Enshrined in The Ten Commandments is:
“Honor your father and your mother.”
This is one commandment with a promise:
Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Paul emphasized this:
Eph 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
And this is a commandment with a specified punishment for its violation:
Mat 15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
And now Jesus Christ told the multitudes that followed Him:
Luk 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
Luk 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate nothis father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Preachers have easy explanation heard from the pulpits. They say, of course Jesus Christ cannot contradict what is written in the Ten Commandments. He simply wants His listeners to love God more than those enumerated, citing the following coming from the very lips of Jesus Christ:
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
The foregoing cannot be the “intended message” from His directive, for it is “to hate” and not just “to love more than.” Therefore, this must be a classic illustration that validates the following truth about the word of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Mar 4:34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
Hence, the real message should come from the revelation of the Holy Spirit who, alone, is the Teacher:
1 Joh 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Certainly, this truth can only be accepted by the real Disciples for they alone can abide by how Jesus Christ directs them in the following:
1 Cor 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1 Cor 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
The following may well be the four (4) steps to become followers of Christ and attain spiritual perfection:
First – “hate thy father”
Second – “hate thy mother”
Third – “hate thy soul”
Fourth – “hate thy self”
First - hate thy “father”
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Is the Devil a murderer? In the eyes of the Natural Man not one single person did the Devil kill. In the Great Deluge and at Sodom and Gomorrah it was God who killed the people! This only demonstrates how the “letter” of the word, or its literal meaning, “killeth” as Paul wrote in the following.
2 Cor 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Falsehoods and misrepresentations kill the soul, not the body that many people cannot see. The foregoing has not been heard in the pulpits and only the “chosen few” has discerned it. Related with this, can many professing Christians accept the following?
2 Cor 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
While many people know Satan is the “father of lies and deceit,” they cannot discern how he deceives them. In a very subtle way many people are taken in by deception, that means guile and shrewdness. Did he not deceive Eve in eating the forbidden fruits of the “tree of knowledge of good and evil?”
God’s warning:
Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Devil’s deception:
Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat…
Taking the “letter” of the word, Eve did not die on the day she ate the fruits of the “tree of knowledge of good and evil.” She also began to know what is “good and evil” from the dictate of her “intellect and feeling” that clearly point to the “fruits” of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil. Thus, these taboos revealed:
To Solomon
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
To Jeremiah:
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jer 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm…
Definitely at creation, God taught Adam and Eve His “standard of good and evil.” Eating the forbidden fruits therefore made man to formulate his own “standard of good and evil. Look! Literally, God confirmed the Devil’s temptation for “eating” the forbidden fruits:
Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Very clearly demonstrated in the foregoing, “good and evil” now takes two different standards.
- “God’s standard” of good and evil by “divine revelation” from His words.
- “Man’s standard” of good and evil from the very word of God limited to the “letter” or its literal meaning.
This is illustrated by Jesus Christ right after driving the “merchants selling sheep and doves, and the changing money” from the temple:
Joh 2:19 Jesus … said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
The two “standards of good and evil” heard from the two kinds of listeners:
For the NATURAL MAN represented by the JEWS:
Joh 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Mat 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
For the SPIRITUAL MAN represented by the DISCIPLES:
Joh 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
Joh 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
This is how important to know the characteristic of the Ministers of the New Testament. This was revealed to Paul who recognized Jesus Christ personally:
2 Cor 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual…
Jesus Christ emphasized this truth to the multitudes after feeding them with “bread and fishes” and talked about the need to “eat His flesh, and drink His blood.”
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
From this, the two classes of DISCIPLES are distinguished:
- Those who could not understand the “intended message” of our Lord: Joh 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
- Those who understood the “spiritual message” of our Lord: Joh 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. Joh 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
The Disciples that remained recognized Jesus Christ “by the revelation of the Father and, therefore, they understood the “spiritual language’ of our Lord.
Second - hate thy “mother”
If the “father” is the Devil, the “mother” must be his “wife” to whom he implants his “seeds” and bear many “children of the Devil.” The “seed” of God are His words.
Luk 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
The “seeds” of the Devil are also the word of God as he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Written in the book of Psalms:
Psa 91:10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
Psa 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Psa 91:12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Satan took “Jesus up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple” and said:
Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
How many professing Christians see this, and if they do, how many would believe and accept this great deceptions?
2 Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
And so, are exposed the kind of ministers he has:
2 Cor 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2 Cor 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2 Cor 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
The kind of righteousness that people get from the “letter” of word is limited to MORALITY. They therefore become pious or virtuous with RELIGIOSITY! To God this is “man’s standard of righteousness” that Jesus Christ saw in the Scribes and Pharisees. No wonder He rebuked them:
Mat 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Mat 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Mat 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
To have a complete grasp of the distinction between God and Man’s righteousness, read the whole of Matthew 23. It is unbelievable that the very people perceived to be ministers of righteousness are the people that prevent souls from entering the “strait gate.”
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
A sample:
Mat 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
Mat 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Mat 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Mat 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Mat 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Mat 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Very clearly “my mother” is a group or sect that is limited to the “letter” or literal meaning of the word, and have not heard or subscribed to the spiritual revelations thereof.
Third - hate thy soul
Deu 13:6 If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul…
The “soul” consists of the “intellect and feeling” that man has, and not found in animals no matter how intelligent they may be. Animals only have their instinct crude from of intelligence. The soul is actually the “forbidden tree of knowledge of good and evil” that is in the midst of the garden, whose “fruits” are the “intellect and feeling.”
Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Human wisdom is what formulates “man’s standard of righteousness” that is certainly opposed to “God’s standard.” This is what is to be hated:
1 Cor 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
1 Cor 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
1 Cor 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
In different verses, God showed His abhorrence to it:
1 Cor 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
1 Cor 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1 Cor 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God…
This has been true since Old Testament time as revealed to the prophets:
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jer 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm…
All the foregoing is geared towards the requisite Jesus Christ told His listeners desiring to be with Him in His Eternal kingdom:
Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Luk 10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
From the three (3) “hatred” that man has done, a person becomes a “chosen” or follower of our Lord.
Fourth – hate “thyself”
Offering one’s life in martyrdom is often thought to merit sainthood. Paul who recognized Jesus Christ personally nullifies this notion in expressing his struggle against himself.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Paul expressed his self-struggle in overcoming the clutches of “old human nature” that he calls “old man” in a person.
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Paul expressed his last battle with human nature he calls “death of old self.”
1 Cor 15:31 … I die daily.
1 Cor 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
And so, he speak about his agony:
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Banking on the mercy of God, he thanked God:
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
With the great blessings Paul received from the Lord, and for him to draw more spiritual strength, he mentioned his “thorn in the flesh” that God saw proper to remain in him:
2 Cor 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
“Father and mother”
God demonstrated how He uses the literal “language of man” distinguished from His “spiritual language.” In this article, “father and mother” has several references. In the following, “father and mother” has a pleasant connotation enshrined in the Ten Commandments:
Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Very clear, here “father” refers to God:
Isa 63:16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
And, “mother” clearly refers to the “household of God” composed of the chosen:
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
And Paul called it the “Church.”
Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Here is one of the Ten Commandments with a promise:
Spiritually, “Honour thy father and mother” with a promise of “long life” refers to eternal life. As an example in following this, Jesus told His Disciples be the “light of the world.”
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Literally, this commandment clearly refers to our physical parents. Following this, to our Lord, would make His Disciples “salt of the earth.” This is all that the Natural Man understands for this commandment:
Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Conclusion:
The Holy Bible, in some cases taken literally, gives MORAL lessons. This benefits the “physical life” of all people where Jesus Christ told His listeners:
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
However, the primary message of the Holy Bible is the spiritual revelations that only God can convey. This is through His very words. Jesus Christ revealed this to Paul who introduced Himself personally. Paul claimed this in his letters:
Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Characteristic of Ministers of the New Testament and the things that matter:
2 Cor 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
2 Cor 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
For the chosen of God:
1 Cor 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1 Cor 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1 Cor 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1 Cor 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1 Cor 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
END
2 Cor 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
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