“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14-16)

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

What is the 'town built on a hill'?

Jesus is using an analogy to explain how important his teachings are. The 'city on a hill' represents the aspects of his teachings that bring us closer to our loving relationship with the Supreme Being.

This is a 'city on a hill' because this is the pinnacle of our existence. To achieve a loving relationship with God fulfills all our desires. It achieves everything that we have always wished for.

If you ask practically any person what is important to them in life, it will undoubtedly relate to finding their soul mate. Each of us seeks our soul mate: The person who fulfills us and makes us happy.

Even those who have arrived at a relationship with another person - even if they are happily married - will still seek close friendships with others. While they might say their mate is their soul mate, they know after a few years that the person is not the perfect person they were originally seeking.

Our perfect soul mate is the Supreme Being.

Our perfect soul mate does not have to interfere with our current relationship, because our perfect soul mate is the Supreme Being, and we can share God with others. Our relationship with God is like a city on a hill because it cannot be hidden from those we care about. We will certainly want to share God with others, just as Jesus asked his followers to share his teachings with others.

Who was Jesus speaking to?

“Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.” (Matt. 4:25)

This means that Jesus was speaking to people who were not only gathered and motivated to listen to Jesus but also were followers of Jesus. They were in effect, Jesus' students. He had been giving them knowledge, which effectively made them, "the light of the world."

Jesus thus explained to these followers that after they had heard and learned from him, they were able to set examples for others. Jesus was encouraging his followers to spread the knowledge he was giving them so that others could begin to appreciate the need for focusing our lives on God.

What does Jesus want them to do?

Jesus wants them to pass on the knowledge that he has given to them.

The final statement in this section is critical: “…that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” What does this mean?

This means Jesus was telling his followers to preach by example. He was telling them to conduct their lives in such a way that teaches others. And what might be those "deeds?" We only have to observe Jesus' life. Jesus spent his time helping people. He healed people. He praised God. He made sacrifices. He prayed. He preached. Jesus was God's advocate. He advocated for God in every possible situation.

Now Jesus is asking his followers to also become advocates for God.

What does 'glorify your Father in heaven' mean?

The central means to “glorify your Father in heaven” is for us to praise Him.

Praise means to glorify the Supreme Being's Name and virtues. Praise means to sing His Name and virtues. We can do that with or without instruments, in groups, or in private. Praise also means we can repeat His Names and virtues on a regular basis.

Singing and repeating the Names of God are the greatest deed a person can make. Singing and praising God and His Names brings true joy to the heart. It delivers a taste of love for God. If done consistently and without envy, praising God gradually purifies the heart of selfishness and envy.

This is confirmed by David’s psalm in 1 Chronicles 16-8:

Give thanks for the Lord, call on His Name; make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to him, sing praise to Him; tell of His wonderful acts. Glory in His holy Name…”

This is also confirmed by Jeremiah (10:13):

Sing to the LORD!
Give praise to the LORD!
He rescues the life of the needy
from the hands of the wicked.

To praise God is the highest form of worship. This is because within God’s Names, within His characteristics and His activities, lies the goal of life: To love and serve God with all our heart and soul.

This is Jesus' clear instruction not only to his followers but all who may read his teachings later:
“glorify your Father in heaven.”

“This is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name.” (Matthew 6:9)

Why is Jesus suggesting how to pray?

Jesus is contrasting the insincere prayers of the Temple priests and Pharisees with what would be considered a sincere and devout prayer to the Supreme Being.

Jesus had just said:

“But when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen. by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew 6:5-8)

To contrast "babbling like pagans," Jesus is illustrating what a real sincere prayer to God is. He is not telling his followers to all recite this specific prayer as though they cannot sincerely pray themselves.

Besides, there are a number of different translations of this prayer - considered the "Lord's Prayer." Here are a few of Matt. 6:9 translations:

King James:

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.

New King James:

“In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.

New Living Translation:

Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may Your Name be kept holy.

ESV:

Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.

NASB:

Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.

RSV:

Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.

ASV:

After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.

Lost Gospels of Jesus:

Therefore, you can pray in this way: ‘Our spiritual LORD, Holy is Your Name. 

What does 'hallowed' mean?

Thus we see "hallowed" is the most used translation. The word "hallowed" is being translated from the Greek word ἁγιάζω (hagiazō), which means, "to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow" according to the lexicon. It means to render something as "Holy."

Thus the central element here is the acceptance and respect of God’s Name. While we see interpretations of scripture that claim “God has no Name,” here we can clearly see that not only does God have a Name, but His Name is to be “hallowed.” 

To clarify, to be “hallowed” is to have the utmost respect, allegiance, and reverence. To “hallow” God’s Name would include respecting, glorifying, repeating, singing, shouting God's Name from the rooftops. This means in general, having His Name on our tongues.

The singing of God’s Names has been revered and glorified in every devotional religious ceremony since time immemorial.

What about those who say God has no name?

As to the "God has no Name” position of some sectarian institutions and their teachers, such a statement in itself is contradictory. The statement itself refers to God by the name God.

Furthermore, such a proposition is a misinterpretation of the position that God’s names are not material. And that is a reality: God's names are unlike any name referring to the physical world.

In this respect, God’s Name is completely spiritual. For this reason, one of the Ten Commandments says “You shall not misuse the Name of the Lord your God…” (Exodus 20:7)

This did not say "you shall not say the Name of the Lord your God." A number of translations use the words “in vain” to describe this misuse. This has come to be misunderstood over the years of use, as meaning saying God’s name for vanity purposes.

But the NIV translation of “misuse” provides a clearer meaning because it refers to the saying of God’s Name without the reverence or respect that His Name deserves.

These two key instructions from the Bible—Jesus’ prayer and one of the Ten Commandments—could not be more clear. Obviously, God’s Name is special and to be revered. It is not ordinary. It is not material.

Are God's Names like our names?

In the physical world, there is a distinction between something and the name of that something. This distinction is due to the relativity of language and the temporary nature of things of this world.

The Name of God has a power that is greater than any physical thing or word because God’s Name is connected to Himself. Because God is eternal, there is no duality. 

This is not like the references we have here in the physical world. What we see here are names for temporary physical bodies. Names that can be changed. A person might be named "William" but may be called "Bill" and might later change his name to "Tom." It is the same person, but the names are different.

The physical body is relative because it constantly undergoes change. At one time we wore a baby’s body. Then that body became a child body, then a teenage body. Then the body became an adult body. Then it will become an old person’s body. Eventually, we will leave that body. These bodily identities are all temporary. They are relative to time and space.

The self inside the body is the permanent being. The self inside the body is spiritual, while the temporary body is physical. Therefore we are each different from the name given to our physical body. We will eventually leave this name behind. Some people even change their names. Thus these names are separate from us.

God's Names are not separate from Himself. Unlike our temporary names, God's Names have eternal spiritual potency.

Do God's Names have power?

The Supreme Being's Name has tremendous power. This is confirmed in Acts 2:21:
“And everyone who shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.”

It is also confirmed by David in Psalm 124:8:
“Our help is in the Name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

God's Holy Name gives us the ability to connect us directly with God. By calling His Name in a moment of fear or danger, we become rescued spiritually. By calling His Name with love, we can be transferred to the spiritual realm even while our body is still here.

By revering the Name of God—in prayer, song or recitation—we can find solace. We can find our selves. We can find God. It is for this reason that Moses instructed:

“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. (Exodus 20:7)

This has also been translated to:

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. (Exodus 20:7 NKJV)

Can God have more than one name?

Each of us has multiple names. Most of us have three names - first, middle and last. Then many of us have nicknames in addition. 

If we can have multiple names, why can't God? Why can't the same Supreme Being be called upon differently by different people depending upon their relationship with Him?

There are a number of forms of His Name confirmed by scripture. God is predominantly used in the Bible. We also find His Name Jehovah. We also find Elohim and Eloah used. Jesus used a form of these Names when he spoke of Eloi. English interpretations of these names are Father, Supreme Being, and Lord. (Although “lord” (or "master") is also used as a greeting for those devoted to God as well.)

In other scriptures of the world (or are we saying that God cannot reach out to other cultures?) we find many other Names of God. God has many other Names. And why not? If people can call us different names, why cannot the Supreme Being have many names? 

People can call us by our first name, our last name, or a host of different nicknames. Some may even call us "buddy," or "pal," or "sweetheart." In the same way, there are many names given to God by some of His special servants, based upon some of His personal characteristics.

We thus find a number of scripturally authentic and revered references to the Supreme Being from various scriptures and ancient devotional writings. This is not to be taken lightly. Within each of these Names, God reveals a part of His Personality. His Personality is variegated. God has many Names, each describing a particular character trait.

Reciting one or several of His Names is a long-held and timeless spiritual practice. We find many references to the singing and glorifying of God’s Names within the old and new testaments and in every other bonafide scripture of the world. Yet surprisingly, few claiming to follow Jesus give this revered and ancient practice any consideration or practical application. And this first sentence of Jesus’ prayer seems to escape the sermons and pews of the modern churches. Yet we know that Jesus' followers indeed did follow this teaching:

Then they all remained at the Temple, glorifying God. (Luke 24:52)

To correctly put into practice Jesus' instruction would be to actually “hallow God’s Name.” This means we say His Name with reverence in our prayers and hymns. This means we can also repeat and glorify God's Name throughout the day. We can sing His Names as we play our instruments. We can softly repeat His Names when we walk or meditate.

As we live our lives, we can continually "hallow" God's Holy Names.

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth ...” (Matthew 6:10)

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

What does 'Your kingdom come' mean?

The word "kingdom" is being translated from the Greek word, βασιλεία (basileia), which can mean "kingdom," but only in the context of "royal power, kingship, dominion, rule" according to the lexicon. The lexicon also states that the word is "not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom."

This means that "kingdom" is not an appropriate translation. Rather, a more appropriate translation would be something like "dominion" or "authority."

But further in the context of Jesus' times and use of language would relate to what kings provided to their subjects in feudal times - "sanctuary." A citizen of a particular village or region would basically take sanctuary under a particular king or leader. Such sanctuary provided safety as well as a role in the society.

The word "come" is being translated from the Greek word ἔρχομαι (erchomai), which means, when used metaphorically (as is the case here), "to come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence;" and "be established, become known, to come (fall) into or unto" according to the lexicon.

In other words, Jesus is suggesting that we pray to God to reveal His sanctuary to us. This is essentially asking that God provide us with His sanctuary - to give us protection and allow us to connect with Him.

What does 'Your will be done' mean?

The terminology of this phrase is a little muddled according to this translation.

Note that Jesus is suggesting a prayer to the Supreme Being. God is in complete control, and therefore He can have His will be done any time and any place. Therefore, Jesus is not saying that we should instruct God to have His will done.

Rather, Jesus is saying, with the phrase, "γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου" that we should ask God if we can do His will.

Actually, the word translated to "will" (θέλημα (thelēma)) actually means, "what one wishes or has determined shall be done."

Since this is a "Your" thing here, this could also be translated to "what pleases You."

In other words, what Jesus is suggesting here is that we ask God if we can do what pleases Him.

The Supreme Being can do what He wants. He can make His will happen with or without us. What the Supreme Being did, however, is give each of us the ability to make a choice of whether we want to do what pleases Him or not.

This is called free will and each of us has this freedom to reject God's wishes or adhere by them. This is because love is based upon freedom, and the only way we can truly love God is if we have the freedom not to.

Why does Jesus prayer suggest this?

This portion of Jesus’ suggested prayer is focused upon our ultimate perfection as spiritual beings: Jesus is requesting that when his students pray, they ask God if they can serve Him and please Him with their lives.

God created us to exchange a loving relationship with Him. Love, however, requires the freedom of choice, because a person cannot be forced to love someone.

So the Supreme Being gave us the choice to love Him or not. This also means we have the freedom to serve God or not. You see, God does not have slaves. He has loving servants - those who choose to love and serve Him.

Why do so many ignore God?

Most of us who live in the physical dimension have chosen not to love and serve God. We have chosen not to do His will. This decision each of us made is symbolized by the story of Adam and Eve. Adam chose not to do God’s will after being asked by God not to eat the forbidden fruit.

This primary act, of deciding to go against the will of God, created our entry into the material world, away from God’s presence. This is explained in symbolic language in Genesis:

“The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. And the Lord God said, “The man has now become one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After He drove the man out, He placed on (in front of) the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.” (Genesis 3:21-24)

The “garments of skin” are our temporary physical bodies. Because we decided we wanted to be independent of God, we were given our virtual independence from Him.

Here we can forget about God. We can even claim He doesn't exist. In fact, it is God who gives the atheist the rationale to claim His non-existence.

This is the expression of freedom. In order to have true freedom to love God or not, the Supreme Being set up this plane of existence where our physical eyes do not see Him. Though He dwells among us, we cannot see Him with these physical eyes. This gives us a chance to ignore Him, just as we wanted.

Why do we seek love?

Yet we continue to look for true love throughout our physical lives, demanding it from our parents, friends and even our pets. These forms of so-called love, however, do not satisfy us because we need our original loving relationship with God.

Any loving relationship is accompanied by loving service. Loving service means doing the will of the one we love. Jesus is saying, "Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." What does this mean?

This illustrates that one can do God’s will here in the physical dimension just as well as we can do His will in the spiritual dimension. We can exchange this loving relationship anywhere. We don't have to 'go to heaven' in order to be in the spiritual realm.

Because we can do the Supreme Being's will regardless of whether we are in the physical body or not, we can virtually be in the spiritual realm where ever we may be.

Practically speaking, the entire creation - both spiritual and physical - was created by the Supreme Being. This means it is all His kingdom. Therefore if we are in the consciousness that we want to do His will, we will be in the spiritual realm right here and right now.

Jesus showed by example how to be pleasing and loving to God even while living in this temporary physical body. Even when he was being ridiculed, mistreated, misunderstood, and even tortured, he was thinking of God's pleasure. He wanted to do what God wanted him to do. This was expressed in his prayer right before he was arrested:

“Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36)

What does this mean? It means that Jesus is enjoying a loving relationship with the Supreme Being.

Jesus taught that spiritual life is about having a relationship with God. It is not about joining one sect or another. It is not about doing a bunch of rituals. It is not about being saved or being cleansed of sins. It is about exchanging a loving relationship with the Supreme Being.

And this is what Jesus was teaching his students:

" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matt. 22:37-38)

“See that no one knows about this.” (Matthew 9:30)

Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” (Matt. 9:29-30)

Why did Jesus 'warn them sternly'?

The text of Matthew prefaces this statement with “Jesus warned them sternly.” (Matt. 9:30). This means that Jesus was serious about them not telling others about this healing event. Why not?

Jesus did not want to have everyone gossiping about the healing. Jesus was not into fame and recognition.

But isn’t this why Jesus healed people's bodies, one might ask? Actually, not. As we can see from this statement of Jesus, together with the previous one, Jesus was dealing with two particular people who had shown their trust in God’s ability to heal them. Thus the healing event took place between God, Jesus, and these two faithful people.

Jesus was not trying to prove to anyone his ability to heal. His focus was on the service of the Supreme Being, and as part of his service, these two men were healed of their blindness.

Why did Jesus heal people?

Jesus' intent was to bring attention to God, not himself.

But that is not what the Supreme Being wanted. Here is the next verse from Matthew:

But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region. (Matt. 9:31)

Just as the loving servant of God wants to bring attention to the Supreme Being, the Supreme Being wants to bring attention to His loving servants. Jesus confirmed this here:

“If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me." (John 8:54)

Note also that Jesus healed no more than about 27 people according to the Gospels. This is despite the fact that hundreds of people lined up to be healed wherever he traveled.

As such Jesus, being the loving servant of God, was being acclaimed across the country as a healer not because Jesus wanted the acclaim, but because the Supreme Being wanted to bring acclaim to Jesus. Why?

Because Jesus was focused upon serving God and passing out the message of God - the Teachings of the Supreme Being. Jesus confirmed this:

“My teaching is not my own. It comes from the One who sent me." (John 7:16)

What does this say about Jesus?

We might compare the situation to the ambassador of a government. While the ambassador may be a shy person, the government he or she represents will give them a special office in a special building - the embassy - in another country. 

The government the ambassador represents will also support him and promote him while he is representing the government. Why? Because the ambassador's focus is to serve the government and its people, so the ambassador's government will support those services.

This is similar with respect to God's representative, except for the fact that the position of God's loving servant is not a paid position. It is based upon a loving relationship. God's representative loves the Supreme Being and thus acts on His behalf as loving service. This is how Jesus defined himself.

Furthermore, God has the ultimate ability to empower His representative. He does not need councils and assemblies to authorize His representative. Jesus was an exemplary representative of God. He was God’s confidential servant. Jesus sacrificed his entire life and existence to please the Supreme Being:

He confirmed this in this statement:

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." (John 4:34)

"What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ... “ (Matthew 11:7-10)

"What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ “ (Matthew 11:7-10)

Is Jesus referring to John the Baptist?

Here Jesus is describing John the Baptist, and he is also clarifying the meaning of "preparing the way."

We also find in Luke a similar attribute to John the Baptist, but not by Jesus:

He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God's salvation.' " (Luke 3:3-6)

So we find here that John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John was also teaching, according to this, "God's salvation."

Jesus was referring to John because one of John's hallmarks was preaching from the desert. Thousands traveled out to the Jordan River to hear him preach and receive baptism from him. John was truly a Prophet of his time and was respected that way.

By Jesus' statement, we can see that Jesus also honored John. John was essentially Jesus' teacher, because Jesus also went out to hear John teach, and he then received baptism from John.

This means, practically, that Jesus accepted John as his spiritual teacher.

What does 'prepared the way' mean and who prepares the way for whom?

To dive deeper into the meaning of 'prepared the way' we must investigate the basis for this terminology. This term originates from the Book of Isaiah Chapter 40:

A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3)

But this should not be taken out of context. Who is preparing the way for whom?

This is indicated when the full quote of the "voice of one calling" is considered:

A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." (Isaiah 40:3-5)

Many teach that Isaiah was referring to Jesus with this statement. But it is clear that this is not true. The word "LORD" in the first statement is being translated from the Hebrew word, יְהֹוָה (Yĕhovah). As is obvious from the transliteration, this word is referring to Jehovah.

This means this statement is referring to preparing the way for the Supreme Being. Therefore, to misconstrue this statement as referring to Jesus at some point in the future would not only be dishonest. It would be wrong.

The context of this statement is far broader in application. The last statement of the quote in Isaiah reveals the context is about making a straight path to the Supreme Being. This means focusing our life upon the Supreme Being and developing our loving relationship with God.

But the last line indicates how this could also connect to John: "For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

The "mouth of the LORD" refers to God's messenger or representative. Someone who is speaking for God. Someone who speaks for another person is often referred to as their "mouth" or "mouthpiece."

So as Jesus uses this to describe John, he is referring to the fact that John was one of God's representatives.

We can further understand this meaning in the Book of Malachi.

“See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 3:1)

So we find that the person preparing the way is "my messenger" - meaning God's messenger because this is God speaking ("says the Lord Almighty")

Does this statement by the Supreme Being mean there is only one messenger of His covenant?

Moses was a messenger of the covenant. David was a messenger. Isaac was a messenger. Abraham was a messenger. Jeremiah was. Malachi is being a messenger as well, as he puts forth these verses.

And according to Jesus, John was also a messenger of the covenant. 

These messengers all appeared on this earth for those who sought out the Supreme Being during their time. In other words, for those who desire to return to God, the Supreme Being sends His messenger.

Those who interpret Jesus' above statement to mean that John prepared the way for Jesus simply do not understand the real covenant being discussed. So they distort the teachings of Jesus to suit the political hierarchy of their institutions.

Many teach a false “surrender” to Jesus, and that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross will magically save people: They teach being saved through proclamation: that all they need to do is say, "I surrender to Jesus" and they are saved. This is hucksterism. This is cheating.

There is no magic path back to the Supreme Being by way of taking advantage of Jesus' suffering. Jesus himself spent years teaching to people. Why did he spend all that time teaching if we could simply be saved by his body's death on the cross?

Those teachings are what can save us - just as his teachings were able to save those who followed him.

Note that in Malachi 3:1 above, God says clearly that “the messenger of the covenant… will come.” From this, we can see that the Supreme Being is saying that He sends His messengers to “prepare the way before Me.” From this, we can understand that God utilizes His messengers to prepare us, by showing us how to re-develop our relationship with Him.

The words “the way” signify a path or road. “Before Me” indicate the path or road leading to the Supreme Being. Thus we can know the Supreme Being has set up a system where we can return to HIm - by following the teachings of His messengers.

These points are confirmed by God clearly in Malachi. 2:7:

“For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction--because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty.”

How much clearer could this be? This statement clarifies that the Supreme Being indeed has had many messengers or representatives. This is why "a priest" is mentioned. As Jesus also taught his disciples and then asked them to teach others, anyone who sincerely receives and applies the knowledge from God’s representative and messenger may pass on that message to others with devotion, thus becoming one of God's messengers.

The operators of God's statement are sincerity and application, meaning the message must be humbly received and applied it to one's life without tainting it with our own interpretations.

Note that Jesus is paraphrasing Isaiah and Malachi, but  3:1, we can see a significant change in the statement as Jesus is referring to the same “way” that God was referring to, but this “way” is “before you” rather than “before Me” as is stated by God in Mal. 3:1 and "for the LORD" in Isaiah. 

This confirms the meaning of the Supreme Being's statement that the “way” is the path back to our relationship with the Supreme Being.

What is a 'swaying reed'?

What about the "reed swayed by the wind"? What does this mean?

Jesus is speaking of those teachers who bend their teachings to please others - in order to gain followers. This is a disease among those who seek to be honored and respected - and those who gain their positions among ecclesiastical institutions through appointment. These are not God's representatives. They are elected by people and thus represent only those who elect them.

John the Baptist was not such a person. He was God's representative and didn't care if his teachings offended those around him or those institutions which sought to persecute him and eventually put him in jail and then murdered his body.

They did not go all the way out to the desert to see someone who was finely dressed or someone who says a lot of mumbo jumbo. They went to the desert to hear from God's messenger: Someone who delivers the message of the Supreme Being:

God’s covenant: The Supreme Being's promise to each of us that if we come to know Him and love Him with all our heart and soul and all of our being, we will return to Him, and He will give us full protection.

What is the 'covenant'?

Some ecclesiastical teachers say that the covenant was some kind of pact between Abraham and God pertaining to the coming of Jesus - that God was beholden to Abraham to deliver Jesus to save the Jews.

Rather, the covenant is part of the relationship of loving service between the Supreme Being and those who are devoted to Him. The Supreme Being promises us that if we take a few steps toward Him - He will take many more towards us.

God promises that if we rely upon Him and take refuge in Him, we will have nothing to fear. He promises us that we can depend upon Him for protection. If we re-develop our loving service relationship with Him, he will bring us back home to Him. This is His promise. This is His covenant to every living being who wants to return to His loving embrace.

This is confirmed by the Supreme Being in the Book of Malachi:

“But for you who revere My Name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.” (Malachi 4:2)

This is a clear statement. The Supreme Being was disappointed in many of the peoples of Israel who disobeyed (and offended) His previous messengers such as Moses and Abraham. They taught that salvation comes for those who love and revere the Supreme Being and His Holy Names.

They didn't have to wait in some kind of purgatory for the coming of Jesus, nor do people today have to wait for a so-called second coming. A person can worship the Supreme Being and glorify His Holy Names right now - and His covenant will be there.

When considered holistically, the Scriptures clarify that in every age the Supreme Being sends His representatives to teach by example and words the true path of returning to Him. These messengers each carry with them the covenant of the relationship of loving service to the Supreme Being.

“Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! ...” (Matthew 11:20-24)

“Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” (Matthew 11:20-24)

Why is Jesus criticizing these two towns?

Jesus' statement in this regard is also recorded in Luke, where it says:

"I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades." (Luke 10:12-15)

Before this statement in Matthew, it says:

Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. (Matthew 11:20)

While he appears to be condemning these towns, Jesus reveals the purpose for his many miracles, performed in different places throughout the region: To encourage people to change - to repent.

Jesus also compares the responses of those people in those places with the kind of responses that would have been accomplished had the miracles been performed in Tyre and Sidon - where Solomon and David ruled many generations earlier.

He compares their repentance with those in Tyre, Sidon, and also Sodom - cultures that were condemned for their stubbornness regarding accepting the Supreme Being's message.

In other words, Jesus was very disappointed in the responses from many of the people he came to teach.

What was the purpose of Jesus' miracles?

Did Jesus perform miracles to show off? Did he perform miracles to bring attention to himself? Or was he healing people like a doctor would in a hospital?

If Jesus' interest were in healing people's bodies, he would have set up hospitals.

And if his intent was to bring attention to himself he would have taken advantage of that, rather than allow himself to be arrested and persecuted.

It is clear that the purpose of his miracles was to evoke a response of repentance, rather than simply to heal people’s bodies - as many have proposed. Jesus’ interest was in saving people spiritually, not simply in healing a few people’s physical bodies.

The element of repentance is critical to this discussion. While the concept of repentance is tossed around by various preachers to indicate a person’s proclamation to Jesus, this is a hollow view of the actual intent and meaning behind Jesus’ desires and motives with regard to the use of this word.

The words "repented" and "repent" in these verses are translated from the Greek word μετανοέω (metanoeō) which means, "to change one's mind for better" according to Strong's lexicon. When exercised practically, it means to alter our current activity and take up a completely different activity.

In the context of Jesus’ teachings, we are talking about a person making changes with respect to their goals, directions and aspirations, followed by changes to activities. The people Jesus spoke about were focused upon the benefits of the physical world. They were focused on becoming wealthy, influential and popular. They were focused upon physical comfort and enjoyment of the senses. In other words, their intentions related to self-centeredness, reflected by an attempt to make the physical body happy.

Jesus, on the other hand, taught that real happiness lies in doing the will of God - by loving and serving God. This is a completely different goal and direction in life from a self-centered purpose.

Is Jesus encouraging a change of heart?

Jesus aspired to effect a change of heart within each person he spoke to. Whether it be an entire village of individuals or a small group of his own students, his purpose was the same: To change the direction and aspiration of the individual from a self-centered, materialistic one to one where the Supreme Being is the center of our lives, and we are focused upon His pleasure.

This is the ‘repentance’ Jesus was referring to, not some ecclesiastical proclamation of Jesus, or the joining of a sectarian institution.

It must be stressed that this change of heart is not a mechanical change, and it is not one that a person can effect alone. The Supreme Being must be involved in the change for that change to become complete. For it is the Supreme Being whom we must connect with for the strength and the vision to make any real change. This means that we must redevelop our loving relationship with the Supreme Being in order to have a complete change of heart.

Consider for a moment, redeveloping a relationship with someone we used to know and care about years ago. Let’s say we were close childhood friends with someone, and over the years we fell out of contact, and even though we knew how to reach them, we did not. Then one day we decide to contact them out of the blue.

What is one of the first things we will naturally do? We will certainly apologize that we had not been in better contact over the years. A sincere apology will almost be immediately accepted by our childhood friend. From that point forward the discomfort provided by the fact that we lost touch with them goes away, and we can continue our relationship with them.

This is also the essence of the process of repentance as Jesus is discussing. Note that when referring to “Tyre and Sidon,” Jesus states that “they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” Why the sackcloth and ashes?

These relate to a feeling of being sorry and a request for forgiveness. Why? While most consider this related to being sorry for ‘living in sin,’ (i.e., guilt) we once again point out that we are talking about a Person (God) here. We are not talking about a building or a religious organization.

To honestly repent and feel bad for our behavior, we must be pointing that apology to someone. Why? Because this someone happens to be our Best Friend and Creator. This Someone happens to be the Supreme Being and we have been offending Him by ignoring Him. We have been living our life centered around our physical pleasure for a very long time.

Once we realize that He is our true Master and loving Friend, we can begin the process of re-establishing our lost relationship with the Supreme Being.

What is repentance?

The essential element to repentance lies beyond simply saying sorry. It also includes striving to make changes. This means changes that make our actions more pleasing to the Supreme Being. And because the Supreme Being wants us to love Him and love others, this means caring for Him and caring for others.

Isn't this what anyone does when they enter a relationship? Consider what two people do when they become intimate with each other. Each begins doing things that please the other person.

It might be difficult for us to immediately go from living for ourselves to living for the Supreme Being. Besides, as in any relationship, we have to get to know Him. And from there, a complete change of consciousness typically comes gradually, even if we decide immediately to make changes.

So what can we do immediately? We can praise God in song, with our prayers, with our thoughts, and with our conversations.

We can offer our food to Him before we eat it - an ancient and traditional act of devotion lost among modern religious rituals. The Supreme Being will also accept even a flower or a cup of water, assuming we offer these to Him with love and devotion.

We can re-arrange our lifestyle to do things we know are pleasing to the Supreme Being. The Scriptures clarify these.

As we do these activities, gradually He will reveal Himself to us more and more, and our relationship with Him will redevelop - assuming we keep a humble attitude and do not become proud of our supposed progress.

As we do this, we will slowly develop a higher taste and a higher realm of satisfaction. What is that? It is love. It is becoming happy when the Supreme Being is pleased:

" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matt. 22:37-38)

“Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house ...” (Matthew 12:29)

“Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.” (Matthew 12:29)

What does the parable of the strong man's house mean?

Here Jesus confirms his previous statement regarding 'driving out demons' with a parable. What does it mean?

Many have characterized the devil or satan as some sort of unseen individual who tempts us. But such an esoteric notion assumes there are no controlling forces within the unseen world. As though the spirit world is some sort of 'wild west' where devils and satans are roaming the landscape waiting to capture us.

Jesus was speaking of whether a person is strong enough to prevent the influence of others who might harm us in some way. Yes, we are speaking of people - who we can see with our physical eyes - who can damage the spirit within as well as the mind and body.

One may also infer the idea of another soul intruding into the physical body and possessing it. But this is a very rare occurrence. The most common situation Jesus refers to is when the person - the 'soul' or 'spirit-person' - becomes subject to the influence of another in a way that damages them.

This effectively allows the influencer to exert a harmful effect upon the life and the spirit of the person occupying the physical body. Such harm can come in the form of a lifetime of addiction, violent tendencies and other harmful habits. 

Those who exert a harmful influence upon the life of a vulnerable person are the true devils and satans.

Such damage can affect a person throughout their lifetime. Sometimes that damage is done by institutions and their representatives, who may abuse their followers. Surely most of us have seen how those who have been physically abused during childhood feel that damage for many years to come.

The spirit-person becomes the occupying force within the physical body for a lifetime. During that lifetime, the spirit can be subjected to many influences. These influences can come in the form of the challenges of the physical world. They can also come in the form of positive influences, by those who guide us and become positive influences. But such influences can also come in the form of individuals who want to take advantage of someone who is more vulnerable.

For example, the word "demon" comes from the Greek word δαιμόνιον (daimonion). This word can describe someone who suffers from a physical or mental disorder. People from ancient times often referred to illnesses as demons. The idea was that someone or something has become so influential that it provokes residual damage through that lifetime.

What is the 'house' and the 'strong man'?

The "house" in the parable refers to the physical body.

The "strong man" is the living being - the spirit-person who is occupying that physical body.

Each of us is a spirit-person, and each of us is temporarily occupying our physical body much as a driver occupies and drives an automobile. Jesus is describing this spirit-person as a "strong man" because in a healthy situation, the inner person - the spirit-person - has a firm grasp of the physical body and the ability to protect itself from negative, damaging influences from others who seek to take advantage of us.

The "anyone" in Jesus' parable is referring to any influence upon us. This can include a destructive relative, a schoolyard bully, a person we accept as prominent in our lives who might mislead us. It can also include someone who may influence our dreams. 

Anyone we allow into our lives or minds could exert negative influences upon our spirit, mind, and body.

How long can this influence last?

The soul is only within a physical body for a few decades. But during that time, we could be influenced by someone in such a way that leaves lasting damage upon our spirit-person.

Typically an outside influence upon the physical body is temporary. But an influence upon our mind and spirit could create more lasting damage. This could affect our lifetime in this body in a significant way. Such an influence can corrupt our journey and prevent us from making the progress that was planned initially for this lifetime.

Such an influence can take place under several scenarios. One of the most likely ways is during childhood. A child can easily be damaged with violence and mental abuse by a parent or other adult.

Such abuse can damage the spirit-person's journey through this lifetime in a significant way. It can take years for abuse to be overcome later on in life.

The soul can be influenced by others most easily when we are more vulnerable. Also such influence can occur them our grip on the physical body is weakened. This can occur with illness, depression, intoxication or when we ares under severe stress.

One of these scenarios is during intoxication. During intoxication, the spirit-person's neurological grasp of the physical body is weakened. This is illustrated by the loss of balance, perception and other physical signs of intoxication.

In such an intoxicated state, the loosened soul's grip can allow someone to exert an outsized influence over us. This can affect a person's personal outlook and damage the spirit. 

Possession as defined by many can occur but does not occur often. Becoming overly influenced occurs more often: The influence of the material world and materialists who capture our attention can easily mislead us. Or the influences from our previous lifetimes, though these may be subtle. 

The soul also can be influenced through dreams, and our dreams may be invaded by outside entities. During some dreams, we can also leave our body on occasion and be taken into a mental realm that we would prefer not to be. Such dreams are sometimes called nightmares.

The prime facility for protecting the soul from outside influences while occupying the physical body is through praising and worshiping the Supreme Being. God can give us the strength we need to survive the challenges of the physical world should we allow His protection into our lives.

“... what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.’” (Matthew 15:10-11)

“Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” (Matthew 15:10-11)

What does Jesus mean by 'defile'?

Jesus continues to teach regarding the Pharisees issue with Jesus' followers washing their hands before eating:

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!" (Matt. 15:1-2)

Regarding becoming defiled: We must ask: Who is the subject of this statement? If Jesus is speaking of the physical body - as the Pharisees are most interested in the cleanliness of the physical body - then why wouldn't eating with dirty hands - and thus ingesting dirt and bacteria - make a person 'defiled'?

Because Jesus is not speaking of the physical body here. If he was, there would be no question of whether eating with dirty hands would be unclean - and thereby defiling.

Rather, Jesus is speaking of the person within: The spirit-person who is operating the temporary physical body. This person does not become unclean if the body eats food that is contaminated.

Why? Because the spirit-person within is not the physical body. The person Jesus is speaking of - the spiritual person within - is separate from the physical body.

What does he mean by 'what comes out of his mouth'?

So what could come out of a person's mouth? Words. Jesus is speaking of what is being spoken to others.

And how does this make the spirit-person within 'unclean' according to Jesus?

Because others hear those words, and they and they are affected by those words. The words we speak go into a person's ears and then to their brain and mind. From there, they can affect that person within.

If the words we speak are self-centered - they speak about materialism - these words will influence those who hear those words in a materialistic manner.

Those who hear these words become influenced in one respect or another.

And it is this influence we have upon others that makes us 'unclean' according to Jesus.

How does the spirit become 'defiled'?

The physical realm is upside-down when compared to the spiritual realm. In the material realm, we consider that everything revolves around ourselves - meaning our physical bodies.

When we think of being defiled, we think of ourselves as our physical bodies. We think of those physical things that might make our bodies defiled.

But in our real composition as a spirit-person - becoming defiled is a matter of consciousness.

In our pure state, we are connected to and depending upon the Supreme Being - and we are loving the Supreme Being's children. This means the relevance - or focus - regards others instead of ourselves. In the context of the spiritual realm, activities that affect others' spiritual lives in a negative way are considered bad and activities that affect others' spiritual lives in a positive way are considered good activities.

This is what Jesus is speaking of here. Jesus is teaching his students to become conscious of others and what they speak to others. This is the first step in becoming aware of the Supreme Being.

We cannot become purified when we believe the universe revolves around ourselves. Such a consciousness is a contradiction to the pure state of the spirit. Awareness of the Supreme Being requires understanding that we are not the center of the universe: The Supreme Being is the center of the universe. This is what 'Supreme Being' or 'God' means.

This is precisely why each of us is here in the physical realm wearing these temporary physical bodies without the ability to see the Supreme Being: Because we wanted to be supreme. We wanted to be the center of the universe.

But since that post was already occupied by the Supreme Being - and because the Supreme Being is a beautiful loving person, the Supreme Being gave us a facility to enable us to pretend we are the center of the universe.

He had to also hide out from us. We couldn't very well think we were the center of the universe as long as we had to face the real center of the universe, could we? We couldn't pretend to be perfect as long as the Perfect Person was visible, could we?

So the Supreme Being designed this temporary physical body - which we drive much as a person drives an automobile - with senses and a mind that could not perceive the spiritual realm. He had to design an illusory situation so that we would forget our real identity as one of His loving servants.

Is this like a dream?

When we are dreaming we completely forget our waking identities. If we couldn't, we could not really get lost in the dream, could we? So when we dream, we will identify ourselves according to our dreamscape. We might have a completely different identity in our dream.

This facility of dreaming is comparable to the facility of the physical realm except these physical bodies have a more concrete molecular substance - unlike the more subtle substance of the mind that takes place within our dreams.

But where ever we may be - whether dreaming or within a physical body or not - our words and actions will influence others. Thus if we care about others - and their spiritual lives - we will be careful about the words that come from our mouths.

The wisest thing to do with our mouths is to praise the Supreme Being and His Names. This is an ancient practice that can purify the spirit-person within as well as anyone who hears them.

"... if two of you on earth agree about anything ...” (Matthew 18:19)

"Again I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:19)

What does Jesus mean by 'anything you ask for'?

What is the significance of two or three of his followers coming together in Jesus' name? Does this mean that groups of more than two can combine to make up new rules and appoint teachers like deacons and other types of councils do?

Not exactly. Jesus was speaking specifically about "anything you ask for." The key to understanding this phrase is the Greek word αἰτέω (aiteō), here translated to "ask." This word can also mean to "beg."

Jesus is speaking of prayer. Multiple people praying for the same thing. Jesus is suggesting that if multiple people come together to pray in his name then he will be there for them, supporting them in their quest to grow closer to God.

Jesus is not talking about praying for material things. He isn't talking about praying for wealth or to win a football game. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus suggests we pray for:
-Praising God ("Hallowed by Your Name")
-Asking to serve God ("Your will be done on earth")
-Helping us grow spiritually ("Give us today our daily bread")
-Forgiveness ("Forgive our debts")
-Saving us ("deliver us from evil")

When Jesus says, "come together in my name" he isn't speaking of his name only. He is speaking of coming together for the purpose of following Jesus' teachings - the foremost of which is to love God.

God and Jesus are attracted by relationships. Particularly relationships of sharing and giving. When two or three people come together for the same purpose there is a meeting of minds. When they come together with the purpose of pleasing God, that combined mission pleases God and His loving servants.

Jesus is wanting his followers to come together to glorify God and pray for spiritual strength and guidance. It means praising God, as Jesus and his students did regularly:

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:30)

What does 'sung a hymn' mean?

It means they sang praises to God. They praised God and virtues on a regular basis. While praising God is not emphasized much by some institutions today, it was an important practice for Jesus and his followers, and among the Prophets and teachers of the Old Testament:

Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on the Name of the LORD. (Genesis 4:25)

From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the Name of the LORD. (Genesis 12:8)

and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the Name of the LORD. (Genesis 13:4)

Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the Name of the LORD, the Eternal God. (Genesis 21:33)

Isaac built an altar there and called on the Name of the LORD. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well. (Genesis 26:25)

he may minister in the Name of the LORD his God like all his fellow Levites who serve there in the presence of the LORD. (Deuteronomy 18:7)

I will proclaim the Name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! (Deuteronomy 32:3)

After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the Name of the LORD Almighty. (2 Samuel 6:18)

The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the LORD. (1 Kings 3:2)

I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the LORD my God, as the LORD told my father David, when he said, 'Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name.' (1 Kings 5:5)

"My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. (1 Kings 8:17)

"The LORD has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. (1 Kings 8:20)

When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relation to the Name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions. (1 Kings 10:2)

Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the Name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God." (1 Kings 18:24)

With the stones he built an altar in the Name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. (1 Kings 18:32)

But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the Name of the LORD his God... (2 Kings 5:11)

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His Name. Bring an offering and come before Him; worship the LORD in the splendor of His Holiness.
(1 Chronicles 16:28-30)

So David went up in obedience to the word that God had spoken in the Name of the LORD. (1 Chronicles 21:19)

David said to Solomon: "My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. (1 Chronicles 22:7)

Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD." (1 Chronicles 22:18-19)

Now I am about to build a temple for the Name of the LORD my God and to dedicate it to Him for burning fragrant incense before Him, for setting out the consecrated bread regularly, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening and on Sabbaths and New Moons and at the appointed feasts of the LORD our God. (2 Chronicles 2:4)

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the Name of the LORD be praised." (Job 1:21)

I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the Name of the LORD Most High. (Psalm 7:16-17)

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the Name of the LORD our God. (Psalm 20:7)

Praise the LORD. Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the Name of the LORD. (Psalm 113:2)

Let the Name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. (Psalm 113:2)

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the Name of the LORD is to be praised. (Psalm 113:3)

I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the Name of the LORD. (Psalm 116:13)

I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the Name of the LORD. (Psalm 116:17)

Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the LORD. (Psalm 118:26)

That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to praise the Name of the LORD according to the statute given to Israel. (Psalm 122:4)

Our help is in the Name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:7)

Praise the LORD. Praise the Name of the LORD; praise him, you servants of the LORD, (Psalm 135:2)

Let them praise the Name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created. (Psalm 148:5)

Let them praise the Name of the LORD, for His Name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. (Psalm 148:13)

The Name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10)

Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; exalt the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea. (Isaiah 24:15)

Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the Name of the LORD and rely on his God. (Isaiah 50:10)

And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the Name of the LORD, and to worship Him (Isaiah 56:6)

At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the Name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. (Jeremiah 3:17)

You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the Name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. (Joel 2:26)

And everyone who calls on the Name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls. (Joel 2:32)

"Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the Name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder. (Zephaniah 3:9)

But I will leave within you the meek and humble, who trust in the Name of the LORD. (Zephaniah 3:10)

The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9)

For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord.' " (Matthew 23:38)

"Blessed is the king who comes in the Name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (Luke 19:38)

And everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.' (Acts 2:21)

"Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)

Calling on God's Names can be done quietly, in private, and amongst our friends. Note also that from the Scriptures we find that God does indeed have a Name. He has multiple Names, including Jahweh, Jehovah, Eloi, Abba and others. He also has Names in other languages and faiths as well. Each of God's Names, regardless of the language or faith, has the power to connect us with the Supreme Being.

Why is praising God so important?

Praising someone is a facility we all use to endear someone. It is a way of connecting with someone. When we praise God we are providing a means or facility to get close to God - to open our hearts to Him.

Think about why we might praise anyone or call their name: To invoke them. To reach out to them. We praise someone or call out someone's name when we want to relate with them. When we want to connect with them.

It is the same as praising and calling on God's Name. When God's Name is praised, we are attempting to establish a relationship with Him. This is pleasing to the Supreme Being. Why? Because the Supreme Being enjoys relationships. This is why we were created in the first place: To exchange a relationship with God.

This is also why everyone is constantly looking for relationships. In fact, each of us is looking for that perfect person to love and exchange a relationship with. We each search for our soulmates, and when we think we find them, we might marry them, only to find out later that they are not the perfect person we expected them to be.

The Supreme Being is the Perfect Person we've been looking for. As we search for our soulmate here on earth, we are actually looking for the Supreme Being.

When we share our relationship with the Supreme Being with others, this is particularly pleasing to Him. The Supreme Being enjoys multiple relationships. He is pleased when we share with others what we share with Him - love.

This is the reason Jesus' second-most-important instruction is connected to the first:

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt. 22:37-40)

And this is the reason why Jesus would be pleased when people come together to praise God, and help to complete his mission of asking everyone to love and serve the Supreme Being.

“Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will ...” (Matthew 21:2-3)

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." (Matthew 21:1-3)

Who is 'the Lord' that Jesus refers to?

Most assume that Jesus was referring to himself when he said “the Lord.” And certainly, many of Jesus' followers did greet Jesus as “lord.”

But would Jesus have referred to himself in that manner? Would he have instructed his disciples to refer to him as “the Lord.”?

Both uses of this word, "Lord" or "lord" come from the same Greek word κύριος (kyrios). According to Thayer's lexicon, this Greek word can refer both to "a title of honor expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants greet their master;" as well as a "title given to God."

Jesus never proclaimed to be “the Lord.”. Nor did he ever refer to himself as "Lord." He referred to God with the term "Lord":

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Matthew 4:10)

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’" (Mark 12:30)

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free (Luke 4:18)

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Luke 10:2)

Yes, we do find instances where followers of Jesus referred to Jesus as "lord." Not Jesus. Jesus never referred to himself as Lord.

So we find there is no evidence that Jesus would have instructed his followers to refer to himself as "the Lord." Yet he knew that because he was doing the work of God, he could tell them that the donkey was for "the Lord." This is because Jesus saw himself as the servant of the Lord God.

Did Jesus see himself as a servant or a 'lord'?

Multiple times, Jesus proclaimed himself to be a loving servant (υἱός) of “the Lord” God. He also prayed to the Lord God asking to do God's will, and taught that we should do God's will:

“My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42)

“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36)

"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me." (John 6:38)

“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:49-50)

"By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me." (John 5:30)

Thus God was ultimately Jesus' Lord, as God is Lord to every prophet in the Old Testament, and Lord to each of us.

Thus it would be correct to interpret that Jesus was going to be using the donkey to serve his Lord God. And those he instructed to get the donkey were also serving God by following Jesus' instructions.

Why is this important? It is important because this is how the loving servant of God engages his followers in the service of God.

Is God a person?

This is also important because the Supreme Being is not some vague force or void. God is a Person. Only a person can have a will, and be served and pleased. A vague force or cloud cannot have a will. A vague force or cloud cannot be pleased with someone's service.

Jesus taught and showed with his life that God is a Person we can love and serve, and care for. God is a lovable, beautiful, and compassionate Person. He is the Perfect Person we are continuously looking for. He is the Person who will never abuse us or take us for granted.

In addition, the Supreme Being is the Person we can always count on. He is the Person we are looking for when we expect others to be good. He is the Person we are looking for when we are disappointed in others. He is the Person we are looking for when we are heartbroken by a former girlfriend, boyfriend, or spouse. He is the Person we are looking for when we seek the admiration and respect from others. He is the Person we are looking for when we are lonely.

What does 'comes in the name of the Lord' mean?

It is notable to mention also that as Jesus went through the streets of Jerusalem, his followers were shouting:

The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:9)

In all four Gospels we find that Jesus' followers referred to God as "Lord" as they praised Jesus:

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matt. 23:39, Mark 11:9, Luke 12:35, John 12:13)

Yes this indicates that 'Lord' in this context is referring to God. But this praise also indicates that Jesus' followers recognized that one of Jesus’ central missions was to teach the power of the Name of God. Otherwise, why would people be shouting that verse drawn from David's Psalm 118?

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. (Psalm 118:26)

Jesus also taught the importance of glorifying God's Holy Names:

“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name ... ' " (Matthew 6:9)

And consider this text about Jesus and his disciples:

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:30)

So we know from this that Jesus, regularly led his students in singing hymns. And what is a hymn? A hymn is the praising of God and His Names, as exemplified by David's Psalms:

“Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise His Holy Name.” (Psalms 97:12)

and

“In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His Holy Name.” (Psalms 33:21) 

“‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone ...’” (Matthew 21:42)

“Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes?’” (Matthew 21:42)

Where did Jesus' capstone quote come from?

This statement by Jesus has been misinterpreted by some who claim the purpose of Jesus' statement was to say that Jesus was the capstone (or cornerstone) and Jesus' coming was thus predicted by David.

Such an interpretation would make Jesus' statement look as if he is trying to prove his own worthiness. Jesus did not need to prove himself.

Such a misinterpretation also misses the lesson Jesus was imparting to his students.

The quote Jesus refers to comes from David’s Psalm 118:22-23. To better understand the context of this quote we can read a section of this Psalm:

The LORD has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death.
Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter.
I will give You thanks, for You answered me; You have become my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;
the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. (Psalm 118:18-25)

This clearly indicates that David was discussing his own relationship with God. David pledges that God is his refuge and his savior. He pledges his thanks for God’s mercy and strength. He praises God. The Psalm is a reflection of the loving relationship existing between David and God.

What is the 'capstone'?

These verses by David are not about the end of the world, building some kind of big church, or predicting Jesus' coming. They describe a deeply personal relationship with God. Such a relationship is the capstone or cornerstone of any religious activity. Without the purpose of achieving a loving relationship with God, there is no purpose for religious endeavor.

This is the stone that was rejected. The metaphorical stone that is being rejected by builders - that forms the capstone (cornerstone) of religious practice - is one's dependence upon God and one's loving relationship with God.

This is what was being rejected by others. It is David's love and dependence upon God that is the cornerstone of David's life, as it was for Jesus. David is saying that what others have rejected gives him salvation: Depending upon God and having a relationship with God.

David, Jesus and so many other of God's messengers have faced societies where practically everyone rejected their teachings - which focused upon love for God and doing God's will. Some, like Jeremiah, John the Baptist, and Jesus, were so rejected by society that they were persecuted and murdered. 

In other words, while this teaching of developing our loving relationship with God is the cornerstone, it is typically rejected by those who favored the pomp and circumstance of rituals.

Indeed, it is also occurring today in many organized sectarian institutions, where the focus is on performing rituals to obtain salvation while ignoring the development of our loving relationship with God - Jesus' primary instruction.

Isaiah confirms this definition of the capstone and gives us more context:

So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:

"See, I lay a stone in Zion,

a tested stone,

a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;

the one who trusts will never be dismayed." (Isaiah 28:15-17)

The stone being referred to here and in David's and Jesus' discussion is trusting God. To trust God means to rely upon Him, and give our love and our life to Him. This is our rock. 

When a person builds their house upon this rock - this stone - that house will be solid. When we direct our goals and intentions towards serving God and developing our loving relationship with God; and relying upon God's mercy, we are building our lives upon a solid foundation.

The rest of David's Psalm says:

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.
The LORD is God, and He has made His light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will give You thanks; You are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever. (Psalm 118:26-29)

Could David be speaking about Jesus?

As mentioned above, some have claimed that the first sentence indicates David is speaking about Jesus. But does this make sense as we read the rest of the Psalm? And just what does it mean to "come in the name of the LORD?"

This phrase has been used in many other verses in the Bible to refer to God's messenger. Consider this statement by Moses as he taught the Israelites what God told him:

If a Levite moves from one of your towns anywhere in Israel where he is living and comes in all earnestness to the place the LORD will choose, he may minister in the name of the LORD his God like all his fellow Levites who serve there in the presence of the LORD. (Deut. 18:6-7)

and

The priests, the sons of Levi, shall step forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to minister and to pronounce blessings in the name of the LORD and to decide all cases of dispute and assault. (Deut. 21:5)

Also consider this discussion about Elijah:

With the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. (1 Kings 18:32)

These verses indicate that this phrase is not referring to Jesus. It is referring to the service of God. When it refers to someone doing something in the name of the Lord, we can understand this refers to glorifying God.

An activity done "in the Name of the Lord" will praise God and glorify His Name. This can be done in our personal lives as well as within an assembly. This activity allows us to remember and connect with God. 

Examples include prayer, hymns to God, making offerings to God, and praising God as we conduct our daily lives. 

This is why David also said:

I will praise God's Name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving. (Psalm 69:30)

What about praising God's Name?

David also writes specifically, "I will praise God's Name." How does this work?

We can also recant God's Holy Names. These include Eloi (which Jesus often used - often translated to "Father"), Jehovah, Yahweh, Yah. These allow us to make contact with the Supreme Being. As evidenced throughout the Bible, this is our facility to reconnect with God.

God has innumerable Names from different cultures and languages. For example, North American Indians called upon God as Great Spirit (in their respective tongues). Such a tribute to God is as powerful as any other.

Why have some claimed God has only one Name? Just as each of us might have three or even four names, and many names that our family members or friends call us, God also has many Names that can refer to His different characteristics.

For this reason, insulting God's Name as utilized in another language, culture or tradition is offensive to God. We should respect all other theological traditions that worship the Supreme Being in one Name or another.

The bottom line is that regardless of the time, place, culture, and society, our rock is our relationship with the Supreme Being. This is why the primary instruction of Jesus, Moses, David, and all of God's representatives, has been:

" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38)

" 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23:39)

"For I tell you, You will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23:39)

What does 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord' mean?

What does this mean and why would it be so important that they say "Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord"?

Actually, Jesus is quoting a verse from the Psalms. To give context, here is a section of Psalms 118 that contains this quote (bolded):

I will give You thanks, for You answered me; You have become my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.
LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.
The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, and I will exalt You.
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.
(Psalms 118:21-29)

Note also that Jesus had previously quoted Psalm 118:22, about the stone the builders rejected.

So why is Jesus quoting this Psalm now? Jesus is addressing the Pharisees and chief priests (teachers of the law) who have questioned Jesus. They were "gathered together:"

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them ... (Matthew 22:42)

Jesus was questioned and interrogated by Pharisees and high priests as he was giving a sermon. They were questioning his authority, so he proceeded to criticize these priests ("Woe to you....") for their taking advantage of people and not serving God.

He followed up this criticism by discussing how the people of Jerusalem and their ancestors had murdered prophets and "Look, your house is left to you desolate" was the statement directly proceeding this one. Jesus followed this by telling them they are hypocrites.

Jesus was responding to them, but also addressing his followers:

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: (Matthew 23:1)

So this is a broad audience.

What does Jesus mean by 'you will not see me again'?

Actually, this phrase by Jesus has a completely different meaning when looking at the Greek text.

The Greek text does not indicate the word "again" at all. Rather, this word has been inserted into the English translation because sectarian translators have assumed the audience was seeing Jesus as he spoke. Therefore, if they saw him in the future, it would be "again."

This assumption is not valid, however.

The word "see" is being translated from the Greek word, ὁράω (horaō). This means, according to the lexicon, "to see with the eyes" but also, "to perceive, know."

The word "see" is being translated from the Greek word ὁράω (horaō) which can mean 'to see with the eyes,' but also can mean, as stated in Thayer's Greek lexicon, 'to see with the mind, to perceive, know.'

Jesus' focus was not upon his audience "seeing" him physically. They were already seeing him physically as he was saying this.

Rather, he wanted them to come to "know" him. To "perceive" who Jesus really is means coming to know him.

For example, we might see the president of a country on television and other media. Does this mean we know him personally? No.

We can thus offer a more appropriate translation of this part of Jesus' statement:

"For I tell you, you will not know me until ..."

Now Jesus is saying that they will not be able to perceive or know Jesus as he is unless they realize that he has come in the Name of the Lord - meaning that he is God's messenger.

Why did they chant Hosanna later?

We should note that Jesus' followers also chanted this when he was arriving in Jerusalem:

The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" (Matt. 21:9)

But wait, didn't this occur before Jesus' statement? It was in an earlier verse in Matthew, but Luke and Matthew differ on the chronology. The Book of Luke has Jesus' statement (Luke 13:35) occurring prior to his approach to Jerusalem:

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (Luke 19:37-38)

As this marks the beginning of the period of time where Jesus was teaching at the temple in Jerusalem and drove out temple marketplace vendors, followed by his being arrested, this chronology is consistent with verses in John (12:13) and Mark (11:9) that indicate this event (when his disciples chanted "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!") occurred prior to Jesus' entering Jerusalem and during the week that Jesus was arrested.

So does this mean that Jesus is foretelling an event to transpire a few weeks later as some suggest? Such a theory contradicts the very solemn meaning of this Psalm and incantation.

What does this incantation mean?

The incantation of "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" did not occur in Jerusalem, but as Jesus was on the road coming down from Mount Olive, some distance away from Jerusalem. This incantation was not coming from common Jerusalem citizens. The Luke passage describes clearly that the incantation was coming from "the whole crowd" of Jesus' "disciples" (the Greek word μαθητής means student or disciple).

The next verse in Luke confirms that this incantation was coming exclusively from Jesus' disciples:

"Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" (Luke 19:39)

The question this bears is why Jesus' disciples are now incantation "Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord"?

The incantation simply indicated that both Jesus and Jesus' followers greatly valued this Psalms verse, "Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord,"

The verse also indicates praise for the Supreme Being:

... the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices...

Thus the expression was important to Jesus. It was also important to Jesus' students and disciples - who obviously numbered more than twelve. This is because the "Name of the Lord" was an important part of Jesus' teachings.

Why is this expression - "Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord" - so important that Jesus told the group in his talk that they could not perceive him until this was said, and this very same phrase was chanted by Jesus' many students and disciples as he traveled towards Jerusalem?

"Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord" contains two concepts: 1) A person who is representing God; and 2) The power of God’s Name.

What does it mean to 'come' in someone else's name?

This is a simple concept. Say a lawyer comes to our house and says, “I have come in the name of John Doe.” What does this mean? It means he is representing John Doe. His statements are non-different from John Doe's statements.

When a devoted loving servant of God comes to the earth to represent God, God empowers him to speak on His behalf. There is no title, no political appointment. No selection by deacons or bishops. Only God chooses His representative. This is confirmed by the origin of this phrase, from David's Psalm 118.

We can see here by David's Psalm that the critical element is the praising of God and God's Name. God's Name has great power. How much power? God’s power. The Greatest Supreme Being’s power. The Supreme Controller’s power. This means that whatever power He wants to invest in His Name will be there. Both He and His Name are great.

How can this be? In the physical world, a name is arbitrarily given to a person, and a person's name can be changed. The name is distinct from the person. This is because the living person within the body is made of spirit, not matter. The spiritual individual is different from the physical body, and any name given to that physical body is separate from the spiritual individual.

This is not applicable to the spiritual dimension, where the Supreme Being dwells. Here, God and His Name are inseparable. God is present in His reference because there is no duality in the spiritual dimension.

This may be difficult for the mind to conceive. This is because the mind itself is a product of the dualistic physical world.

Why praise God's Names?

The bottom line is that praising God's Names, calling on God’s Names, singing God’s Names and the incantation of God’s Names are cherished practices that have been enjoined for thousands of years. They allow us to connect with God, and re-develop our relationship with the Supreme Being. This is supported by scripture:

Genesis 4:26:
At that time men began to call on the Name of the LORD.

Genesis 12:8:
From there he [Abraham] went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the Name of the LORD.

Genesis 13:4:
...and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the Name of the LORD.

Genesis 21:33:
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the Name of the LORD, the Eternal God.

Genesis 26:25:
Isaac built an altar there and called on the Name of the LORD. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.

Exodus 20:7:
"You shall not misuse the Name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his Name."

Deuteronomy 5:11:
"You shall not misuse the Name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his Name."

Deuteronomy 18:7:
"...he may minister in the Name of the LORD his God like all his fellow Levites who serve there in the presence of the LORD."

Deuteronomy 18:22:
"If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him."

Deuteronomy 21:5:
"The priests, the sons of Levi, shall step forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to minister and to pronounce blessings in the Name of the LORD and to decide all cases of dispute and assault."

Deuteronomy 28:10:
"Then all the peoples on earth will see that You are called by the Name of the LORD, and they will revere You."

Deuteronomy 32:3:
"I will proclaim the Name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!"

Samuel 17:45:
David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the Name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."

1 Samuel 20:42:
Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the Name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.'" Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.

2 Samuel 6:2:
He and all his men set out from Baalah of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the Name of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on the ark.

2 Samuel 6:18:
After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the Name of the LORD Almighty.

1 Kings 3:2:
The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the LORD.

1 Kings 5:3:
"You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD put his enemies under his feet."

1 Kings 5:5:
"I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the LORD my God, as the LORD told my father David, when He said, 'Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name.'"

1 Kings 8:17:
"My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel."

1 Kings 8:20:
"The LORD has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel."

1 Kings 10:1:
When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relation to the Name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions.

1 Kings 18:24:
Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the Name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire — He is God." Then all the people said, "What you say is good."

1 Kings 18:32:
With the stones he built an altar in the Name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.

1 Kings 22:16:
The king said to him, "How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the Name of the LORD ?"

2 Kings 2:24:
He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the Name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.

2 Kings 5:11:
But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the Name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy."

Jeremiah 20:13:
"Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked."

1 Chronicles 16:2:
After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the Name of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 21:19:
So David went up in obedience to the word that Gad had spoken in the Name of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 22:7:
David said to Solomon: "My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God."

1 Chronicles 22:19:
"Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD."

2 Chronicles 2:1:
Solomon gave orders to build a temple for the Name of the LORD and a royal palace for himself.

2 Chronicles 2:4:
"Now I am about to build a temple for the Name of the LORD my God and to dedicate it to Him for burning fragrant incense before Him, for setting out the consecrated bread regularly, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening and on Sabbaths and New Moons and at the appointed feasts of the LORD our God. This is a lasting ordinance for Israel."

2 Chronicles 6:7
"My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel."

2 Chronicles 6:10:
"The LORD has kept the promise he made. I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel."

2 Chronicles 18:15:
The king said to him, "How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the Name of the LORD ?"

2 Chronicles 33:18:
The other events of Manasseh's reign, including his prayer to his God and the words the seers spoke to him in the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel, are written in the annals of the kings of Israel.

Job 1:21:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the Name of the LORD be praised."

Psalm 7:17:
"I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the Name of the LORD Most High."

Psalm 20:7:
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the Name of the LORD our God."

Psalm 102:15:
"The nations will revere the Name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory."

Psalm 102:21:
"So the Name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem."

Psalm 113:1:
"Praise the LORD. Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the Name of the LORD."

Psalm 113:2:
"Let the Name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore."

Psalm 113:3:
"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the Name of the LORD is to be praised."

Psalm 116:4:
"Then I called on the Name of the LORD: "O LORD, save me!"

Psalm 116:13:
"I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the Name of the LORD."

Psalm 116:17:
"I will sacrifice a thank offering to You and call on the Name of the LORD."

Psalm 122:4:
"That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to praise the Name of the LORD according to the statute given to Israel."

Psalm 124:8:
"Our help is in the Name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth."

Psalm 129:8:
"May those who pass by not say, "The blessing of the LORD be upon you; we bless you in the Name of the LORD.""

Psalm 135:1:
"Praise the LORD. Praise the Name of the LORD; praise Him, you servants of the LORD"

Psalm 148:5:
"Let them praise the Name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created."

Psalm 148:13:
"Let them praise the Name of the LORD, for His Name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens."

Proverbs 18:10:
"The Name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."

Isaiah 18:7:
"At that time gifts will be brought to the LORD Almighty from a people tall and smooth-skinned, from a people feared far and wide, an aggressive nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers — the gifts will be brought to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the LORD Almighty."

Isaiah 24:15:
"Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; exalt the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea."

Isaiah 50:10:
"Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the Name of the LORD and rely on his God."

Isaiah 56:6:
"And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve Him, to love the Name of the LORD, and to worship Him..."

Isaiah 59:19:
"From the west, men will revere the Name of the LORD, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory."

Jeremiah 3:17:
"At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the Name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts."

Jeremiah 26:16:
Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, "This man should not be sentenced to death! He has spoken to us in the Name of the LORD our God."

Jeremiah 26:20:
Now Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim was another man who prophesied in the Name of the LORD

Joel 2:26:
"You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the Name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed."

Joel 2:32:
"And everyone who calls on the Name of the LORD will be saved"

Micah 4:5:
"...we will walk in the Name of the LORD our God for ever and ever."

Micah 5:4:
"He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the Name of the LORD his God."

Zephaniah 3:9:
"Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the Name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder."

Zephaniah 3:12:
"But I will leave within you the meek and humble, who trust in the Name of the LORD."

Matthew 21:9:
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

Matthew 23:39:
"'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' "

Mark 11:9:
"Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord!"

Luke 13:35:
"'Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord.' "

Luke 19:38:
"Blessed is the king who comes in the Name of the Lord!"

John 12:13:
"Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord!"

Acts 2:21:

"And everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved."

Acts 3:10:
When all the people saw him walking and praising God.

Acts 9:28:
So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the Name of the Lord.

Acts 10:46:
For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Acts 16:25:
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

2 Timothy 2:19:
"Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who confesses the Name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

James 5:10:
"Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the Name of the Lord."

Romans 10:13:
"Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved."

2 Corinthians 11:31:
"The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Who is to be praised forever..."

Ephesians 5:19:
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16:
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

As we can see from this multitude of scriptural verses, the Name of God is endowed with special power and authority: The Supreme Being's authority. By sincerely repeating, singing, or otherwise praising God’s Holy Names, we reconnect with God. This is why we find that Jesus' disciples were praising God's Holy Names:

"the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices" (Luke 19:37)

They were following Jesus' teachings, which obviously pressed the importance of praising God's Holy Names. Jesus, in fact, was pressing this case in the verse above (Matt. 23:39) before ecclesiastical translators changed its meaning simply by adding the word "again."

By praising God's Names, we can directly reach God.

So when Jesus says, “you will not know me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord,” he is explaining that his followers can only come to know Jesus when they are accepting his role as God's representative and accept the importance of praising God and His Holy Name.

We can apply this teaching by praising God's Holy Names. It does not matter which of God's Holy Names we choose, as the Supreme Being has many Names and references. By praising His Name, we can gradually develop our loving relationship with Him. This is the goal of life, as Jesus taught:

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38)