The Gabriel Version

The Gabriel Version

The Testimony of Yeshua

MATTHEW 11-20 (Gabriel Version)

Index
Introduction

Matthew 11: After Yeshua finished instructing His twelve disciples, He left to teach and herald in their home towns.
2 When John heard in prison about the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to 3 ask Him, “Are You the One to come or should we expect someone else”?
4 Yeshua told them, “Go and tell John the things that you have heard and seen— 5 the blind see, the lame walk, the leprous are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor hear the Good News, 6 and anyone who isnt offended because of Me is blessed”.
7 After they had left, Yeshua began to ask the crowd about John, “What did you go into the wilderness to see, a reed waving in the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see, a man dressed in soft [1] clothing? Look, those who are dressed in soft clothing live in kings palaces. 9 If not, what did you go to see? A prophet? Yes, I say and more than a prophet. 10 He is the one mentioned in the Scriptures: “Look, I’ll send My messenger before You, so that he can prepare the way before you”! 11 “I am certain that among those born of women, there hasnt arisen anyone greater than John the Immerser, yet the least influential person in the Kingdom of the Heavens is greater than he is. 12 From the time of John the Immerser until now, the Kingdom of the Heavens has been attacked by force, and violent people continue attacking it. 13 All of the Prophets and the Torah prophesied until the time of John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who was prophesied to come. 15 Anyone who has listening ears should listen! 16 But what can I compare this nation to? It is like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to their friends, 17 saying, “We have sung [2] to you and you didnt dance, we played funeral songs for you and you didnt mourn.
18 John didnt come eating or drinking, yet they said, “He has a demon”! 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they said, ‘Look, a glutton and a wino, and a friend of tax extractors and notorious sinners. But wisdom is vindicated by her works”.
20 Then Yeshua began to criticize the cities that many of His powerful miracles were done in because they hadnt amended their ways. 21 He said, “I pity you Chorazin! I pity you Bethsaida! If the powerful miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon, they would have amended their ways in sackcloth and ashes long ago! 22 I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on Judgment Day than for you. 23 You, Capernaum, “exalted to heaven”, will be brought down to Sheol, because if the powerful miracles that were done for you had been done in Sodom, it would be standing til this very day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom on Judgment Day than for you”.
25 Then Yeshua exclaimed, “I praise you Father, Aloha of Heaven and earth, because You’ve hidden these things from the scholars and the knowledgeable, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, because this was what You wanted.
27 My Father has handed over everything to Me. No one fully knows the Son except for the Father. Also, no one fully knows the Father except for the Son, and anyone who the Son wants to reveal Him to.
28 Come to Me all of you who are weary and carrying burdens, and I’ll give you rest. 29 Take on My yoke and learn from Me, because I’m gentle and humble and you’ll find your needed rest, 30 because My yoke is pleasant and My burden is light”.

[1] “Soft” often refers to “effeminate”. [2] The Greek says, “played a flute”.

Matthew 12: About that time Yeshua was walking thru the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began picking heads of grain to eat. 2 When the Pharisees saw them, they told Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing something that the Torah forbids to be done on the Sabbath”.
3 But He replied, “Havent you read what David did when he and those who were with him hungry: 4 how he went into Aloha’s tabernacle and ate bread from Yehovah’s table that was forbidden by the Torah for him and for those who were with him to eat? It was solely for the priests. 5 Or havent you read in the Torah that the priests in the Temple Lawfully tread on [1] the Sabbath and are innocent? 6 But I tell you, that Someone greater than the Temple is here. 7 If you had known what this means, “I want mercy, not burnt offerings”, you wouldnt have condemned the innocent. 8 The Son of Man is Master of the Sabbath”!
9 Yeshua moved on from there and went into their synagogue. 10 A man with a withered hand was there. They asked Him, “Is it against the Torah to heal someone on the Sabbath”? (They wanted to make a legal accusation against Him.) 11 He replied, “Which of you, if you had a sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath day, wouldnt grab it and lift it out”? 12 A human being is far more precious than a sheep! So is it against the Torah to do good on the Sabbath? 13 Then He told the man, “Reach out your hand”. He reached out his hand and it was restored, just like the other. 14 The Pharisees left and conspired against Him, as to how they could destroy Him. 15 Yeshua was aware of this, so He left the area. Large crowds followed Him and He healed them all. 16 He warned them not to make His presence[?] known, 17 fulfilling what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah who said: 18 “This is My Servant who I have chosen, My dearly loved One who My inner self [psuche psyche] delights in. I’ll put My spirit on Him and He’ll announce Judgment Day to every ethnicitiy [ethnos]. 19 He wont fight or shout. No one will even hear His voice in the streets. 20 He wont break a crushed reed. He wont even put out a flickering wick until He brings judgment to victory. 21 All nations will trust in His name”.
22 Then they brought a demon possessed man who was mute and blind to Him, and He healed him so that the man could speak and see. 23 Everyone in the crowd was amazed and asked, “Isnt this the son of David”? 24 But when the Pharisees heard about it they said, “This man cant cast out demons without the help of Beelzebub, the prince of demons.” 25 Yeshua knew their thoughts and told them, “Every kingdom that is divided into factions will be laid waste, and any house or city in dissension wont stand. 26 So if Satan banishes Satan and he is divided into factions, then how can his kingdom continue to stand? 27 If I cast out demons with the help of Beelzebub, then who helps your young men cast them out? So they’ll be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the spirit of Yehovah, then the royal power of the Kingdom of Yehovah has come to you.
29 How can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods without first tying up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
30 Anyone who isnt with Me is against Me, and anyone who doesnt gather with Me is scattering. 31 This is why I can say that any sin and blasphemy [blasphemia] of humanity will be removed, except for blasphemy against the spirit. People cant have that removed. 32 Whoever says anything against the Son of Man will have that removed, but whoever says anything against the dedicated spirit cant have that removed, either in this world or in the coming world.
33 Either produce [2] a good tree with good fruit, or produce a poor quality tree with poor quality fruit, because a tree becomes known by its fruit. 34 Offspring of vipers, how can you evil people say anything good? You say whatever you fill your minds with. 35 A good person brings good things out of their cache, and a bad person brings bad things from their cache. 36 I tell you, on Judgment Day people will be accountable for every careless word that they have spoken! 37 You’ll be justified by your words, or you’ll be condemned by your words.
38 Then some of the Torah teachers and Pharisees said to Him, “Master, we want to see a miraculous sign from You”. 39 But He replied, “A wicked and unfaithful group of men demand a sign, but the only sign they will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 Just as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, in the same manner, the Son of Man will be in the inner part of the earth for three days and three nights. 41 The people of Nineveh will stand up on Judgment Day with this group of people, and will condemn it, because they amended their ways at the heralding of Jonah, and now Someone greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will be aroused from her sleep on Judgment Day with these people and condemn it, because she came from a remote part of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now Someone superior to Solomon is here.
43 When an unclean spirit leaves someone, it wanders thru dry places looking for comfort, but doesnt find it. 44 Then it says, “I’ll return to the house I left. So it returns and finds it vacated, swept clean, and set in order”. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits, worse than itself. They enter and occupy it, and the final state of that person is worse than it was before. So it will be for this wicked group of people.
46 As He was busy speaking to the crowds, His mother and His brothers came and stood outside, wanting to talk to Him. 47 Someone told Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wanting to talk to You”. 48 He replied to the man who told him, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers”? 49 He reached out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Look, these are My mother and brothers”! 50 Anyone who does the will of My Heavenly Father is My brother and sister and My mother!

[1] The root word of bebeloo, (bebelos) adds clarity to this seemingly contradictory passage. “Bebelos” means “Lawful to be trodden” or “common”, as well as the more popular rendering: “profane”. [2] This distinction is comparable to the wild olive vs the garden variety in Romans 11:23-24. Quality fruit trees are produced by grafting.

Matthew 13: Later that day, Yeshua left the house and sat by the seaside. 2 A large crowd gathered around Him, so He went out in a boat and sat down, while the crowd stood on the seaside. 3 He spoke with them at length in analogies [#]. He said, “Look, a sower went out to sow. 4 As he was sowing, some of the seed fell along the path, and birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on very rocky ground, where there was not much soil. It sprouted immediately because the soil wasnt deep. 6 But when the sun came up they were scorched. Because they couldnt take root, they dried up. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns shot up and choked them out. 8 Other seed fell on good ground and produced a crop, some a hundred times, some sixty times, and some thirty times what was sown. 9 Anyone with listening ears should listen.
10 His disciples came and asked Him, “Why do you speak to them in analogies”? 11 He replied, “Because you have been entrusted with the mysteries of the Kingdom of the Heavens, but they havent. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they’ll have plenty, but whoever doesnt have, even what little they have will be taken from them! 13 This is why I talk to them in analogies, because they look but they dont see, and they listen but they dont understand. 14 They fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy that says, “They’ll listen, but they wont understand, and they’ll see, but they wont comprehend.
15 These people have calloused minds and they are hard of hearing. They’ve shut their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their intellects, and return so that I could free them from their sins. 16 But your eyes are blessed because they see, and your ears because they listen. 17 I assure you that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didnt see it, and to hear what you hear, but didnt hear it”. 18 So listen to the analogy of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the message of the Kingdom, yet doesnt understand it, the wicked one comes and steals the seed that was sown in their minds. This is what was sown along the path. 20 The seed sown on the stony ground, represents those who hear the truth and immediately accept it with joy. 21 Yet they arent well rooted and only last a little while, and when there is trouble or persecution because of the truth, they soon become indignant. 22 The seeds sown among the thorns represent the ones who hear the truth, but the cares of this world and the deceptiveness of wealth chokes out the truth, and they dont produce a crop. 23 But what was sown on good soil represents those who hear My truths, understand them and produce a harvest of a hundred times, or sixty times, or thirty times what was sown.
24 He presented another analogy to them, “The Kingdom of the Heavens can be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 While everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed tares in the wheat field, and then left. 26 As the grain began to mature the tares became noticeable. 27 The householder’s servants came and asked him, ‘Master, didnt you sow good seed in your field? Where did these tares come from’. 28 He told them, ‘An enemy did this’. The servants asked him, ‘Should we go and pull them out”?
29 He replied, ‘No, because if you pull out the tares, you’ll also uproot the wheat. 30 They must both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I’ll tell the harvesters to gather the tares out first, and tie them in bundles to be burned, and then bring the wheat into my granary’”.
31 He related another analogy to them, “The Kingdom of the Heavens is like a mustard seed that someone went out and planted in their field. 32 This is the smallest of all seeds, but when it is grown, it is larger than all of the herbs, and becomes a tree, and birds come and nest in its branches”.
33 He used another analogy, “The Kingdom of the Heavens is like leaven that a woman hid in three satas [about 4 gallons] of flour, until the whole mass was leavened and rose”.
34 Yeshua explained all of these things to the crowd in analogies. He didnt say anything to them without an analogy. 35 This fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet, who said, “I’ll open My mouth in analogies, I’ll explain things hidden from before the foundation of the world”.
36 Then Yeshua sent the crowds away, and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the analogy of the tares and the field”. 37 He told them, “The One who sowed good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world. The good seeds are the people of the Kingdom, but the tares are the people who belong to the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is Satan. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are the spirit Messengers”. 40 Just as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send His spirit Messengers, and they’ll gather out of His Kingdom everyone who set snares, and all the Torah breakers [anomia], 42 and will throw them into a blazing furnace where there will be wailing and clenching of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Anyone who has ears to hear should listen.
44 Again, the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a treasure that is hidden in a field. When a man found it he hid it again and in his excitement he went and sold everything that he had and bought the field”.
45 Again, the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a merchant who was looking for valuable pearls. 46 When he found a pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.
47 Also, the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a fishing net that was thrown in the sea, and it caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, they hauled it ashore and they sat down and culled them. They put the good ones into containers and threw the bad ones away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The spirit Messengers will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous, 50 and throw them into a blazing furnace. There will be wailing and clenching of teeth.
51 Yeshua asked them, “Have you understood all of this”? They answered, “Yes Master”. 52 He told them, “That is why every Torah teacher who has been trained about the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a man who is the owner of an estate who brings new things and old ones from his treasure room”.
53 After Yeshua concluded His analogies, He left. 54 He went to His home town and began teaching the people in their synagogues in such a way that they were amazed and asked, “Where did He get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? 55 Isnt He the carpenter’s son? Isnt His mother’s name Mary, and His brothers James and Joses and Simon and Judas? 56 Arent all of His sisters here with us? Where did He get all of these things? 57 And they were offended by Him. But Yeshua told them, “A prophet isnt disparaged anywhere other than in his hometown and in his own household”.
58 He He only did a few miracles there because of their unbelief.
 
Matthew 14: At that time Herod the Tetrarch heard reports about Yeshua. 2 So he told his servants, “This is John the Immerser. He has risen from the grave, that’s why he can do these miracles”.
3 Herod had arrested John and put him in chains and imprisoned him, because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 because John had told him, “It is against the Torah [1] for her to be your wife”. 5 He had wanted to kill him, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.
6 But at Herod’s birthday party, Herodias’ daughter danced before the guests, and she pleased Herod so much 7 that he swore with an oath to give her whatever she asked for. 8 Then, as instructed by her mother, she said, “Give me John the Immerser’s head on a platter”. 9 It made the king sick, but because of the oath and the guests, he ordered that it should be given to her. 10 He sent men and cut off John’s head in prison. 11 The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she personally took it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and removed the corpse and buried it. Then they went and told Yeshua.
13 When Yeshua heard about it, He went alone on a ship to a deserted place. When the crowd heard about this, they followed Him by land from the towns. 14 When Yeshua disembarked, He saw a large crowd, and feeling compassion on them He healed their sick.
15 That evening His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place and it’s getting late. Send the people away so that they can go into the villages and buy themselves some food”. 16 But He replied, “It isnt necessary for them to go. You give them something to eat”. 17 But they replied, “All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish”. 18 Yeshua told them, “Bring them here to Me”. 19 He told the people to sit on the ground. He took the five loaves of bread and two fish and He looked toward heaven and blessed them, and after breaking the food in pieces, He gave it to His disciples, and the disciples set it before the people. 20 Everyone ate as much as they wanted. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces and filled twelve baskets. 21 Five thousand men had eaten, in addition to all the women and children.
22 Immediately afterward, He had His disciples embark on a ship, and crossed to the other side ahead of Him while He dismissed the crowd. 23 After He dismissed the crowd, He climbed a mountain to pray. After dark He was still there alone. 24 The ship was far from land in the middle of the sea, being battered by the waves because they were going against the wind.
25 In the fourth watch of the night [about dawn] Yeshua came up to them, walking on the water. 26 His disciples saw Him as He was walking on the water and they were frightened, and they said, “It’s a ghost” [phantasma], and they screamed in terror. 27 But immediately Yeshua said, “Have some courage. It’s Me. Dont be afraid”! 28 Cephas replied, “Master, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water”. 29 Yeshua replied, “Come”. So Cephas climbed down from the ship and walked on the water toward Yeshua. 30 But when he saw the furious wind, he was afraid and began to sink, so he shouted, “Master, rescue me”. 31 Immediately our Master reached out His hand and caught him and said to him, “You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?”
32 As they stepped into the ship, the raging wind subsided. 33 Everyone on the ship came and worshiped Him, and said, “You are truly Yehovah’s Son”! 34 They crossed over and landed in Gennesaret. 35 The men there realized who He was, and they sent messengers [apostello] to all the villages around them, and they brought everyone who was seriously sick to Him. 36 They begged Him to simply let them touch a tzitzit [tassel] of His upper clothing. And everyone who touched one was healed.

[1] This is usually translated as “against the law”, but John wouldnt have been informing a politician about a civil “law”.

Matthew 15: Some Pharisees and Torah teachers who were from Jerusalem came to Yeshua and asked, 2 “Why do your disciples abandon the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before they eat”?
3 Yeshua replied, “Why do you abandon Yehovah’s Commandments because of your traditions”? 4 Yehovah has said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘anyone who curses their father or mother should be put to death’. 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to their father or mother, “Whatever I have that could have helped you has been given as an offering to Yehovah,” 6 You say that they dont have to honor their father or mother [1]. You disregard Yehovah’s Commandments for the sake of your traditions. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was absolutely right when he prophesied about you, in saying, 8 “These people ‘honor’ Me with lip service, but their sentiments are very far from Me”. 9 Their ‘worship’ of Me is futile because they teach human commandments as if they were doctrine.
10 He called out to the crowd and said, “Listen and understand. 11 It’s not what enters a person’s mouth that defiles them, [2] it’s what comes out of their mouth that defiles them.
12 Then His disciples came and asked Him, “Do You realize that the Pharisees were offended when they heard what you said?” 13 He replied, “Every plant that My Heavenly Father hasnt planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. If a blind person leads another blind person, they’ll both fall into a ditch”. 15 Simon Cephas said to Him, “Master, explain this analogy to us”. 16 He replied, “Dont you understand this yet either? 17 Dont you know that everything that goes into the mouth goes into the stomach and from there is eliminated? 18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the mind, and that’s what defiles a person. 19 Evil thoughts come from the mind about adultery, murder, sexual perversion, theft, false testimony, and slander. 20 These are the things that defile people. But if someone eats without washing their hands, they arent defiled”.
21 Yeshua left the area and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that region came forward and began to call out, “Have mercy on me, Master, Son of David, my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon”. 23 But He didnt say a word to her. And His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us as she follows us”. 24 But He answered, “I was only sent to the sheep that have strayed from the nation of Israel”. 25 Then she came and knelt before before Him, and said, “Help me Master”. 26 Yeshua replied, “It’s not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the ‘puppies’”. 27 She said, “Yes Master, but even the puppies eat the scraps that fall from their masters’ tables, and survive”. 28 Then Yeshua told her, “Woman, your faith is strong! What you want will be done for you”. At that moment her daughter was cured.
29 Yeshua moved on from there to the seaside of Galilee where He climbed a mountain and sat down. 30 Large crowds came to Him, bringing with them those who were amputees, crippled, blind, mute, disabled and many others, and laid them down at Yeshua’s feet, and He healed them. 31 The crowd was amazed when they saw mute people talking, amputees restored, the disabled walking, and the blind seeing, and they praised the Aloha of Israel.
32 Then Yeshua called His disciples, and told them, “I feel sorry for these people because they’ve been with Me three days now and they have nothing to eat. I wont send them away hungry because they might faint along the way”. 33 His disciples asked Him, “Where can we get enough bread in the wilderness to feed all of these people”?
34 Yeshua asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have”? They answered, “Seven, and a few small fish”. 35 Then He told the people to recline on the ground. 36 He took the seven loaves and the fish, and gave thanks, then broke it up and gave it to His disciples, and the disciples gave it to the crowds. 37 They all ate as much as they wanted. Then they they picked up seven full baskets of leftover pieces. 38 Four thousand men ate that day, without counting the women and children. 39 After He dismissed the people, He boarded a ship and went to the region of Magdala.

[1] Both Murdock and Lamsa accidentally put “dont have to honor their father or mother” in verse 5. [2] The context isnt about unclean “food”, its about unwashed hands (verses 17-20).

Matthew 16: The Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Him, demanding that He show them a miraculous sign from Heaven.
2 But He replied, “When it is evening, you say, ‘The weather will be fine because the sky is glowing red’. 3 And in the morning you say, ‘It will storm today because the sky is red and overcast’. You hypocrites, you can discern signs in the sky, yet you have no discernment of opportune times. 4 A wicked and unfaithful people look for a miraculous sign, but the only sign they’ll be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah”. Then He left them behind and went away.
5 Later, His disciples crossed to the opposite shore, but they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 He told them, “Become acquainted with and be aware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees”!
7 They began to discuss this among themselves, concluding, “He said that, because we didnt bring any bread”. 8 But Yeshua, aware of this, said, “You have so little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves that you have no bread? 9 Dont you understand yet? Dont you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you picked up, 10 or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you picked up? 11 Why dont you understand that I wasnt talking about bread? Be aware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees”! 12 Then they understood that He wasnt warning them to be aware of the leaven in the bread, but to be aware of the doctrinal teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
13 When Yeshua came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is”? 14 They answered, “Some say that You are John the Immerser, others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets”. 15 Then He asked them, “But who do you say that I am”? 16 Simon Cephas answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living Aloha”. 17 Yeshua replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonas, because no ‘mortal being’ has revealed this to you, but My Father in the Heavens has. 18 Also, I tell you that you are Cephas, and it is on this rock that I’ll REbuild My assembly, and the gates of Sheol wont triumph over it. 19 I’ll give you the keys of the Kingdom of the Heavens, and whatever you prohibit on earth will have already been forbidden in Heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will have already been permitted in Heaven. [1] 20 Then He commanded the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah.
21 From that time on, Yeshua began to show His disciples that He would have to go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly because of the elders, the leading priests, and the Torah teachers. Then He would be killed, but on the third day He would be raised to Life. [2] 22 Cephas took Him aside and began to lecture Him. He said, “Absolutely not, Master! This will never happen to You”. 23 But He turned and told Cephas, “Get behind Me Satan! You are an impediment to Me because you arent thinking Yehovah’s thoughts, but human thoughts”!
24 Then Yeshua told His disciples, “If anyone wants to follow Me they must forget their own interests and pick up their own cross and follow Me. 25 Whoever wants to rescue their life will lose it. But whoever loses their life because of Me will find it. 26 What benefit would a person have if they gain the whole world, if they forfeit their eternal Life? Or what can a person give in exchange for their Life? 27 The Son of Man will return in the splendor of His Father, with all His devoted Messengers, and then He’ll COMPENSATE EVERYONE BASED ON WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. 28 I am certain that some of you who are standing here wont die until you have seen the Son of Man coming with His Kingdom”!

[1] None of the early Messianic/Christian writers wrote of hierarchical church government—known among Catholics as papal primacy, infallibility, pre-eminence, jurisdiction, etc. Local elders managed local affairs in the assemblies. [2] Just as, “...Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights”—Jonah 1:17

Matthew 17: Six days later, Yeshua took Cephas, James, and his brother John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 Yeshua underwent a supernatural metamorphosis [metamorphoo] in front of them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light. 3 Then Moses and Elijah just appeared and began talking with Yeshua!
4 Then Cephas told Yeshua, “We’re honored to be here. If you want, I’ll set up three booths—one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah”. 5 He was still speaking when a bright cloud overshadowed them. Then a voice came from the cloud and said, “This is My dearly loved Son, who I’m very pleased with. Listen to Him”! 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground in terror. 7 Yeshua came up to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and dont be afraid”. 8 When they looked up they didnt see anyone except Yeshua by Himself.
9 On their way down the mountain, Yeshua instructed them, “Dont tell anyone about the ecstasy you have witnessed until the Son of Man has arisen from the dead”. 10 So the disciples asked Him, “Why do the Torah teachers say that Elijah must come first”? 11 Yeshua answered, “Elijah is indeed coming, so that everything [prophecy] will be fulfilled [1]. 12 But I tell you that Elijah already came, and they didnt recognize him, but treated him any way they wanted to. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands”. 13 Then it dawned on the disciples that He had spoken to them about John the Immerser. 14 When they returned to the crowd, a man came up to Yeshua and bowed down in front of Him 15 and said, “Master, have mercy on me, because I have a son who is an epileptic and suffers terribly. He often falls into fire or into the water”. 16 I brought him to Your disciples, but they couldnt heal him. 17 Yeshua answered, “You unbelieving and antagonistic race [genea]! How long must I be with you? How long must I bear with you? Bring him here to Me”! 18 Yeshua rebuked the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was immediately healed.
19 Then the disciples came to Yeshua privately and asked Him, “Why couldnt we heal [2] him”? 20 Yeshua told them, “Because you dont believe. But I can tell you with certainty that if you had in you faith like a grain of mustard, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move and nothing would be too difficult for you. 21 But this kind of demon doesnt leave without prayer and fasting”.
22 When they returned to Galilee, Yeshua told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23 They’ll kill Him, but in three days He’ll be raised from the dead”. This deeply saddened them.
24 When they came to Capernaum, those who collect the silver coins came to Peter and asked him, “Doesnt your Teacher give His two zuzeen”? 25 He answered “Yes”. And when Cephas entered the house, Yeshua anticipating his arrival and asked, “What do you think, Simon? Who do the kings of the earth collect sales taxes and property taxes from—from their sons or from aliens”?
26 Simon replied, “From aliens”. Then Yeshua said, “Then the sons are exempt”. 27 But so that we dont offend them, go to the sea and throw in a fishing hook. Open the mouth of the first fish that comes up, and you’ll find a silver stater. Take it and give it to them for Me and you.

[1] The Greek translations have a much more ambitious job for Elijah, they have him “restoring everything to its former state”. While when translating from Aramaic to Greek, “restore” is a diverse but possible rendering, it certainly differs from John’s preparing the way analogy, and it doesnt conform to any other prophecy, and certainly not “everything” prophesied. [2] The Greek uses “cast him out”, but the Aramaic refers to “heal”.

Matthew 18: Just then the disciples approached Yeshua and asked, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of the Heavens”?
2 Yeshua called a child, and had him stand among them. 3 Then He said, “I am certain that unless you change your course and become like little children, you’ll never enter the Kingdom of the Heavens”. 4 So those who humble themselves like this little child are the greatest in the Kingdom of the Heavens. 5 And whoever befriends a child like this in My name befriends Me.
6 But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to be ensnared—it would be better for them to be plunged in the depths of the sea with an ass powered millstone hung around their neck! 7 I pity the world because of its snares! Snares will certainly be set, but I pity the person who sets the snares! 8 So if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter Life maimed or crippled than to have both hands or both feet and be thrown into the fire of the Ages [1]! 9 And if your eye is causing you to sin, rip it out and throw it away, because it is better for for you to enter eternal Life with one eye than to have both eyes and be thrown into the fire of Gehenna. 10 See to it that you dont look down on any of these little ones, because I tell you, their Messengers in Heaven have continual access to My Father in the Heavens. 11 The Son of Man came to Rescue the lost!
12 What do you think? Suppose someone has a hundred sheep and one of them strays. Wont he leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that strayed? 13 If he finds it, I am certain that the shepherd is happier about that than about the ninety-nine that didnt stray. 14 Similarly, your Father in the Heavens doesnt want even one of these little ones to die.
15 If your neighbor sins against you, go and confront them privately. If they listen to you, you have won your neighbor back, 16 but if they dont listen, then take one or two others with you so that any accusation can be verified by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person ignores them, tell it to your Jewish assembly [2]. If they ignore the assembly as well, regard them just as you would a heathen or a tax extractor.
18 I assure you that whatever you forbid on earth will have been forbidden in Heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will have been permitted in Heaven. 19 Further, I am certain that if two of you agree on earth about anything that you request, it will be done for you by My Father in the heavens, 20 because where two or three have Assembled together in My name, I’m among them.
21 This is when Cephas approached Him and asked, “Master, if my neighbor sins against me, how many times must I disregard it. As many as seven times”? 22 Yeshua replied, “I tell you, not just seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
23 This is why the Kingdom of the Heavens can be compared to a leader who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began to settle accounts, they brought in a debtor who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But he didnt have the means to repay, so his master had him sold, as well as his wife and his children, and everything that he owned to repay the debt.
26 So the servant fell to the ground and bowing before him said, ‘Have patience with me and I’ll pay everything back’. 27 The master of that servant was moved with compassion and set him free, canceling his debt. 28 But as the servant was leaving, he found a fellow servant who owed him one hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him and said, ‘Pay back what you owe me’! 29 So his fellow servant fell at his feet and began begging him, ‘Have patience with me and I’ll repay you’. 30 But he refused, and went and had him thrown in prison until he could repay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were extremely angry. They went and explained to their master everything that had happened.
32 Then his master sent for him and said, ‘You wicked servant! I canceled your entire debt because you begged me. 33 Shouldnt you have have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then his master became greatly incensed and handed him over to the jailor/torturers until he could repay his entire debt.
35 My Heavenly Father will treat each of you the same way unless you endeavor to disregard your neighbor’s shortcomings.”

[1] The associated link explains why the Weymouth Version would better reflect the effect of the “everlasting fire”. [2] There was no “church” at this time, and they didnt comprehend that there was to be a Rebuilt assembly (Matthew 16:18)!

Matthew 19: When Yeshua finished saying these things, He left Galilee and came to the region of Judea on the other side of the Jordan. 2 A huge number of people followed Him and He healed them there.
3 Some Pharisees came to Him attempting to entice Him to sin. They asked, “Does the Torah allow a man to divorce his wife for any reason”?
4 He replied, “Havent you read that the One who originally created them made them male and female”? 5 He said, ‘That’s why a man leaves his father and mother and is “glued” to his wife, and the two will be one being’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one being. So no one should separate what Yehovah has yoked together”.
7 Then they asked Him, “Then why did Moses direct us to deliver a written bill of divorce and send her away? 8 He replied, “Because of your hardened mindset, Moses was instructed to allow you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not that way. 9 I tell you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason other than sexual immorality, and marries another woman is committing adultery”. 10 His disciples replied, “If that is the situation between a man and his wife, it’s better not to get married”. 11 But he told them, “Not everyone can accept celibacy other than those who have that gift. 12 There are some men who are celibate because they were born that way. Some are celibate because they were castrated. Still others live in celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom of the Heavens. Anyone who is able to accept this should accept it”.
13 Children were being brought to Him so that He could lay His hands on them and pray, but the disciples began to stop them, 14 but, Yeshua said, “Allow the little children to come to Me, dont hinder them, because the Kingdom of the Heavens belongs to people like these”. 15 He laid His hand on them before he left.
16 Someone came to Him and asked, “Good Master, what good thing should I do to have eternal Life”? 17 He replied, “Why are you calling Me good? No one is good but One, namely Aloha. But if you want to enter into eternal Life, OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS [1]”.
18 Then he asked, “Which ones”? So Yeshua told him, “Never murder. Never commit adultery. Never steal. Never give false testimony, 19 honor your father and your mother, and you must love your neighbor as yourself” [2].
20 The young man told Him, “I have obeyed all of these since childhood. What else do I need”? 21 Yeshua told him, “If you want to become perfect, go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have a treasure in heaven, then come right back here and accompany Me”! [3]
22 When the young man heard this he went away in sorrow, because he owned a lot of property. 23 Yeshua told His disciples, “I tell you, it is certainty difficult for a rich person to gain entry into the Kingdom of the Heavens. 24 Yes, I tell you, it is easier to pass a rope [4] thru the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to gain entry into the Kingdom of Yehovah”.
25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and asked, “Then who can receive eternal Life”? 26 Yeshua looked at them intently and said, “It is impossible for people, but anything is possible with Yehovah”. 27 Then Cephas said in reply, “Look, we’ve forsaken everything to follow You. What is in store for us”?
28 Yeshua told them, “I assure you that when the Son of Man sits on His magnificent throne on the Renewed Earth, those of you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, presiding over the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 Anyone who has had to abandon their homes, or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields because of My name, will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal Life. 30 But many who are first in influence will be last, and many who are last will be first”.

[1] This is the world’s most important question and answer! The explanation would shock you! [2] These are the five “love your neighbor” Commandments. The first four Commandments are the “love your Aloha” Commandments, and the last Commandment applies to yourself. As in the above link, this greatly overlooked means of obtaining eternal Life is explained in The Called, the Culled, and the Excused. [3] He was offered the opportunity to serve with the twelve. [4] See why it’s a rope rather than a camel. Key words: “a camel”.

Matthew 20: The Kingdom of the Heavens is like a property manager who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 He contracted with the laborers for a denarius a day, and sent them into his vineyard.
3 He went out at the third hour [9:00] and saw others standing around in the market place. 4 He told them, “You go into my vineyard, too, and I’ll pay you whatever is fair”. So they went. 5 He went out again at the sixth and ninth hours [12:00, 3:00], and did the same. 6 About the eleventh hour, he went out and found others who were standing around, and he asked them, “Why have you been standing here all day and not working”? 7 They told him, “Because no one hired us”. So he told them, “You go into the vineyard too, [1] and you’ll receive what is fair”.
8 That evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his property manager, “Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last hired and ending with the first”.
9 Those hired about the eleventh hour came, and they each received a denarius. 10 When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they complained to the householder. 12 They said, “These last men have only worked an hour, but you have treated them just like those of us who have endured the scorching heat all day”. 13 But he said to one of them, “Friend, I’m not treating you unfairly. Wasnt our contract for a denarius? 14 Take your money and go. I want to give the last men hired as much as I gave you. 15 Isnt it legal for me to do what I want to with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because of my generosity”? 16 So the last will be first, and the first last, [2] because many are invited [#], but few have chosen to participate.
17 As Yeshua was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took His twelve disciples aside on the way and told them, 18 “We’re going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the leading priests and Torah teachers, and they’ll condemn Him to death! 19 They’ll hand Him over to the heathen to mock and scourge and crucify Him, but on the third day He’ll be raised from the dead”.
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Yeshua with her sons. She bowed down to ask Him for something. 21 He asked her, “What do you want”? Then she said to Him, “Tell me that one of my two sons will sit on Your right side and one on Your left in Your Kingdom”. 22 But Yeshua replied, “You dont realize what you’re asking for. [3] Are you able to drink the cup that I’m about to drink, or be immersed with the immersion that I’m immersed with”? And they told Him, “We can”. 23 He told them, “You certainly will drink from My cup [4] and will be immersed with the immersion that I’m immersed with. But whether you’ll be seated at My right hand or at My left isnt for Me to decide. Those determinations are made by My Father.
24 When the ten heard this, they were angry with the two brothers. 25 Yeshua called them and told them, “You know that the rulers of other nations hold them in subjection and their ranking men exercise authority over them. 26 It wont be that way with you, because whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant [diakonos], 27 and whoever wants to be foremost among you must be your servant, 28 just as the Son of Man didnt come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as the price for freeing many servants”.
29 As Yeshua was leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. 30 Two blind men who were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Yeshua was passing by, they shouted, “Have mercy on us, Master, Son of David”! 31 The crowd scolded them, insisting that they be quiet, but they called out all the more, “Master, Son of David, have mercy on us”! 32 Yeshua stopped and called out to them, “What do you want Me to do for you”? 33 They told Him, “Master, we want our eyes to see again”. 34 He was moved with compassion for them and touched their eyes, and immediately they were able to see and they followed Him.

[1] The Aramaic is in agreement with the Textus Receptus, (the basis of the King James Version and the Tyndale), and includes the words, “and you’ll receive what is fair”, unlike most modern versions. [2] Rather than “are chosen”, this is quite well illustrated in the parable of the invitations to the wedding in Matthew 22. The Aramaic is in agreement with the Textus Receptus, and includes, “because many are invited, but few have chosen to participate”, unlike most modern versions. [3] The Aramaic is in agreement with the Textus Receptus, and includes, “Are you able to drink the cup that I’m about to drink, and be immersed with the immersion that I’m immersed with?”, unlike most modern versions. [4] The Aramaic is in agreement with the Textus Receptus, and includes, “and will be immersed with the immersion that I’m immersed with”, unlike most modern versions.

MATTHEW 21 continues here.

Compare the May 2010, Second Edition of the Gabriel Version’s Matthew with the 1851 Murdock Translation of Matthew.

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