“Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar..." (Matthew 5:23-24)

“Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23-24)

What does 'offering your gift' mean?

This part of Jesus’ sermon clearly indicates that Jesus taught his students to follow the tradition of making offerings - "offering your gift" - to the Supreme Being.

The altar is the representation of God in the temple. Making offerings at the altar of God has been practiced within the lineage of Prophets and Priests for thousands of years as evidenced in the Old Testament.

Why has this important practice been abandoned by those who claim to be followers of Jesus?

Offering to the altar, according to various texts of the Bible, was especially important when it came to food. Offering the first grains after harvest, and offering meals before eating was an important ceremony taught by the prophets including Moses, Abraham, and Solomon. Did Jesus teach anything different? No.

His teachings were founded upon the teachings of this lineage of Prophets. Jesus supported the practice of offering before the altar of God. As is noted here, the offering Jesus is speaking of is not the ceremonial offerings of farmers or townships. Jesus is speaking of a personal offering by an individual: A gift. By this, we know that Jesus taught that each of his followers should make regular personal offerings to the altar of God.

How are offerings done?

As recommended by the prophets and confirmed by Jesus, making an offering to God can and should be done not only daily, but prior to each meal. This was demonstrated by Jesus at every meal including the last supper, when Jesus was said to have "blessed" the food. 

But what is this "blessing?" Is it simply 'giving thanks'? These descriptions fall short of the offering suggested here by Jesus. Prior to any meal, the food should first be offered to God, with love and devotion, as a gift.

This act of giving an offering to God is confirmed by David in 1 Chronicles 16:29:

“Bring an offering and come before Him; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.”

An offering does not have to be grand or extravagant. As long as it is made with sincerity. Offerings can be made quietly in private even amongst a group. Or they can be made in the same way that “giving thanks” is often made, with all attending holding hands in prayer. 

But instead of just thanking, we can pray: "Oh God, please accept this meal, by the grace of your son, Lord Jesus Christ, as our offering to you.”

We can also “give thanks” following this prayer—as we can do throughout our lives. However, the result of offering one's food prior to eating it is fundamentally different than the effect of merely thanking God for the meal. Offering gifts to God develops a different relationship with God. 

The “giving thanks” relationship with God is the relationship where we are the recipients and God is the order supplier. It is like we are thanking God for all the stuff He has delivered to us. It is like we are focused on the material things we have, rather than our relationship with Him.

Making an offering to God, on the other hand, develops a completely different relationship. Making an offering develops the relationship where we give of ourselves to God in a loving way. To give someone a gift out of freedom is to express to that person first that we want to have a relationship with them. Secondly, it expresses that we care about that person. 

To offer God any sort of gift of our temporary possessions is telling Him that we value Him more than the possessions. This is an act of love.

As Jesus teaches here, worshipping God at the altar is an important activity for developing our relationship with the Supreme Being.

Not only was this an ancient practice among the Prophets and ancient teachers of the Bible. This same practice, of offering before God’s altar, is also followed in practically every religious tradition throughout the world. Is this a coincidence?

How does offering help our spiritual growth?

The reality is that this activity is pleasing to the Supreme Being. This is because the Supreme Being wants us to be happy. And we will only be happy when we are exchanging love with the Supreme Being.

Today many sectarian teachers preach approaching the Supreme Being with prayer requests. In other words, asking Him for stuff.

This is treating the Supreme Being as some sort of waiter - as if He is just waiting around to fulfill our requests.

As though His job is to serve us.

Actually, we are His servants. Our relationship with the Supreme Being is subordinate. We were created to love and serve Him.

Making offerings to the Supreme Being fulfills our nature. It allows us to embrace our true nature as His loving servants.

Are offerings to God important?

Offering a gift is an act of love. When a person loves someone, they will bring them gifts and do things for them. This is called loving service, and it is a natural part of our constitution.

Everyone is looking for love and loving relationships within this physical world. We seek fulfillment by exchanging a loving relationship with someone.

Why? Because this is our nature. We are lovers by nature. We are loving servants by nature. And when we fulfill this part of our nature we feel joy.

But this part of our nature is not completely fulfilled when we are loving another person of this world. Yes, it does give us a glimpse of joy to love and lovingly serve another peer of this world. But this joy is not completely fulfilling.

This is because this is not our natural position. Our natural position is that we are each a loving servant and subordinate companion of the Supreme Being. As such, we can only be completely fulfilled when we are rendering loving service to the Supreme Being.

And as we are rendering loving service to the Supreme Being, we will automatically also render loving service to others. 

What does Jesus mean by 'be reconciled with your brother'?

Jesus' is instructing his students to "reconcile with your brother." What is he saying?

Jesus is indicating that reconciliation with those around us is connected with our ability to make offerings to God. Jesus said:

"First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."

This indicates that to have a clear relationship with the Supreme Being we must have honest clarity with others. This means not holding grudges and forgiving others, and asking others to forgive us if we have done something to slight them. Why is this important?

Remember Jesus' other statement in this regard, part of his suggested prayer (The Lord's Prayer):

"And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." (Matt. 6:12)

Jesus is teaching that we need to forgive others if we expect to be forgiven ourselves.

This is all about relationship-building with the Supreme Being. The Supreme Being is not alone. He is surrounded by innumerable associates, and those of us who have fallen away from Him due to our misuse of our independence must be willing to appreciate that others - even if they are fallen as we are - are also to be counted among His associates.

Thus we must always be willing to forgive others and reconcile with others.

But notice that Jesus wants his students to leave the offering before leaving to reconcile:

"...leave your gift there in front of the altar."

This indicates priority. Jesus was teaching that one should be focused on developing our relationship with the Supreme Being as the highest priority.

But he is also clearly stating that our relationship with the Supreme Being is not separate from our relationship with others. There is a link and that link relates to the fact that we are all God's children.

This is why Jesus 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.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matt. 33:37-40)

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men ..." (Matthew 6:1-4)

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:1-4)

Why does Jesus teach not to do righteous acts before men?

Jesus is speaking about public displays of religiosity, as well as acts of charity for the purpose of gaining the attention and admiration of others. This took place during Jesus' time among the temples. It also takes place among today's institutions.

For example, we find this occurs in assemblies where individuals will display their acts of devotion - whether it be prayer, speaking in tongues, crying out or tearfulness - for the purpose of appearing to others as spiritually advanced.

Today we also find many institutions organized in such a way that provides the means for people to rise up in the ranks and receive the attention and potentially, the admiration of others. For example, a person can start off just attending one of these institutions every Sunday, and gradually work their way up to deacon and maybe head deacon or otherwise leading the council of deacons.

Such positions can create positions of influence for which people aspire to in order to gain notoriety and attention from others.

Even without these hierarchical systems, we can go into a church and show all our neighbors and virtually everyone in our community that we are religious.

Does displaying our righteousness to others accomplish anything? According to Jesus, it has the opposite effect.

Seeking the attention and admiration of others is not a new thing. It is part of life in the physical world. Virtually everyone wants to be accepted by others, and even admired by others. Why?

Because each of us needs love. Love is our fuel. We seek love from others in order to fill the hole created by our lack of a loving relationship with God. Furthermore, according to Jesus, seeking love and attention from others further distances us from God.

What does Jesus mean by 'righteousness'?

The word "righteousness" is being translated from the Greek word δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē) which means, according to the lexicon, "in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God."

This means that the purpose of "righteousness" is to act in a way that is pleasing to the Supreme Being.

What does this have to do with showing off to others? Nothing.

The physical world is populated by those who are self-centered. It is all about me, myself and I. We can also include our family. And our dog. And our company or school or country.

But self-centeredness is the opposite of love.

Here Jesus presents his students with the tools for creating a foundation for loving service to God.

What does Jesus mean by receiving their reward in full?

Jesus is indicating that the reward they are seeking is the respect of others. So they pray in public or act religiously in front of others so others will honor them and give them respect. 

And because this is the reward they want from that activity, they indeed receive that reward by their public activity.

This is opposed to the reward that Jesus wants his students to have as a result of their dedication to the Supreme Being.

Jesus wants each of his students to re-establish their personal loving relationship with the Supreme Being.

Why should we do this in secret?

Jesus is suggesting that we express our love and devotion for the Supreme Being in secret. That we don't put it on display in order to gain the attention of others. Why?

Jesus wants us to fall in love with God. He wants each of us to have our own unique and personal relationship with God.

To love someone means to care more about them than we care about ourselves. This is true love. And pleasing the one we love is only natural.

This mood - of wanting to please God - is the opposite of trying to impress others with our religiousness. The two are mutually exclusive. They have nothing to do with each other.

We can't have it both ways. We can't try to impress others and exchange a loving relationship with the Supreme Being. It is one or the other, as Jesus states above.

Doing what is pleasing to God means having a personal relationship with Him. It means dedicating and sharing our personal lives with the Supreme Being.

It does not mean trying to use God to impress others with how great I am.

Just consider how this might play out among friendships of this world. Let's say that we have a popular friend and we decide to do something for them in front of everyone, showing everyone how tight we are with this friend. How will the friend feel about this?

He will feel used. He will feel insulted that we tried to use our friendship with him. And he will feel that the thing we did for him was not sincere. It was just an act.

Why should the Supreme Being feel any different about us showing off our religiousness among others? Surely He is big enough not to depend on our love. But God does enjoy sincere loving relationships.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate ..." (Matthew 7:13-14)

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)

What is the 'wide gate' and the 'broad road'?

This statement is often interpreted by sectarian teachers to be a discussion of money. While money may be an element within the topic, Jesus' metaphorical discussion runs deeper.

Jesus is describing two possible paths one can take in life. What are they?

“Destruction” is being translated from the Greek word ἀπώλεια (apōleia) which can also mean, according to the Greek lexicon, "the destruction which consists of eternal misery in hell."

In other words, it is the state of spiritual destruction: our continued ignorance of our relationship with the Supreme Being. This is the sum and substance of hell.

"Wide is the gate and broad is the road" is the description given of the choice that leads to "destruction."

The broad road is the easy path. The path of least resistance. It is the materialistic path. The path of following those who do not worship the Supreme Being. The path of focusing upon the temporary pleasures and accolades of the physical body.

Most people determine their path by what others are doing. They follow the crowd because they yearn for the respect and admiration of others. This results in them following whatever the trends are, thinking if “everyone else is doing it, it must be right.”

This is the broad path because it is quite easy to follow the crowd. It is easy because there is little resistance from others. On this path, we fit in. As long as we fit in, we are comfortable as long as others approve of our actions and our direction in life.

What is the 'narrow gate'?

The more difficult - and therefore more narrow - path is to strictly follow the core teachings of Jesus, Moses, Abraham, and other exalted devoted servants of the Supreme Being, who instructed us to focus our lives and energies not upon what others are doing, but upon loving and pleasing God.

These great teachers taught us not only with their words but with their lives that we should focus our energies upon what is pleasing to God, disregarding the whims of our society and regardless of what fits in. This the narrow road because it is difficult, and others will not understand us.

This is precisely the meaning of Jesus' allowing his physical body to be persecuted and tortured upon the cross. Many sectarian institutions and their teachers focus upon Jesus' suffering as some kind of ritualistic sacrifice so they can feel "saved." But the true lesson and meaning of Jesus' sacrifice - and the manner in which it can "save" us - was to illustrate to us that the physical body, and all of the trappings of this world, including comfort, money, and the acceptance of others, is not worth sacrificing our relationship with the Supreme Being.

Let's break this down a bit more. We know by Jesus' actions that he was not concerned about the life of his body since he allowed his body to be arrested and beaten. He did not try to avert the situation during his trial. During the trial, he did not deny or downplay his teachings because he considered those teachings - the lessons he gave to us regarding the Supreme Being - as more important than the physical comfort of his body.

And he endured the condemnation of others during and following the trial.

Yes, Jesus personally showed how to endure the narrow path.

This also illustrates the last point in this statement: “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

What does Jesus mean by 'the life'?

If we follow the example Jesus left us regarding "life," we know that the "life" Jesus is speaking of has nothing to do with the life of the physical body. Otherwise, Jesus would have averted being captured and traveled to another land once he understood he was to be arrested. He would have done whatever needed to be done to keep his body alive.

Furthermore, his actions of overturning the selling tables at the synagogue and otherwise teaching in the temple courtyards inflamed the situation. He would not have done this for fear of being condemned.

So as we examine the combination of Jesus' teachings and his entire life, including his willingness to endure the pain and condemnation of those that tortured him, we should honor and understand that Jesus himself took the ultimate "narrow path."

To understand the meaning of the "life" Jesus describes, we must remember that Jesus sought in all circumstances to do God's will. This was "life" to Jesus. Jesus prayed:

"My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as You will."(Matt. 26:39)

Jesus' concern was doing the will of His Father. He was wanting to please the Supreme Being. This is the "life" that Jesus is speaking of.

This is also the element of Jesus' disappearance that will "save" us. Jesus endured ridicule, torture and even the death of his body in order to please God and do God's will. We are saved by realizing this and acting upon it - by attempting to take the narrow road ourselves in a practical way (and not imitating).

Jesus made access to this narrow road very clear with his most important instruction:

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

“Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter ...” (Matthew 7:21)

“Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

What does Jesus mean by 'Lord, Lord'?

This is a very critical statement of Jesus clarifies what Jesus wants from his followers.

In this statement, Jesus is clarifying the difference between those who proclaim allegiance to Jesus and those who actually follow his instructions.

“Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord” clearly indicates that proclaiming allegiance to Jesus is not enough. And isn't this what we see among the many sectarian institutions that claim to follow Jesus today? Yes. We see the focus being on proclaiming allegiance to Jesus.

Yet Jesus is clearly stating that this is not the same as being a follower of Jesus. He is stating that one must follow his instructions and his teachings.

One might compare this to a child who goes to school and sits in the classroom and enthusiastically praises the teacher but doesn't listen to what the teacher is teaching and never does the homework. Will the teacher be pleased? The child's praising of the teacher is worthless unless the child is learning.

In the same way, Jesus is emphasizing following his teachings here. Proclaiming allegiance to Jesus is not enough. So what does it mean to follow Jesus' teachings? Jesus states it clearly.

What is Jesus recommending?

Jesus is emphasizing that in order to enter into the kingdom of heaven we must do the will of the Supreme Being:

"... but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

What does it mean to do someone else's will?

It means to do what pleases them.

Jesus is instructing his followers to do what is pleasing to the Supreme Being.

It is a very simple concept, and it says volumes about the spiritual realm and those who live there.

Jesus is indicating that the spiritual realm - the kingdom of heaven - is that place where its citizens are the loving servants of the Supreme Being.

A loving servant is one who willingly and lovingly acts in a way that is pleasing to the one they love.

In other words, it is not slavery. We can see that the Supreme Being is not employing slaves because each of us has the freedom to serve God or not. We each have the freedom to place our love upon the Supreme Being or place our love upon ourselves - which translates to materialism.

Loving ourselves and acting only in self-interest is called self-centeredness. It is precisely the opposite of loving the Supreme Being and acting in a manner that is pleasing to the Supreme Being.

And acting in a manner that is pleasing to the Supreme Being is the essence of Jesus' teachings. Why? Because this is why we were created. We were created to be the Supreme Being's loving servants and playmates.

But love requires freedom. We cannot be forced to love. For this reason, the Supreme Being gave each of us the freedom to love Him or not.

And those who chose not to love Him were sent to the physical world to take on a temporary physical body. So we could effectively be away from the Supreme Being, and act out our self-centeredness without His interference.

This is love. The Supreme Being loves each of us. So He not only gave us the freedom to love Him or not, but for those of us who chose not to love Him, He gave us a way to escape Him and ignore Him.

But He doesn't forget us. He knows that we will never be happy without Him. He knows that we will never be fulfilled as we seek happiness away from Him.

Why did God send Jesus?

This is why He sent Jesus to teach us that we will only be fulfilled when we return to our natural position as one of His loving servants and playmates.

We can also see clearly from this statement that Jesus is the representative of God. He came to give us the message that if we give our lives and our love to God, and we do God's will rather than our will, we will return to the spiritual realm.

This statement should also clarify that while Jesus represents God, he himself is not God. This is revealed simply by his phrase, “my Father who is in heaven.” Note that Jesus was standing in front of the people he was speaking to. By stating that his Father was in heaven, he is separating himself from the Supreme Being.

Jesus also confirms his disgust with those who worship Jesus as God, as he clarifies that “only” those who do Jesus' Father’s will enter the Kingdom.

The reason for this is that the Kingdom of God is that place where doing God’s will is the status quo. Everyone in the spiritual realm is loving and serving the Supreme Being as their all and all.

We can choose God’s will or our will at any particular moment. Every day and every moment of the day He gives us the choice. We are constantly being given two roads to travel: One that pleases us, and the other that pleases Him.

What does Jesus recommend to do God's will?

Reaching out to Him is pleasing. A prayer or a simple offering to the Supreme Being - both are pleasing to the Supreme Being because He enjoys the exchange of relationships.

To offer something to God is to extend our desire to reconnect with Him. Every relationship involves an offering - an exchange of a gift. This is the rationale behind the custom of offering to God in the temple, as Jesus taught his disciples to do:

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." (Matt. 5:23-24)

Offerings were also taught by all the prophets as well. By offering something to the Supreme Being we are reaching out to Him. As Jesus states, it is a gift - an offering is a gift to the Supreme Being.

Our offerings and prayers to the Supreme Being increase our remembrance of Him. By remembering Him through the day, remembering His beauty, love and mercy upon us, we will be offering Him the greatest gift we can offer - our focus and attention. It is for this reason that Moses said, “…be careful that you do not forget the Lord…” (Deut. 6:12). Moses also instructed to “…serve Him only…”(Deut 6:13)

Jesus also teaches that praising the Supreme Being and glorifying His Holy Names is pleasing to God:

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

“I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth..." (Matt. 11:25)

And his most important instruction - the foundation of Jesus' teachings and the key to pleasing the Supreme Being - is to love the Supreme Being:

" '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 fact, it is his love for the Supreme Being that creates the "oneness" between Jesus and God as Jesus stated "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30).

This is the stuff of relationships. When someone is acting and living within a loving relationship, and doing the will of the one they love, there is a oneness between them. This oneness is the oneness of love. There are two individuals, but they are united by the love between them.

“But go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift Moses commanded ...” (Matthew 8:1-4)

When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him,“ See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” (Matthew 8:1-4)

What is 'the gift that Moses commanded'?

What was the gift Jesus wanted the man to offer? And why would something Moses commanded be considered a gift?

This is a poor and confusing translation. The word "gift" is being translated from the Greek word δῶρον (dōron) which means, "the offering of a gift" according to the lexicon. This means Jesus is not referring to "the gift" itself but the offering of a gift.

Now the word "commanded" comes from the Greek word προστάσσω (prostassō) which means, again according to the lexicon, to enjoin, order, prescribe, command. So "commanded" would not be a mistranslation, but it does not fit the context, because it is not that someone would command or order a person to make an offering. After all, an offering by necessity is done voluntarily.

Thus a better translation of this phrase would be something like "making an offering as Moses prescribed." 

In other words, Jesus is referring to making an offering to the Supreme Being through a priest:

They are to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar on top of the food offerings presented to the LORD.’ ” (Leviticus 5:12-13)

Why is this important? When we make an offering to someone, we are saying that we want to have a relationship with them. We like them and want to be with them. Offering to the Supreme Being is not so different.

Making an offering to God is an exercise of connecting with the Supreme Being in the mood of that instruction emphasized by Moses multiple times:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)

Making an offering to God with love is saying we want to have a relationship with Him. It is the extending of ourselves to Him with love and friendship. 

Making offerings to God is an ancient practice, and we know from Jesus' statement that he maintained and suggested this practice to his followers.

Why did Jesus ask him not to tell anyone?

Remember another statement by Jesus:

"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." (Matthew 6:5-6)

This confirms that Jesus was not interested in public appearances. He was not interested in claiming many followers or impressing crowds with his authority. He simply wanted to personally please the Supreme Being, and wanted each of us to develop our own loving relationship with the Supreme Being.

In other words, Jesus did not want to bring attention to the man's healing. He had just left a crowd of people who "were amazed at his teaching" and he didn't want to attract further throngs of people wanting to be healed.

Why not? Why wouldn't Jesus want to heal everyone?

This indicates that Jesus' mission was not to be a doctor. His objective wasn't to heal everyone's physical body. His mission was to teach people about the Supreme Being.

Jesus wanted us to reconnect with the Supreme Being.

But isn't Jesus God?

The scriptures indicate otherwise. They indicate that Jesus taught about God but he wasn't himself God. Matthew, for example, indicates that Jesus spoke with authority, but that authority was given to him by God.

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. (Matthew 7:28-29)

What kind of authority is this referring to? Consider that “teachers of the law” is describing those institutional teachers of the temple institution at that time. This statement in Matthew describes that Jesus had greater authority than these “teachers of the law.”

This is describing the authority of God. Jesus was the messenger and representative of God. Some sectarians who claim to follow Jesus will criticize this statement, thinking that somehow being empowered by God and given authority by God denigrates Jesus’ position.

But they must be asked: What higher authority could Jesus possibly have, if not the authority of the Supreme Being? Could there be any higher source of authority?

Where did Jesus get his authority?

Jesus' authority, according to Jesus, came from the Supreme Being. He clarified this many times during his teachings:

"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.

“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me." (John 5:36)

"And the Father who sent me has Himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form" (John 5:37)

"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 this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given me, but raise them up at the last day." (John 6:39)

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day." (John 6:44)

"Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. (John 6:57)

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

Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but He who sent me is true. You do not know Him, but I know Him because I am from Him and He sent me.” (John 7:28-29)

Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the One who sent me." (John 7:33)

"But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me." (John 8:16)

"I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” (John 8:18)

“I have much to say in judgment of you. But He who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from Him I tell the world.” (John 8:26)

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

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me." (John 8:42)

"As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." (John 9:4)

"I knew that You always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent me.” (John 11:42)

Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the One who sent me." (John 12:44)

"The one who looks at me is seeing the One who sent me. (John 12:45)

"For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken." (John 12:49)

"Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the One who sent me.” (John 13:20)

"Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me." (John 14:24)

"They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.:" (John 15:21)

"but now I am going to Him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ (John 16:5)

"For I gave them the words You gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent me." (John 17:8)

"As You sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." (John 17:18)

"Then the world will know that You sent me and have loved them even as You have loved me." (John 17:23)

“Righteous Father, though the world does not know You, I know You, and they know that You have sent me." (John 17:25)

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21)

But didn't Jesus die for our sins?

Some claim that Jesus was the Supreme Being, coming embodied onto the earth to die for our sins. This is clearly negated by Jesus in the verses above. Furthermore, the Supreme Being never dies.

The Supreme Being controls both the physical and the spiritual kingdoms, and the Supreme Being does not need to "die" to cleanse our sins.

The Supreme Being already has the ability to cleanse our sins. This is why Jesus recommended in his Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) that we ask the Supreme Being to forgive our sins.

God has the authority and power to cleanse our sins immediately and effectively, just by willing it. In fact, by simply sincerely thinking of Him, praying to Him, and praising Him, we can become purified. This is because God is pure, and we simply have to come into contact with Him to become purified.

Jesus' teachings indicate that God remains God. He does not become affected by or subjected to the sins of others. Nor does He succumb to sacrifice. The Supreme Being is the controller of the universe. He is not subject to any rules of sacrifice.

Likewise, because Jesus is the servant, messenger, and representative of the Supreme Being, his direct presence, his words, and his touch can be purifying. Because Jesus’ thoughts and his entire life were centered around doing God’s will, he is pure, and those who came into contact with him became purified.

It is for this reason that Jesus was able to cleanse people and heal people. It was not Jesus’ power or authority that rendered this ability: It was his devotion to the Supreme Being that gave him this purification power.

“A student is not above his teacher ..." (Matthew 10:24-25)

“A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beezlebub, how much more the members of his household?" (Matthew 10:24-25)

Why is Jesus referring to a teacher and student and master and servant?

Here Jesus discusses something about the relationship between student and teacher along with a servant and their master. What is the purpose of this?

This statement comes as Jesus is warning his students about the possibility of them becoming persecuted. Just after this statement, he says:

"So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known." (Matthew 10:26)

Jesus is telling his students that if they follow him, they will not be sorry in the end. Should they teach the truth to others as he has taught them, they may be persecuted as Jesus was.

Jesus' focus was not on his own comfort. If it was, he would have avoided the arrest of the High Priest Caiaphus' guards. He would have escaped into the wilderness to avoid capture. Why didn't he?

Because he wanted to please God more than he wanted to remain comfortable. This is also what Jesus was encouraging his own students to do. To be "like" him.

Why does Jesus compare the 'head of the household'?

Jesus is speaking of three metaphorical relationships here:

• teacher and student
• master and servant
• head of household and members of the household

The linking element here is following the teacher, master or head of household. But Jesus is not only referring to following them. He is also referring to their taking their example: being like them.

Again, this is because Jesus wants them to become like Jesus, in his dedication to God.

He says that if the head of the household has been called Beezlebub, then "how much more the members of his household?"

This refers directly to Jesus and his followers. He is saying that if they are condemning Jesus, certainly they will also condemn Jesus' followers. It is not that they will see Jesus one way and Jesus' followers another way.

In other words, the authorities - the Romans and the Temple officials - will be seeing Jesus' followers just as they see Jesus.

And since they will be persecuting Jesus, Jesus wants them to be prepared to also be persecuted.

What does 'Beezlebub' mean?

Aside from the purport of Jesus' statement, what does Beezlebub mean?

This was the term used to describe someone who opposes or rejects the Supreme Being. Many scholars point to the worship of the idol Ba’al in the Old Testament as the source of this connotation.

The term refers to someone who rejects the worship of the Supreme Being by worshiping idols. Some further define this connotation as describing ‘lucifer’ or ‘satan.’

In this context, these two names are often referred to as fallen angels who now serve to tempt and tease those in the physical world.

While this is certainly an acceptable connotation, we are here in this physical world away from the Supreme Being is our own choosing. There is no one else to blame outside ourselves.

This means we are each fallen angels.

Note that Jesus says they might call the head of a household 'Beezlebub'. This would be a great dishonor to the household of course.

But Jesus' inference also indicates that the head of the household could be called Beezlebub. Since they could call this person Beezlebub, this indicates that Jesus felt that a person could be such a character. 

This indicates that we cannot blame Satan or the devil or Beezlebub for our predicament. Being here, away from God is our responsibility. It is based upon our previous and current decisions to turn away from the Supreme Being.

Yes, we each rejected the Supreme Being and fell into this physical world. This is the analogy of Adam and Eve and the garden of Eden: 

And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like 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 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 3:22-24)

The symbolism involved here is clear. The Garden of Eden is not some garden in the Middle East somewhere. It symbolizes the spiritual realm. And 'the man' symbolizes each of us.

The tree of life is love for God. And the cherubim and flaming sword are the elements of the physical world that allow us to forget our relationship with God and our citizenship in the spiritual realm.

Yes, we were kicked out of the spiritual realm because we needed to learn to love and learn to love God. We became rebellious and envious of God ("like one of us").

This does not mean that we cannot return to God, however. Each of us has the choice to change direction - at every moment. With every tick of the clock brings a new opportunity for each of us to choose between the Supreme Being and our own agenda. The choice is always ours.

“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)

“They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:16-18)

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." (Matthew 14:13-21)

What did Jesus hear - 'what had happened'?

Jesus was told that his teacher was murdered. This situation follows Jesus hearing that his teacher, John the Baptist, had been murdered by Herod. When Jesus first heard about it he immediately took a boat and went to a remote place where he could pray and console with God:

John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. (Matthew 14:12)

This clearly indicates Jesus' dedication to his teacher, John the Baptist. Many teachers ignore the reality that Jesus accepted John as his teacher. But it is clear from the events that Jesus did accept John as his teacher. This was formalized through the baptism process. Many institutions today treat baptism as a ritualized rite of passage or the confirmation of joining a particular sect.

But this was not the purpose of baptism during Jesus' time. The purpose of baptism was to confirm the acceptance of a student to follow the teacher's instruction and the acceptance of a particular person as a follower or student. This was why John baptized so many followers - because he wanted them to follow his teachings.

This is also why John baptized Jesus. At first, John resisted because in his humility he considered Jesus had greater wisdom and devotion than himself. But after Jesus' request, he still did baptize Jesus, in order to carry on the lineage of students and teachers dating all the way back to Melchizedek, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and so many others, who were anointed to become God's messenger.

This tradition is confirmed by the lives of the many prophets, and Jesus' example illustrates this, as he also baptized followers and then asked them to preach his teachings and themselves take on disciples and students:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ... (Matthew 29:8)

Why did he say 'they do not need to go away'?

“They do not need to go away." The problem was, the crowd that had gathered around him followed him to the solitary place. So it was no longer solitary. His disciples saw this and they saw the crowd was hungry, so they suggested dispersing the crowd.

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." (Matthew 14:15)

Even though he was obviously grieving over the loss of his teacher - he knew that John returned to the spiritual realm. Thus, Jesus continued his work. He became compassionate towards the people and instructed his disciples to give them something to eat.

In other words, Jesus loved them.

How was there enough food?

When they said they only had five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus asked the food be brought to him. Many translations of Matthew and Mark state that Jesus gave thanks and broke the loaves. (Matt. 14:19).

The Gospel of John states:

Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. (John 6:11)

When they passed out the food, it became obvious that somehow, there was enough food to feed everyone.

This is considered one of Jesus’ more miraculous acts. Yet we know it was an act of the Supreme Being. Why would the Supreme Being bother making sure the people were all fed?

The intention, as Jesus states elsewhere, was to increase their faith in the Supreme Being. They needed to realize that the Supreme Being will take care of them.

Notice the texts explain that 'he gave thanks.' What is 'giving thanks' anyway?

What is 'giving thanks'?

The phrase, "gave thanks" is translated from the Greek word, εὐλογέω (eulogeō) - which means, "to praise, celebrate with praises; and "to consecrate a thing with solemn prayers."

So who is being praised and who is being prayed to? "Giving thanks" simply does not convey the meaning of this word. The more appropriate translation for this word is "prayer offering," because this is what is occurring. Jesus was offering the food to the Supreme Being with prayers and praises to the Supreme Being.

We can understand this activity as it is described throughout the Old Testament. Why would Jesus, who strictly followed the tenets and instructions of the prophets, and quoted them also, not also partake in this manner of worship?

Yes, we can see that just as Jesus did not always comply with the pomp of ceremony, he still observed the core practices, such as prayer and praising the Supreme Being. And yes, he did not restrict his prayers to a temple, as he often prayed outside. As such, he also did not restrict his offerings to the temple altar as well, because he observed the Supreme Being's presence within and throughout nature.

Does the Bible recommend making offerings to God?

Jesus offered the food to God before distributing it. We see that Jesus also taught his disciples to make offerings to the Supreme Being:

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you..." (Matthew 5:23)

Jesus was following the time-honored tradition of making offerings to the Supreme Being:

He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."
Psalm 50:22-23

I will sacrifice a freewill offering to You; I will praise Your Name, O LORD, for it is good.
Psalm 54:5-7

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His Name; bring an offering and come into His courts.
Psalm 96:7-9

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together,
Genesis 22:5-7

" 'If you bring a grain offering of firstfruits to the LORD, offer crushed heads of new grain roasted in the fire.
Leviticus 2:13-15

Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it.
Genesis 35:13-15

But Moses said, "You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the LORD our God.
Exodus 10:24-26

Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God.
Exodus 18:11-13

"Tell the Israelites to bring Me an offering. You are to receive the offering for Me from each man whose heart prompts him to give.
Exodus 25:1-3

These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze;
Exodus 25:2-4

And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings.
Exodus 25:28-30

"For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD. There I will meet you and speak to you;
Exodus 29:41-43

Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it.
Exodus 30:8-10

Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD.
Exodus 30:12-14

All who cross over, those twenty years old or more, are to give an offering to the LORD.
Exodus 30:13-15

Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the LORD, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it.
Exodus 35:23-25

All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings for all the work the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.
Exodus 35:28-30

The bronze from the wave offering was 70 talents and 2,400 shekels.
Exodus 38:28-30

If your grain offering is cooked in a pan, it is to be made of fine flour and oil.
Leviticus 2:6-8

Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.
Leviticus 2:12-14

Put oil and incense on it; it is a grain offering.
Leviticus 2:14-16

The priest shall burn the memorial portion of the crushed grain and the oil, together with all the incense, as an offering made to the LORD by fire.
Leviticus 2:15-16

"Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there is to remain on it.
Numbers 4:6-8

"Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles."
Numbers 4:15-17

Prepare these in addition to the regular morning burnt offering.
Numbers 28:22-24

" 'In addition to what you vow and your freewill offerings, prepare these for the LORD at your appointed feasts: your burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings and fellowship offerings. ' "
Numbers 29:38-40

So we have brought as an offering to the LORD the gold articles each of us acquired—armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD."
Numbers 31:49-51

Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the LORD. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the LORD.
Judges 20:25-27

But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."
1 Samuel 15:21-23

"O mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, nor fields that yield offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul—no longer rubbed with oil.
2 Samuel 1:20-22

The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
1 Kings 3:3-5

David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
2 Samuel 24:24-25

On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings.
1 Kings 12:32-33

When the king came back from Damascus and saw the altar, he approached it and presented offerings on it.
2 Kings 16:11-13

evening grain offering, the king's burnt offering and his grain offering, and the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offering. Sprinkle on the altar all the blood of the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar for seeking guidance."
2 Kings 16:14-16

A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with the responsibility for baking the offering bread.
1 Chronicles 9:30-32

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

They were in charge of the bread set out on the table, the flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened wafers, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size.
1 Chronicles 23:28-30

" 'This is the special gift you are to offer: a sixth of an ephah from each homer of wheat and a sixth of an ephah from each homer of barley.
Ezekiel 45:12-14

Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God.
Joel 2:13-15

The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.
Acts 10:4-6

"You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also." He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.
John 8:19-21

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
Philippians 2:16-18

I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
Philippians 4:17-19

These are but a few of the descriptions among the Bible that present the importance of making offerings to the Supreme Being.

Did Jesus make up a new ceremony?

Jesus was not making up a new ceremony. It is clear from the scriptures that Jesus supported making offerings to God:

“Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23-24)

And Jesus' disciples also followed the teachings of the Prophets after Jesus left. It was Paul - who had not even met Jesus personally - who departed from the teachings of the Prophets and made it seem like Jesus' life and teachings departed from the Prophets. (This is called the Pauline theology or Pauline Christianity.)

Jesus' first and foremost instruction, to love God, is quoted from Moses' teachings. Yet Paul fought with the real disciples of Jesus, such as James and Peter to depart from Jesus' teachings as passed on from the Prophets. This included making it seem like Jesus was just 'giving thanks' instead of making an offering to God.

There is no reason to think that Jesus abandoned the process of offering to the Supreme Being. And as suggested by his instruction above to his students, it is apparent indeed he did support it.

Furthermore, we see that those professional sectarian scribes who have translated the New Testament did not honor the act of offering to the Supreme Being, and thus did not properly translate these scriptures.

Nor have they followed Jesus' instructions and example to offer one's food and other gifts to the Supreme Being. Instead of practicing this, the Pauline institutions and their teachers created their own brand of worship - one that worships God's representative as God - forgetting God Himself.

Why have Pauline institutions that dominate Christianity today ignored this tradition of making offerings to God? It is because the Pauline philosophy is focused on attracting followers who want an easy pathway to their own salvation. Rather than doing the hard work of having a change of heart and consciousness and developing their personal relationship with the Supreme Being.

When a person offers something to God - such as food before it is eaten - we are reaching out to the Supreme Being. We are extending a request to have a relationship with Him.

This is what people do when they want to have a relationship with someone: They offer that person a gift.

And why would a person have a relationship with the Supreme Being? Because each of us is lost without our innate loving relationship with the Supreme Being. We are empty inside, not knowing who we are or why we exist. This is why Jesus' most important instruction was:

" '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)

“How many loaves do you have? ...” (Matthew 15:32-34)

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way." His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?" "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish." He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 15:38)

How did Jesus feed four thousand people?

Jesus had been traveling along the Galilee Seashore, and he went into the hills and some four thousand people followed him. Jesus illustrates with these words, his love and compassion for those who were following him.

Then it appears that somehow seven loaves and some fish were turned into enough food to feed these thousands of people. How did it happen?

What is notable about this miracle is that the seven loaves that were counted turned into more pieces of bread than seven loaves could possibly make, but only after Jesus offered them to the Supreme Being. The NIV translation for this in the text is:

When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people. (Mark 8:6)

Was Jesus offering to God when he 'gave thanks'?

What does given thanks mean? Notice that the given thanks was done prior to giving the bread to the disciples. What does this remind us of?

As we investigate the Old Testament, we find that God requests that we offer to Him our foods before we eat them:

"Tell the Israelites to bring Me an offering. You are to receive the offering for Me from each man whose heart prompts him to give.” (Exodus 25:1-3)

“When someone brings a grain offering to the LORD, his offering is to be of fine flour.” (Leviticus 2:1-3)

In fact, the giving of an offering to the Supreme Being was considered extremely important to the prophets such as Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David and others. We find them building great altars for the Supreme Being, and people would bring their grains, fruits, and other food offerings to God's altar for an offering.

In fact, the Greek word being translated to "giving thanks" is εὐχαριστέω (eucharisteō), which has been translated as "giving thanks" but also "a blessing" according to the King James Version and others. Strong's lexicon states "in the Fathers εὐχαριστέω is to consecrate a thing by giving thanks."

The word "consecrate" denotes something becoming "sacred." How is a "thing" "consecrated" then? We see from Jesus' statement in Matt. 8:4 that once a "gift" is offered by the Supreme Being, that gift becomes "sacred" - "consecrated."

Thus we can conclude that while an eye witness might have only observed Jesus making a quiet prayer over the food - it is clear that what he was actually doing was making an offering to the Supreme Being - and this offering made the food become "sacred" or "consecrated."

Did Jesus teach others to make offerings to God?

Jesus supported making offerings to the Supreme Being:

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23-24)

“See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” (Matthew 8:4)

"You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the Altar that makes the gift sacred?" (Matthew 23:19)

We can see from this that not only did Jesus agree with making offerings to the Supreme Being; he instructed his students to make offerings and he also understood the deeper aspects of making offerings.

And with regard to this last quote from Matt. 23:19, we see that Jesus taught that making an offering made what was offered "sacred." This means what is offered to the Supreme Being becomes purifying - it is considered sacred.

In Jesus’ case, he understood that the Supreme Being can also be offered food through the altar of the heart. A person can make an offering to the Supreme Being from any location, with a simple prayer beseeching Him to please accept this offering by the mercy of God’s representative.

This ancient and sacred practice of offering to the Supreme Being has been lost in the translation of the New Testament, and unfortunately replaced by “giving thanks.” How did this come about?

Would Jesus, who gave great respect and followed the teachings of the great prophets, simply ignore this great tradition of offering to the Supreme Being before eating, and make up his own ceremony of 'giving thanks'?

The fact that sectarian institutions have misinterpreted what Jesus was doing is not surprising. They have also misportrayed many things about Jesus' life.

Consider the grotesque ritual of the "Eucharist" being performed in many churches today. During this ritual, followers supposedly (symbolically) consume the "body and blood" of Jesus in the form of a little cracker and some wine or grape juice. What is the purpose of this ritual? It is a grotesque self-centered ceremony based upon the motivation to become cleansed by eating the body of Jesus.

What is occurring here could be likened to symbolic cannibalism. Eating the physical body of Jesus?

Rather than hearing Jesus' instructions and teachings to love and serve the Supreme Being, the focus of this ritual is the cleansing of sins. Consider Jesus' response:

“Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

Jesus' example during the feeding of the loaves is that the Supreme Being should be worshiped by making offerings. This is giving not taking. We should be offering to God, not consuming in the form of "eating" the body of God's representative.

Is 'giving thanks' wrong then?

There is nothing wrong with giving thanks. But offering our food to God and singing praises to Him produces another dimension of our relationship with God. Giving thanks creates a relationship of "you give and I take." This is what Jesus was doing, and what this even teaches us.

Making offerings to God creates a reciprocating relationship. One where we may receive from Him, but we also seek to serve Him.

What the Supreme Being wants is our love. He doesn't need our stuff - He owns everything. But He wants us to come closer to Him and renew our loving service relationship with Him. For this reason, He and His representative give us a process for coming to know Him and love Him.

When God instructed the priests to “receive the offering for Me from each man whose heart prompts him to give,” He was communicating that the offering should be from the heart and should come from free will.

No one can force us to love and worship God. Real love requires freedom. The Supreme Being and His representative Jesus both want us to freely re-develop our natural love for Him. There can be no force involved. That would not be love.

“Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? ...” (Matthew 23:16-22)

“You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the One who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the One who sits on it.” (Matthew 23:19-22)

What is 'the gift'?

Jesus is referring to an offering made to God. The Greek word δῶρον (dōron) refers to something given to someone else as an offering.

This is what devoted people did in ancient times when they approached an altar of God. They brought an offering and presented it to God at the altar. They were making an offering to God.

After all, why does a person give someone a gift? To express their care for the other person. To express their love. The ancient teachings of the scriptures referred to offerings as a facility by which to please Him:

"Bring the grain offering made of these things to the LORD; present it to the priest, who shall take it to the altar. He shall take out the memorial portion from the grain offering and burn it on the altar as a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD." (Lev. 2:8-9)

God doesn't need any grain or anything else - just as a woman doesn't need a little flower that a man may offer to her. An offering is given to express love. To please the other person.

In the same way, the original purpose of making an offering to the altar was to express one's care for God. The focus of an offering is to please the Supreme Being.

Did Jesus teach about making offerings to God?

By Jesus' statement, we understand that he also taught the importance of making offerings. He also instructed elsewhere:

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23-24)

and

“See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” (Matthew 8:4)

"The gift Moses commanded" refers to making an offering to the Supreme Being. Reaching out to Him with a small gift. A token, but something that has meaning (food has meaning because it sustains the life of the body). A humble offering made with sincerity. This was an integral part of Moses' teachings, as evidenced in the Old Testament.

Jesus also made offerings when he supposedly 'gave thanks.' As was illustrated during the Last Supper, the Greek word translated to "gave thanks" would more appropriately be translated to making an offering to God.

What is the purpose of offering to God?

The Supreme Being owns everything. He doesn't need our stuff. But He appreciates offerings made with humility and sincerity. And since the Supreme Being's presence is not limited to the temple, we can make an offering from anywhere. We can pick a flower or fruit and make an offering - in the name of His loving representative Jesus - from where we stand - which will help bring us closer to the Supreme Being.

The Supreme Being is practically forgotten within these sectarian churches. While they focus upon Jesus as if he were God, they completely ignore the very Person Jesus was trying to teach his students to come to know and love. This is why Jesus stated:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matt. 7:21-23)

This indicates that Jesus is not interested in people pledging his name - he is interested in his followers coming to know, love, and serve ("does the will") the Supreme Being - whom Jesus is distinguishing from himself.

This Supreme Person Jesus is referring to is also spoken of specifically in the verse above:

What does Jesus mean by 'the One who sits on it'?

When Jesus refers to the temple he is not referring to a building. He is referring to a place where the Supreme Being is worshiped. It is a personal thing to Jesus.

And who is Jesus referring to as the "One" who "dwells in" the temple and "sits on" God's throne? Certainly, Jesus is referring to the Supreme Being.

By worshiping the things of this world, including our reputation, possessions, money, fame, power and position - we become beholden to those things. By desiring the things of the world, we become "bound by" the demands of the physical world.

This desire for material things comes from a place of self-centeredness and misidentification, because we are intending to make ourselves happy, and we are incorrectly identifying ourselves with these temporary physical bodies.

Jesus is telling them that while they are focused upon the trappings of their positions - their temples, their salaries, their titles, their authority and their prestige - they were forgetting the Supreme Being. And by becoming focused upon the material trappings of their positions with the temple, they had become enslaved by - and blinded by - the desires for those material trappings.

And due to the ignorance created by this enslavement, they were not able to teach the Truth, as Jesus was doing.

Those temple priests also became "bound" to those political councils that authorized them. They were bound to the responsibilities of their political positions.

Is the temple or church just a building?

It is important to note that the temple Jesus is referring to here (or church, mosque, or another place of worship) is not a building, just as the altar being discussed is not just a combination of physical materials. The Temple housed the Altar, and the Altar was seen as the representation of God. It is a place where God is worshiped. It is thus inseparable from God.

Although God can be prayed to anywhere, and reached from where ever we are, an authorized Temple and Altar - one that has been approved by God and anointed by a representative of God - is a place where those who want to re-establish their relationship with God can put their heads to the ground and submit to Him, and offer gifts to Him.

These activities - offering homage and offering gifts - are the stuff of relationships. Why? Because by offering the Supreme Being gifts, we are able to re-establish our loving relationship with Him.

This is a universal law of relationships. If we like someone we barely know, and want to come to know them better and get closer to them. What do we do? We find some way of getting in front of them, where we can offer them some kind words, and offer them a gift. This is what people do because this is the stuff of relationships.

Can we have a relationship with God?

We can also have a relationship with the Supreme Being. God is not a monolith or a vague cloud or booming voice. God is a person. He is the Supreme Person, and we can each have a personal relationship with Him.

Certainly, anyone can have a building built and put a symbol on it. This does not make the building a real Temple or Church. What makes it a real Temple is when a loving servant of God humbly requests God's presence to accept His loving servant's worship. On behalf of His loving servant, God will indeed come into that place, and there in that Place, others can connect with God in the spirit of the relationship between God and His loving servant.

A building constructed with lots of stained-glass windows, large hallways, golden symbols, and a big congregation area is not a real Temple if it is constructed for any other purpose other than to glorify God. If it is built to support the organizational objectives of a religious sect then the building will just be another building - not a Temple of God. It might be a pretty building, and that’s about it.

So what motivates God to authorize a location to become a Temple? What motivates Him to become present and accessible within a Temple?

Love.

God is attracted by those who out of love, desire to serve and please Him. Whenever such a person humbly asks the Supreme Being to be present within a location that was prepared for Him with reverence, God will come and be present. Why? Out of love. It is because of His loving relationship with His loving servant.

This is why the places where Moses, Abraham, and other loving servants of God established as temples were so special to Jesus, as he states here.

In fact, where ever such a loving servant of God has exercised His relationship with God is a Holy Place. Why? Because God was personally present at that Place as He exchanged a relationship with that loving servant.

Buildings erected by those only interested in gaining respect, followers, and authority - especially among those collecting salaries for their teaching positions - are not able to create such a Holy Place. Jesus has explained this previously:

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.” (Matthew 7:15-18)

Sadly, some of the bad fruits that Jesus pointed out concerning the institutional temple officials are also seen today among institutions that claim to follow Jesus.

How can we recognize 'false prophets'?

• Teaching the Truth is never a paid professional position.

• Someone who teaches the Truth doesn’t otherwise personally profit from their teachings.

• Someone who teaches the Truth does not seek to gain followers.

• Someone who teaches the Truth does not abuse their followers.

• Someone who teaches the Truth does not seek to gain positions given by a council of people. Teaching the Truth is not accomplished through political endeavor.

• -Someone who teaches the Truth does not make up a new religion or speculate on the Truth. They speak from the knowledge given to them.

• The Truth is always consistent with scripture, as applied to the current time and circumstance.

• Someone who teaches the Truth never teaches that they are God or that we are all God. Someone who teaches the Truth is a humble loving servant of God, someone who asks each of us to also become God’s humble loving servants.

• Someone who teaches the Truth also practices those teachings.

We can see by the above criteria that Jesus taught the Truth. His purpose was to help others, not profit from his position of authority.

Jesus' primary teaching was clear:

“ ‘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 22:37-40 - quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5)