense. In general:
- Noun words can be code words. Pronouns can be ambiguous.
- Verb words are carefully chosen to work in both contexts.
By definition, in the security field, a
code word is a word that needs to be substituted with another word (e.g., using a
code book) to determine the meaning. By definition, in the security field, a
secret code is a code whose meaning is to be obscured to anyone without the code book.
So Jesus, by definition, uses
secret codes. However, these codes appear to provide only authentication information (and warnings about certain heresies) but no special salvation knowledge - which is always is clear text.
89. Stair analogy
Jesus appears to use a top-down presentation.
A
stair analogy can be used to help understand
top-down design and
bottom-up implementation.
- The goal is the top of the stairs.
- The start is the bottom of the stairs.
Identifying the
goal is most important! You do not want to climb the wrong stairs to get to the wrong goal.
Implementation:
- Do it: 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 to 5 (same either way)
Design: When it works,
top-down tends to be
better.
- Think bottom-up: 1 then 2 then 3 then 4 then 5 (start forward to goal)
- Think top-down: 5 if 4 if 3 if 2 if 1 (goal backward to start)
Gospels:
- Bottom-up: Matthew, Mark, Luke (goal not clear, a lot of extra material)
- Top-down: John (goal clear, no extra material)
To make the table bottom-up, the pair summary is now presented in reverse order.
90. Top-down backward-chaining
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]
τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]
| Six noun‑verb pairs decoded |
| 1. |
blind=not seeing |
goal |
sight=look up/ahead and see God & others |
Knock |
| 2. |
lame=passive |
if |
walk=active start walking in righteousness |
Seek |
| 3. |
lepers=sinners |
if |
cleansed=be born again, washed in the blood |
Ask |
| 4. |
deaf=not listening |
if |
hear=listen and understand |
repent |
| 5. |
dead=asleep |
if |
raised=wake up you deadhead |
| 6. |
poor=fallen |
start |
gospel=good news preached to fallen |
|
The top-down presentation is not understandable to many people.
- Modern (anti-Bible) psychology: unfreeze, change, freeze.
- Bible (and common sense): freeze, change, continue
91. Matthew 11:5-6 Bottom-up forward-chaining
Message of Jesus to John the Baptist (in physical prison):
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]
| Six noun‑verb pairs decoded |
| 6. |
poor=fallen, beggars |
start |
gospel=good news preached |
|
| 5. |
dead=asleep |
then |
raised=wake up you deadhead |
| 4. |
deaf=not listening |
then |
hear=listen and understand |
repent |
| 3. |
lepers=sinners |
then |
cleansed=be born again, cleansed in the blood |
Ask |
| 2. |
lame=passive |
then |
walk=active start walking in righteousness |
Seek |
| 1. |
blind=not seeing |
then |
sight=look up/ahead and see God & others |
Knock |
The
top-down verses (in English) may be more understandable as a
bottom-up progression (as events unfold in time) using the Greek meanings of the words. Approaches to change: (
stop,
repent, be
cleansed and
walk).
11:6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]
… blessid… sclaundrid … [wy]
… happy … offended … [ty]
92. Matthew 11:5-6 Diagram
The ways that six items can be ordered is 6! = 6*5*4*3*2*1 =
720 ways. Of these six items in Matthew 11:6, only two sequences fit - forward or backwards. Is this a coincidence?
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]
11:6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]
93. Probability
The ways that six items can be ordered is
6! =
6*5*4*3*2*1 =
720 ways. Of these six items in Matthew 11:6, only
two sequences fit - forward or backwards. That is, a probability of
1 in
360. There are
360 days in a prophetic year. Is any of this a coincidence?
94. Matthew 5:8
KJV: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Greek: μακαριοι οι καθαροι τη καρδια οτι αυτοι τον θεον οψονται
95. Review of misinterpretations
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]
11:6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]
… blessid… sclaundrid … [wy]
… happy … offended … [ty]
| blind |
look up |
| lame |
walk |
| lepers |
cleansed |
| deaf |
hear |
| dead |
woken up |
| poor |
gospel preached |
|
Having discovered a deeper meaning to Matthew 11:5, how might someone "misinterpret" what Jesus has said?
What should the church be doing?
What should believers be doing?
|
Discuss: Do churches or believers ever get "
ensnared" or "
misinterpret" in helping the poor, the blind, those without clothes, in prison, etc., and lose sight of the real purpose of Jesus? Many of those words used by Jesus have double meanings.
How many are like those picked by Gideon?
96. Repent
The Greek for "
repent" is that of "
thinking after" what one has heard with the resultant change in attitude and behavior. Part of the "
knock" is that of spreading the "
good news" to wake up others so that they hear and understand and get into the "
Ask", "
Seek" and "
Knock" sequence.
97. Think after what you heard and repent
One can compare
"mindful" with the Greek word for
"repent" which literally means
"after thought" as in
"perceiving afterwards". The ancient Greek word
"μετάνοια" ≈ "afterthought, repent".
That is, a
"transition" from what one was thinking "
before" to what one is thinking
"after".
The definition in modern Greek has
narrowed, from influence of
GNT translation, to
"μετάνοια" (meh-TA-nee-a) ≈ "repentance" (in the Latin sense).
If you already know that
"repent" in Greek means
"after thought" then, well, "
never mind".
Note: The first definition is that of "
afterthought". The second is that of "
repentance" but this comes from the
GNT.
98. Discussion
99. Summary table of sheep and goats
Here is the summarized table of conditions for the sheep and goats in Matthew 25 using a one-letter abbreviation for each. How many groupings?
| h |
hungry |
gave me food |
| t |
thirsty |
gave me drink |
| s |
stranger/guest |
took me in |
| n |
naked |
clothed me |
| w |
sick/weak |
examined me |
| p |
prison/confined |
came/went to me |
|
For each condition, the meaning can be one (or all) of the following.
☐ Literal meaning
☐ Figurative meaning (as in Jesus using "sleeping" for "has died" in describing the condition of Lazarus)
☐ Something else
|
Do churches ever "
misinterpret" what Jesus is saying? Some who thought they were doing the right thing were "
surprised". Some who did not do those things were "
surprised" that they had done the right thing.
100. End of page
Luke 7:22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. [kjv]
και αποκριθεις ειπεν αυτοις πορευθεντες απαγγειλατε ιωαννη α ειδετε και ηκουσατε τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν νεκροι εγειρονται πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]
7:23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]
και μακαριος εστιν ος εαν μη σκανδαλισθη εν εμοι [gnt]
Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: [kjv]
ως ουν παρελαβετε τον χριστον ιησουν τον κυριον εν αυτω περιπατειτε [gnt]
The ancient Greek word "περιπατέω" ≈ "walk around" is the source of the English word "peripatetic" and comes from two Greek words.
Matthew 11:5 … and the lame walk, … [kjv]
τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]
τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]
11:6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]
και μακαριος εστιν ος αν μη σκανδαλισθη εν εμοι [gnt]
… blessid… sclaundrid … [wy]
… happy … offended … [ty]
