“Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” (Matthew 4:15)

Why did Jesus get baptized by John?

This is how Jesus responded when he approached John the Baptist for baptism. John had been preaching to thousands of people who came from towns and villages. They traveled miles into the wilderness to hear John's teachings.

John was an acclaimed messenger of God in line with the great Prophets. Thus Jesus' baptism by John also put Jesus within this same lineage of messengers of God.

John's Jordan River baptisms and sermons brought large crowds of people to hear from this extraordinary teacher of wisdom. Though the text records John’s humble statement praising Jesus, it is apparent that John the Baptist was a spiritual teacher renowned throughout Judea.

The texts describe John as a devoted and dedicated preacher. His teachings were critical of the Pharisees and Sadducees. He called them a “brood of vipers!” (Matthew 4:7) In other words, he was not a preacher of the established institutional religion of that time and era.

Yet at the same time, John the Baptist taught the same essential teachings of Moses, Abraham, David, Samuel, Eli, Isaiah and so on. In his sermon to the Pharisees and Sadducees, he comments about Abraham as their father - a term often used to describe one's teacher.

Where did John get his authority?

John the Baptist was also the student of another glorified messenger of God. Luke details John’s father, Zechariah, and how John’s birth came to be. Zechariah was a priest “who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah” (Luke 1:5).

Luke further describes Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth: 

“Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly” (Luke 1:6)

As Zechariah and Elizabeth were older and Elizabeth was thus far barren, the birth of John was preceded by the visitation of Angel Gabriel, who identified himself, declaring that,

“I stand in the presence of God,” (Luke 1:19).

In this visitation, Gabriel proclaimed that Zechariah and Elizabeth would have a child. Gabriel spoke of this child, John the Baptist:

“... for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:15-17).

Was John Jesus' teacher?

From this statement, we find that John the Baptist was more than the provider of Jesus’ baptism. He was God's messenger. He brought people back to God. This means he was qualified to teach the same message of love for God that Jesus taught:

“They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” Finally they said “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” (John 1:21-23)

Thus John humbly described himself. Though Gabriel may have proclaimed to John’s father the greatness of John the Baptist, John saw himself humbly, as a simple messenger of God. 

The phrase “make straight” - translated from the Greek term εὐθύνω (euthynō) meaning "to lead or guide straight" as a "helmsman" might - is about one's personal life. John certainly was not involved in governmental affairs or crowd control. “Make straight” is a personal process of preparing oneself.

“The way for the Lord” has been assumed to be some sort of description of Jesus' arrival. This is not consistent with the text. The Greek word ὁδός (hodos) means "a course of conduct" according to Thayer's lexicon. 

This means this verse is describing a person's choice to align one's life with "the Lord" - that is, with the Supreme Being.

In other words: John wanted to encourage people to have a change of heart and decide to return to their relationship with God.

These are the teachings common to all of the prophets. Every prophet, from Abraham to Ezekiel, requested from his students that they turn to the Supreme Being and learn to love and serve Him.

Now when Jesus approached John for baptism, John immediately recognized Jesus, and indicated Jesus' position:

“I need to be baptized by you and do you come to me? (Matt 3:14)

Jesus did not accept such a question born of humility. He understood John's authority and was determined to be baptized by John:

“Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” was how Jesus responded.

What is the purpose of baptism?

We might stop to consider carefully the meaning and purpose of baptism. While some sectarian institutions might consider baptism to be the process of cleansing the sins away from a person, there is certainly another intention involved in the process.

Today sectarian baptism is conducted by a priest or minister, but during John and Jesus' time it was the process of a spiritual teacher accepting followers, who could then become spiritual teachers. It was not a ceremony to join a sect or cleanse sins. It was to symbolize someone becoming a follower of that spiritual teacher.

This process of accepting a teacher, who has accepted a teacher creates a lineage of teachers who are essentially passing on the same teachings.

Moses, Abraham, Isaiah and so many others who were shown to have authority in the Gospels all themselves were followers then teachers within the same succession or lineage of teachers.

John the Baptist was a teacher and follower of a teacher within the lineage of Abraham.

Jesus had no need to accept the position of John’s follower. But he did so to illustrate the process of accepting a teacher within the lineage of God's messengers.

Did Jesus follow John's example by taking on his own disciples?

Once Jesus received the baptism from John he began taking on his own disciples. If Jesus were to gather his own disciples and baptize them prior to his baptism by John, we would probably not see the importance of accepting a teacher.

However, Jesus did indeed accept not just any teacher—not just any Pharisee from the local synagogue. He did not just walk into any church and take the baptism as a mechanical process. He approached a specific person, a dedicated preacher and the student of an esteemed priest named Zechariah, “who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah” (Luke 1:5).

Thus we can understand that Jesus accepted a bonafide teacher before he became a teacher. This is the example that Jesus set for his own students, who eventually also became teachers.

This is why Peter, James, Thomas, John and other disciples began their own ministries after Jesus departed.

Is this about a family lineage?

From Jesus' life we can see that his disciples were not his family members. Yes, there were a few, such as James, that were part of his physical family. But the bulk of his followers were not part of his physical family.

This and other indications tell us that the lineage of ancient teachers is not about family heritage.

Much of the teachings of the Old Testament were presented and handed down through the generations of the teaching lineage of Abraham. Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, Josiah, and other saints and teachers who were all students of Abraham’s teachings. Some were related as in the same family, and some were not.

This is also confirmed by the fact that Jesus chose someone who was not his father to take baptism.

It should be pointed out that Joseph did not take up the priesthood or become a teacher. Yet because both Zechariah and John were students before they were teachers, and Zechariah took his training in the lineage of Abijah, we see that the lineage from teacher to disciple was not necessarily a family thing.

As we look deeper into the Old Testament, we find that many of the descendants of Abraham were kings or leaders of their day, but a priestly lineage was present yet often separate from the family. Though we find Jacob, Lot and Isaac were students of Abraham during the time of Elijah, we find instructions were “in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua son of Nun.” (1 Kings 17:1)

We also find many other cases where a descendant of Abraham’s family did not “walk in the ways of the Lord” as did others, while many, such as David and Solomon, certainly did walk with God. This confirms it is not simply a bloodline - but a spiritual family.

Were the teachings of Moses and Abraham lost during these times when Abraham's bloodline did not worship the Supreme Being? Certainly not. The teachings were carefully being passed down through the priestly lineage. And it was such a lineage that Jesus decided to take baptism from.

This bears a discussion regarding the current state of affairs among some sectarian institutions. Though we know that Jesus took on and baptized students, and he instructed them to go out and preach the gospel and take on their own students, the lineage coming from Jesus has been given up by ecclesiastical institutions that appoint and elect their teachers much as politicians are elected. Thus the lineage has been effectively abandoned by these organizations.

Was Jesus indoctrinated?

Jesus chose a teacher who was not part of any organization or “church.” John was considered an outcast, teaching the Truth in the desert, where people had to travel to hear him speak. 

John was also critical of the local organized institution and its teachers:

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Matt 4:7-8)

These words obviate that John was his own man - serving the Supreme Being - and not part of the establishment. The fact that he instructed them to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” is clear. He was obviously requesting that they give up their pride and become devoted to God.

“And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’” (Matt 4:9) John said. He made it obvious that producing fruit is connected to devotion to God and not related to belonging to any particular family, club, or group.

Jesus chose a particular teacher of the Truth, not an organization to join. Jesus never went around saying he was part of a particular church or organization either, just as John did. Herein lies the “righteousness” of the situation. Jesus was teaching us by example not to join a club or organization, but to carefully choose a teacher who keeps the Truth close, and focuses on devotion to God.

Jesus' purpose was to serve the Supreme Being and serve God with his activities. He didn't make up his own system or just appoint himself. He didn't set up an electoral college or a council of deacons to pick the teacher through politics. Before he began preaching and taking on students, he accepted a teacher, stating:

“Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:1-3)

What does 'blessed' mean?

The word “blessed” - translated from the Greek word μακάριος (makarios), which means to be "blessed" or "happy" - imparts Jesus' confirmation that this is a state that brings joy.

While some versions of the Bible translate "Blessed are the poor in spirit" to simply “Blessed are the poor,” the Greek word πνεῦμα (pneuma) - which means according to Thayer's lexicon, "the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated."

In other words, Jesus is not speaking of being financially poor. Being "poor in spirit" is distinctly different than being "poor" - or having a lack of material wealth.

What does 'poor in spirit' mean?

This phrase is describing a consciousness of humility.

To be "poor in spirit" means to have a general disregard for oneself. It means to have abandoned the consciousness that I am the most important person.

This means abandoning the consciousness of self-centeredness. That the world revolves around me and my family, my house, my region, my heritage, and so on.

This contrasts with what we see today throughout the physical world: We see practically everyone is in a consciousness that the world revolves around me. We think we know so much. We think we are so great. We consider ourselves the superstar, the boss, or the best at something. We think that the world is our 'oyster' and everything is meant for our enjoyment.

This consciousness can pervade if we become philosophical, should we try to speculate our way to knowing the Truth. We think we can figure it all out with our tiny brain.

This essentially boils down to pride: We think we are self-sufficient.

What about self-esteem?

Many today teach the importance of self-esteem. They teach that we should love ourselves, and cherish ourselves, and believe that we are the greatest. How does this help us?

Some promote pride as the solution to all sorts of psychological issues: They recommend "self-love" and feeling that we can do anything we want to do. They recommend we need a dose of "I am incredible" and we will be fine.

Such a doctrine sounds fluffy and nice. But the reality is that self-love only leads to self-centeredness. And this is contrary to Jesus' teachings.

The world is not our "oyster." The physical world is a place of learning. We are in a type of classroom, one that teaches us about love and consequences.

Here we have the freedom to express ourselves as we wish according to the culture and restrictions therein. But the world teaches us back with reactions, laws and consequences.

Some of the meanest consequences come as a result of harming others in some way. Often this is a result of our acting with pride and self-centeredness. 

When we are proud of ourselves, and we are focused on ourselves (self-centered) we become oblivious to how our actions may harm others. In our attempts to get what we want, we may remove an opportunity for someone else.

Developing humility as we live in this world will allow us to learn more and grow more.

Humility begins with understanding our limitations. Understanding, first that I don't know it all. Our mind is only a storage device for impulses coming from the senses and the nervous system. It is not all-knowing. Our mind is like a computer hard drive. It stores what is fed into it.

Thus the mind has no entrance into the spiritual realm because the spiritual realm is not perceived by the physical senses. Therefore the mind has no entrance into the spiritual realm.

Our physical lifetime is strung together with one lesson after another. We emerge from the womb in pain - crying and gasping. Throughout our childhood, we deal with life's frustrations, pains and struggles as we try to cope with other children, our parents, and the general demands of the world. We deal with the ‘growing pains’ of peer pressure, school, and the demands of our family, versus our inclinations for freedom and independence.

As our bodies rise to adulthood, we find ourselves having to cope with learning a way to survive on our own. We learn to maintain jobs, finances, spouses, family and everyday aches and pains. 

Life becomes serious in adulthood, and survival is tantamount. In the early adult years, we may work hard at jobs with little future, and take care of children who are themselves confused about the world. 

As our bodies grow older, they begin to become diseased. We are treated with aches and pains inherent in temporary bodies with limited lifespans. Bones, teeth, and muscles all age and weaken. Our eyesight weakens. Our hearing begins to fade. Our memory begins to falter. All of these elements make for a downslide towards the death of this body.

At the time of death, whatever wealth or assets we have accumulated - including our name, reputation and status - all disappear. In one instant - after a lifetime of struggles to accumulate them - everything we thought was ours is snatched away at the time of death.

Where does our self-esteem get us in this context?

The various hopes and dreams we might have about becoming happy in the physical world through the acquisition of fame, wealth, family, and so on are simply that: dreams. They are illusions. These things do not bring happiness. These things only bring more emptiness. They only bring more sorrow. Why?

Because we are not these physical bodies. These bodies are vehicles we drive temporarily. It is like a driver wanting to relieve his hunger by filling up the car with gas. Because the driver is not the car, filling the car with gas will not fulfill the driver.

In the same way, because we are spiritual in essence, physical things cannot fulfill us.

Rather, these physical bodies and this physical world facilitate learning.

Yes, this world and this temporary physical body were designed to teach us. But only if we are ready to learn.

How does humility help us enter the 'kingdom of heaven'?

Now consider what can be taught to a person who thinks they know it all, compared to someone who is humble. The know-it-all doesn't think they need to learn anything. They think they are just fine. So they learn little.

But the humble person is capable of greater learning because they are not so proud of what they might know already.

One might compare it to a cup. If the cup is full, nothing more can be poured in. But a cup that is empty can be filled easily.

In the same way, a humble state allows a person to learn about spiritual life.

Should we at some point realize the futility of thinking we are the center of the universe, we are ready to embrace our innate humble consciousness. This is not fake humility - acting humble. This is feeling humbled.

It is at this point that we become “poor in spirit.” We in effect, giving up on our consciousness that the universe revolves around me, and that I know it all.

At such a point, we are ready to begin our re-entry into the “kingdom of heaven.” 

The 'kingdom of heaven' Jesus is referring to is the place where love of God is the primary consciousness, leaving pride and self-centeredness with no place in our heart. It is a world where love replaces greed. It is the realm where our lust for 'mammon' (or materialism) is replaced by a thirst for pleasing God. 

That 'kingdom of heaven' is a world where we are truly happy because our care and concerns are about loving and serving our Best Friend and Soul Mate, the Supreme Being.

True humility is the realization that our self-centered nature has created our separation from God, and that we do not have the power to change this nature alone. We need His help.

Only in this condition can a person truly take refuge in the Supreme Being and allow Him to guide us. Once we understand that we have no strength of our own, and we need our relationship with Him in order to be happy, we become equipped to enter "the kingdom of heaven."

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good ..." (Matthew 6:22-23)

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" (Matthew 6:22-23)

What do the 'eye' and the 'lamp' represent?

This metaphorical statement by Jesus is often misinterpreted. What does it mean?

It should be noted that Jesus was teaching to a particular society and culture—some 2,000 years ago in another land and in another language. Each culture and society has tangible and common everyday occurrences and understandings that might be used to communicate a deep subject matter.

Here Jesus was teaching about the deepest subject matter of all: He was discussing elements of a world transcendental to this temporary physical world. Because that transcendental world is unseen by the physical eyes and physical mind, it is difficult to describe without metaphorical language.

This creates a problem of understanding for those who either do not relate to the metaphors being used or are not otherwise versed in the subject matter. In Jesus' times, people used lamps with fire for light. A lamp could be of different shapes and sizes, and a lamp could have a good light - allowing a person to see quite a bit - or a weak light - allowing for little vision at night.

Jesus is comparing the "eye" to the condition of our heart and the "light" to our spiritual consciousness. This means our relationship with the Supreme Being and others.

A soft-hearted and humble consciousness will be able to receive the teachings of God's messenger and thus be able to re-develop our relationship with the Supreme Being. That will leave our "light" - the condition of our relationship with the Supreme Being - in a state that is increasingly joyful and full of love and compassion.

But if our heart ("eye") is full of pride, greed and self-centeredness, then there would be little ability to receive Jesus' teachings. And our "light" within - our spiritual condition - will be in darkness.

What does Jesus mean by 'darkness'?

"Darkness" is that metaphorical state where our self-centeredness and our pride prevent us from connecting with our relationship with the Supreme Being. This is "darkness" because we are each intimately related to the Supreme Being. 

Jesus taught that we were created by God. That is why he often addressed God as πατήρ (patēr) - typically translated to "Father" but more appropriately translated to "Creator."

Why did God create us? We were created for the purpose of exchanging a unique loving service relationship with the Supreme Being.

This is our identity. This is who we are. We are not these physical bodies. We are each spirit-persons who belong with Him in the spiritual realm.

But because love requires freedom, the Supreme Being also created us with the freedom to love Him or not. We can reject Him if we want, in other words.

Those of us who need to develop our loving relationship with the Supreme Being are sent to the physical world and given physical bodies to learn as well as to act out our independence and self-gratification.

But in order to maintain our freedom, the Supreme Being also created the physical world in such a way that it completely covers up our spiritual identity and our relationship with Him. It allows us to completely escape Him, and even forget Him and deny His existence.

Such a state is the state of "darkness" that Jesus is referring to in this metaphorical statement. He is talking about the nature of greed and enviousness in this world. This is about the desire for power and the desire to be superior to others.

What is 'darkness' in this world?

Darkness is exhibited in this world by the desire to be top dog. The desire for fame. The desire to be the 'champion of the world.' The desire to be 'the greatest.' The desire to be recognized as 'the hero.'

These are all the Supreme Being's positions. Yes, this means these desires are ultimately envy of God's position - which is why we are away from Him.

When Jesus says “how great that darkness,” he points out that when the heart is blackened by greed and envy, a great downward spiral draws the self deeper and deeper into self-centeredness - leading to acts of hatred, anger, and violence.

But we can turn things around quite quickly and immediately. We can transcend this darkness by simply turning to the Supreme Being, and praying to Him - Our Friend and Eternal Savior - to rescue us. 

For this reason, God is often referred to as The Most Compassionate, because we can approach Him in distress, and He will come to our rescue. Because He is always there for us. This is called unconditional love.

Such a request made humbly will immediately soften our hearts and allow our innate relationship with the Supreme Being to begin to provide light to our lives.

“No one can serve two masters .... " (Matthew 6:24)

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24)

Is this about money?

This statement has been misconstrued and mistranslated with respect to money.

The Greek word being translated to "money" here is μαμωνᾶς (mamōnas). The word means, according to the lexicon, "mammon" or "treasure" or "riches."

Yes, it certainly can be translated to "money" - but that was not what Jesus was referring to. Why? Because money is a means of exchange. Jesus and his disciples sometimes used money to secure the things they needed to survive. 

So money is not bad in itself. It cannot be a "master" in itself.

Rather, what Jesus is referring to is materialism. This is the modern-day term used to describe "mammon."

Is 'mammon' the same as materialism?

Yes. "Mammon" or materialism is the desire to enjoy this physical world. It is the desire to enjoy these temporary physical bodies.

And why is this juxtaposed against serving God - "You cannot serve both God and materialism"?

Because materialism in essence is the expression of self-centeredness. The desire to please oneself. This is the pervading goal among the residents of the physical world.

And the pervading goal among those in the spiritual realm is quite the opposite: The residents of the spiritual realm seek to please the Supreme Being.

What about loving ourselves?

Love of God is diametrically opposed to loving oneself.

Yet surprisingly, this teaching - that we have to love ourselves before we can love others - is being taught by ecclesiastical and secular teachers in modern society.

It is an erroneous teaching. To love oneself is self-centeredness, and this does not lead to loving others.

But coming to love and serve the Supreme Being - that will cause one to love others because we are all the children of the Supreme Being.

This was confirmed by Jesus when he said:

'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.'" (Matt. 22:37-40)

Love of God is connected to loving others. It is a pre-requisite. And loving God is the antithesis of loving oneself.

But doesn't it say "as yourself" so we need to love ourselves?

This is a self-centered, myopic approach. The verse is assuming we already care about ourselves. It is a foregone conclusion. It is already there. Not that we need to focus upon it even further.

This teaching was intended to take our attention off of ourselves - and put our love upon the Supreme Being and others instead of only on ourselves. But those who wish to interpret Jesus' teachings to accommodate their own desires would rather focus upon the "as yourself" of this instruction rather than the rest of it.

What is self-centeredness?

In the physical world, our focus upon pleasing ourselves is redirected to materialism. Our self-centeredness resulted in us being put within a physical body within the physical world in order to exercise our self-centeredness.

Then we became covered up by these physical bodies. Now our self-centeredness is directed towards working to satisfy the physical body and those things that surround the physical body.

This means the temporary things of this world. This means the desires for sensual pleasure, fame, wealth, a big house, a big family, to be the boss, to be the hero, and so on. All of these things together are defined within the notion of materialism.

And should our self-centered focus become directed towards these things - or any combination thereof - we will become the servant of materialism.

Yes - achieving all of the things of materialism requires work. It requires work to become wealthy or famous. It requires work to buy the big house or get the big job. What is this work? It is service. We have to become the servant of materialism in order to capture the things of this world.

In other words, Jesus is discussing the ultimate choice we face between God or ourselves.

What is the nature of heaven?

In the spiritual world, the focus of attention is upon the Supreme Being. This focus is accompanied by loving service because God is the most attractive and most lovable Person and loving service is how love is expressed. Our relationship with God is what we are searching for when we look for our perfect soul mate. The exchange of love with God and loving service to God is what we really seek when we seek pleasure.

Yet because He also gave us the freedom of choice whether to love Him, and since He is loving us unconditionally and thus kindly rewarding our wishes, when we chose our self-centered desires over loving Him, He granted us the ability to exercise that choice by our taking on these temporary physical bodies within the material world.

This doesn't mean we no longer have choice. While the physical world is ultimately not a place of pleasure but a place of suffering (diseases, old age, death, and pain with short flashes of physical pleasure), we still have that choice whether to focus our attention upon Him or upon our own desires and wishes.

In reality, God has arranged this physical environment and our current physical body - reflecting a combination of our wishes and past decisions - so we do not have to see Him. He has arranged the body and our physical environment in such a way that His presence is invisible to us. 

This arrangement allows us the ultimate freedom to choose between God and our own desires: We can choose to ignore Him or we can choose to worship Him: It is our choice because love requires freedom and the Supreme Being enjoys the exchange of love.

Is this like dreaming?

Our situation within the physical world can be most readily understood by considering dreaming. When we dream, our bodies are lying in the same place in our bed, while our minds take us through illusory and temporary existences in different places. In our dreams, we can play out our fantasies and our nightmares. In our dreams, we can take on different personalities. One night we might be a wealthy man governing a big company. Another night we might be a poor woman working as a slave.

In each dream, we take on a situation, and we navigate the dreamscape with a particular dream character (once we temporarily identify with it during the dream), our wishes, and our decisions.

Once we awaken from the dream, we realize the whole thing was an illusion: The identity we identified with was temporary. The environment and situation we were in were temporary. Even though we identified with it as real during the dream, once awake, we realized the dream was just a temporary manifestation - an illusion of reality.

The temporary physical body we wear at the moment is practically similar to the dream, except it is one physical layer higher. While our gross physical body is tangible and real, it is still temporary. Here the illusion is that this is our permanent place, and we will become happy here somehow. The gross physical body is still a reflection of our desires and past activities, just as is the dream.

The changes that occur around us in the physical world accommodate our ongoing wishes, desires and past decisions. This is God's arrangement to accommodate our current choice of being away from Him.

The nature of our choice between God and materialism is that we can either focus upon God or we can focus upon ourselves. By focusing upon God and serving God we become fulfilled because this is our innate spiritual position. By focusing upon ourselves, we become engrossed in self-centeredness and the requirements of materialism - which become our master.

Jesus is communicating that these two choices are mutually exclusive: We can't go both directions at the same time, because they are diametrically opposed.

“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ..." (Matthew 7:9-12)

“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matt. 7:9-12)

What does Jesus mean by this hypothetical?

Jesus is explaining, using a symbolic hypothetical situation, the Supreme Being's unconditional love for us.

The care that a parent has is compared to God's love because a parent would care about a son regardless of whether the son is rejecting the parent or has rejected the parent in the past.

This is the reality of the situation between the Supreme Being and ourselves at this point. He unconditionally loves us and therefore He is always ready and willing to forgive us, and take care of us.

This also illustrates His impartiality. He is attentive to all His children, not necessarily just the better ones.

Who is Jesus saying is 'evil'?

Jesus also makes an important and revealing statement here regarding "evil." He says:

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children ..."

The assumption of Jesus within this text is that the people he is speaking to - the crowd, his students and disciples - are all "evil." Notice that "evil" is not being described as some alien-looking guy with big horns.

Rather, Jesus clearly indicates the people around him - those he was speaking to - were "evil." Why?

And if Jesus' disciples and students were "evil" what to speak of us?

We must also realize that each of us living self-centered lives in physical bodies, ignoring the Supreme Being in all or some aspect of our lives, is "evil." This is because evil is the condition of being self-centered.

Those of us who reside here in the physical world reside here specifically because of our self-centeredness - which gives birth to envy and greed. The spiritual world is that place of selfless love and compassion - and that place where the Supreme Being is the center of everyone's lives.

For those of us who rejected this consciousness, we were given temporary physical bodies to gain the freedom from God we were seeking.

And because God loves us and wants us back, this physical environment is set up to re-educate us to the fact that we will only be happy and fulfilled if we resume our innate spiritual consciousness - where the Supreme Being is the center of our lives.

Naturally, we all prefer to be treated fairly and cared for. This is because the Supreme Being cares for us and He treats us all impartially and fairly.

He gives us what we need, teaches us with love, and wants us to be spiritually happy.

This doesn’t mean that we always get what we want. Just because we think we are going to be happy if we get a red sports car doesn’t mean that we will be happy if we get the car.

In the same way, a child might think he or she will be happy if he or she has candy for dinner. The child’s parents know better. They know that eating candy for dinner will only lead to blood sugar problems, mood issues and the like. Therefore, because the parents love the child, they will give the child healthy food.

Does God teach us through consequences?

God designed the physical world to teach us through the use of consequences for our actions. Should we hurt others, we are eventually hurt. When we are kind, people are kind back. This world was designed by the Supreme Being to be a classroom that teaches us, tests us, and grades us.

Treating others the way we wish to be treated is considered the bottom line of the laws of the Prophets because it wraps together caring for others. The ultimate in caring for others is to put ourselves in someone else's shoes and treat them the way we want to be treated.

By treating others the way we want to be treated, the consequence is that we end up being treated in the same way we treat others. Our kindness to others returns kindness to us. This is universal because this is God's law, as Jesus states:

"For you will be treated as you treat others." (Matt. 7:2 NLT)

This doesn't mean that the world doesn't still present us with lessons each moment. Sometimes we are learning lessons from previous lifetimes and the decisions we made during those lifetimes.

God teaches through the events of the physical world that material things will not make us happy. For this reason, we usually have to work hard for those things, and then when we get them, we are let down.

This is because the Supreme Being loves us and is trying to teach us what will actually make us happy: to love and serve Him in our natural position within the spiritual realm.

It is for this reason that Jesus says:

"...do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

In other words, all of the Ten Commandments can be followed if we are truly caring, loving and serving God and His children.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine ..." (Matthew 7:24-27)

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:24-27)

What is the house built 'on sand'?

Jesus is using metaphorical language to describe the temporary nature of the physical world. He is describing the unsustainability of putting our hopes and dreams upon the temporary things and forms of this world.

Jesus' statements are not a lesson on architecture, though they are accurate. What sense does it make to build a structure on top of a shifting, temporary foundation? This physical world is precisely that: A shifting, temporary illusion of permanence.

If we construct our life upon the premise that money or fame will bring happiness, we are living a falsehood. If we construct our life upon the assumption that the things and forms of this temporary physical world offer fulfillment, we are living in a mirage.

This might be compared to a dream. When sleeping, we might be immersed in a vivid dream. But when we wake up the dream and all its imagery is over. Vanished.

This is similar with respect to this physical world. When our physical body dies, we become separated from our body and the physical world. Our body will decompose and we will leave it behind.

Our body is like a house - a temporary residence - occupied by the soul. It is not that we have a soul. We are the soul.

Our physical body was designed to last only a few decades. The illusion is that none of us thinks our body will die. We see physical bodies dying all around us, but we don't think ours will die.

This is an illusion. Every body will die, including ours. And time flies. With each passing day, we get closer and closer to the time of death. Will we be ready?

First, we must realize that we are not these physical bodies. They are like cars. We get in them and drive them for a while. Then we must leave them. We are eternal spirit-persons occupying a temporary physical form.

What is the 'house on the rock'?

Jesus is telling us to put our focus upon the permanent existence of the Supreme Being and His world instead of the temporary nature of this physical body. The physical body and the physical world is changing and temporary. The Supreme Being is eternal and our relationship with Him is eternal.

Just as the eyes or a camera must decide whether to focus upon things right in front of us or things in the distance, we have to decide where to put our focus in life.

If we put our focus upon the things of this world we cannot focus on the Supreme Being. And if our focus stays upon the temporary things of this world - money, fame, appreciation, family, and so on - we will lose our opportunity to re-develop our relationship with the Supreme Being.

This human form of life is precious because it gives us the intelligence to explore spiritual knowledge. Our brains and intelligence allow us to probe our identity and our purpose for existing. It is an opportunity that we can lose.

Jesus' analogy regarding building a house is appropriate in that many of us spend a significant amount of time and focus upon constructing our temporary physical lives. We may focus on our career, our family, and our financial position. Yes, some focus is necessary to take care of our body and the bodies of our family. But the temporary nature of these elements can be realized at the same time.

This is one reason these activities can become so frustrating. Career, family, kids, house, all the practical elements of this world are frustrating in order to remind us that this is not our home. This is not our permanent career. This is not my permanent house and so on.

What should be our priorities?

With this understanding, how do we prioritize our lives?

First, we can ask: Where are our current priorities? Upon things that won't last or on things that will last?

And what will last? What things are permanent?

Our relationship with the Supreme Being will last eternally. And the lessons we learn while we are in this world will also last eternally.

In Jesus' phrase "words of mine" - "words" is derived from the Greek word λόγος (logos), which means "doctrine, teachings" according to the lexicon. Therefore, Jesus is speaking about his teachings - "my teachings" is a more appropriate translation.

And what was Jesus' most important teaching?

" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'" (Matt. 22:37)

“How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn ..." (Matthew 9:15)

“How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast." (Matthew 9:15)

Why does Jesus tell this parable?

This parable is Jesus’ reply when John the Baptist’s disciples challenged the fact that Jesus’ disciples did not fast on a day they and the Pharisees fasted.

Jesus is responding to this:

Then John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?" (Matthew 9:14)

Fasting in remembrance of a particular prophet or saintly teacher is an ancient custom among many traditional religious disciplines: This is why the Pharisees and John's disciples fasted on days to commemorate Prophets such as Moses, Abraham, or Jacob.

These traditions honor the representative of God or Prophet, often on their day of appearance (birthday) or disappearance (death of their body).

In much of the world, the appearance of Jesus is now celebrated as Christmas and his disappearance as Good Friday. In this case, scholars have determined that these dates do not correspond with Jesus' actual birth or death.  These dates were politically determined by the Roman Catholic institution to coincide with two secular holidays - the solstice celebrations and the beginning celebration of the Saxon idol Oestre or Eastre, respectively.

What does the parable of the bridegroom mean?

The word "guests" is a mistranslation of the Greek word υἱός (huios), which means, according to the lexicon, either a son (in the case of a family) or servant or follower (if not of the physical family - "used to describe one who depends on another or is his follower"). 

In fact, this is the same word translated to "son" in "son of God" and "son of man" along with other uses, such as "children of God" (Matt. 5:9), "your people" (Matt. 12:27), "people of this age" (Luke 20:34) and so on.

As such, "guests" would be an inappropriate translation. As mentioned above, the word relates to someone who is a servant or follower, not a "guest." The more appropriate translation would be "attendants" or "servants" of the bridegroom. This is similarly stated in the wedding parable.

In ancient times, large weddings were galas typically done by wealthy landowners who had servants and attendants. As the couple was married, these servants or attendants took care of things. Over the centuries this custom evolved into more of a family affair. But still even today we find that a groom will often have several "groomsmen" and the bride will have several "bridesmaids." 

Notice the word "maid" in the latter. This comes from the tradition of them being attendants or servants of the bride and groom.

This understanding is critical to the meaning because Jesus is comparing those who are the servants of a bridegroom during a wedding to those who are the servants of the spiritual teacher - the representative of God in Jesus' case.

The point Jesus is making here is that for Jesus’ disciples, Jesus is in the same role as representative of God that those previous prophets had been in. Jesus is stating that there was no need to “mourn” the passing of a prior representative of God if the disciples are in the service of a current representative of God - especially if that fasting interfered with their service.

The analogy is even more applicable when we consider the intimate relationship of love between Jesus and God. This concept of "bridegroom" illustrates a relationship between two persons - a relationship of love that exists between God and His representative.

While some might feel that this role of representative of God somehow diminishes Jesus’ stature or identity, quite the opposite is true. To be the authorized representative and servant of God is the highest position in the kingdom of God, as it relates to having an intimate devotional relationship with God. 

Jesus indicated this esteemed position of being a servant of God in many previous statements. For example:

"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)

and

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

and

"The One who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.” (John 8:29)

These statements by Jesus reflect his self-identification as God's servant.

What is Jesus providing them?

For Jesus’ disciples, Jesus is their access and doorway to re-establishing their own relationship with God. Thus their focus, according to Jesus' statement, should be upon Jesus’ teachings so that one day they might also be prepared to serve and represent God.

This event also communicates the relationship that existed between Jesus and his teacher, John the Baptist. Why would John the Baptist's disciples challenge Jesus on how his disciples acted?

It is because Jesus was also a disciple of John the Baptist, evidenced by his baptism by John. So John's other disciples were seeing themselves as Jesus' peers. And thus they were wondering why Jesus did not follow the same practices with regard to fasting during the commemoration of previous prophets.

This, however, was a short-sighted understanding of Jesus' actual position. They obviously did not see Jesus' true exalted position as God's representative and loving servant.

Is this about honoring Jesus?

We can understand from this event that Jesus was one of John’s disciples. This is clear by Jesus' having traveled to the place where John was teaching, and by Jesus' eventual baptism by John.

We also know from this event that both the Pharisees and John’s disciples were observing the same religious holidays. We also know that Jesus and his disciples also observed these same holidays.

However, Jesus did not request from his disciples they fast. Why not?

Because they were traveling the (hot) countryside by foot and were doing God's service. He was teaching them to put their focus upon the practical matters of serving God. The ritual of observance by fasting was replaced by their practical service.

Jesus indicates here also that once he leaves the planet, his disciples should then honor his birth and death as the others were honoring the prophets before: with fasting.

"The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast."

The representative of God's appearance and disappearance should be honored with fasting, prayer and service. Currently many disrespect Jesus’ appearance and disappearance with a mad chase for materialism and commercialism. Both Christmas and Easter are typically celebrated with indulgence and a focus on materialism rather than a thoughtful day of fasting, worship and service.

On the day celebrated as Jesus’ appearance, the sectarian and secular worlds would rather honor a fat man in a red suit than honor God and His representative.

This is truly offensive to God and Jesus - who came to teach us to focus our lives upon God, not materialism. To use this day (Christmas) to celebrate materialism is truly a desecration. 

Jesus instructed his students to love God with all our heart and soul, and not love the world.

“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him ...” (Matthew 10:32-33)

“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)

Did Jesus teach that he is God?

With clear statements like this, how could someone interpret that Jesus is the Supreme Being?

Jesus clearly makes a distinction between himself here and the Supreme Being. He also clarifies the relationship that Jesus has with his followers. Jesus illustrates with this statement that he is representing the Supreme Being, and that he is to be respected because of his relationship with God - not because he is the Supreme Being.

The word "acknowledges" is being translated from the Greek word ὁμολογέω (homologeō), which means "to concede," and "not to refuse" according to the lexicon. Because Jesus was a controversial person at that time who was rejected by many among the ecclesiastical temple institution, Jesus is speaking to his students regarding those who not only admitted their affiliation with Jesus, but followed his teachings.

This statement also illustrates the confidential and intimate nature of the relationship between Jesus and the Supreme Being. Jesus clearly indicates that pleasing the Supreme Being is his ultimate goal.

This is also illustrated by Jesus elsewhere:

"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)

Jesus is stating that pleasing the Supreme Being is his major objective. And with the above statement to his students, he is stating that they too should be seeking to please the Supreme Being.

Why is acknowledging Jesus so important?

Jesus clearly states that acknowledging Jesus is pleasing to the Supreme Being.

This is because Jesus has a loving relationship with God. One in which God reciprocates.

This also means that following Jesus' teachings is pleasing to the Supreme Being.

This indicates a loving relationship between Jesus and the Supreme Being. It also means that the motives and intentions of Jesus and the Supreme Being are inseparable.

But it is not that they are the same entity. This is the basis of the confusion between Jesus and the Supreme Being. Jesus wants to please the Supreme Being and this makes Jesus' activities synchronized with the will of God.

And this means that Jesus is teaching what the Supreme Being wants him to teach us:

" '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)

“A farmer went out to sow his seed ...” (Matthew 13:3-9)

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:3-9)

What does the parable of the farmer and the seed mean?

Jesus himself explains it to his disciples several verses later. Here is his explanation:

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. What was sown on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. What was sown among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But what was sown on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:18-23)

Thus we can know from Jesus' own explanation what it means. But let's investigate these points a little further:

Who is the 'farmer' - or the 'sower'?

Since Jesus is comparing planting seeds to hearing "the message about the kingdom," we can understand that the farmer or sower is the Supreme Being and His representative, and "the kingdom" is the spiritual realm - that realm and consciousness where the Supreme Being is loved and worshiped.

Why not just Jesus? Isn't Jesus speaking of himself as the farmer or sower?

Yes and no. Just consider this statement by Jesus:

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

This clearly indicates that Jesus' teachings are coming from the Supreme Being. Jesus may be doing the preaching as God's loving servant, but what he is preaching is coming from God. Jesus is representing God.

Thus, the farmer or sower is ultimately the Supreme Being - in this case working through Jesus.

What is 'the message of the kingdom'?

The central message of Jesus' teachings is confirmed here:

"'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)

In other words, the "kingdom" is not a physical location. It is a particular consciousness.

Who is the 'evil one'?

Who is the "evil one" - who "comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart"?

This is a metaphor, describing the illusory energy of the physical world. Some may refer to this as satan or the devil. But it is an energy - illusion: that we are these physical bodies, and that this world is our permanent home and these things around us that we see are all permanent.

Furthermore, it is the illusion that the forms and things of the physical world will fulfill us. Jesus describes this with:

"the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth"

This illusory energy of the physical world actually supports our self-centeredness. Thus is supporting our desire for independent enjoyment - outside of our relationship with the Supreme Being.

This illusory energy has the ability to "snatch" away what we may hear from God's representative because as we seek our self-centered satisfaction and misidentify ourselves with these physical bodies, we chase those forms and things of the physical world, and this serves to distract us from what we might have heard from God's representative.

Once we are distracted, we can become forgetful. We can forget what we might have heard from God's representative as we chase the forms and things of the physical world.

This forgetfulness - and the illusory energy of the physical world - is actually designed by the Supreme Being in order to allow us our freedom. He doesn't want to force Himself upon us. He wants us to come to Him freely and without any coercion or force. This is because love cannot be forced. Love requires freedom.

This freedom comes in the form of forgetfulness. Just consider if a father cared about a son and the son cursed the father and said he wanted to get away from him and never see him again. What would a loving father do? The loving father would let his son go. He would grant his son some space and hope the son comes back to him one day. In the meantime he won't be getting in his son's face - he will leave him alone - and let him be.

The Supreme Being is doing something like this, except that He owns and controls everything - so how can we get away from God?

For this reason, the Supreme Being sets up the illusory energy to allow us to forget Him - and allow us to identify ourselves with this physical body so we forget who we are and how we are related with Him.

What do the 'birds' symbolize?

As to the birds who take the seeds away in Jesus' parable, these would represent envy and/or blaspheming of God's representative. This is a grave mistake that can immediately snatch away the seed of love for God before it can take root.

So what about the "trouble or persecution" Jesus speaks of? During Jesus' time, there were lethal threats for those who followed Jesus. Jesus' followers were persecuted, and of course, Jesus was persecuted.

In general, Jesus is describing the challenges that a person may face once he makes a commitment to loving and serving the Supreme Being with his life.

These include family members and so-called friends who don't want us to continue our spiritual path. For example, peer pressure. They also include non-believers who try to convince us that God doesn't exist or that we are all God.

These forms of persecution - just as are many other challenges we may face - are tests. They are testing our resolve to grow spiritually and return to the Supreme Being. Why?

Because the Supreme Being doesn't want us to whimsically return to Him. He wants us to be serious about returning to a relationship with Him. This not only requires commitment. It requires long-term dedication. A weathering through challenges, and taking shelter of the Supreme Being at every turn.

This latter point describes the final situation - the seed which grew into a crop and produced other seeds:

"But what was sown on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

This crop and yielding of multiple times what was sown occurs when a follower of God's representative hears his teachings, takes them to heart, and then passes them on to others.

When such a person passes the Supreme Being's message as heard from God's representative onto others, there is a multiplying effect ("hundred, sixty or thirty times") because those who receive that message can then pass it on to still others.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed ...’” (Matthew 13:25-29)

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from? ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. The servants asked him, “Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned, then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” (Matthew 13:25-29)

How is this different from the previous farmer sowing seed parable?

Notice that Jesus told a similar parable in Matthew 13:3-9. Both of these discuss a farmer that sows seeds. What is the difference between these two parables?

This parable discusses an enemy that came when the farmer was sleeping and planted weeds. The farmer and seed parable in Matthew 13:3-9 - the first one - discusses the outcome related to planting seeds in different environments.

The first parable is comparing the nature of the soil to the nature of our heart when we hear the Truth. A person who hears the Truth with a calloused heart will not allow the Truth to grow within their heart. But a person who is soft-hearted and seeking the Truth will receive the Truth with an open mind and allow the Truth to grow.

In this parable, Jesus is discussing our choices in life and the consequences of our choices. Let's discuss this meaning further.

What does Jesus mean by 'the kingdom of heaven'?

When Jesus says “The kingdom of heaven is like ...” he is not speaking of a physical place.

The word "kingdom" here is being translated from the Greek word βασιλεία (basileia). Here is what the lexicon states regarding its meaning: "royal power, kingship, dominion, rule: not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom."

Jesus is speaking of the Supreme Being's dominion - His ultimate authority. So the kingdom of heaven relates to the consciousness of accepting the ultimate authority and dominion of the Supreme Being. This means essentially taking shelter or sanctuary in God.

During ancient times, tribal kings fought with each other over territory and people. This meant that in order to be protected, a common person had to choose to take allegiance from a particular king - in order to gain that protection. This was essentially taking refuge of that particular king.

This is what Jesus is alluding to - except that he is requesting that people seek the refuge and protection of the Supreme Being: By accepting His authority and dominion.

This also means accepting our own position as one of God's loving servants.

Do we have freedom of choice?

Some teach that our fate is sealed and we have no choices in life. Others teach that life is chaotic and there is no ultimate meaning.

Rather, this life is a teaching opportunity. Physical reality teaches us. Here we have the freedom to make certain choices in life, and those choices, and the actions we take, have consequences. It is these consequences that provide learning experiences for us.

Ultimately, we have taken on physical bodies in this environment to learn about love and our innate loving relationship with God.

Our issue ("the enemy" in Jesus' parable) is that we have become self-centered. As a result, the Supreme Being allowed us to exercise our self-centeredness by taking on a temporary physical body and exert our self-centeredness onto others to be someone we are not. At the same time, this world is designed to teach us the futility of self-centeredness.

This is because most of us in the physical world want to be the center of the universe. So our loving Friend God gave us a place where we could play that out. He is allowing us to pretend to be the center. Now the question is, how do we return home, back to our loving relationship with Him?

What are the metaphors of Jesus' parable?

The “man” and “owner” of the field symbolizes the Supreme Being. The field is His, and this is His creation.

The "owner's servants" and "harvesters" are the Supreme Being's loving servants and messengers, such as Jesus, as Jesus himself admits:

"My teaching is not my own. It comes from Him Who sent me." (John 7:16)

We have to remember that God’s representative is doing God’s will. This is why the "servants" ask the "owner" what to do about the "weeds."

The “seed” is the teachings of God that originate from the Supreme Being, and are passed out by God's messengers. For those who desire to return home, these seeds plant within the heart and hopefully grow until they mature into the flower of love for God.

The “enemy” is our self-centered desires - and the attractions of the physical world that reflect these desires.

The “sleep” represents our forgetfulness of the Supreme Being, and have our own self-interest in mind.

The “weeds” represent those who follow their self-centered lives and the speculations of the mind - ultimately those who choose not to return to their relationship with the Supreme Being.

Those who choose to return to our innate loving service relationship with the Supreme Being are guided back to Him - symbolized by the "harvesters." How does that work? Jesus described it here:

"If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own." (John 7:17-18)

In other words, those who decide to return to their loving service relationship with the Supreme Being are given the understanding that allows them to determine who is speaking the truth. By following those teachings, they are guided back to Him.

Why didn't the owner pull the weeds?

Notice that in Jesus' parable, the "owner" didn't have the servants pull the weeds. He allowed them to keep growing.

This illustrates that the Supreme Being gives us the freedom to continue to grow, even if we are self-centered. We always are given the choice to love or not love, and to have a change of heart. This is freedom, because love without freedom is not real love, and the Supreme Being wants real love. This is why fanatical teachers and their institutions cannot represent the Supreme Being.

The burning of the weeds at harvest relates to the eventual outcome of our choices. Those who choose not to return to their loving service relationship with the Supreme Being will continue their self-centered existence.

But with that, they must also accept the hardships of the physical world in this lifetime and the next - that place where everyone else is also self-centered. This is a miserable and lonely existence - a place symbolized by "burning" because the emptiness inside (having lost our loving relationship with God) produces the burning of lust and greed, which can translate to anger and violence if stoked.

But for those who are serious about returning to our unique loving service relationship with the Supreme Being - His "harvesters" can teach us the tools to learn to love Him and serve Him again:

" '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)

“Don’t tell anyone what you have seen ...” (Matthew 17:9)

When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." (Matthew 17:8-9)

Why does Jesus request their secrecy?

Jesus says this as he, Peter, James, and John were walking down from the mountain after witnessing hearing God’s voice - and after Jesus had spoken with Moses and Elijah.

It is understood from his statement that Jesus knows people may not understand what happened on the mountain very easily, and it could inflame things. As such, Jesus understands that this information is best suited for public consumption later.

This relates to his position as teacher and the fact that the Supreme Being wants to give people the choice to love Him. God doesn't want to force us into accepting Him. He wants that to come out of freedom of choice.

"...until the son of man..."

Remember that "son of man" is a mistranslation of the Greek phrase, υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. The word υἱὸς can only mean "son" in the context of a physical family, and the lexicon confirms that it also relates to a follower or servant ("used to describe one who depends on another or is his follower.")

Furthermore, the word ἀνθρώπου can mean "man," or "mankind" or "humanity."

Thus the more appropriate translation of υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου is:

"Servant of Humanity"

This is appropriate because Jesus was serving all of humanity with his teachings.

What does 'raised from the dead' mean?

There is a misunderstanding among sectarian institutions regarding the concept of “raised from the dead.” Most ecclesiastical theologians interpret this statement to mean the three-day disappearance of Jesus’ body, and the sudden appearance of his form to his disciples.

The phrase "raised from the dead" is being translated from the Greek phrase ἐκ νεκρῶν ἐγερθῇ. The word ἐκ means "from." The word means can mean "lifeless" or "dead" when used literally, yes. But metaphorically - which Jesus was speaking, according to the lexicon, the word means "spiritually dead."

And ἐγερθῇ means "to arouse, cause to rise" according to the lexicon.

In other words, Jesus is not talking about himself dying at all. He is speaking of himself "rising" or leaving the physical body and the physical world - the spiritually dead.

Is Jesus talking about himself being dead at some point? No. Jesus did not teach that we die when our body dies. He taught that we are eternal, and we live on after the body dies:

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." (Matthew 10:28)

Jesus' Jesus' teachings were found upon the idea that after the death of the body we move on. He also taught that we can return to the spiritual realm should we dedicate ourselves to the Supreme Being.

Certainly, a decomposing dead body cannot return to the spiritual realm.

For hundreds of years, humans have been digging up various remains to study ancient history. Frequently, we will even dig up a grave to study a person’s cause of death. Sometimes we even discover situations where people were buried in fields a few years ago. In every case, we find the human body simply decomposes.

We also find no difference in the decomposition between a so-called Christian and a non-Christian either. All bodies decompose equally once the spirit leaves the body.

To this we can reference another statement describing Jesus' thoughts about the physical world:

“Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” (Matthew 8:22)

Here we see again how Jesus is describing persons who are spiritually dead. They are focused upon the forms and things of the temporary physical world. They are identifying themselves with the physical body, and are thus spiritually dead.

What does it mean to be spiritually dead?

To be spiritually dead means to think this body is "me." We are not these physical bodies, however. We the living spirits temporarily occupying a physical body.

Just as a person sits down within a car, we sit within the vehicle of the physical body.

This temporary physical body is dead matter without the spiritual life force that drives it. When the living spirit leaves the body, the body dies. In other words, the body is animated by the living spirit.

Thus, physical matter is essentially dead without the animation of spiritual life forces. Thus, those who dedicate themselves to the matter of the physical world would functionally be considered spiritually dead.

In the above statement, Jesus is telling his disciples to not reveal what happened until after his body dies and he - the spiritual being - returns to the spiritual world. According to Jesus, being "raised from the dead" is essentially the spirit-person returning to the spiritual realm.

In other words, any of us can become raised from the dead if we have advanced spiritually to the point where we can leave the physical dimension and return to the spiritual realm after the death of our current body.

Otherwise, we are destined to return to the physical dimension in another physical body in order to continue to develop our spiritual consciousness.

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones ...” (Matthew 18:10)

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:10)

Who are 'these little ones'?

The phrase, 'little ones' is being translated from the Greek word, οὗτος (houtos). The problem is, this Greek word doesn't really mean "little ones." It actually means, "these" or "this" or otherwise what was referred to previously.

Jesus is referring to the subject of his statements in Matthew 18:5-7. Here Jesus spoke of spiritual children - that is, those who have humbled themselves to God.

Jesus is speaking of humility here. Humility is one of the primary requirements for entering the spiritual realm. In the physical world, everyone is proud of themselves. 

The inhabitants of the physical world typically seek superiority. We are seeking to be better than others. This is why we strive to win sporting contests and other competitions. We want to be the hero. We want to be the greatest. We want to be on top.

In the spiritual realm, the Supreme Being is the hero. He is the greatest. He is the victor. And this is His natural position. He doesn't have to prove it to anyone.

The inhabitants of the spiritual realm thus do not struggle to win anything. They are the fans of the Supreme Being. They recognize and support the Supreme Being's omnipotency. They are feeling humble about their own positions. They see themselves as insignificant and see the Supreme Being as their personal hero.

As such, the inhabitants of the spiritual realm also see others as greater than themselves. This is because they are satisfied within. They do not need to promote themselves or gain the attention of others because their relationship with the Supreme Being completely satisfies them.

Who are 'their angels in heaven'?

With this next statement, Jesus refers to the children's guardian angels. The word "angels" is translated from the Greek word ἄγγελος (aggelos) - which means "a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God." 

This means they are messengers of God. The Supreme Being is sending them. They have access to the physical world because they are being sent.

Each of us has one or multiple guardian angels as we take our physical journey. These angels watch us and care for us. They hope the best for us. They support the process of learning that the physical world takes us through. They typically do not interfere, but they try to encourage us to make the right decisions.

This interaction takes place because we are missed in the spiritual world. We once dwelled in the spiritual world. In the spiritual world, no one is forgotten, and love and care pervade. Those we left in the spiritual world - especially the Supreme Being - have not forgotten us. They want us to come home.

Who is our real family?

The spiritual world is full of individuals just as this world is. The main difference is that in this physical world, mostly everyone is selfishly motivated, whereas in the spiritual dimension, everyone is loving the Supreme Being and motivated by their care for others. 

This is why Jesus says they, ".... always see the face of my Father in heaven.”

In other words, the central relationship in the spiritual world is with the Supreme Being. This is communicated here by Jesus as he reflects upon the relationship between the angels and the Supreme Being. The term "always see the face" means their consciousness is focused upon the Supreme Being and they are in constant contact with God.

This opposes the concept of heaven as portrayed by many over the centuries, of God being a vague impersonal force or white light. 

By the phrase, ".... always see the face of my Father in heaven.” we can know that the Supreme Being is a Person. He is personally present in the spiritual realm - and the inhabitants of the spiritual realm enjoy personal relationships with Him.

God, our guardian angels, and the rest of the souls in heaven are our spiritual family. This is not to be confused with our physical family. Our physical family is made up of fellow souls who have taken up physical bodies related to our physical body. But like us, they are not their bodies. Their bodies are temporary vehicles, just as ours are.

We might compare this to a person who sits down in a car and drives a car away. The car is not the person, but is the vehicle for the person. When the car stops, the person gets out, just as when the body dies, we leave the body.

We might better compare it to a person who sits down at a computer to operate a video game. The person will pick an icon and the computer game will take the person away into the game - even though the person is still just sitting at a computer. In the same way, while the spirit-person is operating a physical body, from a spiritual aspect the person is not necessarily away from the spiritual realm - we still retain our spirit-person form - but it is covered up. Our consciousness is preoccupied with our false identity and the illusions of the physical realm.

Within the physical world, we are enamored by space and time. We look through the molecular arrangements called our eyes and see light bouncing off of other molecules and we surmise that we are seeing reality. 

What we are actually seeing is molecules swirling around us that reflect light in a certain way. Those light reflections are picked up by our senses, and our brains interpret those reflections as hard objects - "matter."

Science tells us that we are not surrounded by hard objects. We are seeing molecules that are positioned around each other in a way that gives us the illusion of solidity.

Every "thing" we "see" here is recycling molecules. Even our body recycles molecules. Scientists have found that within five years every molecule in our body will be exchanged for another. This means our bodies are constantly changing.

Is this like looking at a waterfall?

Because the water within the waterfall is always moving, we are never seeing the same waterfall. The water is always new water. This is how molecules are also moving around us - never standing still. Always in motion.

In the same way, our body might appear solid, but it is in fluid motion. It is like a waterfall.

So our concept of time and space is illusory. The reference points we make are all in motion so there is no standard of reference that we can consider constant in the physical world.

The only things that are constant are the spiritual elements existing within this physical world. The personality that is "me" is constant. The Supreme Being is constant. The spiritual realm is constant.

We might compare the physical world to a movie set. The movie set is built up specifically to make a film. The set is not a real place where real people live. It is a facade of a real place. It is set up to give the moviegoer the impression that the place in the film is real.

Can we find reality here in the physical world?

Yes, the potential is there, if a person makes the effort. In the movie analogy above, for example, a moviegoer is watching a film in a darkened theater. This gives the movie the impression of being real since the surroundings are dark. But the moviegoer can, at any time, step out of the dark theater into the daylight, and see reality.

That is why both John the Baptist and Jesus taught that the "kingdom of heaven is near." They taught that each of us can reconnect with the Supreme Being even while we are here on this planet.

However, for most in the physical world, we have forgotten our relationship with the Supreme Being. This is why we feel empty inside. We have forgotten our relationship with God, and this has created a hole within us.

In an attempt to fill that hole, we seek the love and attention of others. This means we strive to achieve fame and recognition, and this is achieved by winning or otherwise becoming accepted - which drives many to join groups or organizations in order to be accepted by others.

But we quickly find that accomplishing the acceptance or recognition from others does not satisfy us. This is found by sportsmen who achieve some big success - say an Olympic athlete who wins a bunch of gold medals. Once the athlete gets the gold medals and receives the fame and recognition for their accomplishment he begins to understand that it brings no real fulfillment. It does not fill that empty hole within.

This is also found out in so many other ways. For example, a family man or woman will feel that having a child will fill that hole within but they soon find out that the child is a responsibility and a lot of work - and the hole still remains. For this reason, they might think that another child will do the trick. Or maybe having an affair. Or maybe something else.

Even as we gain the various accomplishments of the physical world, we feel empty within.

The only thing that will fulfill us is our relationship with the Supreme Being. This is a subordinate position. We are the Supreme Being's subordinates. Yes, God gives us a chance to play out our self-centeredness in this temporary world. Because He is giving us the freedom to love Him or not. Because love requires freedom.

And as Jesus states here, love also requires humility.

"... it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle ...” (Matthew 19:23-24)

"Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:23-24)

Jesus turns to tell his disciples this after he had instructed a man to sell his possessions and give to the poor:

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. (Matthew 19:22)

What kind of 'needle' is Jesus referring to?

Notice that this was not the first time Jesus taught his disciples this, as he says, "Again I tell you...".

Many have debated whether the kind of “needle” Jesus is speaking of is a sewing needle or an entrance into a city, which was also supposedly called a “needle.” 

Theoretically, in order to enter the city walls through such a "needle," the camel had to stoop and lower its bags to enter.

But here the Greek word ῥαφίς (rhaphis) is being translated to "needle." The Greek lexicon and translation sources all agree that the word means a sewing needle, as the root of rhaphis is rhapto, which means to sew.

Thus the argument about it describing an entrance into a city is moot. Jesus was speaking of a sewing needle.

Why were his disciples 'greatly astonished'?

The fact that Jesus is referring to a sewing needle is also confirmed by the response of Jesus' disciples after he said this:

‘When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, and asked, “Who then can be saved?”’ (Matthew 19:25)

So we know from this that it is not a matter of a camel dipping down underneath a city gate to get in. That would be quite possible. But it is physically impossible for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle. This is why Jesus' disciples were astonished.

Jesus is stating that it is practically impossible for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.

But what about those students of Jesus who had wealth - such as Martha who had a house and such as Joseph of Arimathea - who offered the tomb Jesus' body was put in? None of these could enter the kingdom of God?

Jesus goes on to clarify this seemingly impossible task in his response to his disciples in the next verse:

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

What does the 'kingdom of God' mean?

Notice that Jesus says “enter the kingdom of God.” What does ‘entering the kingdom of God’ mean?

The "kingdom of God" is being translated from the Greek phrase, βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ. The word "kingdom" comes from βασιλείαν - which means, according to the lexicon, "royal power, kingship, dominion, rule - not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom."

This means Jesus was not speaking of a physical place here. He was speaking of accepting God's dominion over everything: This means accepting God's dominion and taking refuge in God. 

This is not a physical place - it is a consciousness.

To “enter the kingdom of God” means entering a consciousness where God is the center of our life. This can take place where ever we might be currently residing.

Oftentimes we see depictions of heaven in popular media, and even accompanying some ministries. Some of these contain images where God is not even in the picture.

Those who depict heaven without God don’t want to accept God's dominion. This is precisely why we are here, and precisely why it is so difficult for us to accept that God is the center of our life and our Best Friend and only shelter.

It is so difficult to enter such a consciousness because we are too wrapped up in our own desires and goals. We are too involved in ourselves.

This is also the reason we are away from God at the moment. We reside in temporary physical bodies designed specifically not to be able to see God. This is because we rebelled against God, and became self-centered.

We still want heaven, mind you. We still want all the goodies of a heavenly place. But we don’t want God there. We want to enjoy heaven without God because we want to be the center. We want to be the center of the universe. We want to get all the goodies. 

We want to own the land, and own the gold and own the children. (Often referred to as "the white picket fence.") We each want to be king of our own little kingdom - whether it be family, business, or nation.

This is why we can't accept God as the center of our lives.

Why is it so hard for a rich man to get to heaven?

So why does Jesus say “a rich man" will find it nearly impossible to enter the kingdom of God? Being a “rich man” according to Jesus means a person within a physical body who thinks of himself or herself as being rich. 

Such a notion, however, is an illusion. Nothing here actually belongs to us. Everything is on loan here. We might possess something temporarily, only to lose it later. If we don’t lose it during our physical lifetimes, we will lose it at the death of our body.

If something cannot be controlled, it is not owned. Control is required for ownership. So if we cannot control it, we do not own it. If we have temporary possession of it, and then it will be taken away from us later, then it must be on loan to us. We must be borrowing it. 

Who then, owns all these possessions? The true owner is God. God controls all things. Since He is the controller, only He is can be the owner of any thing.

But a person identifying him- or herself as "rich" is in the illusion that they own their possessions. They are falsely identifying themselves as the physical body, and falsely identifying the physical possessions their body temporarily maintains as being owned by them. And this brings them great pride. This is the same consciousness discussed above. We want to be king.

A person in this consciousness cannot enter God's world because to enter God's world we have to accept that God is the king. We have to accept that God owns everything, and despite the relative wealth that may be in my possession temporarily, each of us is actually poor: Only God is rich, because He is the owner and controller of everything.

The illusion starts with our identification with the physical body. When we identify ourselves with the temporary physical body, we become attached to physical possessions. This attachment prevents us from entering God’s kingdom because we are covered with desires for more physical things. We do not see that all of this - our physical body, these possessions, and those around us - all belong to God. In other words, everything is already part of God’s kingdom.

We don't have to enter God's kingdom because we are already in God's kingdom. We simply have to accept that God is king (and we're not).

Can we 'enter' God's kingdom now?

We can enter God's kingdom immediately, simply by taking shelter of God, knowing Him to be our Best Friend, our Protector, and Master. This was also taught by Jesus elsewhere:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:17)

However, doing this will require we give up our self-centeredness. We will have to give up the consciousness that we are the center of our lives.

This is the difficult part. It requires a change of heart, and a period of gradual training. This is impossible without God's help, as Jesus confirms in his next statement.