Sheep and Goats

Category: Bible

  • He Messed Jesus Up!

    Okay, let's cut through the pious tape: The "I want to – be made clean" fellow that Jesus cured went on to mess him up!

    1. Jesus cured him.

    2. He said 'keep a lid on it.'

    3. The fellow told everyone under the sun.

    4. Jesus could no longer come and go openly and had to from that point on slink in the back door.

    It's a good thing he was not like that last pointy-headed boss that you had. Otherwise, he might have thrown the guy's leprosy right back at him.

    Mark 1:41-45

    Pointyhairedboss

    photo: Scott Adams (hopefully he won't mind)

  • The Wicked and Sluggish Slave Strikes Again

    I like the parables of Jesus where every word may convey meaning and none of it should be quickly dismissed as "filler" For example, the excuse proffered by the wicked and sluggish slave, and the master's rebuke:

    "Finally the slave who had received the one talent came forward and said: ‘Master, I knew you to be a demanding* man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not winnow.So I grew afraid and went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ In reply his master said to him: ‘Wicked and sluggish* slave, you knew, did you, that I reaped where I did not sow and gathered where I did not winnow? Well, then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my coming I would have received it back with interest." (Matthew 25:24-27)

    The master does not deny the slave's allegation that he 'reaps where he does not sow,' letting pass without comment only the slave's perception that he is thereby 'demanding.' The slave has a bad attitude, for the master does not expect to make his own disciples personally – he expects his slaves to pull with him, and the slave ought to have gotten his head around that.

    Nonetheless, it seems that even with that bad attitude, the master could have worked with it. All it took was to deposit the money with the bankers – essentially a one-time only trip – and the master would have rolled with it. He may not have jumped for joy, but he would not have rebuked the slave – who worked up a sweat to thwart what would have occurred automatically.

    So there are be ones today who don't have the greatest attitude. They don't have to. It is better if they do, for immersing oneself in the kingdom work as it exists is the best way to strengthen faith and be happy, they surely build up the brotherhood more, and they may be heading for shipwreck if they do not, but it is only by actively opposing and 'beating his fellow slaves' (from Matthew 24:48) that the master gets riled - burying the money in the ground, which is the exact opposite of setting the lamp on a lampstand so all will see the light.

    Still pondering if I have the right read on his one. I am not sure it has been commented on in detail.

     

  • Pay Them All a Denarius

    If we accept the usual take that Matthew 20:1-15, about paying all workers a denarius, is about time spent in the Christian congregation and those arriving to it late have the same reward as those early, with its object lesson: 'don't gripe about it,' then how serious are we to take the questions within the parable? Do they mean anything or do they just flesh out the story?
     
    I'll opt for the former.
     
    The master's question smacks of a reproof: "Why have you been standing here all day unemployed?" Yet he accepts the laggards' answer: "Because nobody has hired us" and sends them also into the vineyard.
     
    Why shouldn't that be applied to the preaching work? At first glance, the master is taken aback that there yet are, at such a late date, so many just hanging around unemployed. But their answer is unassailable – nobody 'hired' them.
     
    It's not an exhortation to be active in the ministry and not to write off people as unresponsive? The master apparently agrees that it is just a matter of their not yet being reached.
     
    April_Patina_Vosges_Die_Vogesen_France_-_Master_Alsace_magic_Elsaß_Photography_2014_Color_de_Vins_-_panoramio
     
    I think the exchange of the master with the 11th hour ones serve as an exhortation to preach, and even to step it up where possible. 'Get out there so those ones know they are hired. They won't know it otherwise.'
     

    There is another application of Matthew 20:1-15 – 'pay them each a denarious' – that has nothing to do with time spent in the Christain way, which I like as much, or even better.

    It is: In any circumstance of life, you cut the best deal that you can and then you look ahead to the next deal You DO NOT look around, envious, at someone who may have gotten a better deal. Think of how much heartburn THAT would solve if we managed to internalize it.

    Neither do you gripe, like the initial vineyard workers, that the 'master' was unfair. Life will be fair in the new system. It is not typically so today.

    Maybe it is there in print somewhere. I haven't come across it. No matter. It is enough to stay within 'the pattern of healthful words' It is not necessary to but repeat the healthful words oneself.

     
    photo: Master Alsace Magic ElsaB Photography

  • It Really Does Seem Like a Big “Duh!”

    As much as Bethel tries to convey the point that Jesus wasn't smart-mouthing his parents when he asked "Why did you have to look for me? Did you not know I must be in the house of my father?" so that kids in the Kingdom Hall do not start smart-mouthing their parents, it really does seem like a big 'Duh!' And he was right. They should have known.

    Especially in view of the study note on Luke 2:46: "Historians say some of the foremost religious leaders would customarily remain at the temple after festivals and teach at one of the spacious porches there. People could sit at the feet of those men to listen and to ask questions."

    Where did his parents think he was going to be? Off in some alley shooting dice with the delinquints? They knew of his miraculous birth, even if he did not at that time. Holy spirit is said to descend upon him 'like a dove' after being baptized, presumably recalling to him all his heavenly past.

    He begins to minister in accord with what is revealed at his baptism and his relatives think he has gone nuts. "…they went out to seize him, for they were saying: "He has gone out of his mind." (Mark 3:21) But not his parents. They knew, so they should have known then, when he was 12.

  • They ask Jesus a question and he takes so long to answer that you figure he has forgotten all about it.

    The exchange is found at Matthew 15:1-20.  First he asks a counter question- a Strawman! – it would be called today (but wasn't then). He addresses their motive – an adhominem attack! – it would be called today (but wasn't then).
     
    (the handwashing has nothing to do with hygiene – it is a ceremonial thing and involves washing up to the elbow)
     
    Then the scoundrels who asked the question storm off and the disciples tell Jesus that they were upset. He tells them not to worry about it.
     
    Then he seemingly veers off on another topic over what it is that defiles a man- what comes out of his mouth or what goes into it. It is what goes out: foul things that he may say. Only then does he finally answer the question – 20 verses later – and the ones that demanded he answer are no longer around to hear it!
     
    Wash hands
     
    Then there came to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying: "Why do your disciples overstep the tradition of the men of former times? For example, they do not wash their hands when about to eat a meal.”
     
    In reply he said to them: “Why do you overstep the commandment of God because of your tradition? For example, God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Let the one who speaks abusively of his father or mother be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother: “Whatever I have that could benefit you is a gift dedicated to God,” he need not honor his father at all.’ So you have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition. You hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about you when he said: 'This people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far removed from me. It is in vain that they keep worshipping me, for they teach commands of men as doctrines.’” With that he called the crowd near and said to them: “Listen and get the sense of it: It is not what enters into a man’s mouth that defiles him, but it is what comes out of his mouth that defiles him.”
     
    Then the disciples came and said to him: “Do you know that the Pharisees were stumbled at hearing what you said?” In reply he said: “Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted. Let them be. Blind guides is what they are. If, then, a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” Peter responded: “Make the illustration plain to us.” At this he said: “Are you also still without understanding? Are you not aware that whatever enters into the mouth passes through the stomach and is discharged into the sewer? However, whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and those things defile a man. For example, out of the heart come wicked reasonings,r murders, adulteries, sexual immorality, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies. These are the things that defile a man; but to take a meal with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”  (Matthew 15:1-20)
     
    photo: Mark Turnauckas

  • Did the Bible Writer Malachi have Teenagers?

    Either Malachi had teenagers or all teenagers have read Malachi. How else can you explain his style of writing?

    Everything is a challenge. Malachi is the last Bible book – a short job of just four chapters:

    “I have shown love to you people,” says Jehovah. But you say: “How have you shown us love?”

    And if I am a master, where is the fear due me?’ Jehovah of armies says to you priests who are despising my name.” But you say: “How have we despised your name?

    “‘By presenting polluted food on my altar.’ ‘And you say: “How have we polluted you?”’

    “You have made Jehovah weary with your words. But you say, ‘How have we made him weary?’

    Return to me, and I will return to you,” says Jehovah of armies. But you say: “How are we supposed to return?”

    “Will a mere human rob God? But you are robbing me.” And you say: “How have we robbed you?”

    “Your words against me have been strong,” says Jehovah. And you say: “How have we spoken against you among ourselves?”

    Enough already! Everything is challenged! Everything is hurled back in his face.

    Malachi is the last book of the Hebrew scriptures. Just for kicks, turn the page. Find yourself in the gospels and roll that attitude onto Mary, mother of Jesus. (Luke 1:26-28)

    "In her sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to…Mary. And coming in, the angel said to her: “Greetings, you highly favored one, Jehovah is with you.”

    “In what way is he with me?” she shoots back.

    “Forget it!” comes the reply. “There is my servant Ethel. She’ll do fine.”

    Whatever is wrong with Mary – not smart-mouthing the angel?

  • There Has to Be a Limit to Insolence

    Either Malachi had sulky kids or all sulky kids have read Malachi. How else can you explain his style of writing?

    Everything is a challenge. Malchi is the last Bible book – a short job of just four chapters:

    “I have shown love to you people,” says Jehovah. But you say: “How have you shown us love?”

    And if I am a master, where is the fear due me?’ Jehovah of armies says to you priests who are despising my name.” But you say: “How have we despised your name?

    “‘By presenting polluted food on my altar.’ ‘And you say: “How have we polluted you?”’

    “You have made Jehovah weary with your words. But you say, ‘How have we made him weary?’

    Return to me, and I will return to you,” says Jehovah of armies. But you say: “How are we supposed to return?”

    “Will a mere human rob God? But you are robbing me.” And you say: “How have we robbed you?”

    “Your words against me have been strong,” says Jehovah. And you say: “How have we spoken against you among ourselves?”

    Enough already! Everything is challenged! Everything is hurled back in his face.

    Malachi is the last book of the Hebrew scriptures. Just for kicks, turn the page. Find yourself in the gospels and roll that attitude onto Mary, mother of Jesus. (Luke 1:26-28)

    "In her sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to…Mary. And coming in, the angel said to her: “Greetings, you highly favored one, Jehovah is with you.”

    “In what way is he with me?” she shoots back.
    “Forget it!” comes the reply. “There is my servant Ethel. She’ll do fine.”

    I mean, there has to be a limit to insolence.

    Geishaboy500

    photo: geishaboy500

  • Sometimes God Strikes Them With Hemorrhoids

    It appears that the St. Petersburg branch facility confiscated by the government from Jehovah's Witnesses will be awarded to a medical research group, reports Vademec.ru. It is worth $15 million dollars.

    It is not the same, but when the Philistines made off with the ark, they ended up with hemorrhoids. No, it is not likely to happen. A branch building is not the ark. But one can always dream.

    The one conceivably valid reason for banning the New World Translation in Russia is that it employs the word "piles" at 1 Samuel 5:6 – a euphemism. What in the world are piles? It is in no other translation that I can see. Nor does the NWT avoid unpleasantries elsewhere. I can't figure it out.

    The American Standard Version says God smote them with "tumors." The King James Version says "emerods."

    The old Wycliffe Bible removes all doubt: "Forsooth the hand of the Lord was made grievous upon [the] men of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and he smote Ashdod and the coasts thereof in the privier part of [the] buttocks/in the more privy part of their tail ends."

    Should they stock Preparation H in the new medical building? And will the move come back to bite Russia? It certainly bites us. It has been observed that it provides a powerful caution to anyone wanting to invest there. Aggravate the government and they will take your property.

    See: I Don’t Know Why We Persecute Jehovah’s Witnesses—Searching for the Why

  • Babylon Will Rise Again

    What do you do when you spy the woman of wickedness trying to climb out of the ephah jar? (Zech 5:7)

    You grab the brazen hussy by the scruff the neck and boot her back down into the jar from where she came. (taking care in these volatile times that you do not get accused of harassment) Then you summon the two with wings to ship her back to Babylon.

    Maybe it was a reminder to the Jews who had just come from there to check their own ephah jars – or even their shoes, lest they had tracked something in. 

    Incidentally, present at our meeting was an Iraqi man who has responded to the Arabic group. The actual  Babylon means something to him, unlike to anyone else. He says it is the site of a festival each year, with music and food. Also that there is the slogan everyone knows: 'Babylon will rise again.'

    Hanging gardens

    On Facebook, one of my countless friends said: "Hussein's rebuilt Babylon was smashed to bits in the first gulf war. A Syrian brother told me the local Iranian word on the street was basically "Why did they bomb Disneyland?"

     

  • Crocodiles Eating Straw Just Like Bulls

    There are people who say – more people than not – that it is more likely for your dog to pour himself a breakfast bowl of Cheerios than for a lion to eat straw like a bull. They are not really built that way.
     
    That's why I like how the brothers didn't go there last night with the God's Kingdom Rules book. Discussing the return of the Jews from Babylonian exile and how they would be encouraged by Isaiah's prophesy about the animals, it said: "The lion would eat straw in the sense that it would not devour the Jews' cattle."
     
    They didn't have to do it. They could have said "God will supply them with bales of hay in order to feed the lions."
     
    Will it be literal someday? Who knows? But I like that our people can spot a metaphor when they see one. They know (unlike some religionists) that when someone cries crocodile tears, it does not mean that they are a crocodile.
     
    Crocodile tears