The Skeptics Annotated Bible

by Wells, Steve

  27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

  28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

  (5.28) “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” If a man who looks at a woman with lust commits adultery, and the penalty for adultery is death (Lev 20.10), then shouldn't the man (and the woman?) be put to death?

  (5.29-30) “Pluck it out … Cut it off.” Jesus recommends that to avoid sin we cut off our hands and pluck out our eyes. This advice is given immediately after he says that anyone who looks with lust at any women commits adultery.

  29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

  (5.29) “If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”

  30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

  (5.30) “If thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”

  31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

  32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

  (5.32) “Whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” In Mark (10.11) and Luke (16.18), Jesus condemns all divorces without exception. But in this verse, Jesus says that divorce is permissible when the wife is guilty of fornication. But what if the husband is unfaithful? Jesus doesn't seem to care about that.

  154 Is divorce ever permissible?

  33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

  (5.34-37) Jesus forbids the taking of any kind of oath. Yet Christians in courtrooms throughout the United States place their right hand on the Bible swear to tell the truth.

  63 Is it OK to take oaths?

  34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:

  (5.34) “Swear not at all.”

  35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

  36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

  37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

  (5.37) “Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”

  38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

  39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

  40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

  (5.40) “If any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.” Don't defend yourself in court.

  41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

  42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

  43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

  44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

  (5.44) “Love your enemies.” Well, it's a nice thought. But it seems strange coming from someone who damns his enemies to hell.

  114 How should enemies be treated?

  128 How should nonbelievers be treated?

  45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

  (5.45) “He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

  318 Is anyone good?

  33 Has the ever been a just person?

  46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

  47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

  48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

  MATTHEW 6

  (6.1-3) Don't brag about the good things that you do.

  339 Should we let others see our good works?

  6 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

  (6.1) “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them.”

  2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

  (6.2) “When thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee.”

  3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

  (6.3) “When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.”

  4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

  (6.5-6) Jesus tells his disciples not to pray in public. Those who favor school prayer, National Day of Prayer, etc. should take his advice.

  5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

  (6.5) “When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.”

  6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

  (6.6) “When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray.”

  7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

  8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

  9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

  (6.9) “After this manner therefore pray.”

  341 Do Christians know how to pray?

  10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

  (6.10) “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

  342 Is God's will always done in heaven?

  11 Give us this day our daily bread.

  12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

  13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

  (6.13a) “Lead us not into temptation.”

  65 Does God tempt people?

  (6.13b) “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.” These words (used in the Protestant version of “the Lord's Prayer”) were probably not in the original gospel, since they are not found in Luke's
version (Luke 11.2-4) or in the oldest manuscripts of Matthew's gospel.

  14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

  15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

  (6.15) “If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Fair is fair!

  16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

  17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

  18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

  19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

  20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

  21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

  22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

  23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

  (6.23) “If thine eye be evil …” There's nothing worse than an evil eye.

  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.

  25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

  26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

  (6.26) “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.” Jesus says that God feeds them. But, if so, he does one hell of a lousy job at it. Most birds die before leaving the nest, and the few who manage to fly soon die painful deaths of thirst, starvation, predation, disease, or exposure. If God is caring for them, pray that he stays away from you.

  Speaking of birds, Jesus asks: “Are ye not much better than they?” This is meant as a rhetorical question, but the answer is far from obvious to me. I guess to Jesus, though, birds are not worth much compared to humans. So you can do whatever the hell you want with (and to) them.

  27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

  28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

  (6.28) “Why take ye thought for rainment? Consider the lilies of the field.” A nice analogy, good advice (unless you live in cold climates), and a great movie.

  29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

  30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

  (6.31-34) Jesus says that we should not concern ourselves with material things, But 1 Timothy 5.8 says that anyone who behaves that way has “denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

  343 Should Christians be concerned with material things?

  31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

  (6.31) “Take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?”

  32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

  33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

  (6.33) “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” If you seek God, then he'll take care of all of your needs. No need to work or worry.

  34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

  (6.34) “Take therefore no thought for the morrow.”

  MATTHEW 7

  7 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

  (7.1) “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”

  126 To judge or not to judge

  2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

  (7.3-4) Avoid hypocrisy. Consider your own faults rather than criticizing others.

  3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

  (7.3) “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”

  4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

  (7.4) “How wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?”

  5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

  6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

  (7.6) “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” Jehovah's Witnesses are told that it is OK to be hide the truth when speaking to those who are not entitled to it (all nonJWs). They call this the Theocratic Warfare Stategy. This verse is used to justify their deceit.

  (7.7-8) “Ask, and it shall be given you … For every one that asketh receiveth.” Mark Twain said there are “upwards of a thousand lies” in the Bible. This is probably the biggest. How many desperate, frightened, broken-hearted parents have watched their children die while begging God to help?

  7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

  8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

  (7.7-8) “Seek, and ye shall find … he that seeketh findeth.”

  300 Can God be found?

  9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

  10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

  11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

  12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

  (7.12a) “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”

  128 How should nonbelievers be treated?

  (7.12b) “This is the law and the prophets.” If, as Jesus said, the golden rule summarizes the Old Testament’s law and prophets, then why are more than 1000 cruel and unjust passages found in it?

  (7.13-14) Jesus says that most people will go to hell. He seems to be OK with that.

  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:

  (7.13) “Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.”

  14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

  (7.14) “Narrow is the
way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

  15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

  16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

  17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

  18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

  19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

  (7.19) “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” Those who fail to bear “good fruit” will be “hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

  20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

  21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

  (7.21) “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.” According to Jesus, calling on his name is not enough to get you into heaven. Both Peter and Paul disagree, saying, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2.21, Romans 10.13).

  321 Will those who call on the Lord be delivered?

  22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

  23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

  24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

  25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

  26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

  27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

  28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: