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Blind goats and prison pits in Matthew
1. Blind goats and prison pits in Matthew
2. Historical interpretation of church history
| Interpretations |
| ☐ Literal |
☐ Christian living |
| ☐ Figurative |
☐ Heresies over time |
| ☐ Historical |
☐ Prophetic details |
[spread spectrum communication]
[self-similar like fractals]
[linear combinations]
|
Note that the time of Roman persecutions was that of the universal church as a collection of small "mustard seeds" while the time of Roman acceptance was that of the universal church as "tree with birds making a home in the branches".
|
3. Sermon on the Mount: verse model
Matthew 5:1-2 Introduction of Jesus and disciples on the mountain, the crowd down further away.
Matthew 5:3 to 7:23 Body of the Sermon an the mount (103 verses).
Matthew 7:24-27 Summary of the house on rock and house on sand.
Matthew 7:28-29 Commentary after the Sermon on the Mount.
[spread spectrum communication]
Here are some more connections in the Sermon on the Mount. The 103 verses that form the body of the Sermon on the Mount form six sequences of seven ideas that match rather well the Kingdom Parables and the Seven Churches in Revelation. Some sequences are top-down backward-chaining while others are bottom-up forward-chaining.
4. Blind goats and prison pits in Matthew
A number of seemingly unrelated verses spoken by Jesus and recorded by Matthew appear to be related in an interesting way.
Matthew 11:5-6: Message for John the Baptist on what is being done.
Matthew 10:8 The guidance to the disciples sent out.
Matthew 15:14 The blind leading the blind.
Matthew 15:19 The list of sins from the heart.
Matthew 25:35-36 The sheep and the goats.
These passages are usually interpreted, in various ways, using opinion and not by a consistent constraint-logic model using the original Greek (and not Latin) meanings of the words, code words where appropriate, play on words (in Greek and sometimes Latin), etc.
5. Verses to relate - good teacher
Jesus with message for John the Baptist:
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]
Jesus to disciples being sent out:
10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. [kjv]
10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, [kjv]
10:10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. [kjv]
To which group or groups is each verse referring?
Why might the devils be cast out in 10:8 but not in 11:5?
6. Verses to relate - good teacher
Jesus about the Pharisees:
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]
Explanation of the blind leading the blind:
15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: [kjv]
Parable of the sheep and goats: (repeated in positive and negative ways)
25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: [kjv]
25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. [kjv]
How might these verses be related to each other and to the Churches in Revelation, the Kingdom Parables and the Sermon on the Mount? [borders/walls]
7. 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]
8. 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]
9. 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. Is this a coincidence?
10. Didache: The doctrine of teaching
English: There are two ways, one of life and one of death, and there is a great difference between these two ways. (Holmes, p. 344)
English: Now this is the way of life: First, you shall love God, who made you. Second, you shall love your neighbor as yourself; but whatever you do not wish to happen to you, do not do to another. (Holmes, p. 344)
The two ways appear to be "
God's way" and "
man's way" which can be called
humanism,
socialism, etc.
Deceptions (Satin, etc.):
1. Did God really say? (create doubt, nothing bad will happen, etc.)
2. You can be as a god! (desire to be great, be a leader, influence people, have a legacy, etc.)
The "
Didache" is a special Greek manuscript knowns as "
The teaching of the twelve apostles". It is a short and early (first century A.D.) manuscript.
Greek: Ὁδοὶ δύο εἰσί, μία τῆς ζωῆς καὶ μία τοῦ θανάτου, διαφορὰ δὲ πολλὴ μεταξὺ τῶν ὁδῶν. Didache [1.1]
Greek: Ἡ μὲν οὖν ὁδὸς τῆς ζωῆς ἐστιν αὕτη· πρῶτον ἀγαπήσεις τὸν θεὸν τὸν ποιήσαντά σε, δεύτερον τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν· πάντα δὲ ὅσα ἐὰν θελήσῃς μὴ γίνεσθαί σοι, καὶ σὺ ἄλλῳ μὴ ποίει. Didache [1.2]
The Didache was considered by some early church fathers as scripture but eventually was considered (by most) as highly authoritative but not at the level of scripture.
The very first line of the Didache states that there are two ways, one of life, one of death, and there is a great difference between the two ways. This is a nice top-down backward-chaining way of starting the text. Barnabas makes a similar statement.
11. Matthew 6:24 A wealth of logical ideas on mammon
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. [kjv]
ουδεις δυναται δυσιν κυριοις δουλευειν η γαρ τον ενα μισησει και τον ετερον αγαπησει η ενος ανθεξεται και του ετερου καταφρονησει ου δυνασθε θεω δουλευειν και μαμωνα [gnt]
Jesus points out
two mutually exclusive choices: God vs.
"mammon".
true Father God.
false Mother (harlot) god (mammon).
[without spots, opinion, glory, statement or question]
The historical usage of
"mammon" in Hebrew is that of a confidence in one's own ability to do things (independent of God). That is a central idea of
humanism. The modern Hebrew definition is that of "
wealth".
The ancient Greek word
"καταφρόνησις" ≈ "think badly of, hold in contempt, despise". Note that this can be done
without the other person knowing. False leaders, false teachers, etc., will show an
outward appearance that is
different from their
inside heart.
There appear to be some logical translation issues of what Jesus said. Let us investigate.
12. Idols in the way
The ancient Greek word
"εἴδωλον" ≈ "phantom, image, idea, statue" and comes from
"εἶδος" ≈ "form".
One should "worship" God - follow God,s rules, love neighbor as oneself.
Some define an "idol" as something that gets between "you" and "God". Do you really want to become a god?
An "idol" distracts one from doing what God wants.
You can be your own "idol" (reflexively). Terms include "mammon" (Hebrew word) and "self-sufficiency" (Greek philosophy word).
13. Transgression progression
The Pharisees gained power at the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Since the walls were being rebuilt to defend Jerusalem, they wanted to create a
wall of laws to keep the people from straying from the word of God. This "
wall" might be compared to a "
pit" or "
abyss".
What is a "sin"? Think "doing good" on the Sabbath.
When do you become a "transgressor" of the "law"?
Whose "law"? Does "tradition" take precedence over God's "law"?
Does God require "oaths"? How about "creeds"? What is the difference?
Jesus talks about
"transgression" and
"tradition" in Matthew 15:1-27.
[permit law, non-monotonic logic, negation by failure, life, walls, Joshua]
14. Matthew 15:13-16,19-20 Relevant pit verses
Jesus talks about the religious establishment
transgressing the commandments of God by their
traditions.
Matthew 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. [kjv]
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]
15:15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. [kjv]
Jesus explains the parable and, in doing so, how one falls into the pit (abyss).
15:16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? [kjv]
15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: [kjv]
15:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. [kjv]
[rooted (separated), why both (not planted), sharp and fresh (planted)]
[snobbish elite understanding, Nicodemus and Peter]
[pit and crying for help, Peter walking on water]
15. Both blind and ditch summary
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 Greek word for "
both" can be a play on words with "
not a plant" or "
both plants" (the word "
plant" was used in the previous verse), or "
not light", or "
both terrified".
The Greek word for "
ditch" can be a play on words with the Greek word for "
help". The "
ditch", if deep enough, be taken as an "
abyss" which is a play on words with "
not wool" as in "
not linen".
16. Matthew 15:19,14 Chiasmus build
Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: [kjv]
εκ γαρ της καρδιας εξερχονται διαλογισμοι πονηροι φονοι μοιχειαι πορνειαι κλοπαι ψευδομαρτυριαι βλασφημιαι [gnt]
The verse explains how the blind lead the blind
into the pit (abyss).
Since all come out of the "
heart", each should be somewhat
abstract with
concrete implications.
[code-driven vs. data-driven]
This sequence starts with the
"through reasoning" of
"fornication" and ends, as a constricting convergence (e.g., of a
snake), with
actual "adultery" and
"fornication".
How does one get
out of the pit (abyss)? Phrase:
Turn a blind eye. ("
hypocrite" or "
actor"). [endorsements]
The Greek word for "
murders" is a play on words with "
sounds" as in (false) "
light into the mind".
How does one get oneself out of such a convergence?
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]
17. Matthew 15:19,14 Way into the pit
The (converging) chiasmus shows the way into the pit. One can continue along the
false "
way" with a
false "
God" and a
false "
Christ".
[code-driven vs. data-driven]
Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: [kjv]
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]
Does Jesus say "
let (forgive) them (the blind leaders, birds)" because there is no hope for the "
birds" but there may be hope for the others? Jesus does not call the "
followers" with a word for "
followers"? Are they being "
led" or are they being "
oppressed" as "
slaves" (or something else)?
18. Prisoners
The best way to keep a prisoner from escaping is to make sure he never knows he's in prison. Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881), author of
Crime and punishment.
Russian: Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский (1821-1881)
Analogy:
The best way to keep people separated (rooted up, loosed, judged) from the love of Christ is to not let them know they have separated themselves from the love of Christ. One way:
Convince the people that nothing can separate them from the love of Christ. Therefore, they do not need to worry about anything.
Many are "
happy" in the "
abyss", "
pit", "
ditch", "
wide area" as in
better together,
all in the same boat/vote, etc.
Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free. Alexander Solzhenitsyn.
19. Chiasmus with Ten Commandments build
Each of the eight (8) sins listed by Jesus as four (4) pairs can be associated with one of the Ten Commandments. The two not included are the following.
5. Honor father and mother. This is addressed in the first part of the parable.
4. Keep the Sabbath holy. Does Jesus not consider this important? Might this commandment be part of the "defile" as in "make common" as in "not set apart" as in "not holy"? What might this mean for interpreting this commandment?
20. Matthew 10:8-9 Way out of the pit
Matthew 10:8-10 appears to show the way
out of the pit in a top-down backward-chaining way. The "
lost sheep" become "
sheep" and ready to
start the path to life.
Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. [kjv]
10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, [kjv]
KJV (King James Version) changes order of
lepers and
dead. The Greek words for "
gold" and "
silver" can be
play on words. Can we go further in the analysis?
4. Cast out devils (if necessary) to get out of the pit.
3. Cleanse them on the outside (if necessary, one coat needed).
2. Wake up the sleeping (not seeing) deadheads (if necessary).
1. Heal them on the inside to be ready to start the path to life.
21. Matthew 10:8-10 Way out of the pit
The Greek word for "
food" can be a play on words with "
trophy".
Is the "
workman" the person being sent out, the person being "
healed", both or neither?
Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. [kjv]
10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, [kjv]
10:10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. [kjv]
Sometimes prophets did
concrete actions to symbolize
abstract ideas.
22. Matthew 25: 31-46 Parable of the sheep and goats
A somewhat misunderstood and sometimes controversial part of the
NT (New Testament) is the parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25. For context, the parable of the "
sheep" and "
goat" judgment comes after some other parables. Chapter 24 is the Olivet Discourse about the "
end times" and "
all of it".
The parable of the ten virgins, five wise (prudent) and five foolish (not prudent) in Matthew 25:1-13.
The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30.
The parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46.
The parables in this chapter could be called the
division parables because each deals with some form of division into groups. Let us first go through the verses of the parable in English.
Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: [kjv]
23. Sheep and goats intro
Matthew 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: [kjv]
25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. [kjv]
"nations" is that of "peoples" as from the "sea" of "humanity".
"separate" involves both a "separation" and a "distinguishing".
The "sheep" are "brethren".
The "goats", specifically "young" "goats", are not "brethren".
24. Matthew 25: 34-36 Sheep
Jesus now announces his decisions and provides reasons for the decision to each of the
"sheep" on the
"right" and the
"goats" on the
"left".
Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: [kjv]
Jesus addresses the
"sheep" on the
"right" as "
righteous" explaining the good news (verses 35-36).
25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: [kjv]
25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. [kjv]
The Greek word translated as "
visited" is that of "
examine", "
consider", "
think". Did you "
think" or "
consider" Jesus?
Each of these words will be covered after the parable verses are covered.
25. Matthew 25: 37-40 Sheep surprised
The
"sheep" are somewhat
surprised at the reasoning (verses 37-39). Did they think that they had not done any of those things?
Matthew 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? [kjv]
25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? [kjv]
25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? [kjv]
Jesus answers in verse 40.
25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. [kjv]
Who are the "
least of these" my "
brethren"? [one cookie rule, hidden in plain sight]
26. Matthew 25:41-43 Goats
Jesus then addresses the
"goats" on the
"left" and provides reasons.
Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: [kjv]
25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: [kjv]
25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. [kjv]
How many churches do not mention
"fire", the "
devil", the "
angels" who do the work of the devil, etc.?
Discuss: If Jesus (often) talks of "
hell" and
"fire", are churches who do not mention this keeping Jesus out of their church? In Revelation, Jesus is asking to be let in to the end times apostate church of Laodicea but the door is not opened for Him.
27. Matthew 25:44-45 Goats surprised
The "
goats" are
surprised at the reasoning. It appears they thought they were doing what they were supposed to be doing. Jesus then provides the reasoning.
Matthew 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? [kjv]
25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. [kjv]
Who are the "
least of these"? Which
"one"? [one cookie rule, hidden in plain sight] The word "
brethren" is
not used here.
Love your "brethren".
Love your "neighbor" as yourself.
The "
goats" thought that they should
"minister" to
others. Is that one reason they are "
goats"? The "
sheep" "
examined" or "
thought", as a "
skeptic", about the
true Jesus, and then took actions to
"minister" to
others.
28. Revelation 3:20 Jesus at the door
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. [kjv]
ιδου εστηκα επι την θυραν και κρουω εαν τις ακουση της φωνης μου και ανοιξη την θυραν εισελευσομαι προς αυτον και δειπνησω μετ αυτου και αυτος μετ εμου [gnt]
Some churches only allow the part of Jesus they like into their church. The church at
Laodicia appears to not want Jesus in their church. Jesus is at the church door knocking.
Have some churches today "separated" or "uprooted" themselves from (the love of) Jesus?
Are some churches today "strangers" to Jesus?
Are some churches today "blind" to the true and complete Jesus?
Might those in this church be too busy "
ministering" to
others and not "
examining" or "
thinking" about the entirety of Jesus?
The "
hear" in Greek has a connotation of hearing with understanding. The Greek for "
voice" is, literally, "
light" into the "
mind" and can be a play on words with "
murders".
29. 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 |
come/go 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.
30. Sheep and goat subsets
h=hungry t=thirsty s=stranger n=naked w=weak p=prison
Of the
6 conditions, there are
26 =
64 ways (i.e., subsets, as in the NCAA basketball tournament) to "
do" or "
minister" to these things.
| Matthew 25: 31‑46 Parable of the sheep and goats |
| ...... |
h..... |
.t.... |
ht.... |
..s... |
h.s... |
.ts... |
hts... |
| ...n.. |
h..n.. |
.t.n.. |
ht.n.. |
..sn.. |
h.sn.. |
.tsn.. |
htsn.. |
| ....w. |
h...w. |
.t..w. |
ht..w. |
..s.w. |
h.s.w. |
.ts.w. |
hts.w. |
| ...nw. |
h..nw. |
.t.nw. |
ht.nw. |
..snw. |
h.snw. |
.tsnw. |
htsnw. |
| .....p |
h....p |
.t...p |
ht...p |
..s..p |
h.s..p |
.ts..p |
hts..p |
| ...n.p |
h..n.p |
.t.n.p |
ht.n.p |
..sn.p |
h.sn.p |
.tsn.p |
htsn.p |
| ....wp |
h...wp |
.t..wp |
ht..wp |
..s.wp |
h.s.wp |
.ts.wp |
hts.wp |
| ...nwp |
h..nwp |
.t.nwp |
ht.nwp |
..snwp |
h.snwp |
.tsnwp |
htsnwp |
...... 1 case: No conditions met. Some are surprised at the result.
htsnwp 1 case: All conditions met. Some are surprised at the result.
62 other possibilities (some of them). Is there a dependence of each on the previous?
Does this make sense?
31. Matthew 25:35-36 Sheep and (blind) goats
One can now relate the sheep and (blind and young) goats to the pit.
The (young) "
goats" (young "
pigs", not "
birds") are
surprised as if they were
blind to what had happened.
Matthew 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: [kjv]
25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. [kjv]
Six pairs grouped into
2 ,
1 ,
1 ,
2 to get
four groupings.
32. Matthew 25:35-36 Prisons
Matthew 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: [kjv]
25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. [kjv]
John saw Mary with the telescope. Who has the telescope?
Where you outside the prison and went to visit Jesus inside the prison?
Where you inside the prison and went to visit Jesus outside the prison?
33. Matthew 25:35-36 Sheep and (blind) goats
Matthew 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: [kjv]
25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. [kjv]
Here is the
negative version: (you
ministered to others)
You were hungry and thirsty for righteousness and you did not feed yourself.
You were a stranger to me (Jesus) and you did not invite me in.
You were naked and you did not clothe yourself in righteousness.
You were weak and inside the prison/watch and you did not think or consider me nor come to me (outside the prison).
Here is the
positive version: (you did it to
yourself first)
You were hungry and thirsty for righteousness and fed yourself.
You were not a stranger to me (Jesus) and you invited me in.
You clothed yourself in righteousness.
You thought about and considered me. You were inside the prison/watch and you come to me (outside the prison).
Once out of the "
pit" or "
ditch" or "
abyss", one can go down the correct path to life and, at that point, do the "
ministering" to others.
34. Grouped pairs
1. The pair "
hungry" and "
thirsty" refers to a realizing that one needs to
"ask" for the opportunity to be filled with righteousness, as in the third Beatitude.
Ask and it shall be
given you.
2. The pair "
stranger/guest" and "
naked/clothed" refers to
"seeking" and finding that faith and clothing for righteousness as a guest for the banquet, as in the parable earlier in Matthew.
Seek and you shall
find.
3. The pair "
weak/sick" and "
prison/captive/confined" refers to
"knocking" by putting that faith and righteousness into action as works, finding and helping others who are in step 1 or 2 of this process, as in the parable of the talents, which is immediately before this parable.
Knock and it shall be
opened to you.
The "sheep" have followed the right path to "life".
The "goats" have followed the wrong path and ended up in the "pit" or "ditch" or "abyss".
35. Put it together
[AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) ][2 steps, stages of learning]
[C. S. Lewis and miracles, time scales][Back to the Future 2 analogy]
36. Alternate reality
In the movie "
Back to the Future" (part 2), Marty and Doc go from 1985 to 2015 where Marty buys a sports history book.
The older Biff in 2015 takes the sports book back to 1955 and gives it to the younger Biff.
The younger Biff in 1955 uses the betting information to create an alternative nightmare reality in 1985.
Marty wants to go forward to 2015 to fix the problem in 1985.
Doc Brown explains that that reality does not exist. They must go back to 1955 to fix the problem to return to the (almost the same) original 1985 reality.
37. Back to the Future
The key is going back to the source of the problem and then continuing from there.
38. Matthew 5:23-24 Review paraphrase
Matthew 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; [kjv]
5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. [kjv]
5:23:
If therefore you offer [resemble] your gift on the altar, [bad (righteousness)], remember [as a groom wooing a bride] that the brother of yours (Jesus) has some things against (down on) you (detailed in Revelation).
5:24:
Forgive yourself as the gift in front of the altar, go (flee) and first interact [through being in a different place] with the brother (Jesus) and then go (as in the Great Commission) and offer your gift (yourself as a living sacrifice) (as in doing good works before men).
Will the religious establishment be upset about you not offering the gift they use to support themselves and using their establishment only as a house of prayer? What do you do? Jesus answers this question in the next verse, though some mistranslations hide the real meaning.
39. Matthew 5:25-26 Review paraphrase
Matthew 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. [kjv]
5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. [kjv]
25:
Be of a good quick mind [as a temple of God] with your adversary (the evil one) until, when you are (getting) in the way [with way = method = deception], it would never happen (sarcastic not!), that the adversary turns you over [parody] to the judge (birds who work for the adversary) who use the officer (pigs who work for the birds) to put you in with the watched (fish who are deceived by the birds),
26:
Truly, they will require payments (offerings) of you forever so that you [out of hope] cannot go out (to do what Jesus wants you to do).
Jesus will repeat this same idea with the twig and block in the eye, another pair of verses that are not often understood since the meaning requires logical analysis and/or understanding the play on words used.
40. Matthew 5:23-24 Gift at the alter
Matthew 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; [kjv]
εαν ουν προσφερης το δωρον σου επι το θυσιαστηριον κακει μνησθης οτι ο αδελφος σου εχει τι κατα σου [gnt]
5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. [kjv]
αφες εκει το δωρον σου εμπροσθεν του θυσιαστηριου και υπαγε πρωτον διαλλαγηθι τω αδελφω σου και τοτε ελθων προσφερε το δωρον σου [gnt]
41. Related verses in Matthew
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]
15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: [kjv]
10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. [kjv]
25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: [kjv]
25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. [kjv]
42. Rock and sand
Build your house on the granite
rock of Jesus and not on the human sand (or stones) of man, Matthew 7:24-27. Sand is a chip off the old block of granite and made in the image of granite.
Church of believers built on the rock of Christ .
Church of believers built on the sand of man .
The higher one goes up the human
sand hierarchy or
sand tree, the more the temptation to ignore the foundation of the
rock and to start to "
influence" or "
manipulate" others as "
leaders" for one's own purposes.
To the extent that the Church of believers built on the sand of man helps one do what Jesus wants them to do, it is good. To the extent it does not, it is not good.
Some
birds will make "
stones" (sand on which to build their birdhouse) appear as "
bread". That is, give "
bad" "
gifts" or "
houses" to their "
children".
43. Matthew 23:5 Broad area
Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, [kjv]
παντα δε τα εργα αυτων ποιουσιν προς το θεαθηναι τοις ανθρωποις πλατυνουσιν γαρ τα φυλακτηρια αυτων και μεγαλυνουσιν τα κρασπεδα [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"πλατύς" ≈ "wide, flat, broad" and is related to the English words
"flat",
"platypus" (flat broad feet),
"plateou",
"plaza", etc. This is the same
"broad" is the same word as the
"broad" "
way" to "
destruction".
44. Thank you for giving thanks and for Thanksgiving
Matthew 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; [kjv]
και λαβων ποτηριον και ευχαριστησας εδωκεν αυτοις λεγων πιετε εξ αυτου παντες [gnt]
Philippians 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, [kjv]
ευχαριστω τω θεω μου επι παση τη μνεια υμων [gnt]
One way to say that something is a "
good favor" is to say "
thank you". This Greek word comes through Latin as "
Eucharist". The Greek word for "
favor" is often translated as "
grace" or "
joy". Jesus and Paul often say "
thank you".
45. End of page
