[ This is a continuation of a conversation that started with verses about the Fear of God, God’s hatred for some sinners, and how the Church won’t teach this. To see the beginning of this click HERE ]
Garry, good chat. I’m reminded:
Deuteronomy 6:7 NKJV “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
Its amazing how fragile many people are when you discuss anything that is not an instant agreement. This, and the fact that after 350AD any suggestion that the ‘Orthodoxy’ was incorrect led to physical punishment or banishment, has preserved false teachings and a false Canon.
Few people care about seeking what is REALLY True and what is not. This is why the vast majority of people accept the easiest religions to accept based on their location. [Proximity Christians]
Even though I disagree with Muslims, Jews, Atheists, and many Catholics and Christians on many things….those among them who are sincere in their desire for God and His absolute Truth, I respect these people. I can, and have, sat with many of them and had long discussions. Oh how I wish I can go back to some of them and say, “Hey! I was wrong about this”. And I’m sure many of them would say the same. We are humans, and God isn’t exactly standing next to us.
My case is different than many because of my experiences. It’s from these experiences that I know Yahweh exists. But knowing this, I then logically have to determine which writings are from Him and which arent. Moses told us that a prophet will come in the name of the lord, and it will come true.
So in the Synoptics Jesus said:
Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.“
Mark 14:9 “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
Mark 13:2 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not [one] stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
This proves these books are from God.
Going from this, anything after Luke that is contradictory to the Synoptics must not be from Yahweh.
EXAMPLE:
Jesus:
Matthew 5:17-19 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches [them], he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
“…… one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law ….”
Paul: Galatians 5:2 “Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.”
Again:
Jesus:” Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven”
Paul:” if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. ”
Before the 19th Century , you could be killed for saying “That’s a contradiction” So instead they said chose the word “fulfill” and said, “It was fulfilled during Jesus life, now what Paul says is true”. This is Writing Scripture.
Anyway…..below this is my response to your letter. Peace.
RESPONSE:
Garry you’ve mention this a few times before, you just said:
“For example, you mention the “rich young ruler” where Jesus said that only God is good. Note what happened immediately after. He listed some of the ten commandments, all of them relating horizontally to our earthly relationships. And the guy said that he had kept them. Then Jesus put Himself squarely in the place of God by ignoring the remaining commandments, relating to our vertical relationship with God, and instead saying, “Sell all that you have and give to the poor, and come follow Me”! If Jesus in not deity (which is a synonym for “God”) then get out the stones! That episode is one of His major claims of deity, although it fools many.”
– This is what I call writing scripture. Many Christians do it instinctively. There are many things that Jesus says that some Christians molest until it fits into their world view. What happens is, people accept the doctrines of their nearest denomination…or the most popular…or their parents…and they accept all of what they are told as true.
When the little voice in their head says “That’s not right”, they sometimes bite their tongue, and sometimes make an inquiry.
The ‘pastor’ feeds them the same thing he was fed when he was young….or he says “Well we just have to put that one on the shelf”.
But when we follow Jesus’ command to “call no man teacher”, then only what God and Jesus [ Matthew Mark & Luke] say Verbatim is True. Nothing else.
When you know Yahweh exists, and have been contacted by Him, you fear saying anything not True. [I speak of myself]
You only repeat what He, and His Son has said. And when you talk about scripture, you must say “This is my opinion”.
I’m not sure if I’ve ever heard a Christian say “This is just my opinion, I could be wrong, but I think…..” Actually I do remember some people saying they could be wrong. But it’s not said enough. The only thing you can take as True is God and Jesus’ words verbatim.
Back to your interpretation of that passage. What you did there, was take a very humble statement that Jesus made, saying “Why do you call me good? There is only one who is good, and that is God“. You take this wonderful humble truth from the Messiah and flip it on its head and say “Jesus is saying He is Good and He is God”.
The absurdity in this is beyond commentary. Its comedy at best…yet…its repeated as Truth because they know the book that is called ‘John’ says Jesus is the “Good Shepherd”. Instead of admitting this contradiction, they twist the True words of Jesus in Matthew. There are many contradictions between John and the Synoptics. And often Christian leaders twist the Synoptics to fit John.
EXAMPLE: The Master’s Seminary has whole semesters of class teachings on Youtube to watch.
The professor, Dr. Keith Essex [his lectures on Tanakh are very enjoyable], discussed the different thoughts on how long Jesus’ ministry was. Through the years people have theorized it was 1, 2,3, or 4 years.
The Professor then goes through each one and the reasons supporting them.
He concluded by saying if they accepted 2,3,or 4 years that would be permissible, although he said 3 was the most likely answer.
He then said the student was not allowed to choose a one year ministry.
This is beyond sad. Matthew, Mark , and Luke are clear Jesus’ ministry was one year. But because John has 3 Passovers mentioned [not 1 like the Synoptics] , then he demanded they refute the obviously True answer.
Besides there only being one Passover, Jesus said in Luke 4.19 “To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord“.
So what’s the difference between the Pharisees who twisted the Tanakh and used man-made traditions [Talmud] on Jesus, and many of the leaders in the Church today?
Matthew 15:6 NLT
In this way, you say they don’t need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition.
Mark 7:8-9, 13
For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” Then he said, “You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition. … And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”
As for me, I will stick to Jesus’ words verbatim, and the words of Yahweh. I will not add to them, nor take away.
It’s not always easy to do this, but it is the only way to be in absolute Truth.
