Saturday, March 27, 2010

The Most Unpopular Passages from the Gospels

Jesus on the true Role of His Disciples in Society:

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. (Mt.5:11)

Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city

(Mt.23:24)

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake. (Mt.24:9)

And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake. (Lk.21:16, 17)

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. (Jn.15:18-20)

Jesus on "The War on Terror:"

Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Mt.5:44)

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.

(Mt.25:40)

Jesus on Materialism (aka "The American Dream"):

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Mt.6:19,20,24-33)

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mt.16:26)

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

(Mt.19:29)

Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

(Mark 10:24)

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away.

(Luke 1:53)

That which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life. (Lk.8:14)

Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (Lk.12:15)

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple. (Lk.14:33)

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you (Jn.6:27)

(See also Acts 2:44, 45 & 4:32, )

Jesus on Self-righteousness:

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. (Mt.7:1-3,5)

They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Mt.9:12, 13)

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. (Jn.7:24)

(See also John 3:17)

Jesus on Popularity:

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:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Mt.7:13, 14)

And ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake (Mt.10:22)

Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you. (Luke 4:26)

That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. (Lk.16:15)

He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (Jn.12:25)

Jesus on the Probability of everyone professing to be serving God going to Heaven:

Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. (Mt.7:21)

Many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven.

But the children of the Kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness. (Mt.8:11, 12)

Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (Mt.21:43)

And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to His will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required. (Lk.12:47, 48)

The time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. (Jn.16:2)

Jesus on the Effectiveness on Sermons (As in: hearing His Word and not doing it):

And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (Mt.7:26, 27)

Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Lk.6:46)

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. (Jn.13:17)

Jesus on flesh-and-blood relations and doing things the "proper" and politically correct way:

Follow Me; and let the dead bury their dead. (Mt.8:22)

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

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.

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it. (Mt.10:34-38)

Who is My mother? and who are My brethren?

And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren!

For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother. (Mt.12:48-50)

But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Mt.24:37-39)

If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. (Lk.14:26)

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6)

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing (Jn.6:63).

(See also Acts 5:29)

Jesus on Conservatism:

No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. (Mt.9:16, 17)

Jesus on Tradition and Ceremony:

Ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

(Mt.15:6)

But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Mt.15:9)

God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (Mt.22:32)

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Mt.22:37-40)

The law and the prophets were until John (the Baptist): since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. (Lk.16:16)

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

(See also Acts 7:48, 49)

Jesus on Lip Service:

This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. (Mt.15:8)

Jesus on the Religious Leaders of (not only) His Day:

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Mt.15:14)

All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. (Mt.23:3,4)

Ye have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (Mt.23:23)

I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. (Jn.5:42)

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. (Jn.8:44)

(See also Acts 7:51, 52)

Jesus on College Degrees in Theology:

Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Mt.18:3, 4)

Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

(Mark 10:15)

(See also Acts 4:13)

Jesus on Mass Gatherings and Mega-Churches:

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them. (Mt.18:20)

Jesus on Assuming Leadership Positions and trying to be the head honcho:

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. (Mt.19:30)

But whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister

And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant (Mt.20:26, 27)

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

(Mt.23:11, 12)

He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. (Luke 1:51, 52)

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

(Lk.14:11)

He that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. (Lk.22:26)

(See also Luke 4:5,6, Acts 10:34)

Jesus on the “Holy Land”:

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Mt.23:37)

There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down (Mt.24:2)

Jesus on the “Pre-Tribulation Rapture:”

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

And He shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Mt.24:29-31)

Jesus on the Fading Validity of the Gospels (as in, “That was okay for then, but not for now”):

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away. (Mt.24:35)

If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed;

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (Jn.8:31, 32)

He that is of God heareth God’s words. (Jn.8:47)

If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him (Jn.14:23).

Jesus on Nationalism/Patriotism:

I am not of this world. (Jn.8:23)

My Kingdom is not of this World (Jn.18:36).