by Wells, Steve
17 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
(17.1) “After six days, Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain.”
420 When did the transfiguration occur?
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
(17.2) “And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.”
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
(17.3) “And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.”
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
(17.5) “Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud … said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
(17.6) “When the disciples heard it, they fell on their face.”
7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.
10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
(17.11-13) Jesus says that John the Baptist was Elijah. But if so, then why did John the Baptist deny it in John 1.21? And what did John the Baptist restore?
356 Was John the Baptist Elijah?
11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
(17.11) “Jesus … said … Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.”
12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
(17.12) “Elias is come already.”
13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
(17.13) “The disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.”
(17.14-21) A man brings his epileptic (“lunatic”) son to Jesus to cure, saying that Jesus' disciples tried but couldn't cast out the devil. Jesus rails against his disciples and their “faithless and perverse generation” and asks how long he will have to be around them. He then cures the “lunatic” by casting out the devil and explains to his “faithless and perverse” disciples that some devils require prayer and fasting. He assures them, however, that they can do anything with faith, including move mountains around.
14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
(17.14-15) “There came … a … man … saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick … for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.”
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
(17.16) “I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.”
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
(17.17) “Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.”
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
(17.18) “Jesus rebuked the devil … and the child was cured from that very hour.”
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
(17.19) “Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?”
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
(17.20) “ Jesus said … Because of your unbelief … If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
(17.21) “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
(17.27) “Go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.” Jesus tells Peter to pay his taxes with a coin that he'll find in the mouth of the first fish that he catches from the sea.
MATTHEW 18
18 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
(18.3) “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” But Paul (1 Cor 13.11) said that we should “put away childish things.” I guess poor Paul didn't make it to heaven.
365 Is it good to be childish?
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
(18.7) “Woe to the world because of offences!” Jesus condemns the whole world.
(18.8-9) Jesus advises his followers to mutilate themselves by cutting off their hands and plucking out their eyes. He says it's better to be “maimed” than to suffer the “everlasting fire.” of hell.
157 Does Hell exist?
8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
(18.8) “If thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it
is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.”
9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
(18.9) “If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.”
10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
(18.10) “Angels do always behold the face of my Father.”
49 Can God be seen?
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
(18.15-17) Jehovah's Witnesses use these verses (along with Dt 19.15 and 1 Tim 5.19) to justify their refusal to report or investigate incidents of child molestation unless two or three JWs have witnessed the event. If witnesses do not come forward (and they are discouraged from doing so since it would embarrass the organization), then the victim is told to be quiet about it.
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
(18.15) “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.”
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
(18.16) “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
(18.17) “If he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
(18.19) “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father.” If you can get two other believers to agree with you, and the three of you ask God for something, he will give it to you.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
(18.21-22) Forgive those who repeatedly offend you.
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
(18.21) “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
(18.22) “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” Hilary Clinton referenced this verse, saying: “In the Bible it says they asked Jesus how many times you should forgive, and he said 70 times 7. Well, I want you all to know that I’m keeping a chart.”
(18.23-35) In the parable of the unforgiving servant, the king threatens to enslave a man and his entire family to pay for a debt. The servant begs for the king's mercy, and the king forgives his entire debt. But then the same servant found a fellow servant that owed him some money, and he demanded payment. The servant begged for mercy but was thrown in prison instead. Other servants heard about it, and they told the king, who had the unforgiving servant tortured. The parable ends with this: “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you.” If you are cruel to others, God will be cruel to you.
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
(18.23) “The kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.”
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
(18.25) “As he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.” (This is the king speaking, who is likened to “the kingdom of heaven” by Jesus.)
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
(18.34) “His lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.”
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
(18.35) “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
MATTHEW 19
19 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;
2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
(19.2) “Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them.”
3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
(19.5) “For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife.” Is Jesus praising marriage and condemning polygamy here?
15 Is marriage a good thing?
16 Is polygamy OK?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
(19.6) “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
154 Is divorce ever permissible?
7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorc
ement, and to put her away?
8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
(19.9) “Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” In Mark (10.11) and Luke (16.18), Jesus categorically condemns all divorces. But Matthew's Jesus (see also Mt 5.31) makes an exception when the wife is guilty of fornication.
154 Is divorce ever permissible?
10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
(19.10) “It is not good to marry.” After Jesus denounces divorce, his disciples say that if divorce isn't allowed, then “it is good not to marry.” Jesus agrees by saying that it is better to make yourself a eunuch “for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.” Many have castrated themselves attempting to follow Jesus' advice in this verse.
15 Is marriage a good thing?
11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
(19.12a) “There are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb.” Is Jesus talking about homosexuals here?
(19.12b) “There be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.” Dangerous words from a guy who recommends cutting of body parts if they cause you to sin (Mt 5.29-30, 18.8-9, Mk 9.43-48). It might make someone castrate himself so that he could be one of the 144,000 male virgins, who alone will make it to heaven (Rev 14.3-4).