Monthly Archives: July 2013

ON LOVE; PART CCCXXXV

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GoodWill IS Love in Action

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In the last post we explored some to of the ideas of the Master and His apostles that could relate to the previous Quote of the Day from the words of the Buddha and we discovered unintentional similarities which should show us the Truth that there IS but ONE teaching, ONE Truth, and the each of the Avatars that have come to teach have brought to us some part of this albeit in ways that are not easily discernible to the man who is focused in the things of the world. We must ever remember that as we use these words that speak of a man’s focus, that there is ever the matter of degree and that at some point, as one’s focus changes with the decision of Repentance, there begins that period of Transformation, where this ability to discern Truth becomes ever more acute. This idea of ever changing focus runs parallel with the growth of the Kingdom in the man which works according to the reality of the Plan of God and is pictured for us in the parables of the Master; also pictured in His words is the importance of the Kingdom to the man once he realizes the Truth of its presence and it is this reality that is found in the several parables that Jesus offers us:

• “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field” (Matthew 14:44).
• “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 14:45-46).

In these words from the Master we can see the effect of realizing the Kingdom, of heeding the call of the Soul, and of the ensuing attitude of the man who then Repents and Transforms himself. It IS in the ideas of selling ALL we should see the reality of  giving up ALL that one has, to buy the field or the great pearl, and we should see how this works out in His other words regarding riches and regarding the reality of that Transformation as it makes of one a disciple.

• In these parabolic sayings above we see the selling of ALL so that one can acquire the Kingdom and in this we should recall the rich young man to whom the Master says: “Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me” (Luke 18:22). Here in this story is the man who is seeking and who asks the Master how to enter into the Kingdom of God. Now we should note here of this encounter that although it is a real time story told by the writers of this event, that it is yet parabolic in its teaching as the Master defines for this man, not eternal Life as he asks, but rather the way to the Kingdom and in this we should see the synonymous nature of these ideas. The whole story from the Apostle Mark’s Gospel goes thus: “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:17-25). Our point here for today is only the reality of the Kingdom as this relates to the words above on the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price which is alternately rendered as of great value and as precious in other translations. In the story that we have here the Master is telling this directly to the man who has much, that if he desires the Kingdom he should sell ALL as do the man with the treasure in the field and the merchant with the pearl of great value when they have found their parabolic Kingdom. The Master goes on here in regard to the things of the world as He tells His disciples that unless a man gives up ALL that he will not find the Kingdom of God, he will not be able to enter. 

• In these same words we should get the greater understanding of discipleship. Looking at the end part of this story again from the Apostle Luke’s Gospel we see: “And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting” (Luke 18:24-30). In these words we see the confirmation by Peter that they had, as Jesus disciples, “left all, and followed“, the same as the Master is instructing the rich young man and in this we should be able to better link the ideas of attaining the Kingdom and discipleship, a link that we have discussed several times in past essays and never in relation to these verses. The link however IS here and it IS clear as IS the reality that having abundant riches in this world is contrary to attaining the Kingdom and this is better realized as we see it with the Kingdom being here and now and NOT in some future place after death. In Mark’s version there is a double saying regarding riches and the Kingdom where in the one there is the same sentiment that we have in the others, that “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!“; plus there is also the Masters repetition of the saying in a slightly different form saying: “how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!“. The addition here of the idea of trusting in riches gives many people a rather false sense that it is alright to have riches so long as one does not trust in them and while there is some truth to this, it IS NOT as these may perceive it.

• And, while many may lay hold to clever understandings of the camel and the eye as offering some allowance for riches, this is also a false sense of understanding; let us look more at these words:

  • The common understanding of this idea of the camel and the eye of the needle is reconstructed in some doctrine to be a gate at Jerusalem and this, like much of the prevalent doctrines is so constructed as to make it an easier thing for a man to accomplish, and this of course includes those who are the progenitors of the doctrines themselves. A version of this says that: The “eye of the needle” has been claimed to be a gate in Jerusalem, which opened after the main gate was closed at night. A camel could only pass through this smaller gate if it was stooped and had its baggage removed. This story has been put forth since at least the 15th century, and possibly as far back as the 9th century. However, there is no evidence for the existence of such a gate **. This type of teaching is found in several parts of the church, especially those that teach the Prosperity Gospel so called and even in the absence of this type, there is not generally a teaching regarding riches as the are spoken of here in this story by the Master. Some paint this as saying simply that: without God, no one can be saved, and while others see this in similar fashion, some see it in relation to that part of the story from the Apostle Matthew’s Gospel which adds the idea that: “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). John Gill ends his commentary on this verse saying that: All which show, that there is no need to suppose, that by a camel is meant, not the creature so called, but a cable rope, as some have thought; since these common proverbs manifestly make it appear, that a creature is intended, and which aggravates the difficulty ⁸. This idea is proffered by several commentators and has its own set of problems including that if this were so that the inerrant bible idea can become moot. Our point here is that doctrine’s attempts to paint this in any other way than as it IS stated is unfortunate and offers the wrong message and that there is a greater reality in Mark’s additional words on “trust in riches” that in any of these other ideas that dilute and change the Master’s reality which IS clearly stated elsewhere in those other simple words: “Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13).
    
  • Vincent offers us these words of explanation across his comments on the three uses of this saying. From Matthew we read: Camel – through a needle’s eye (κάμηλον διά τρύπηματος ραφίδος) See on Mark 10:25; and Luke 18:25. Compare the Jewish proverb, that a man did not even in his dreams see an elephant pass through the eye of a needle. The reason why the camel was substituted for the elephant was because the proverb was from the Babylonian Talmud, and in Babylon the elephant was common, while in Palestine it was unknown. The Koran has the same figure: “The impious shall find the gates of heaven shut; nor shall he enter there till a camel shall pass through the eye of a needle.” Bo-chart, in his history of the animals of scripture, cites a Talmudic passage: “A needle’s eye is not too narrow for two friends, nor is the world wide enough for two enemies.” The allusion is not to be explained by reference to a narrow gate called a needle’s eye. From his comment on Mark’s Gospel we read: Needle (ραφίδος) A word stigmatized by the grammarians as unclassical. One of them (Phrynichus) says, “As for ῥαφίς , nobody would know what it is.” Matthew also uses it. See on Matthew 19:24. Luke uses βελόνης , the surgical needle. See on Luke 18:25. And his comments from Luke’s Gospel tell us that: To go through the eye of a needle (διὰ τρήματος βελόνης εισελθειν) Rev., more literally, to enter in through a needle’s eye. Both Matthew and Mark use another word for needle ( ῥαφίς ); see on Mark 10:25. Luke alone has βελόνη , which, besides being an older term, is the peculiar word for the surgical needle. The other word is condemned by the Greek grammarians as barbarous ⁴. There should be no doubt of what the Master meant once we understand the relevance of the words used and especially the word used by the physician Luke.
  • There IS a saying that a picture is worth a thousand words and we offer this one here:        
• Finally we have those actual words on discipleship that are crystal clear yet are not understood in the context in which they are offered. Two versions are found that are seemingly unrelated but which we understand as the same; the one speaks of discipleship directly while the other speaks of being worthy of the Master which we see as being worthy Him and His Kingdom which IS discipleship as well. Nonetheless, the ideas from the first can stand alone:
  • “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple……So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26-27, 33).
  • “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 10:37-39). Here we have added in the last verse on Life and we should try to see this in the same light as the last verse on forsaking ALL from Luke’s version.

While we did not intend to spend today’s words on this idea of riches, we have done so and, in so doing we have linked yet more of the Master’s words to this theme of discipleship and the Kingdom. And, we have noted again that this theme of shedding ALL and finding the meaninglessness of mammon is rather alien to the teachings of Christian doctrine which dilutes and changes the intent of His words to suit its  own ideas of Life. And this IS again especially True in those denominations that lay hold of Old Testament teachings on to justify their disregard for the Master’s words and attract many to their prosperity teachings; teachings which we believe will never enable a man to Truly find that Kingdom of God here and now nor allow for one to Truly approach Him as a disciple.

We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.

Note on the Quote of the Day

This daily blog also has a Quote of the Day which may not be in any way related to the essay. Many of these will be from the Bible and some just prayers or meditations that may have an influence on you and are in line with the subject matter of this blog. As the quote will change daily and will not store with the post, it is repeated in this section with the book reference and comment.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).

In this saying we have much Truth for the man who would be a disciple and who would attain the Kingdom and we have here the apostle’s instruction including that part that can only serve to detract from any accomplishment that a man can achieve in his pursuits. This is of course to judge others before that point where one is himself in full compliance with His words.

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts!

• ¹ Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1828 and 1913
• ⁸ Bible commentaries on BibleStudyTools.com 
• ⁴ Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition, 1888
• ** Wikipedia contributors. “Eye of a needle.”  Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 14 May. 2013.