Category: Theology

This section contains papers on the theology of the Bible. Many texts have been literally rendered so that a non-Hebrew-reading person can see what the Hebrew actually says.

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Crucifixion Texts Sorted and Reconciled

Crucifixion Texts

Sorted and Reconciled

 

Preface

I have taken several liberties in order to reconcile the four accounts of the crucifixion. Where sentences said the very same thing, I used only one. Where wording differed a little, I used both. Where resorting was necessary, I proposed a sorting. I used Yeshua instead of Jesus, and changed a few names to reflect the Hebrew (since folks used Hebrew and its derivative rather than Greek when conversing with each other). I also put the times in bold, since this document’s primary purpose was to solve the mystery of the times of the events during the crucifixion.

 

I did this reconciliation using a table with five columns, the first column being for my section headings and the other four being for Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

 

I am aware that the term Jews is used in a different way in these books (since nearly all the characters are Jews), often referring to a sect known as the Yehudeem, but which can only be translated as the Jews. This sect had righteous folks like Nicodemus and violent folks who were leaders in the plots against Yeshua. I trust that you, the reader, will have enough sense to know the difference as you read. The majority of Jews knew nothing of these events until they were done, and the same majority had a strong appreciation for Yeshua, though they didn’t consider Him deity, a king or the Messiah. They liked the miracles that He did, and how He spoke out against some leaders who were openly attempting to stop Him through any means including violence. Most leaders of Israel were not in this category. Only a few of the Israelis at that time strongly believed Yeshua to be the Messiah. Many including John the Baptist hoped He would set up His kingdom, and were severely disappointed that He didn’t. Fewer yet had any belief that He was deity. Yeshua’s ministry and teachings gave hope to Israel during a very troubling time of Roman occupation.

 

I had to do this reconciliation in order to solve the mystery of the times of day. The one that specifically stood out was the one in Mark:

 

Mark 15:24 And when they had crucified Him, they parted His garments, casting lots upon them—what every man should take. 25And it was the third hour. And they crucified Him.

 

This seemed to have Him crucified at 9:00 a.m., while the other texts had Pilate still judging Him at noon. I propose that verse 25’s “And it was the third hour” actually refers back to verse 16 when the soldiers led Yeshua into the hall to mock and cloth him with purple. The following verses (16-24) seem to be an account of what specifically the soldiers did to Yeshua from the time He was led away until after the crucifixion. Yeshua was delivered to the soldiers to be crucified in verse 15. The second half of verse 25 said, “And they crucified Him.” They did many things to Him before the actual crucifixion. Is it possible that verses 16-24 are a window into all that the soldiers did before, during and after the crucifixion? I have seen where additional information appears when texts on the very same topic are sewn together. Saul’s meeting with Yeshua on the road to Damascus has three versions in Acts. When they are sewn together, the reader can see what could not be seen before: that Yeshua made sure that Saul’s fellow travelers could not hear Him at first during which time He described what Saul would do for Him. Yeshua then makes sure that they can hear His instructions about where Saul needs to go/be taken. Had his compatriots heard what Yeshua had in mind for him, they would have sought to kill him. But hearing only where they needed to take him, they delivered him after hearing the voice of God or an angel, and they had no ethical or moral dilemma.

 

I do not offer this as proof to you regarding the resolution of this apparent conflict, but only state that I was quite satisfied. I do hope that the flow and details of these events in this document will be of some benefit to you. Please feel free to copy this (and any other useful work on this website), and use it in any way you desire.

 

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Delivery to Pontius Pilate

And immediately when the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Yeshua to put Him to death. The chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And when they had bound Him, the whole multitude of them arose. They then led and carried Yeshua away and delivered Him from Caiaphas unto the Hall of Judgment, to Pontius Pilate the governor. And it was early. And they themselves didn’t go into the Hall of Judgment lest they should be defiled, but so that they might eat the Passover.

 

 

Judas, Hanging, Field of Blood

Then Judas who had betrayed Him repented Himself when he saw that He was condemned, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders saying, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? See thou to that!” And he cast down the pieces of silver in the Temple. And he departed.

 

And he went and hanged himself.

 

And the chief priests took the silver pieces. And they said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.” And they took counsel. And they bought the potter’s field with them in which to bury strangers. Therefore that field was called “The field of blood” unto this day. Then that which was spoken by Zechariah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value, and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.”

 

 

First Accusation before Pilate

And Yeshua stood before the governor. Pilate then went out unto them. And he said, “What accusation do ye bring against this man?” They answered and said unto him, “If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee!” Then Pilate said unto them, “Take ye Him and judge Him according to your Law.” The Jews therefore said unto Him, “It is not lawful for us to put any man to death” (that the saying of Yeshua that He spoke might be fulfilled, signifying what death He should die).

 

And the chief priests accused Him of many things.

 

And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the race and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Messiah—a King!” And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.

 

Then Pilate asked Him again. And he said unto Him, saying, “Answerest thou nothing? Behold how many things they witness against Thee!” But Yeshua still answered him never a word insomuch that Pilate the governor greatly marveled.

 

And Pilate the governor asked Him, saying, “Thou art the King of the Jews.” And Yeshua answered and said unto him, “Thou sayest.”

 

 

Pilate Asks Again about King of the Jews

Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again. And he called Yeshua. And he said unto Him, “Thou art the King of the Jews.” Yeshua answered Him, “Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell thee it about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Thine own race and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me. What hast thou done?” Yeshua answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight so that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from here now.” Pilate therefore said unto Him, “Thou art a king then.” Yeshua answered, “Thou sayest that I am a king. I was born to this end, and I came into the world for this cause, that I should bear witness unto the Truth. Every one that is of the Truth hearkens to my voice.” Pilate says unto Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews.

 

 

Herod’s Jurisdiction

Then Pilate said to the chief priests and to the people, “I find no fault in this man.” And they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry beginning from Galilee to this place!” When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man was a Galilaean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod who also himself was at Jerusalem at that time.

 

 

Herod Sees Yeshua

And when Herod saw Yeshua, he was exceeding glad. For he was desirous to see Him from a long season, because he had heard many things of Him. And he hoped to have seen some miracle done by Him.

 

 

Herod and Soldiers Mock

He then questioned with Him in many words. But He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. And Herod with his men of war set Him at nothing. And they mocked Him. And they arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe. And they sent Him again to Pilate. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together, for they were previously at enmity between themselves.

 

 

Pilate’s Wife

When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him saying, “Have thou nothing to do with that righteous man! For I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him.”

 

 

No Fault Even from Herod

And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, said unto them, “Ye have brought this man unto me as one who perverts the people. And behold, I have found no fault in this man touching those things of which ye accuse Him, having examined Him before you—no, nor yet Herod. For I sent you to him. And behold, nothing worthy of death is done unto Him. I find no fault in Him at all. I will therefore chastise Him and release Him.”

 

 

Traditional Release

Now, the governor of necessity was wont to release unto the people one prisoner at that feast—whom they desired. Therefore when they were gathered together, the shouting multitude began to desire him to do as he had always done unto them.

 

 

About Barabbas

And they then had a notable prisoner called Barabbas who was a robber, and was cast into prison for a certain sedition made in the city, who lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

 

 

Offer to Release Barabbas or Yeshua

Pilate the governor answered and said unto them, “Ye have a custom that I should release one unto you at the Passover. Which of the two do ye desire that I release unto you? Barabbas or Yeshua Who is called Messiah? Desire ye therefore that I release the King of the Jews unto you?” For he knew that the chief priests had delivered Him for envy.

 

 

Moving the People for Barabbas’ Release

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude. And they moved the people so that they should ask Barabbas—that he should instead release Barabbas unto them and destroy Yeshua. They said, “Barabbas!”

 

 

What to Do with Yeshua?

And Pilate answered. And he again said unto them, “What do ye desire then that I shall do with Yeshua who is called Messiah?” They all say unto him, “He shall be crucified!” And the governor said, “Why? What evil has He done?” But they shouted the more saying, “He shall be crucified!”

 

 

What Again to do with Yeshua?

And Pilate answered. And he again said unto them, “What do ye desire then that I shall do unto Him whom ye call the King of the Jews?” And they shouted again, “Crucify him!” Then Pilate said unto them, “Why? What evil has He done?” And they shouted the more exceedingly, “Crucify him!” And they shouted all at once, saying, “Away with this man! And release Barabbas unto us!” Pilate therefore spoke again to them, willing to release Yeshua. But they shouted, saying, “Crucify him!” “Crucify him!”

 

 

The Third Time

And he said unto them the third time, “Why? What evil has He done? I have found no cause of death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him, and let Him go.”

 

Pilate therefore went forth again. And he says unto them, “Behold, I bring Him forth to you so that ye may know that I find no fault in Him.”

 

 

Requiring that Yeshua be crucified

And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that He would be crucified. Then they all shouted again saying, “Not this man, but Barabbas!”

 

 

Voices Prevail; Pilate Washes His Hands

And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that a tumult was instead made, he took water. And he washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. See ye to it!” Then all the people answered and said, “His blood is on us and on our children!” And so Pilate, willing to content the people, then released Barabbas unto them who was cast into prison for sedition and murder, whom they had desired.

 

 

Praetorium: Stripping Yeshua

Then the soldiers of the governor took Yeshua and led Him into the common hall called Praetorium. And they call. And they gathered the whole band of soldiers unto Him. And it was the third hour. And they stripped Him.

 

 

Clothing Yeshua

And they clothed Him with a purple robe. And they put a scarlet robe on Him.

 

 

Crown of Thorns

And when the soldiers had platted a crown of thorns, they put it around upon His head, and a reed in His right hand.

 

 

Bowing before Yeshua

And they bowed the knee before Him. And they mocked Him. And they began to salute Him saying, “Shalom, King of the Jews!” And they smote Him with their hands. And they spit upon Him. And they took the reed, and smote Him on the head. And they worshipped Him, bowing their knees.

 

Then Yeshua came forth wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate says unto them, “Behold the man!” Therefore when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him!” “Crucify Him!” Pilate says unto them, “Take ye Him and crucify Him! For I find no fault in Him.”

 

 

He Ought to Die by Our Law

The Jews answered Him, “We have a law, and by our law he ought to die because he made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid.

 

And he went again into the Hall of Judgment. And he says unto Yeshua, “From where art thou?” But Yeshua gave him no answer. Then Pilate says unto Him, “Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee and have power to release thee?” Yeshua answered, “Thou couldest have no power against me at all except it were given thee from above. Therefore he who delivered me unto thee has the greater sin.”

 

And Pilate sought to release Him from thenceforth.

 

But the Jews shouted saying, “If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend. Whosoever makes Himself a king speaks against Caesar!” When therefore Pilate heard that saying, he brought Yeshua forth.

 

And he sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he says unto the Jews, “Behold your King!” But they shouted, “Away with Him!” “Away with Him!” “Crucify Him!” Pilate says unto them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

 

And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. Then Pilate therefore took Yeshua. And he scourged Him. And he delivered Yeshua unto them to be crucified when he had scourged Him. And he delivered Yeshua to their will.

 

And after they had mocked Him, they took the robe off from Him and put His own raiment on Him. And they took Yeshua. And they led Him away to crucify Him.

 

 

Simon of Cyrene Bears His Cross

And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, Simon by name, who passed by coming out of the country. They then laid hold upon him. And they laid the cross on him so that he would carry it behind Yeshua. And they compelled him to bear His cross.

 

 

A Large Company Follows; Prophecy

And a great company of people followed Him there, and of women who also bewailed and lamented Him. But Yeshua turning unto them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me. But weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming in which they shall say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never breastfed!’ Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’—and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”

 

 

Arriving at Golgotha; Two Thieves

And they bring Him. And there were also two others—malefactors—two thieves, led with Him to be put to death, crucified with Him. And He went forth into a place that is called Golgotha in Hebrew, which is being interpreted, ‘The place of a skull’, bearing His cross. And when they were come to the place that is called Skull, they crucified Him and the malefactors there—one on the right hand and the other on the left, and Yeshua in the midst. And the Scripture that says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors” was fulfilled.

 

 

Poison Vinegar

And they gave Him vinegar to drink mingled with poison. And when He had tasted thereof, He would not drink.

 

 

Wine Mingled with Myrrh

And they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He didn’t receive it.

 

 

Parting Garments and Casting Lots

And the soldiers then took His raiment. And they parted His garments, casting lots upon them—what every man should take. And they made four parts—a part to every soldier, and also His coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They therefore said among themselves, “We shall not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be” so that the Scripture that says, “They parted my raiment among them, and they did cast lots for my vesture” and what was spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled.

 

Therefore the soldiers did these things. And they watched Him there, sitting down.

 

 

“Father, Forgive Them”

Then Yeshua said, “Father, forgive them. For they don’t know what they are doing.”

 

 

Watching Yeshua

And the people stood beholding. And the rulers with them also derided Him, saying, “He saved others! He shall save himself if he is the Messiah, the chosen of God!”

 

Now His mother and His mother’s sister, Miriam the wife of Cleophas and Miriam of the Tower stood there by the cross of Yeshua. When Yeshua therefore saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He says unto His mother, “Woman, behold thy son!” Then He says to the disciple, “Behold thy mother!” And that disciple took her unto his own home from that hour.

 

 

Written Sign: King of the Jews

And Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And they set up His accusation over His head. And the superscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew, “THIS IS YESHUA OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS”. Many of the Jews then read this title. For the place where Yeshua was crucified was nigh to the city. And it was written in Hebrew and Greek and Latin.

 

Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Write not, ‘The King of the Jews’, but that he said, ‘I am King of the Jews’.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written!”

 

 

“Save Thyself!”

And they who passed by reviled and railed on Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Ah, thou who destroys the Temple and builds it in three days, save thyself! If thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross!” Likewise also, the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocking Him said among themselves, “He saved others! He cannot save himself! If he is the Messiah the King of Israel, he shall now descend from the cross so that we may see and believe! And we will believe him! He trusted in God. He shall deliver him now, if He will have him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God!’” The thieves also who were crucified with Him reviled Him and cast the same in His teeth.

 

 

One Thief Turns

And one of the malefactors who were hanged railed on Him, saying, “If thou art Messiah, save thyself and us!”

 

But the other answering rebuked him, saying, “Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?—and we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man has done nothing amiss.”

 

And he said unto Yeshua, “Sir, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.” And Yeshua said unto him, “I say unto thee, faith! Today thou shalt be with me in paradise!”

 

 

Darkness from Sixth to Ninth Hour

And when the sixth hour was come, there was a darkness over all the land from the sixth hour until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened. And the veil of the Temple was torn in the midst.

 

 

Ninth Hour: “Eli”

And about at the ninth hour, Yeshua shouted with a loud voice saying, “Eloi! Eloi! Lama sabachthani?”—that is to say, being interpreted, “My God! My God! Why hast Thou forsaken me?” And when they heard that, some of them that stood by there said, “Behold, he calls Elijah! This man calls for Elijah!”

 

 

Vinegar to Drink

After this, Yeshua, knowing that all things were now accomplished so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, says, “I thirst.” Now a vessel full of vinegar was set there. And one of them immediately ran, and took a sponge. And they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, a reed, and put it to His mouth, and gave Him to drink saying, “Let alone! We shall see whether Elijah will come to take Him down! Let be! We shall see whether Elijah will come to save him!”

 

 

Yeshua Dies

When Yeshua therefore had received the vinegar, He said, “It is finished!”

 

And when Yeshua had shouted again with a loud voice, He said, “Father! I commend my spirit into Thy hands!” And having said thus, He bowed His head. And He yielded up the spirit.

 

 

Centurion’s Observation

Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “This was certainly a righteous man!”

 

And when the centurion saw that He so shouted and gave up the spirit, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

 

 

Women Beholding

And all the people that came together to that sight smote their breasts and returned, beholding the things that were done. There were also many women beholding afar off, among whom was Miriam of the Tower, and Miriam the mother of Jacob the less and of Joses, and Salome, and the mother of Zebedee’s children—who also followed Him and ministered unto Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up unto Jerusalem with Him. And all His acquaintance and the women who followed Him from Galilee stood afar off, beholding these things.

 

 

Breaking Legs

The Jews therefore besought Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away so that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day. For that Sabbath day was a high day, because it was the Preparation. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Yeshua and saw that He was already dead, they didn’t break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear. And blood and water came straight out there.

 

 

Joseph of Arimathaea

And behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counselor. And he was a good and a righteous man. The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them. He was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate and begged the body of Yeshua.

 

And he took it down and wrapped it in linen. And he laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone in which man was never before laid. And that day was the Preparation. And the Sabbath drew on.

 

And also the women who came with Him from Galilee followed after. And they beheld the sepulchre and how His body was laid. And they returned and prepared spices and ointments. And they rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.

 

 

Veil Torn, Graves Open, Centurion

And, behold, the veil of the Temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. And the earth did quake, and the rocks tore, and the graves were opened. And many bodies of the Saints who slept arose. And they came out of the graves after His resurrection. And they went into the holy city. And they appeared unto many.

 

Now when the centurion who stood over against Him and they who were watching Yeshua with him saw the earthquake and those things that were done, they greatly feared, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

 

 

Truthful Record

And he that saw it bare record. And his record is true. And he knows that he says true so that ye might believe. For these things were done so that the Scripture shall be fulfilled, “A bone of Him shall not be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

 

 

 

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Israel, Gentiles, the Millennium

How Do Israel and the Gentiles fit into the Millennium, the New Earth and the New Heavens?

1. How do Israel and the Gentiles arrive into the Millennium?

There will be two ways to arrive into the Millennium. One is by faith, and the other is by works. The one that is by faith will always be accompanied by works that demonstrate that faith. The other that is by works will not be conjoined with faith at that time. The Jews can only arrive into the Millennium by faith and its accompanying works, whereas Gentiles can arrive by both means (one example being the Matthew 25:31 and following ‘Sheep/Goat’ judgment).

Continue reading “Israel, Gentiles, the Millennium”

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Christmas-What Really Happened?

Christmas:

What Really Happened?

This document is in PDF format so that anyone can print it. Click here to download or view the pdf file.

If you desire to print this document using an inkjet printer, try the following:

Print even pages first. (There is a place to designate odd or even page printing.)

Next, choose odd pages, and choose reverse printing (there is a place to designate printing documents in reverse order).

Resort the pages; the booklet should be correct.

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Israel, Europe and the UN

A roundup of recent news concerning Israel:

SPAIN BANS ISRAELI ACADEMICS

From Sept 24, 2009 the AP at Haaretz:

“Spain said Thursday it has disqualified a group of Israeli academics from a solar power design competition because their university is in the West Bank, the latest in a series of low-level European sanctions against Israel over its settlement policy.

Spain expelled the team representing Ariel University Center of Samaria from an international contest called the Solar Decathlon, in which 20 universities are presenting designs for solar-powered homes, a Housing Ministry official said.

Samaria and Judea are the two Biblical names for the land also now known as the West Bank.
“Spain acted in line with European Union policy of opposing Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land,” the Spanish official said on condition of anonymity, in line with ministry rules.”

THE UN CONFERENCE

On Sept 23rd the UN conference of world leaders held in New York gave a platform for Iranian leader Ahmadinejad to denounce Israel as controlling the world media and banking industries, and generally repeating his claims that the killing of six millions Jews during WW2 is a myth. In response, some eleven countries walked out on the speech (reportedly the eleven were Argentina, Australia, Britain, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand and the United States. Canada boycotted the speech outright.)

When Israeli Prime Minister Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahuhad his turn to speak to the UN assembly, (from the Jerusalem Post online) he noted:

“(He called)  to task the nations of the world on the international body’s responsibility and criticizing them for not standing up to it.

“The UN was founded after the carnage of World War II,” Netanyahu said, adding that the organization was “charged with preventing the reoccurrence of such horrendous events.

“Nothing has impeded” the work of the UN, he said, “more than the systematic assault on the truth.

“Yesterday the president of Iran stood at this podium spewing anti-Semitic rants… Just a few days earlier he claimed the Holocaust is a lie.

“Last month I went to a villa in a suburb of Berlin called Wannsee,” Netanyahu recalled a visit to the pastoral villa, where over just a few hours on January 20 1942 the Nazis devised the Final Solution – the decision to exterminate the Jews from Europe.

Netanyahu then dramatically showed a facsimile copy of Final Solution documents drafted in Wannsee.

“Is this protocol a lie?” he asked. “Is the German government lying?”

“The day before I was in Wannsee,” Netanyahu continued, “I was given in Berlin the original construction plans for the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

“These plans I now hold in my hand,” he said, as he was showing the worn-out blueprints to the assembly. “They contain a signature by Heinrich Himmler, Hitler’s deputy.

“Are these plans of the camp where one million Jews were murdered a lie too?” he asked.

Netanyahu then turned to attacking Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying “Yesterday, the man who called the Holocaust a lie spoke from this podium. For those who refused to come, and those who left in protest – I commend you, you stood up for moral clarity.

“But for those who stayed – I say on behalf of the Jewish people, my people and decent people everywhere – have you no shame? No decency? What a disgrace, what a mockery of the charter of the UN.” 

Also speaking at the conference was Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi who mentioned that Israel was responsible for the assassination of American president John F. Kennedy in 1963.

ARGENTINA

During her presentation to the UN, President of Argentina Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner addressed the issue of the 1994 bombing of the Buenos Aires Jewish center (from the Jewish Journal online):

“(She) called for the extradition to her country of Iranian officials wanted in the 1994 bombing of the Buenos Aires Jewish center. Among the suspects wanted by Interpol is Ahmed Vahidi, who earlier this month was confirmed as Iran’s defense minister. The 1994 bombing, which killed 85 people, was allegedly carried out by Hezbollah agents with Iranian sponsorship and organization, but Argentina has not been able to bring anyone to justice for perpetrating the attack.”

HONDURAS AND ISRAELI “MERCENARIES”

Ousted several months ago from the office of the presidency of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya is claiming that Israeli agents are using ‘mind-altering gasses’ and ‘radiation’ to torture him as he stays holed-up in the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. (From the Miami Herald online)

“Zelaya was deposed at gunpoint on June 28 and slipped back into his country on Monday, just two days before he was scheduled to speak before the United Nations. He sought refuge at the Brazilian Embassy, where Zelaya said he is being subjected to toxic gases and radiation that alter his physical and mental state.

Witnesses said that for a short time Tuesday morning, soldiers used a device that looked like a large satellite dish to emit a loud shrill noise.

Honduran police spokesman Orlin Cerrato said he knew nothing of any radiation devices being used against the former president.

“He says there are mercenaries against him? Using some kind of apparatus?” Cerrato said. “No, no, no, no. Sincerely: no. The only elements surrounding that embassy are police and military, and they have no such apparatus.”

Police responded to reports of looting throughout the city Tuesday night. Civil disturbances subsided Wednesday afternoon, when a crush of people rushed grocery stores and gas stations in the capital.

Israeli government sources in Miami said they could not confirm the presence of any “Israelis mercenaries” in Honduras.”

FLAG FOOTBALL BRONZE

All is not bad news for Israel  in world affairs, though (from Jerusalem Post):

“A rare European Championship medal in team was captured this week by Israel when the women’s national flag football team took bronze at the European Federation of American Football championships held in Belfast, northern Ireland.

The Israeli women had won major European club tournaments in the past, but had never before reached the top three against premier international competition, coming in with a previous-best 5th-place finish at last year’s worlds in Canada.

The impressive display in Belfast was good enough to earn the first team sport medal for Israel in any European championship since the 1970s, and was the culmination of months of hard preparation by the dedicated athletes.”

The men’s team from Israel got 7th place.

 

 

 

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Motives

Motives

Determining the motives of others is wrong. All have motives for what they do. Many of the motives that folks often have are not good. How can one be certain what some else’s motives are? Judging actions is appropriate; God commanded Israelis to do this. There are some great restrictions on judging motives, however. God alone knows the heart:

1 Kings 8:39 Hear Thou in the heavens, Thy dwelling place. And forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart Thou knowest. For Thou, only Thou, knowest the hearts of all the children of men.

Matthew 12:34 The mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart.

A person will talk about what he thinks. Words can be used against the person who spoke the words. Many, however, tend to assume motives based upon their own views and cultures. That is not justice, and it isn’t right. Judgment of any kind must be based upon facts, not upon what might be true or appear to be true.

Everyone’s counsels of the heart will be exposed at the time of judgment (see 1 Corinthians 4:3 below).

Trying to figure the motives of others is not harmful. This is not the same as determining the person’s motives. Concluding what those motives are is wrong, and exposes the faulty character of the person who assumed motives for another’s actions.

Some have the audacity and arrogance to declare why others did what they did: “She did that because she’s just jealous!” “He said that because he’s a liar!” “He gave that to you because he feels guilty.” Anyone who makes such declarations without hearing the motives from the person who did the actions is behaving as if he or she is a prophet/prophetess, speaking the words of God! Some even have the increased audacity to tell folks to their faces why they did what they did: “You wanted to read the will first because you knew that you would get very little!”

Do You Know?

Some think they know others very well. They have an idea of why others do what they do based upon watching them and others, and why they themselves might do such actions. If someone’s behaviour ‘bugs’ me, I will probably think that that person ‘bugs’ everyone. Most folks see others according to their own frames of reference (their own ways of viewing things in life). If they respond to others’ actions as if their views are right, they will often improperly respond.

Facts are true, but they don’t always give full information. Getting to the facts is an art for which every Saint is responsible. Judging is rendering a right decision based upon all the facts, not upon the feelings!

You Are Lying to Me!

Anyone giving a particular side of an issue is giving observations from his point of view. Someone else who saw the very same thing will often disagree with parts of the description, and sometimes will disagree with the entire description. Everyone hearing what happened will hear something different. If two describe the same scene, yet disagree with each other, one might be inclined to say, “You are lying!”

Lying is not merely giving false information; it is giving false information with intent to give false information. One who accuses the other of lying is also claiming that the other is intentionally twisting the facts into a lie. This can result in great and needless offense. If the person is truly lying, this can be a great wrong, but if the person is not, but is mistaken concerning what he or she observed or heard, accusing the other person of lying is a great wrong. Assuming that someone is lying is a great violation of justice, but it is common practice.

Saints in the Scriptures did not assume that others were lying even when it appeared that way. They kept the facts they observed to themselves until all the facts were known, or they dealt with others as if there were no questions about their honesty.

Careful deliberation with patience is very wise. It avoids years of hurt and bitterness, and can avoid bloodshed.

Innocent until Proven Guilty?

The Scriptures do not teach that all are innocent until proven guilty.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart [mind] is deceitful above all, and terminal. Who can know it?

They teach that violent sinners have a deceitful and terminal mind from the fall of Adam. Yet, the Scriptures also declare that it is wrong to judge anyone before the time of the person’s judgment (whether that judgment is the final one, or is personal or legal):

1 Corinthians 4:3 “It is a very small thing with me that I should be judged under you or under man’s judgment. Indeed, I don’t judge myself! 4For I know nothing by myself; yet, I am not justified by this. But he who judges me is the Lord! 5Therefore, judge nothing before the time—until the Lord comes—Who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts. And then every man shall have praise from God.”

A Biblical counselor is not the same as an advisor. A counselor not only proposes what should be done, but also carries the idea out. If a person only gives the idea of what should be done, that is an advisor. If this is true, counsels of the heart are both the plans/plots and the actions done. Since the heart is the mind, all plans/plots of each person’s mind, including what the person did, will be publicly exposed in the judgment. Those who did well will have praise from God.

Anyone who judges before the time prejudges. This is how we get the word prejudice. Assuming that anyone is guilty or innocent is equally wrong. The best way to view each person is with kindness and skepticism (which means that all the facts are not present, and yet automatically trusting folks isn’t wise). If one is kind, he/she will treat others in a way that will carry no regrets in the future. If one is skeptical, he/she will not assume that everyone is harmless or innocent.

Benefit of a Doubt

When parents treat their children with kindness and skepticism (some call this giving them the benefit of the doubt), those children are given the opportunity to show what they can do, and why. Parents who quickly accuse their children of wrongdoing (without finding what they are doing and why) violate the command to not drive their children to wrath:

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye parents, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

If the parents continue provoking their children, a broken and untrusting relationship with their children will later develop. Parents who believe their children much more than they should will end up with insecure children who will take wrong paths (and will be ‘brats’). Parents who listen carefully to each case and ask their children questions regarding their thoughts (including their motives) will increase the likelihood that their children will talk with them.

Ascertaining Motives

It is not wrong to discover motives. There are wise procedures for rightly ascertaining motives, including the following:

  • Directly asking
  • Discussing an issue, and deftly considering reasons the doer of the actions offers for his or her actions
  • Considering other similar actions of the person, and asking why the person did those actions (this can lead to a wrong conclusion)
  • Overhearing someone brag about the actions and why he did them
  • Asking a person in a similar culture why such an action would be done (this can lead to a wrong conclusion)
  • Describing a totally unrelated, but similar action of someone else (whether fictional or not) to the doer of the action in question, and asking why someone would do that

Be cautious when attempting to find why someone did something when you are very angry. Anger blinds against justice; lynch mobs prove this. Time can allow anger to diminish so that justice can be pursued. If your anger builds with time, you are probably trying to prove in your mind that the other person is guilty of having evil motives. Some just ‘write someone off’ (“You’re no longer my friend!”) or will try to put what happened out of their minds (a very bad idea). Take the time to find out what you can before giving up or drawing a conclusion why something occurred.

Asking the Right Questions

Once anger has cooled enough for justice to be pursued, ask the person (with whom you are angry) questions. Make certain that your questions are not accusatory. “Why did you do such and such?” is quite blunt, and may produce the wrong result. Start by describing the scene slowly: “You and I were outside, yesterday. You were roasting those delicious steaks on the grill—they were very good! When Bobby said, ‘Johnny doesn’t say much,’ you said, ‘Johnny doesn’t have much to say. I laughed, because I normally don’t have much to say. I was wondering, though, do I really give the impression of greater than normal ignorance?”

If you cannot ask right away, wait. If you will never be able to ask, don’t become bitter. You may also say, “What happened confused me; I don’t understand why it took place,” or some other statement like that. This gives the other person a chance to tell what happened before you accuse him of anything.

There is rarely a reason for assuming that someone is guilty of doing a harmful act with evil motives (unless the person is known for violence). There sometimes are reasons for assuming that someone is innocent, but if you want justice, wait and ask. If the other person is also angry, use diplomacy!

After asking and receiving an answer, you will sometimes wonder if the story is true. Ask more questions if you can. There is an art to getting to the bottom of an issue. Columbo, in the famous television series, was an expert. He asked and asked until he obtained answers. He was never offended.

Being ‘Unoffendable’ while Pursuing Justice

Anyone who truly pursues justice cannot be easily offended. Those who are easily offended make rash decisions and choices, get easily distracted, do violence, become guilty themselves, and teach others to do the same. When folks feel ‘cornered,’ some will sling accusations. Ignore those accusations in order to find justice; they distract and will start a new argument or issue where there was none before.

A defensive person tends to react to what he thinks are accusations against him either by feeling guilty and defending, by backing away from the real issue, by throwing back hard accusations, by sarcasm, or by some other means of shielding himself from bad feelings in the situation. If both become involved in a war of words, the volley will lead to injustice and a stalemate. If justice is not the result of a discussion, anger usually grows. Being ‘unoffendable’ is a key to justice. Agree with the other person whenever possible even if he is slinging accusations at you. This will sometimes disarm him and lead to a resolution. Sometimes it won’t. At least the one seeking justice by proper means has done right.

Unlatching Motives

Parents often struggle with ascertaining the motives of their children. When a youth does something wrong and a parent asks why, a common answer is, “I don’t know.” This response can be aggravating. If the parent starts to lecture, the youth will shut the parent out, hearing only what he wants to hear and becoming very angry. There are now two angry individuals, but the parent has the power. If he responds to the child’s attitude in anger and punishes (I did not say chastises), what good has been accomplished? This is harmful and destructive to the relationship.

Punishment is inflicting bodily damage or loss for an offense that cannot be rectified (made right). Chastisement is properly rearing, teaching, and training another in order to reach the goal of independence.

If a parent responds in anger and the child does not understand the justice of the parent’s anger, a wedge will form in the relationship, giving the youth a desire to escape. The parent will have much greater success if he takes the time to respond to the new issue. The first issue was the offense. The new issue is the child’s not knowing why he did what he did. “It disturbs me more that you don’t know why you did what you did than the act itself. I want you to think about this and let me know. I cannot do justice in this case until I understand why this action took place. Until you know and are able to tell me why you did this, you are grounded…” A very young child will not be able to give a good answer—he did it because he felt the urge. This must be modified for him. Teenagers and pre-teens, however, will be able to respond. This gives the parent a chance to cool off, and it gives the child a chance to construct his case. The teen or pre-teen child will usually desire to get out of the grounding and to minimize damage. If the youth is very bitter, however, grounding will be received with more anger and bitterness; it isn’t a wise route in that case.

How a parent responds at this point is crucial. Discovering the motives and caring about them (the motives), combined with quietness and patience, will do more good than being heavy-handed. If the admitted motives are evil, one course of action is necessary. If the admitted motives are not evil, the parent can either suggest other ways to accomplish something beneficial or can ask the child to come up with other ways to accomplish the goal without causing harm to relationships. If a youth is just a willful ‘hard-head’ (be careful, parent, that you don’t assume this when it is not the case!), take stronger action. Be right, though. You can do damage if you are wrong, and you can do damage if you do nothing.

Do not be quick to assume that rebellion is what is occurring. Teenagers need to learn independence. What appears to be rebellion is often an attempt to gain (or steal) some freedom to make one’s own decisions. Parents who refuse to grant independence will usually finally push a child into rebellion. Parents who grant a measure of trust and equal responsibilities will be much more likely to have a successful relationship.

Seek wise counsel. The Bible mentions the extremes:

Deuteronomy 21:18 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them, 19then his father and his mother shall lay hold on him and bring him out unto the elders of his city and unto the gate of his place. 20And they shall say unto the elders of his city, “This our son is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey our voice–a profligate and a drunkard.” 21And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones. And he shall die. So shalt thou put evil away from among you. And all Israel shall hear and fear.

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Don’t try the Deuteronomy text in our society. You will get what you deserve if you do! Yehovah commanded this to Israel with the proper justice mechanisms in place. A hardened child, however, can be placed in a correctional facility. This is rarely needed, but there are bitter children who are not correctable by ordinary and good means.

Lying about the Motives

Suppose a youth lies about his motive. What should the parent do? Parents often suspect their children of lying, and sometimes they are right. Suspicion is not enough according to the Teaching (Torah, wrongly rendered Law) of Moses. It is better to patiently wait for the youth to get caught, and then take strong action. He needs to be warned, however. “If I find that you lie to me or to anyone, and you are not in the process of saving the life of an innocent person from the hands of guilty criminals, you will find how great my wrath can be.” If the child does lie, inform him that he has destroyed the trust relationship, and it will be very difficult to rebuild it. Ask the youth what he is going to do about this. After this, strong actions of other types will sometimes be necessary: forms of grounding, etc. Violence is never wise. Take your time. Good counsel is vital in these types of decisions. If you find that lying has been part of the child’s behaviour, ask him why. Find out his motives, if you can. If you cannot, take action. A parent does not have to know the motive to respond to the action. Knowing the motive can help.

The same is true in friendship relationships. Carefully confront; do not be quick to accuse. Accusations are rarely ways to make peace.

Hidden Motives

It is often impossible in life to discover motives for behaviour. Some folks do things without knowing why they did them. Other folks know exactly why they did what they did, but have no intention of telling why; it is none of the business of others, in some cases.

Sometimes a person knows his motives, but is too ashamed to state them. He may give clues, however. If a woman practices bulimia, she may be terrified to give her motives. She may have fears that directly block her from facing these issues. Her discussions, however, will include clues. Wisely trained psychologists know how to gather clues, but wise men and women in general can do the same thing. The discovery of a motive can lead to a correction of a problem.

There is always a motive behind sin. The motive is never good, but it is important. Joshua desired to know Achan’s actions (and motives, if possible) before he killed him:

Joshua 7:19 And Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give, I pray thee, glory to Yehovah the God of Israel, and make confession to Him. Tell me now what thou hast done. Keep it not back from me.” 20And Achan answered Joshua and said, “Indeed I have sinned against Jehovah the God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done. 21I saw a beautiful mantle of Shinar, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a golden bar of fifty shekels weight among the spoils, and I coveted them and took them. And behold, they are hid in the soil in the midst of my tent. And the silver is under it.” 22And Joshua sent messengers. And they ran to the tent. And behold, it was hidden in his tent, and the silver under it. 23And they took them out of the midst of the tent. And they brought them to Joshua and to all the children of Israel, and laid them out before Jehovah. 24And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the mantle, and the bar of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had. And they brought them up into the valley of Achor. 25And Joshua said, “How hast thou troubled us! Yehovah will trouble thee this day!” And all Israel stoned him with stones. And they burned them with fire, and stoned them with stones.

Conclusion

Anyone who assumes another’s motives is interfering in Yehovah’s territory, for Yehovah only knows the hearts of all the children of men. Wrong assumptions regarding motives will lead to great injustice. Some parents always assume that their adult children do things with good motives. They are blind to the truth regarding their ‘little innocents.’ Other parents assume that their children have evil motives when this is not always the case, and they become bitter against their children. Children learn, and assume motives in their friends. The court systems in the United States sentence individuals based upon motives. This nearly always leads to injustice. A wise person will seek the motive behind actions while realizing that anyone can lie about his motives and give a strong case built on a lie.

Be cautious. Be careful. And quit reading this document just to find out how many texts I used to prove my points!