Luke Chapter 6
1) It so happened on the second-first sabbath... 1207 deuteroprotos {dyoo-ter-op'-ro-tos} - a phrase applicable to the customs of the people of the twelve tribes of Israel and known only to those whose ancestry is of Israel/Hebrew origin. Because it refers, in this usage of the phrase, to the second sabbath after the first of the sabbaths which make up the total which are to be counted for the Feast of Weeks. These fifty days, which start the day after the first sabbath in the count and end on the day after the seventh sabbath in the count, are to begin at some point in time after the feast of the Passover. Or, possibly, according to the perception of some, "the first Sabbath after the second day of Passover"... The meaning of "Passover" in this case, is construed to include the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread.
This second explanation of the phrase is an indicator, of the time in which they who were considered to be Jews were living when Yahushua was walking among them, due to a traditional practice. The start of which is unknown. Of combining the memorial day of Passover together with the seven days which follow that make up the Feast of Unleavened Bread under the title of "Feast of Passover". Originally, when Moses was told to instruct the people of Israel concerning these things, there was no "second day of Passover".
When the commandments regarding Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were first given to the people of Israel, it was clearly indicated that there were two distinctly seperate memorial celebrations taking place.
Moreover, when the countdown of sabbaths that began with the wave sheaf offering was attributed to having anything to do with Passover at all is a mystery... to me. For scripture gives no indication of this association. Possibly it is due to the spring harvest beginning to take place on the 14th day of Aviv and the following days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread? The first, last, and the normal weekly sabbath days of which no servile work can be done? Although it is possible that ripening barley, which marks the beginning of the first month of a year for Israel, could be harvested in two weeks time past the discovery of ripening grain. Would it be more likely that the harvest would begin perhaps more near to the end of the month of Aviv? Or is it possible that harvest time takes place, right on schedule, at the same time every year with no variation like the memorial day of the Passover and the immediately following Feast of Unleavened Bread? I do not know... for I am not a farmer of any kind of crop... Nor am I aware of the timeline required for the ripening of grains in the land of Israel for the spring harvest. Which brings another, interesting question to mind. Of whether I, as a non farmer or husbandman, am required or able to take part in the counting of weeks that make up Shavuot? There are other questions that have risen in my mind; but they can be for another time...
What Scripture tells us is that until the freed captives of Pharaoah had reached the land that had been promised to them by Yahuah; and then had planted and reaped the first harvest of that year... at least some forty plus years after having left Egypt, because all Israel did not settle on the land immediately upon arrival. There were kingdoms, cities, and lands to conquer. For the armies of Israel and those who did all the things in support of those armies while they were doing the conquering, the countdown of Sabbaths that made up Shavuot was not an issue.
As is recorded in Exodus chapter 34, in Leviticus chapter 23, and in Deuteronomy chapter 16, a countdown of seven weeks beginning on the first day of the week after the weekly sabbath which takes place annually following the spring harvest of the land which had been promised to and given to the people of Israel by Yahuah, was given to the people of Israel to observe so that they would know when to bring a sheaf of the first fruits of their harvested crops to the priest. The priest was at the place where Yahuah had placed His name; and each family brought their sheaf and other parts of the offering they were instructed to make so that the priest could offer the wave sheaf offering and sacrifice a male lamb for a burnt offering, at the same time as a food offering and drink offering from each family. No grains or fruits from the new harvest were to be eaten by any of the families who had harvested any crops in all of the twelve tribes of Israel until this offering was made by each family that had harvested a new crop in the land that year; and then, on the day following the seventh weekly sabbath in the countdown, another, new food offering would be made by the priest for each family that had harvested the crops of the spring harvest that year. This new food offering combined together with required sacrifices and burnt offerings made up of seven lambs, a yearling bullock, food and drink offerings, as well as a goat kid for a sin offering and two lambs for a peace offering for each individual family that had harvested and then begun to eat from that harvest after having offered the wave sheaf offering fifty days prior; and they are all waved before Yahuah by the priest. Each family was to bring these offerings to the place where Yahuah had put His name so that they could be offered by the priest. The day of holy convocation in which no servile work was to be done came to be known as "The Feast of Weeks" even though scripture depicts it as "Firstfruits". This statute, given by Yahuah to be observed by the people of Israel in the land that He gave to them, can no longer be practiced due to the temple in Yerushalem having been destroyed in 70 a.d. As well as the fact that the Levitical priesthood no longer has responsibilities it once had. The agriculturally measured wave sheaf offering and first fruits offerings have now largely been overshadowed by the "christian" perspective that has been attached to the word and day known as "the day of Pentecost" because of what took place on that day as is recorded in the second chapter of Lukes' writings about the Acts of the Apostles of Yahushua...
Please continue to bear in mind that Luke has made a declaration of having a fully complete understanding of all of these things in the beginning of this first letter of his to Theophilus...
These instructions, to be carried out when the promised land was occupied by Israel, were given on Mount Sinai just prior to the construction of the tabernacle in the wilderness, which was first put up for use on the first day of the month of Aviv in the second year of their wilderness trek. Years before Israel would be entering the promised land...
Exodus 34:22 22 And you will all observe the feast of weeks of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end.
Exodus 34:26 26 The first of the firstfruits of thy land you shall bring to the house of Yahuah your Elohim...
Exodus 40:17 17 And it came to pass in the first month. In the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.
*** Instructions from Yahuah concerning the beginning wave sheaf and ending firstfruits offerings of the Feast of Weeks...
Leviticus 23:9-22 9 And Yahuah spoke to Moses, by saying: 10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say this to them: When you have come into the land which I give to you; and shall reap the harvest of that land, it is then that you will all bring a sheaf of the firstfruits from your harvests to the priest. 11 He shall wave the sheaf before Yahuah, to be accepted for each of you. On the day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12 You shall offer that day, when you wave the sheaf, a he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering to Yahuah. 13 The food part of that offering shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil. It will be an offering made by fire unto Yahuah for a sweet savor; and the drink part of that offering will be of wine. The fourth part of an hin. 14 You shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that you have brought an offering to your Elohim. It shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 15 And you shall count to yourself beginning on the day after the sabbath. Starting your count from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. Seven sabbaths shall be completed in your counting. 16 Until the day after the seventh sabbath in your counting will you number fifty days; and you will then offer a new food offering to Yahuah. 17 You shall bring, out of your individual habitations, two wave loaves made out of two tenth deals. They shall be made of fine flour. They shall be baked with leavening. They are the firstfruits of what you have made out of the new harvest and will offer to Yahuah. 18 You will each offer, together with the the bread, seven lambs without blemish of the first year, one young bullock, and two rams. They shall be for a burnt offering to Yahuah, together with their food offering and their drink offerings. They are an offering made by fire. They are of sweet savor to Yahuah. 19 Then, you shall each sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings. 20 The priest shall wave them, together with the bread of the firstfruits, for a wave offering before Yahuah, along with the two lambs. They shall be holy to Yahuah for the priest. 21 All of you shall proclaim, on the selfsame day, that it can be an holy day of assembling together for all of you. You shall do no servile work on the day that you make this first fruit offering. It shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. 22 Furthermore, when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not make a clean sweep of the corners of your individual fields when you reap; and neither shall you gather any gleanings from your harvest. You will leave them to the poor and to the stranger: I am Yahuah your Elohim.
Deuteronomy 16:9-12 9 Seven weeks shall you count for yourselves. Begin to number the seven weeks from such time as you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. 10 Each household of you shall keep the feast of weeks to Yahuah your Elohim with a sufficient amount of a willingly given offering from out of your hand. Which you will give... "according as" is not in the original text, but is added by the attempts of transliterators... Yahuah your Elohim has blessed you; 11 And you shall rejoice before Yahuah your Elohim. You, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and Your maidservant, and the Levite that is within your gates, and the foreigners, and the fatherless ones, and the widows that are among you. In the place where Yahuah your Elohim has chosen to place his name. 12 While you are doing these things, you will remember that you used to be a slave in Egypt: and you will all wait for the time and then do these things that I have prescribed for you to do.
Another View of The Second-First Sabbath
On a second-first (deuteroproto) Sabbath while Yahushua was passing through grainfields, His disciples began to pick heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels (Luke 6:1). It does not mean the second Sabbath after the first (KJV); otherwise, it would say simply the second Sabbath. Sabbaths were only numbered from the Sabbath following Passover until the Sabbath before Pentecost (Lev 23:15-21). This second-first refers to the first Sabbath following a Passover celebrated in the second month. A second Passover was celebrated by those who were unclean or traveling when Passover was celebrated in the first month (Num 9:10-11, 2 Chr 30:2, 15). The first Sabbath following the second Passover was the second-first Sabbath. The day after the Sabbath following Passover was referred to as ‘first fruits’, ‘wave offering’, or Omer. The Omer ritual, waving a sheaf of the first of the barley harvest before the altar, was required before eating any of the new the grain harvest. Pentecost occurs on the day following the seventh Sabbath following the Omer. In this verse there is a second season related factor, ‘picking and eating’ grain by the disciples. Eating grain was not "legal" until after the Omer and indicative of the spring grain harvests from just after Passover to just after Pentecost...
This viewpoint reveals the error of tying Passover to the feast of weeks. A second Passover was allotted by Yahuah for those who were unclean on the 14th of Aviv, or who were traveling in a distant land that was not their own and unable to come to their own land in time to keep the instructions of Yahuah and offer up Yahuah's sacrifice... A second counting of weeks beginning with a wave sheaf of the first sheaf made of the newly cut, ripe for harvesting, standing grain would be impossible; and so also would an offering of firstfruits on the fiftieth day of the celebration of the spring harvest... for there was no separate Feast of Weeks, or Shavuot commanded or allowed by Yahuah... No second spring harvest was made possible for the Feast of Weeks to be carried out for those who could not keep the first Passover...
Numbers 9:1-14 Yahuah spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, by saying: 2 Let the children of Israel also keep the passover on its appointed season. 3 In the fourteenth day of this month, at evening, you will all keep it in its appointed season. According to all the rituals involved in the keeping of it; and according to all the ceremonies required in the keeping of it, in this manner shall you all keep it. 4 Then, Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and instructed them all that they were to keep the memorial day of Passover. 5 Because of Moses instructions, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at evening in the wilderness of Sinai. The children of Israel did everything in accordance with all that Yahuah had commanded Moses regarding the Passover. 6 It happened that there were certain men who had been defiled by touching the dead body of a man; and they could not keep the passover on that day. They came before Moses and before Aaron on that day to seek their counsel on this matter. 7 Those men said unto him: We are unclean by reason of having touched the dead body of a man. For this reason are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of Yahuah in its appointed season among the children of Israel? 8 And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what Yahuah will command concerning you. 9 Then Yahuah spake unto Moses, by saying: 10 Speak to the children of Israel by saying this to them: If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or because of being in a journey afar off, he shall still keep the passover to Yahuah. 11 The fourteenth day of the second month at evening is when they shall keep it; and they will eat it with unleavened bread and bitterness. 12 They shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break any bone of it; but according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it. 13 But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and refuses to keep the passover, that same soul will be cut off from existing and dwelling among his people. Because he did not bring the offering of Yahuah in its appointed season, that man will carry his own sin. 14 Also, if a foreigner shall dwell among you during his travels, and will choose to keep the passover to Yahuah, it will be according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner that it has been instructed to be kept, that he will do so. You shall have one ordinance, which is to be adhered to; and it is for both the foreigner who is with you during this seasonal time, and for he who was born in the land.
*** Continuing with Luke chapter one - verse one...
... that Yahushua went through some fields of crops that were growing; and His disciples, who were walking with Him and were many in number, plucked the ears of growing grain and ate them. Using their hands to rub the grains off of the stalks.
2) Some Pharisees said to them: Why are you doing what is not allowed to be done on sabbath days?
3) Yahushua answered them back, and said: Have you not read and understood enough of the writings to distinguish the difference of something so small as this thing that is being done? Haven't you read about what David did when he himself was hungry; and those who were traveling together with him at the time?
4) Don't you remember that it is written of how he went into the tabernacle of Yahuah? That he took and ate the showbread which was not lawful for anyone to eat except for the priests only; and that he also gave it to those who were accompanying him?
*** Regarding Shewbread -
Exodus 25:30 And you will set, on the table, shewbread... 3899 lechem {lekh'-em} - bread... before me... 6440 paniym {paw-neem'} - in my presence... in front of my face... always.
Exodus 35:13 ...the table, and its staves, and all of its vessels, and the shewbread... "The bread of Presence..." 3899 lechemn {lekh'-em} - bread... 6440 paniym {paw-neem'} - that is before me... that is in my presence... that is in front of my face...
Leviticus 24:1-9 And Yahuah spoke to Moses, saying: 2 Command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure oil olive that has been beaten for the purpose of causing light to shine. To cause the lamps to burn continually. 3 Outside of the veil of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order this light to remain shining, from the evening until the morning, before Yahuah continually: A statute for ever in your generations. 4 He shall order the lamps to remain lit on the pure candlestick... 2889 tahowr {taw-hore'} - the pure, the clean... 4501 menorah {men-o-raw'} - lamp stand... before Yahuah continually. 5 Also, you... you who are the children of Israel... will take fine flour: and bake twelve cakes out of it. Two tenth deals shall be in one cake. 6 You will set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before Yahuah... in the presence of Yahuah... 7 You will put pure frankincense upon each row, so that it can be on the bread for a memorial. For an offering made by... made through the use of... fire... and given to...Yahuah. 8 Every sabbath he... Aaron or one of his descendants... shall set it in order before Yahuah continually. It... the flour and other ingredients that make up the offering of bread cakes... having been taken from the children of Israel by the order of an everlasting covenant. 9 It shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it... Aaron and his descendants will eat the bread of Yahuah's Presence... in the holy place... in the qodesh place where Yahuah has His Presence... for it is most holy unto him... for it is most holy to Aaron and his descendants... out of all of the offerings that belong to Yahuah that are made by the use of fire through the instructions... the torah... of a perpetual statute... given to the children of Israel by Yahuah...
*** What David did that Yahuhsua Spoke to the Pharisees about -
1 Samuel 21:1-10 Then came David to Nob. To Ahimilech the priest. Ahimelech was afraid at having met David there; and he said to him: Why are you alone, and no one is with you? 2 David said to Ahimelech the priest: The king has commanded me a business to undertake: and he has also said to me: Let no one know any thing of the business about I send you to take care of, or about what I have commanded you to do; and, I have appointed my servants to such and such a place. 3 Now, for the reasons I have just explained to you, what is under your hand?... What do you have control of here?... Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever there is to eat that is here. 4 The priest answered David; and said: There is no common bread under my hand; but there is hallowed...qodesh... bread that I can give to you. If the young men who are with you have kept themselves at least from women. 5 David answered the priest; and said to him: Of a truth women have been kept from us for at least these three days since I came out. So the vessels of the young men are holy; and the bread is, in a manner of speaking, common. Yes, even though it was sanctified... even though this bread had been prepared and set apart... dedicated... today in the vessel... even though this bread had been made qodesh during the time that it was in the vessel or container set apart for that purpose earlier today... 6 So it was that the priest gave him some of what had been... what used to be... set apart bread earlier that day. For there was no bread there except for the shewbread, which had been removed from before... from before the face of... from the presence of... Yahuah, in order that hot, freshly made bread could be put in its place earlier that day when it was taken away. 7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there... was there to witness what took place... on that day. For he had been detained... he had been put under restraint... he had been prevented from going further and caused to stay... before Yahuah... before the presence and face of Yahuah that was in that place...; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul. 8 And David said unto Ahimelech: Also is there not here, under the control of your hand, a spear or sword? I ask this because I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me. Because the king's business required haste. 9 The priest answered and said: The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou killed in the valley of Elah. Look! It is over there wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, then take it. For there is no weapon here except for that. David said: Give it to me.
*** back to Luke chapter 6
5) And then He... Yahushua... said this to them... to the Pharisees who had accused Him and His disciples of doing what was not legal to do on the Sabbath...: That the Son of man is also the lord of... 2968 kurios {koo'-ree-os} - He to whom a person or thing belongs and who has the power of deciding what is to be done with it... the sabbath.
For clarity -
You need to understand what really took place there on that day; and you need to understand why Yahuah was not angry with David and his men, or with the priest who gave David the bread that had been set aside for only the priests of the temple to eat; and the fact that it was done on the Sabbath Day. Because you, who are Pharisees and who perceive yourselves to be Master Teachers of the Torah that was given to the children of Israel through Moses, also need to know that The Son of Man is the One to Whom the Sabbath belongs; and He it is Who has the power of deciding about what is to be done with it.
6) It happened, also on another sabbath day, that Yahushua had gone to teach in the synagogue of the area of the region of Galilee that He was in at the time; and there was a man, amongst the rest who were gathered together in the synagogue on that sabbath day, who had a withered right hand... withered right hand - 3584 xeros {xay-ros'} - a member of the body, a right hand in this case, that is deprived of its natural juices. Dried up and shrunken. Shriveled like a dried out plant or flower...
7) The scribes and Pharisees who were there watched Yahushua to see if He would heal on the sabbath day. So that they could find some way to bring an accusation against Him...
*** Note: Yahushua was already famous throughout the area for His ability of healing, in a manner that appeared to be commonplace for Him, everyone who came to Him with a sickness or condition of feebleness within their body or mind. According to all of the recorded accounts of His actions this was an accepted fact. Also, it was clearly recognized that no one else exhibited this power of all those who declared themselves to be masters of the "law". Though they considered themselves well capable of teaching, with their words and by example of the manner that they each lived their own lives, those whom they considered, metaphorically, to be "little children" in comprehending the torah which Yahuah gave to the forefathers of Israel. When it came to understanding the nuances of the "law" they were the elite. So it is clear that the jealous, critical eyes of the scribes and Pharisees were focused on finding some way to accuse Yahushua of breaking the "law" as they understood it. They purposefully placed themselves where they could watch Yahushua; and listen to His words as He taught while waiting for this event to take place...
8) But instead of being caught unaware by their methods and reasonings, Yahushua knew their thoughts and logic; and He said, to the man with the shriveled right hand: Stand up and step over here so that everyone can see you. The man stood up in the sight of everyone there.
9) Then, Yahushua spoke to everyone there; and said this: I will ask you all one thing. Is it lawful... 1832 exesti {ex'-es-tee} - on sabbath days, to do good... 15 agathopoeio {ag-ath-op-oy-eh'-o} - to do something which benefits others... to do something that is beneficial to someone... or to do evil... 2554 kakopoieo {kak-op-oy-eh'-o} - to do harm... to harm someone?... Is it legal... Is it lawful... to save... 4982 sozo {sode'-zo} - to rescue and preserve someone from danger or destruction... to save someone who is suffering from a disease... to heal someone and restore them to health... to give someone salvation from the condition that has overcome them...?, or to totally destroy?... 622 apollumi {ap-ol'-loo-mee} - to cause someone to die... to kill someone... to declare that someone must be put to death...?
10) Then, after looking all around at each of them, He spoke to the man with the withered hand and said: Reach out with your hand. He did so; and his shrunken, dried up hand was restored to its former state of soundness; and was just like his other hand.
11) They... the scribes and Pharisees sitting and standing all throughout the room... were filled with madness... 454 anoia {an'-oy-ah} - a lack of understanding which brings on madness expressing itself in rage... A raging condition of the mind that is brought on by a lack of understanding... In this case, an inability to comprehend what had just taken place; and how it could have happened through someone they considered to be a common, no account carpenter's son that proclaimed himself to be a master teacher of torah with no credentials. No proof at all was able to be presented that He had learned anything from a recognized master of the law. Not only has he done this; but he has had the audacity to have done it on a sabbath day! (Can you picture them, in your minds eye, FOAMING at the mouth with exasperation!)...; and they communed with one another... 1255 dialaleo {dee-al-al-eh'-o} - they conversed amongst themselves... they talked with one another... they spoke to one another out loud in the synagogue... about what they might do to Yahushua... a LOT of noisy conversation took place between them; and whatever quiet, worshipful atmosphere had existed in the synagogue while Yahushua had been teaching before the healing was done, was definitely gone!...; and they were speaking openly with each other about what they might be able to do to Yahushua... about how they might be able to use their authority to control Him, or to prevent Him, from teaching and demonstrating in this manner. Which was against their perception of how things ought to be done and said concerning "the law", or torah...
12) It also took place, during those days when He was traveling and teaching throughout the region of Galilee, that one day Yahushua went out and climbed up into a mountain to pray; and He continued praying to Yahuah up there all that night.
13) Then, when daylight came again, He called His disciples together; and from their many numbers He chose twelve. It was these twelve chosen disciples of His that He also named as His apostles... 652 aqpostolos {ap-os'-tol-os} - His delegates... His messengers... This was the name of the office that He assigned to these twelve. For they were chosen, by Him, to carry out His specific instructions in the light of what He taught, generally, to all of His disciples...
14) Yahushua chose Simon, whom He had surnamed Kephas,...
John 1:40-42 One of the two who heard Yochanan speak of Yahushua in this manner; and who then followed him... accompanied Yahushua wherever He went..., was Andrew, who was Simon's brother. 41 The first thing that Andrew did, after coming to Yahushua and joining Him, was to find his own brother; and say to him: We have found the Messias... 3323 {mes-see'-as} - Hebrew for "anointed"..., which is, being interpreted in Greek," the Christ"... 5547 Khristos {khris-tos'} - "anointed"... We have found the Anointed One... 42 Andrew then brought his brother to meet Yahushua; and when Yahushua looked at Simon with His eyes and considered him with the eyes of His mind, He said: "You are Simon, the son of Jona. You will be called Kephas... 2786 {kay-fas'}"..., which has the meaning of, by interpretation from the Aramaic language, "a stone".
returning to Luke 6:14...
... and Andrew, his brother, and Yacob and Yochanan... whose father was Zebedee..., and Philip... 5376 Philippos {fil'-ip-pos} - "lover of horses"... and Bartholemew... 918 Bartholomaios {bar-thol-om-ah'-yos} - Aramaic for "son of Tolmai"...;
15) Matthew... 3156 Matthaios {mat-thah'-yos} - "gift of Yahuah" - thought to be a son of Alphaeus..., and Thomas... 2381 {tho-mas'} - Aramaic for "a twin"..., and Yacob, whose father was Alphaeus, and Simon, who was surnamed Zelotes... 2208 {dzay-lo-tace} - the zealot... he who burns with zeal...;
16) Judas... 2455 Ioudas {ee-oo-das'} - Hebrew: Yahudah - "he shall be praised"... who, it is thought, is also the author of the Epistle of Jude...; and Judas of Iscariot... 2469 Iskariotes {is-kar-ee-o-tace} - "men of Kerioth", or in Hebrew: Yahudah, who came from the men of Kerioth..., who was also the traitor.
17) He then came down from the mountain with all of those who had followed Him up there; and He stood in the plain... 3977 pedinos {ped-ee-nos'} - a level place... a plain... 5117 topos {top'-os} - a place, or any portion or space that is marked off as separate from the surrounding space... He stood in a level place that was distinctly separate from the rest of the area... The company... 3793 ochlos {okh'-los} - the crowd... the multitude... of his disciples; and a great multitude of people who had come out from all of the region of Judea and Yerushalem; and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him speak and teach; and to be healed from their diseases;
18) Also, those who were vexed... 3791 ochleo {okh-leh'-o} - troubled... molested... disturbed... by unclean spirits came to Him in order to be cleansed from their condition; and they were all healed.
19) The whole multitude that was there sought to touch Him... 2212 zeteo {dzay-teh'-o} - craved something from Him... For power flowed out of Him; and all were healed... It did not matter the problem or condition. All who came to Yahushua, for whatever reason, were given what they came for... they were healed of whatever they were ailing from...
20) While He was standing there, Yahushua lifted His eyes and directed His gaze toward where His disciples were standing; and said this: Blessed... 3107 makarios {mak-ar'-ee-os} - You are someone who is blessed... You are someone who is in possession of the favor that can only come from Yahuah... if you are poor... 4434 ptochos {pto-khos'} - if you are someone who is utterly helpless... if you are completely destitute... because the kingdom... 932 basilieia {bas-il-i'-ah} - the royal power... the dominion... the right to rule within and over the kingdom... of Yahuah is yours.
Note: It is obvious that the condition of being poor to which Yahushua is referring is not a physical one. For that is a condition which continues to exist for a great many who have no hope of entering the kingdom of Yahuah, much less be able to rule and exercise authority within that kingdom, because they have no concept of the Truth and Nature of Yahuah. Yahushua was teaching the concepts and logic that can only exist for those who are chosen and called by Yahuah to be His Beloved People. This condition of being poor is, instead, one of being spiritually destitute, blind, and hungry; and completely unable to do anything about it. It is a condition of existence that must be recognized for what it Truly is. It cannot be recognized unless someone is looking beyond the obvious norm of the world order of thoughts and perceptions they now live in. Yahushua is, in this passage, bringing recognition to His Father's Order; and the differences between that Order and the one they now are a part of. The thoughts, logic, and perceptions of His Father have always existed; but they are now being re-established in a place where they are not recognized because of an obvious past history pointed to in the writings and prophecies of scripture. In fulfillment of prophecy. The parallel existence of the two natures..., the two kingdoms..., the two Orders of existence... is being pointed to and unveiled by Yahushua. History proves even now that what Yahushua has revealed here is, for most, a mystery that cannot be explained in terms of True Truth. For True Truth is not recognized by most now or in the past. Those who are able to recognize it, because of the enabling of the Spirit of Yahuah, constantly, now and throughout past history, struggle against the more popular comprehensions of Yahuah's Truth, Order, and Salvation which permeate all thought in this world order...
21) Blessed... 3107 makarios {mak-ar'-ee-os} - You are someone who is blessed... You are someone who is in possession of the favor that can only come from Yahuah... if you are someone who hungers... who is hungry now... "hungry" - 3983 peinao {pi-nah'-o} - used in a metaphorical sense here to mean: hungry for something other than literal food, famished because of a lack of something other than literal food, ardently craving something, seeking for something with an eager desire... now... 3568 nun {noon} - at this present time... right now in the unfolding of history... for you will be filled. Blessed... 3107 makarios {mak-ar'-ee-os} - You are someone who is blessed... You are someone who is in possession of the favor that can only come from Yahuah... if you are someone who weeps now... 2799 klaio {klah'-yo} - mourn, weep, lament... now... 3568 nun {noon} - at this present time, right now in the unfolding of history... Because you will laugh... 1070 gelao {ghel-ah'-o} - to laugh...
22) You are blessed... 3107 makarios {mak-ar'-ee-os} - You are someone who is blessed... You are someone who is in possession of the favor that can only come from Yahuah... when men hate you... 3404 miseo {mis-eh'-o} - when you are hated by men... when men pursue you with hatred...; and when they separate you... 873 aphorizo {af-or-id'-zo} - when they mark you as someone who is to be avoided..., and treat you with reproach... 3679 oneidzo {on-i-did'-zo} - falsely accuse you... speak to you, or about you, with abusive words... defame you or speak about you slanderously... and throw out... 1544 ekballo {ek-bal'-lo} - throw out, drive out, violently reject... your name... "your" 5216 humon {hoo-mone'} - of yours... "name" 3686 onoma {on'-om-ah} - your reputation... your memory... everything that is associated with your name and memory... as something that is evil... as an annoyance... as something that is to be avoided... for the sake of... for the cause of... on account of... the Son of man... Because of your association with the Son of man...
23) Rejoice in that day; and leap because of joy. For you can see your great... 4183 polus {pol-oos'} - large, many, much... reward... 3408 misthos {mis-thos'} - the reward you have coming to you, wether positive or negative, as a result of the works done in the natural course of your life... the wages you have earned... the abundance of fruit that comes naturally as a result of your endeavors and labors... in heaven... in the place where only Yahuah and His beloved ones dwell... Understand this about yourselves; and about those who treat you in this manner. Because their forefathers treated the prophets that Yahuah had sent to them, in the same way...
Question: What makes "their forefathers" not the same as the forefathers of those of Yahushua's disciples that He was teaching an awareness of these blessings to? What is the difference?
Note: An interesting tidbit of perceptual reasoning is brought to the front of the mind here as the master teacher, Yahushua, speaks to all of His disciples following Him at the time; and teaches them about who and what they each are. We must not ignore it. Because Yahushua is not pointing to a literal, genealogical, DNA traced back to Abraham sort of forefather when He speaks of this difference. Even though that argument can be made. For it is true that all of those to whom He is currently speaking are able to call Abraham their father. Because Abraham is the forefather of their existence as children of the promise through the seedline, or line of genealogical descent, which first began with his second son, Isaac. However, Yahushua is pointing, with His words, to a major difference that exists within and among all of those who are a part of that fleshly heritage. Because He is deliberately speaking of a perceptually driven behavior and a contextual manner of thinking in His reference to those forefathers who thought and behaved toward Yahuah and the prophets, that He had sent to warn them, in the manner that history records. He is clearly defining and revealing the domains of two kingdoms... the simultaneous existence of two natures... two realms of order... which are able to be found existing and not recognizing each others power within all of those who call themselves "sons of Abraham".
Just as He did when speaking to the scribes and Pharisees at another time concerning their father... the father, or founder of the perception driven behavior that they themselves were exhibiting in their belief of lies and promotions of false comprehensions... For Yahushua spoke of the adversary of Yahuah; and the originator of all lies and false accusations when He said: You are from your father. The False Accuser and Slanderer of Yahuah!...
John 8:43-47 Why don't you understand my speech? Because you can't hear my word... Because you cannot perceive the sense of what I am saying... 44 Because... You have come from your father... 3962 pater {pat-ayr'} - you have come from the one who has infused his own spirit into you through his inspirations; and it is he who now governs your minds... I speak of the devil... 1228 diabolos {dee-ab'-ol-os} - the false accuser and slanderer...; and it is the desires of your father that you will do. He was a murderer since the beginning; and he did not remain in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of what belongs to, and what is appropriate for, himself. For he is a liar; and the father of all lying; 45 And... And now I further clarify the logical path that I follow ..., because I point out what the truth is with what I say; and you do not believe me. 46 ... Logic dictates that this question has to be asked since you do not believe me... Which of you is able to convict me of sin?... Who is among you that can expose sin... lawlessness... existing within me?... a pause here for the rhetorical question to sink in; and the answer obviously is: None of you!... So, if I speak the truth..., because none of you us able to accuse me of lawlessness... of not conforming to the law of Yahuah's Order and Nature..., then why don't you believe me? 47 ...The answer that Yahushua gives now is painfully, logically obvious... He that is of Yahuah... Whoever is a part of Yahuah... whoever belongs to Yahuah and is a part of Him... hears Yahuah's words! You, for this reason, do not hear them because you are not of... you are not a part of... you do not belong to... Yahuah...
Yahuhshua is clearly pointing out a division, in both of these accounts, within the rank and file of all that make up the innumerable descendants of Abraham through his son Isaac. Not all who are descendants of Abraham are the beloved of Yahuah. Not all who call Abraham "father", for whatever reason, have had their names written in the Book of the Living since before the foundation of the world... For not all are a part of Yahuah... Yahushua is truly performing the labors and endeavors of His Father's Business... For He is speaking hope, salvation, and cause for rejoicing to the spiritually helpless and destitute ones living in a realm where they cannot reach Yahuah even though they desire Him and seek His face. For He knows that He is the gateway to His Father's Realm that they must come through; and He is warning those who think they have what they do not about the misery and loss that they will realize... He is speaking to both the wheat and the tares at the same time... This is a Selah moment!... For the same division between the two spiritual natures... the two kingdoms... the two realms of Order... continues to exist now. All over the earth. Even among all who name the name of Yahushua as the Master to Whom they belong... No wonder our hearts cry out for unity and Shalom between us!...
Back to Luke 6:
24) ... Yahushua, still speaking to all of His disciples; but more directly to the ones who are in danger because they cannot truly "hear" His word, says this:... But... G4133 plen {plane} - besides that... except for this... woe... H0337 'iy {ee} - alas, woe... intense, grevious distress - reflective of a state of anguish, misery, or suffering... expressed by those who are giving voice to their condition by use of the word H0188 'owy {o'-ee} - passionate cry of grief or despair... in the greek language, the word is 3759 ouai {oo-ah'-ee} ... to you who are rich!... to you who place great faith in your abundance of material wealth and social status... Because you already have received the full measure of your consolation... 3874 paraklesis {par-ak'-lay-sis} - your comfort, exhortation, encouragement, - whatever supplies comfort or refreshment to your spirit...
25) Woe... H0188 'owy {o'-ee} - passionate cry of grief or despair... in the greek language, the equivalent word is 3759 ouai {oo-ah'-ee} ... to you who are full!... 1705 empiplemi {em-pip'-lay-mee} - to you who are filled up and satisfied... To you who are content with their state or condition of existence now... Because you will hunger... 3983 peinao {pi-nah'-o} - you will be hungry... you will crave and seek with eager desire... Woe... H0188 'owy {o'-ee} - passionate cry of grief or despair... in the greek language, the equivalent word is 3759 ouai {oo-ah'-ee} ... to you who laugh now!... to you who now, because of your perception of reality, are laughing and rejoicing... Because you will mourn and weep with pain and grief...
26) Woe... H0188 'owy {o'-ee} - passionate cry of grief or despair... in the greek language, the equivalent word is 3759 ouai {oo-ah'-ee} ... to you, when everyone will speak well of you! Because that is what their forefathers did to the false prophets... Again! - the distinction between forefathers - those who were accepting of and guided by the inspiration of the false accuser and slanderer of Yahuah as they followed their perception of torah; and those who listened to and obeyed the voice and spirit of the nature of Yahuah given through the torah...
27) But... G235 alla {al-lah'} - in this sense used as a continuation of the discourse - but now... I am speaking to those who hear me... to those who can perceive the sense of what I am saying... in context with what we have learned from John 8:43-47 - But now I am speaking to those of you who are here and can understand what I am talking about because you belong to and are a part of Yahuah... and I say this to you: Love your enemies... dearly love those who call themselves, or express themselves as, your enemies... Do good to those who hate you... Do good to those who hate you because you are associated with me...
*** Remember verse 22? ... You are someone who is blessed... You are someone who is in possession of the favor that can only come from Yahuah... when you are hated by men... when men pursue you with hatred... and when they mark you as someone who is to be avoided..., and when they falsely accuse you... speak to you, or about you, with abusive words... defame you or speak about you slanderously... and throw out, drive out, violently reject... everything that is associated with your name and memory... and treat you as an annoyance... as something that is to be avoided... Because of your association with the Son of man...
... Bless those who curse you... those who invoke or wish a curse on you...; and pray for those who despitefully use you... 1908 epereazo {ep-ay-reh-ad'-zo} - falsely accuse you, treat you abusively, insult you...
29) To the one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other as well; and do not forbid... 2967 koluo {ko-loo'-o} - do not try to prevent, do not try to hinder,... do not try to resist against and prevent ... the one who takes away... 1425 airo {ah'-ee-ro} - to take away, remove, or appropriate - in the sense of lifting something away with violent force and authority - whatever belongs to another or has been entrusted to their care... your cloak... 2440 himation {him-at'-ee-on} - any garment that belongs to you... from taking your coat either.... "coat" 5509 chiton {khee-tone'} - your undergarment - in Hebrew it is 3801 kethoneth {keth-o'-neth} - tunic, or undergarment - a long shirt-like garment usually made of linen and worn next to the skin...
So, for clarity - do not try to prevent the one who takes your clothes away from you from taking your underwear either...
30) Give to anyone who asks for something from you; and, do not ask for anything back from the one who takes away... 1425 airo {ah'-ee-ro} - who takes away, removes, or appropriates - in the sense of lifting something away with violent force and authority... your goods... whatever is yours..., - Do not ask anyone who has taken, with whatever form of force and authority that they may use, anything that belongs to you to return what they have taken.
*** It takes greater strength to be meek... to trust in Yahuah's promises and give... to hold yourself back with self control and not resist... than it does to be weak, without any kind of faith, and unable to resist at all. This parallel, true perception of what "survival of the fittest" means is not understood by those who have the father of the other kingdom, nature, and order governing their thoughts, feelings, and actions. SELAH!
31) Furthermore, just as you desire anyone to do anything to you, you are to do whatever you do to them in the same manner.
32) Because you must understand and ask yourself this question: If you dearly love and have compassion for only those who love you, then what thank have you?... 5485 charis {khar'-ece} - grace... , then what characteristics of the grace that has been given to you exist within you?... if this is your behavior, then what proof is exhibited by you that the loving kindness and goodwill of Yahuah has been bestowed upon you exists at all?... for sinners... 268 hamartolos {ham-ar-to-los"} - those who are devoted to sin... to lawlessness... those who are lawless in their behavior and character... lawless because they are not governed by the nature and spirit of Yahuah... also dearly love those who love them.
33) And, if you do good those who do good to you, then what thank have you?... 5485 charis {khar'-ece} - grace... , then what characteristics of the grace that has been given to you exist within you?... if this is your behavior, then what proof is exhibited by you that the loving kindness and goodwill of Yahuah has been bestowed upon you exists at all?... Because sinners... 268 hamartolos {ham-ar-to-los"} - those who are devoted to sin... to lawlessness... those who are lawless in their behavior and character... those who are lawless because they are not governed by the nature and spirit of Yahuah... do those same things... are governed, from within themselves, by the same logic...
34) Furthermore, ask yourselves this question: If you lend money, or anything else, only to those whom you have a hope of receiving... recovering... what you have lent to them, then what thank have you?... 5485 charis {khar'-ece} - grace... , then what characteristics of the grace that has been given to you exist within you?... if this is your behavior, then what proof is exhibited by you that the loving kindness and goodwill of Yahuah has been bestowed upon you exists at all?... Because sinners also lend to sinners in order to receive... recover... back again what they have lent out.
*** A note: Notice that usury, or interest bearing loans, are not even mentioned here. Yahushua is speaking to "sons of Abraham" through Isaac and Yacob, who are Israelites, regardless of their nature driven perceptions; and it is a given that the torah explicitly forbids such a practice among the Israelite brethren...
35) But... G4133 plen {plane} - besides all that I have just said, I now reiterate and summarize... You are to love your enemies; and you are to do good to them; and you are to lend money without any hope or expectation of getting back again what you have lent out. Do these things in this manner... follow this logic and perception of reality, because you are able to comprehend it as I say it, and conduct yourselves throughout your lives in this manner...; and you will be... will always be... the children of the Most High. Because He is kind toward the unthankful and the evil ones.
*** "Think, Feel, and Behave this way and you will always be the children of the Most High"... This is, again, a reference to "who is your father" , and "who your father is not", from a spiritual perception of True Truth. Given by Yahushua to those who can understand the sense of what He is saying to them. We do not know how many there are. Those who could not grasp the meaning of what He said at that time, then and now, are, by His own logic and definition, not a part of Yahuah; and do not belong to Him...
36) For this reason, you are to be merciful... 3629 oiktermon {oyk-tir'-mone} - compassionate, merciful... Be just like your Father Who is also merciful.
*** Note: Here, Yahushua anchors down the other side of the "Who is your father?" argument that He has been presenting to the many students that are gathered around Him in this large, flat, open area; and distinctly states that those who can perceive the sense of what He is saying to them are children of the Father who is the originator of the concept of true mercy... in Hebrew, an appropriate word would be 7355 racham {raw-kham'} - a primitive root which means to love... to love deeply... to be compassionate toward... to have tender affection for... to show kindness or goodwill toward... A greek term for mercy is 1656 eleos {el'-eh-os} - which indicates a disposition of kindness or good will toward those who are miserable, and those who are afflicted, which is combined with a desire to help them get out of their condition of misery and afflictions... This concept of mercy indicates that the one showing this disposition is capable of doing something, literally, about the condition or state that someone else is in because of their circumstances. It is not simply a frame of mind that requires no action. This is not pity with no help offered. This is a form of mercy that is not selfishly motivated in any way; and the aid that is given freely, to those on whom such compassion is bestowed, is an action that is taken without any expectation or thought of receiving anything in return... No repayment expected or sought after, of any sort. Ever...
The next few verses are an extension of the idea of being merciful that the Master, Yahushua, is teaching to those who can "hear" Him...
37) Don't judge... 2919 krino {kree'-no} - form an opinion of right and wrong... Don't form an opinion of whether the one you are being merciful toward is in the state he/she is in because of a right or a wrong that he/she has done...; and you will not be judged... 2919 krino {kree'-no} - form an opinion of right and wrong... and you, who are being truly merciful, will not have an opinion formed about you, of whether you are in the condition you are in because of a right or a wrong that you have done, by the One Who is showing you mercy in the form of the prophetical blessings which I have already spoken about... (in verses 20-23)...
Note: Notice that Yahushua said that only those whose Father is Yahuah, Who is the originator of the Order and state of existence that they innately desire, deeply long for, and are unable to obtain, even if they cannot explain it, are they who are the poor, hungry, lamenting and weeping ones which Yahushua refers to as those who will receive those blessings... AND notice, that all of those who fit that description at that time, are of Israel through the seedline of Isaac, Yacob; and Abraham... At this time there are no gentiles. No foriegners of Israel, who have no concept of Yahuah, are being spoken to by Yahushua on this day...
... Do not condemn... 2613 katadikazo {kat-ad-ik-ad'-zo} - Do not, in the opinions that you form, pass a sentence of condemnation on those to whom you are being truly merciful toward...; and you will not have a sentence of condemnation passed on you... by the One who shows you His compassion through the blessings He gives to you... (again, see verses 20-23 of this chapter)... Forgive... 630 apoluo {ap-ol-oo'-o} - set free... release a debtor - do not impress a sense of duty or debt on the one(s) whom you are truly being merciful toward and are giving aid to in order that their afflictions or miserable condition of life is eased or changed for the better... and you will be forgiven... Do this and you, yourself will not be held accountable in any way for any sense of debt or responsibility for repayment of the mercy that has been shown to you... Do not, when truly showing mercy to others, try to decide who is deserving of that compassion, for whatever reason, and who is not...
38) Give... 1325 didomi {did'-o-mee} - in this context - give freely, willfully, intentionally... Give with no sense of regret or of being forced to do so, whatever is in your power and ability to give to those whom you are being truly merciful toward... and it... this mercy, loving kindness, and goodwill... will be given to you. Good measure... 3358 metron {met'-ron} - With a good standard of measurement that is not tainted or profaned by unjust weights and balances set up in order to show a pretence of mercy... a measurement of mercy that is pressed down and shaken together... like grain in a basket is pressed down and shaken to get all air pockets out and to make sure all the small spaces in the container are being filled... a measurement which is running over the edges of its container with fulness,... the text: "will men give into your bosom" - should be - will be placed in your bosom... 2859 kolpos {kol'-pos} - the front of the body between the arms... or the bosom of a garment - the hollow formed by the upper front part of a loose garment that is belted by a sash or girdle which is used for holding or carrying things... For the same sense of measurement that you portion out these things with... these aids and comforts, whether material, psychological, and spiritual, or all at the same time... will be used to measure things back to you... by the one who is showing you mercy and help through the blessings that have been promised...
39) Then, Yahushua spoke a parable... 3850 parabole { par-ab-ol-ay'} - a narrative of comparison in which things are figuratively and metaphorically portrayed to present a point of teaching... to them all, for He said: Can those who are blind... 5185 tuphlos {toof-los"} - blind, or mentally blind... lead blind... 5185 tuphlos {toof-los"} - blind, or mentally blind... people? Won't they all fall into a ditch?... literally or metaphorically...?
40) The disciple... the student... is not above his master... the one to whom he belongs because of being taught by him... When a student is in a place of being instructed, then that student, in a literal sense and figuratively, belongs to that instructor as the teacher shapes and molds the thoughts and behaviors of his disciples; and those who are instructed cannot place themselves above their instructor in status and standing for as long as they belong to him... but; everyone who is perfect... anyone who has been fully taught and knows everything... every thought process and behavioral motive... that his instructor knows... will be like his master...
*** Note: Can you hear that the question(s) being begged by Master Yahushua from all who are listening to Him, whether they get what He is saying or not, is: Who is my Master? Who is the one who is teaching me? Or, in the light of the revealing words that Yahushua has just been speaking: Who is the father of my thoughts, feelings, motives and actions? Who will I be like when all teaching is said and done by the father of my thoughts and motives? For they all, who were Yahushua's disciples at that time, must have been thinking: I have to ask this question of myself now, because it has just been proven to me, through what the master teacher, Yahushua has been speaking of, that my genealogical lineage through Isaac to Abraham is not the irrefutable proof of who and what I am in the perception of YHWH...
Yahushua takes the logical thought process that He has begun; and goes further...
41) And... There is more, for I have this to say: Why do you see... 991 blepo {blep'-o} - Why do you percieve, or metaphorically discern, the mote... the speck... the piece of straw or chaff... that is in your brother's eye... 3788 ophthalmos {of-thal-mos'} - in a literal sense - the physical eye... here used in a metaphorical sense - the eyes of the mind... the inherent capability of knowing... Why do you see, with the eyes of your mind, the speck of contamination in the eyes of your brother's mind;... but, do not percieve the beam... the huge contamination of your own thought process and logical base for behavior... that is in your own eye... your own mind's eye...
43) Or, how is it that you can say to your brother: Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in your eye... Brother, let me remove the small speck of faulty logic... the tiny bit of incorrect thought process... that I percieve is in the eyes of your mind... Let me correct your thinking, because I can discern a small flaw in your logic; and therefore, your behavior... When you, yourself, know that you cannot understand Truth because of the beam... the huge block of flawed logic, perception, and perspective... that is your own mind's eye. You hypocrite! What you ought to do first is take whatever steps that are necessary to throw the huge block of profaned, flawed perspectives out of the perceptions of your own mind; and it is then that you are capable of seeing clearly enough to pull out the small speck that is in your brother's eye... It is then, because you can percieve True Truth, that you are able to correct the small flaws in the thinking and logical perceptions of Truth that are in the mind of your brother... IF they still exist by that time!!!...
43) Because a good... 2570 kalos {kal-os'} - a useful, praiseworthy, commendable... tree does not produce corrupt... 4550 sapros {sap-ros'} - rotten, putrefied, bad quality, inedible... fruit. Neither will a corrupt... 4550 sapros {sap-ros'} - worthless, rotten, unfit for use... tree produce good... 2570 kalos {kal-os'} - useful, praiseworthy, commendable... fruit.
44) For every tree is known for what it is because of the fruit it produces from within itself. Because you know that men do not gather figs from thorny plants which produce brambles; and neither do they harvest grapes from a bramble bush.
45) So it is, then, that a good man produces whatever is good from the good treasure that is in his heart; and an evil man produces whatever is evil from the evil treasure of his heart. Because the man's mouth speaks words in order to declare his mind and disclose his thoughts from the abundance of whatever treasure is in his heart.
46) So then,... with those points having been made in this manner, I ask this question: Can you tell me... why it is that you call me master... Can you tell me why you call me your master teacher... Can you tell me why you refer to me as the one to whom you belong; and who shapes and molds you;... and yet, you do not do the things that I speak to you about?
47) Whoever it is that comes to me and hears... perceives the sense of... my sayings... my teachings...; and then does them... and then does the things that I have been teaching him to do..., I will show you to whom he is like.
48) He is like a man who had built a house; and in the process had dug down deep into the earth and laid the foundation of the house on a rock. So that when the flood rose up, the force of the current crashed against that house; and could not shake it loose from its foundation. Because it had its foundation established on a rock.
49) But he who hears and understands what is being said by me and does not do what he hears, is like a man who, without laying a foundation at all, built a house on top of the ground. The force of water that was caused by the flooding crashed against that house; and it fell immediately. It was completely torn apart.
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Compare with :Matthew 5:1-48
