Marty 2020 Loc: Banana Republic of Kalifornia

They are!

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

Are you familiar with one of your own religion's condemnation of calling someone a fool.

Try Reading Matthew 5:22.

Do you think that doesn't apply to you???

Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

There is a marked difference in how we use the word today contrasted with what Jesus meant. Today, we likely think a person is a fool if he does something ill-advised. But in Bible times it meant far more than that. The statement is found in Matthew 5:22, and it is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. There, He says, “Whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother ‘Raca!’ [an Aramaic word referring to an empty-headed person] shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” To grasp the meaning of this warning, it is necessary to understand the context.

In that day, Judaism had been largely reduced to a matter of externals. Act the right way, and perform the right rituals, and you were a good Jew. Matters of the heart were commonly ignored, but using several commandments of the Old Testament Law, Jesus demonstrated to His hearers that God’s standard involves not only outward acts (as the Pharisees taught) but inward attitudes (cf. vs. 27-28). In verse 21-22, the discussion concerns the act of murder and the underlying attitude that can lead to it, malicious anger. In verse 22, three levels of severity are described, each falling short of physical murder, but each sinful and destructive.

If a person nurses a hateful and malicious attitude toward a fellow Jew (“his brother”), he could well be brought up before the local magistrate (“the judgment”).
If his hatred is expressed in words of angry contempt (such as “Raca!”–the equivalent of “You stupid idiot!”) it could be a matter for the Jewish supreme court, called the Sanhedrin (“the council”).
Worse still, the one who calls his brother a “fool” thereby suggests his own unsaved condition, which therefore means he is in peril of eternal damnation.

In our own culture, there would seem to be little difference between the last two of these. But the latter term is given a much stronger meaning in the Old Testament. The fool is a godless, and immoral person (cf. Psalm 14:1) ; Proverb 9:13-18; 14:9. He is a wicked reprobate, destitute of spirituality. Further, and most significantly, many of the translators see the epithet, “You fool!” as implying a curse. Rotherham’s New Testament has, “You cursed fool” [i.e. ‘You damned fool!’].” And the Twentieth Century New Testament paraphrases, “Whoever calls down curses upon him.” The Living Bible paraphrase has, “And if you curse him…”

Out of hateful and malicious anger, one individual is sitting in judgment on another (in effect, taking the place of God) and calling down eternal destruction on the object of his hateful wrath. In the Jewish culture, branding someone a fool was close to murder. It reflected an arrogant and hateful attitude calling for immediate correction (Matthew 5:23-24).

This bears little relation to our current use of the word, referring to someone lacking in common sense who does something silly.


Bible Passages, Robert Cottrill

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

You didn't reply with anything new to me.

I read too.

Marty's "fool" statement wasn't taken out out context.

His claim was anyone who doesn't buy into Christianity is a fool.

Did Jesus not teach that all men are brothers?

There's no way to justify a Christian calling anyone a fool.

It doesn't matter how you've changed the context in your own mind.

It is interesting to read how the writer spun it though.

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Most evangelicals seem to be under the impression that only other evangelicals are their brothers...

Parky has explained this to me in the past when I referred to him as a brother...

Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

I personally do not claim to know most evangelicals, nor am I familiar with their impressions, however, all Christians who have knelt in faith at the foot of His cross, and have been washed in His blood, are sisters and brothers in Christ.

The blood of Jesus gives Christians access to God, forgiveness of sins, a clean conscience, salvation, sanctification, victory over the enemy, and a conciliatory loving relationship with God.

"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1st John 1:7); that is cleansing from the GUILT of sin.

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

1st Corinthians 6:17 "But he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit."

1st Corinthians 12:13 "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

It's opposed to the teaching of Jesus.

Edit...it's a good thing that the "good Samaritan" didn't hold that belief.

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

The Bible makes a clear distinction between those who are children of God and those who are not. Only those born by God’s Spirit through faith in Jesus are children of God (1 John 3:1-10, Galatians 3:26, John 8:34-41). If you aren't
born by God’s Spirit through faith in Jesus you are not a child of God and are therefore not my brother or sister.

And just because you're not my brother doesn't preclude me from showing grace and mercy to others.

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

Jews don't accept the messiahship of Jesus and God still calls them his chosen.

That will never change.

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Indeed...

There's really no getting around it in my opinion... We're all children of God...

Unless one chooses to indulge Paul's teachings... Wonder why Paul would want to change that???🤔🤔🤔

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

Let me correct you canuckus...

We are all God's creation.

Only some of us are His children.

I don't care about your opinion...I deal in biblical truth.

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

If there are sayings in the Hebrew and Greek scriptures saying to love one another like we do ourselves, must be something to it.

alabuck Loc: Tennessee

Where does the Bible Indicate that Jesus is God?

My Translation: The New American Bible

Bible Passages:

What did Jesus claim?
Mark 14: 61-64 “Once again the high priest interrogated him: ‘Are you the messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’ Then Jesus answered: ‘I am; and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.’ At that the high priest tore his robes and said: ‘What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy....’”

John 8:58; John 10: 30
“Jesus answered them: ‘I solemnly declare it:
before Abraham came to be, I AM.”
[This was the name God gave himself when he first communicated with Moses, Exodus 3:14
“God replied, ‘I am who I am.’ Then he added, ‘This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.’”]

”The Father and I are one.”
John 14:8-11
do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?.... Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe because of the works I do.’”

Matt. 11: 27 “Everything has been given over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son but the Father, and no one knows the Father but the Son – and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

Matthew 9: 5-7 “Which is less trouble to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Stand up and walk?’ To help you realize that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he then said to the paralyzed man – ‘Stand up! Roll up your mat and go home.’ The man stood up and went toward his home.”

John 10:37 + 38 “If I do not perform my Father’s works, put no faith in me. But if I do perform them, even though you put no faith in me, put faith in these works, so as to realize what it means that the Father is in me and I in him.”

What did Jesus’ followers think/say?
John 1:1, 3, 14, 17, 18 “In the beginning was the Word; the Word was in God’s presence and the Word was God.... Through him all things came into being, and apart from him nothing came to be.... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we have seen his glory: the glory of an only Son coming from the Father, filled with enduring love.... For while the law was given through Moses, this enduring love came thorough Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, ever at the Father’s side, who has revealed him.”

John 20:28 John 21:17 Colossians 2:9
“Thomas said in response, ‘My Lord and my God!’” [Peter said,] “Lord, you know everything....”

“In Christ the fullness of deity resides in bodily form.”
Colossians 1:15+16 “He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creatures. In him everything in heaven and on earth was created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominations, principalities or powers; all were created through him and for him....”

Philippians 2:6, 10-11 “Though he was in the form of God, he did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at.... Because of this, God highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name above every other name, so that at Jesus’ name every knee must bend in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth, and every tongue proclaim to the glory of God the Father ‘JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!’”

Hebrews 1:3 “This Son is the reflection of the Father’s glory, the exact representation of the Father’s being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven, as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”

Romans 1:3 “... the Gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh but was designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead.”

2 Cor. 4:4 “Their unbelieving minds have been blinded by the god of the present age so that they do not see the splendor of the gospel showing forth the glory of Christ, the image of God.”

1 Cor: 15:3-8 “...I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you:... ...that he was seen by Cephas, then by the Twelve. After that he was seen by 500 brothers at once, most of whom are still alive, although some have fallen asleep. Next he was seen by James; then by all the apostles. Last of all he was seen by me....”

Revelation 5:12-14 “...and they all cried out: ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise!’ Then I heard the voices of every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea; everything in the universe cried aloud: To the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!’ The four living creatures answered, ‘Amen,’ and the elders fell down and worshiped.”

Some Examples of Miracles Worked by Jesus:
John 11:43 “Having said this he called loudly, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man
came out, bound hand and foot with linen strips, his face wrapped in a cloth.”

John 8:19-20 “’Do you remember when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets of fragments you gathered up? They answered, “Twelve.” When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full hampers of fragments did you collect?’ They answered, “Seven.”’

John 2: 1-11 “The waiter in charge tasted the water made wine, without knowing where it had come from....”

Mark 4:39 “He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ The wind fell off and everything grew calm.... They kept saying to one another, ‘Who can this be that the wind and the sea obey him?’”

Luke 8: 26-38 “...The demons then came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd charged down the bluff into the lake, where they drowned.”

Luke 7: 22-23 “Jesus gave this response: ‘Go and report to John what you have seen and heard. The blind recover their sight, cripples walk, lepers are cured, the deaf hear, dead men are raised to life and the poor have the good news preached to them. Blest is that man who finds no stumbling block in me.’”

Jesus even fulfilled prophesies
Isaiah (Example Chap. 53) Psalm 22 (Example 17-19)
What was Jesus like? (Notice attitudes like compassion, acceptance, gentleness....)
John 4: 17-18 “You are right in saying you have no husband!’ Jesus exclaimed. ‘The fact is, you have had five, and the man you are living with now is not your husband. What you said is true.’”

Matt 8: 1-4 “Suddenly, a leper came forward and did him homage, saying to him, ‘Sir, if you will to do so, you can cure me.’ Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘I do will it. Be cured.’” [As a general rule, no one would touch a leper for fear of contracting the disease and also because that act would render him ritually “unclean.”]

Luke 7:11-16 “The Lord was moved with pity upon seeing her.... He said, ‘Young man, I bid you get up.’ The dead man sat up and began to speak....”

Luke 15: 10-31 “’I tell you there will be the same kind of joy before the angels of God over one repentant sinner....” The Parable of the Prodigal Son follows this statement and reflects the merciful Father’s heart over the return of the Prodigal.