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Non sequitur: to follow or not follow Jesus
1. Non sequitur: to follow or not follow Jesus
Matthew 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. [kjv]
και ος ου λαμβανει τον σταυρον αυτου και ακολουθει οπισω μου ουκ εστιν μου αξιος [gnt]
… non … crucem … sequitur … non … dignus [v]
In reasoning and logic, the Latin phrase
"non sequitur" ≈ "does not follow" is a conclusion that does not follow from the reasoning process used. It is sometimes called an "
irrelevant conclusion".
Luke 9:50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us. [kjv]
Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. [kjv]
How do both of these sayings of Jesus "
follow"? Do you follow?
2. Comics
The Non Sequitur comic strip was started by Wiley Miller in 1992.
3. Sophistic refutations
Aristotle wrote a book called
On Sophistic Refutations in which he detailed the "
false reasoning" used by Sophists (from the Greek word for "
wisdom") who would use invalid logic to convince others of ideas to make money for themselves. In English, "
sophistic" logic or "
false reasoning" is "
sophistry".
One of the many types of invalid logic detailed by Aristotle was "
eristic" reasoning. Paul uses that word often but it is often translated, without the "
bad logic" connection, as "
strife"
4. Aristotle
5. Bible verses
Let us look at some Bible verses that appear to be examples of "non sequitur" but, of course, do not contain those words.
6. Nicodemus
In John 7, the Pharisees are planning to arrest Jesus to get him out of the way. Nicodemus brings up a technical point of the law.
John 7:51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? [kjv]
7:50 Nicodemus saith unto them, ( he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) [kjv]
7. John 7:51
KJV: Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
Greek: μη ο νομος ημων κρινει τον ανθρωπον εαν μη ακουση πρωτον παρ αυτου προτερον και γνω τι ποιει
8. John 7:50
KJV: Nicodemus saith unto them, ( he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
Greek: λεγει νικοδημος προς αυτους ο ελθων νυκτος προς αυτον προτερον εις ων εξ αυτων
9. Pharisees
The Pharisees respond as follows.
John 7:52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. [kjv]
7:53 And every man went unto his own house. [kjv]
No further discussion.
10. Analysis
Now the prophet Jonah was of Galilee, but a prophet to Nineveh. Even if no prophet had arisen from or been prophesied to come out of Galilee, their conclusion from their reasoning "does not follow". It is a "non sequitur" or "irrelevant conclusion".
11. John 7:52
KJV: They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
Greek: απεκριθησαν και ειπον ειπαν αυτω μη και συ εκ της γαλιλαιας ει ερευνησον εραυνησον και ιδε οτι προφητης εκ της γαλιλαιας προφητης ουκ εγηγερται εγειρεται
12. John 7:53
KJV: And every man went unto his own house.
Greek: και επορευθη και επορευθησαν εκαστος εις τον οικον αυτου
13. Star of Bethlehem
Herod questions the Magi (from Babylon and the Parthian Empire) about the "
star".
Matthew 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. [kjv]
2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. [kjv]
14. Analysis
Herod had assumed (and some people do too) that the time the star appeared was the time the baby was born.
This may have been a reasonable approximation (by an unreasonable ruler) but does not appear to "
follow".
In particular:
One does not know that the baby is still in the place where the baby was born, given a two year time lapse.
The "star" led them to the current location of the baby (or young child). It is not clear that the star led them to Bethlehem.
Note that, at the time, Judea was a buffer state between Rome and Parthia. Herod had his own army who would do anything ordered.
15. Matthew 2:7
KJV: Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
Greek: τοτε ηρωδης λαθρα καλεσας τους μαγους ηκριβωσεν παρ αυτων τον χρονον του φαινομενου αστερος
16. Matthew 2:16
KJV: Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
Greek: τοτε ηρωδης ιδων οτι ενεπαιχθη υπο των μαγων εθυμωθη λιαν και αποστειλας ανειλεν παντας τους παιδας τους εν βηθλεεμ και εν πασιν τοις οριοις αυτης απο διετους και κατωτερω κατα τον χρονον ον ηκριβωσεν παρα των μαγων
17. Temple tax
The "
temple tax" story in Matthew is interesting.
Matthew 17:25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? [kjv]
17:26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. [kjv]
18. Caesar
The "
temple tax" episode appears to be the basis for a "
trap".
Matthew 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. [kjv]
22:17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? [kjv]
The "
trap" about "
tribute to Caesar" appears to have come from reasoning about not having to pay the "
temple tax". The reasoning for their "
trap" appears to be a "
non sequitur" in that it "
does not follow".
19. Bible verses
There are four verses in the Latin Vulgate that contain both the following words.
The Latin word "non" ≈ "not".
The Latin word "sequitur" ≈ "followeth".
The words are in close proximity but not in the form of "
non sequitur".
Nonetheless, they are interesting.
20. Matthew 10:38 Following in the crosswalk
Matthew 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. [kjv]
και ος ου λαμβανει τον σταυρον αυτου και ακολουθει οπισω μου ουκ εστιν μου αξιος [gnt]
… non … crucem … sequitur … non … dignus [v]
The Greek for
"worthy" is related to the English word
"axiom" as in something important or
"worthy".
21. Matthew 10:39 Lost and found
22. Matthew 10:39 Lost and found
Matthew 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. [kjv]
ο ευρων την ψυχην αυτου απολεσει αυτην και ο απολεσας την ψυχην αυτου ενεκεν εμου ευρησει αυτην [gnt]
Consider the following words as related.
"bind", "glue", "find".
"loose", "separate", "cut-off", "pluck-out", "lose", "release".
Paraphrase:
He who finds/glues/binds his life (to this world) will lose/separate/loose it (in eternity). He that loses/separates/looses his life (from this world) for my sake will find/glue/bind that life (to me in eternity).
23. Matthew 10:38-39 Commanded to follow in the cross walk
Matthew 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. [kjv]
και ος ου λαμβανει τον σταυρον αυτου και ακολουθει οπισω μου ουκ εστιν μου αξιος [gnt]
… non … crucem … sequitur … non … dignus [v]
10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. [kjv]
ο ευρων την ψυχην αυτου απολεσει αυτην και ο απολεσας την ψυχην αυτου ενεκεν εμου ευρησει αυτην [gnt]
The English word
"acolyte" comes from the late Latin word
"acolythus" ≈ "acolyte" which comes from the ancient Greek word
"ἀκόλουθος" ≈ "following, attending". That word comes from
"κέλευθος" ≈ "road, way, path" which is from
"κελεύω" ≈ "urge, command" which appears in the
KJV (King James Version) and the
LXX (Septuagint).
The idea appears to be that if one is not commanding or leading than one is following or attending. We are told to be "
followers" and not "
leaders" in the human sense of the word. An interesting use of the word for
"command" appears in a verse for the "
rapture" and often translated as
"shout".
24. Mark
25. Mark 9:38
KJV: And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
Greek: απεκριθη δε εφη αυτω ο ιωαννης λεγων διδασκαλε ειδομεν ειδαμεν τινα εν τω ονοματι σου εκβαλλοντα δαιμονια ος ουκ ακολουθει ημιν και εκωλυσαμεν εκωλυομεν αυτον οτι ουκ ακολουθει ηκολουθει ημιν
26. Mark 9:39
KJV: But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
Greek: ο δε ιησους ειπεν μη κωλυετε αυτον ουδεις γαρ εστιν ος ποιησει δυναμιν επι τω ονοματι μου και δυνησεται ταχυ κακολογησαι με
27. Mark 9:40
KJV: For he that is not against us is on our part.
Greek: ος γαρ ουκ εστιν καθ υμων ημων υπερ υμων ημων εστιν
28. Luke
Luke makes this more clear.
Luke 9:49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. [kjv]
9:50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us. [kjv]
29. Luke 9:49
KJV: And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
Greek: αποκριθεις δε ο ιωαννης ειπεν επιστατα ειδομεν ειδαμεν τινα επι εν τω ονοματι σου εκβαλλοντα τα δαιμονια και εκωλυσαμεν εκωλυομεν αυτον οτι ουκ ακολουθει μεθ ημων
30. Luke 9:50
KJV: And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
Greek: και ειπεν δε προς αυτον ο ιησους μη κωλυετε ος γαρ ουκ εστιν καθ ημων υμων υπερ ημων υμων εστιν
31. Luke 9:50
KJV: And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
Greek: και ειπεν δε προς αυτον ο ιησους μη κωλυετε ος γαρ ουκ εστιν καθ ημων υμων υπερ ημων υμων εστιν
32. Abstraction
Let us abstract what Jesus says to a more general form and see what happens, converting the singular pronoun "
he" to plural.
Jesus: Those who are not against us are for us.
Abstracted: Those who are not against X are for X.
Application: Those who are not against a sin are for that sin.
This appears to say that if you do not take a stand on an issue, you are for that issue.
Application: Those who are not against a given policy are for that given policy.
Silence may be golden but silence may condone and otherwise encourage actions that should not be condoned.
33. Paul
Paul adds his take on this idea.
Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? [kjv]
34. Romans 8:31
KJV: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Greek: τι ουν ερουμεν προς ταυτα ει ο θεος υπερ ημων τις καθ ημων
35. Jesus
Jesus provides a different perspective in Matthew 12:30.
Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. [kjv]
This is said in the context of accounting for idle words (words that do not work for Jesus).
36. Matthew 12:30
KJV: He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
Greek: ο μη ων μετ εμου κατ εμου εστιν και ο μη συναγων μετ εμου σκορπιζει
37. Both statements together
Let us look at both statements of Jesus.
Casting out demons in the name of Jesus:
Luke 9:50 … he that is not against us is for us. [kjv]
Accounting for idle words (words that do not work for Jesus).
Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me… [kjv]
From the human viewpoint, one sees differences and a conflict and cannot see a clear solution.
From the point of Jesus, a decision on separation will be made that resolves the issue.
Are you on the correct side?
38. Better together
Here are some sayings heard from pastors at various times.
We are "better together".
We are "all in this together".
Discussion: Find some Bible support for these views.
Who in the following are "
better together" as in "
all in this together"?
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: [kjv]
7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. [kjv]
39. Judging
Jesus will make a decision in separating what we should not separate.
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. [kjv]
7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. [kjv]
The Greek translated as "
judge" has to do with separation. The only separation in this chapter is that of the wide and narrow gate. Some people think that if they do not "
judge" they will not be "
judged". It appears that everyone will be "
judged" (separated) by Jesus.
40. End of page
Matthew 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. [kjv]
ο ευρων την ψυχην αυτου απολεσει αυτην και ο απολεσας την ψυχην αυτου ενεκεν εμου ευρησει αυτην [gnt]
Mark 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. [kjv]
9:39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. [kjv]
9:40 For he that is not against us is on our part. [kjv]
