Genesis 50:1-14
READING
50 Then Joseph fell on his
father’s face, and wept over him, and kissed him. 2 And
Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the
physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for
him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the
Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.
4 Now when the days of his mourning were past,
Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in
your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My
father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I dug for
myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore, please
let me go up and bury my father, and I will come back.’”
6 And Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as
he made you swear.”
7 So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with
him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the
elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the house of
Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, their
flocks, and their herds they left in the land of Goshen. 9 And
there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great
gathering.
10 Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad,
which is beyond the Jordan, and they mourned there with a great and very
solemn lamentation. He observed seven days of mourning for his father. 11 And
when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the
threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a deep mourning of the
Egyptians.” Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim,[a] which is beyond the
Jordan.
12 So his sons did for him just as he had commanded
them. 13 For
his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the
field of Machpelah, before Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from
Ephron the Hittite as property for a burial place. 14 And
after he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers
and all who went up with him to bury his father.
BOARD – Practical Pursuit of the Promised Land
Preparing for Return – 1-3
Permission to Return – 4-6
Practical Return – 7-14
Prophetic Return – Summary
50:1-3 – Preparation of Return
50 Then Joseph fell on his father’s face,
and wept over him, and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded
his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed
Israel. 3 Forty days were required for him, for
such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians
mourned for him seventy days.
1 –
Jacob has ‘breathed his last’ – Joseph – who was separated from his father for
over 20 years is now separated again and therefore he weeps.
·
We would like to be in the physical presence of those we love
2-3a
– The preparation begins to bury the father.
The physicians embalm him.
The
process of preserving bodies from decay. Embalming originated in Egypt and was
seldom used by the Hebrews. The practice is rarely mentioned in the Bible, and
the human remains unearthed in Palestinian tombs generally show no signs of
having been embalmed. In Genesis 50:2-3 , it is
recorded that Joseph ordered the embalming of Jacob's body and that
“physicians” required forty days to perform the process. Genesis 50:26 says
Joseph was embalmed and laid to rest in Egypt. The embalming of these two patriarchs testifies both to their
importance in the community and to plans to remove their bodies for burial in
Canaan ( Genesis 50:13 ; Exodus 13:19 ).
Related
passages include 2 Chronicles 16:14 which describes the burial of Asa
and the John 19:39-40 account of Jesus' burial. The use
of spices mentioned in both of these passages did not constitute embalming but
ceremonial purification.
The Egyptian art of mummification
was an elaborate version of embalming which required seventy days for
completion. The process required removal of the viscera and organs (except the
heart), treatment of the body with a preserving agent, and wrapping with cloth.
That the Hebrews did not perform embalming reflects not only rival conceptions
of the afterlife between Israel and Egypt but also aversion toward Egyptian
religious practice in general.
Curiously –
Traditional
Jewish law forbids embalming or
cremation, and burial is to be done as soon as possible – preferably within 24
hours. However, under certain circumstances, burial may be delayed if it is
impossible to bury a person immediately, or to permit the deceased to be buried
in Israel. It is interesting to note that
nowadays, Jewish law rules that embalming is forbidden unless the body is being
transported over state lines, in which case it is permitted.Guidance of a Rabbi or the local chevra
kadisha (Jewish Burial Society)
should be sought regarding any questions, as particular circumstances may
justify leniencies. Notably, the Biblical Joseph was, according to
the (Genesis 50:26) embalmed in the
Egyptian fashion as was his father Israel (Jacob) (Genesis 50:2). The chevra kadisha ensures the
body is guarded (except during the Sabbath); typically these shomrim (guards) recite Psalms within earshot of the
deceased. The deceased is dressed in a kittel—a white robe-like garment,
and then in a white cotton shroud. burial in Israel is done without a casket.
Outside Israel caskets may be used if required by local custom or law, but it
must be a simple coffin, made without nails or glue, so as to permit natural
processes to process the corpse.
Embalming is not practiced by Muslims, as they bury their deceased. For them, the
body is sacred. They are urged not to delay the burial process. The body is
washed usually by a close relative. He or she is then dressed in a clean,
perfumed, plain white burial shroud, called "kafan". People gather to
hold a joint prayer for the dead called 'namaz-e-janaza'. They do not use
coffins. Instead, the 2 meter deep grave has edging approximately 1 meter down,
where a slab is placed which in turn is covered with loose dirt.
3b – Notice who mourned for
70 days – the Egyptians!
50:4-6
Permission to Return
4 Now when the days of his mourning were
past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found
favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My father made me
swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I dug for myself in the
land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore, please let me go up
and bury my father, and I will come back.’”
6 And Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father,
as he made you swear.”
4
– Joseph asks for permission to speak on the favor he has found in Pharoah’s
eyes
· Who have we found favor
in their eyes?
· Who will listen to us at
this point? Why would people listen to
our requests – it is based on past actions
5
– Joseph asks for what his father requested – to go bury him – where he
requested
· He asked for exactly what
he was to do and made a promise to return to serve
· When we ask for
permission for say sick time or to do something outside our schedule do we
follow up with what we plan to do – continue to serve?
6
– Pharaoh accepts this and grants permission
7 So Joseph went up to bury his father; and
with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all
the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the
house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones,
their flocks, and their herds they left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with
him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering.
10 Then they came to the threshing floor of
Atad, which is beyond the
Jordan, and they mourned there with a great and very solemn lamentation. He
observed seven days of mourning for his father. 11 And when the
inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing
floor of Atad, they said, “This is
a deep mourning of the Egyptians.” Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim,[a] which is beyond the Jordan.
12 So his sons did for him just as he had
commanded them. 13 For his sons carried him to the land of
Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre,
which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as property for a
burial place. 14 And after he had buried his father,
Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers and all who went up with him to
bury his father.
7 – The number of people grows as we go here. In this verse we see many many are going – the
servants and elders are quite a group.
8 – Add the house of Joseph
and all those around him, brothers and their families – all the adults.
9 – Now it is named as a
great gathering – looks like an important person’s funeral – note that this is
NOT what has been mentioned prior for any patriarch.
· Note they
are on the move – picking up people along the way as we find out in verse 10
10 – 11 - Notice that is the
threshing floor noted here – where grain is separated from the stalk. When there is separation there is mourning,
both in death and forever between those that love and those that choose not to
love God.
There
are dozens of references to the “threshing floor” in the Bible, some literal
and some symbolic. In biblical days there was no machinery, so after the
harvest, the grain was separated from the straw and husks by beating it
manually. First there had to be a flat surface which was smooth and hard and
this was known as the threshing floor. The process of threshing was performed
generally by spreading the sheaves on the threshing floor and causing oxen and
cattle to tread repeatedly over them, loosening the edible part of cereal grain
(or other crop) from the scaly, inedible chaff that surrounds it (Deuteronomy 25:4; Isaiah 28:28). On occasions flails or sticks were used for this
purpose (Ruth 2:17; Isaiah 28:27). Then winnowing forks were used to throw the
mixture into the air so the wind could blow away the chaff, leaving only the
good grain on the floor.
Both
the Old and New Testaments refer to the threshing floor as a symbol of
judgment. Hosea prophesied that because Israel has repeatedly turned from God
to false idols, His judgment upon them would scatter them to the winds as the
chaff from the threshing floor. “Therefore they will be like the morning mist,
like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling from a threshing floor,
like smoke escaping through a window” (Hosea 9:2). Jeremiah pronounces a similar fate on the
Babylonians who persecuted Israel, likening their fate to the trampled sheaves
on the threshing floor (Jeremiah 51:33).
John
the Baptist uses the imagery of the threshing floor to describe the coming
Messiah who would separate the true believers from the false. The true
followers of Christ will be gathered into the kingdom of God just as grain is
gathered into barns, while those who reject Christ will be burned up “with
unquenchable fire,” just as the worthless chaff is burned (Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17). The wicked are often described as chaff which the
wind drives away (Psalm 1:4; Isaiah 17:13). Similar imagery of the good grain being separated
from the worthless weeds appears in the parable of the wheat
and the tares (Matthew 13:36-43).
12 – The relationship is
again mentioned – Sons – and they do what is commanded by the father –
· John 14:15
13 – It was tactical what
they were to do – not just a spiritual or emotional command they obeyed…
· What do we need to do in response to His commands?
esus said, “If ye love me, keep my
commandments” (John 14:15). Keeping the commands of Jesus begins with
recognizing what they are. Following is a collection of 49 of Jesus’ commands.
As you read through them, ask God to help you observe these words, apply them,
and faithfully follow them throughout your lifetime.
•
Repent
“From that time
Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand” (Matthew 4:17).
•
Follow Me
“And
he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew
4:19).
•
Rejoice
“Blessed are ye, when
men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is
your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before
you” (Matthew 5:11–12).
•
Let Your Light Shine
“Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
•
Honor God’s Law
“Think
not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy,
but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).
•
Be Reconciled
“Therefore
if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother
hath aught against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way;
first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift”
(Matthew 5:23–25).
•
Do Not Lust
“But
I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath
committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend
thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that
one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast
into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from
thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and
not that thy whole body should be cast into hell” (Matthew 5:28–30).
•
Keep Your Word
“Let
your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these
cometh of evil” (Matthew 5:37).
•
Go the Second Mile
“Ye
have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on
thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at
the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever
shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh
thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away” (Matthew
5:38–42).
•
Love Your Enemies
“But
I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh
his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and
on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not
even the publicans the same?” (Matthew 5:44–46).
•
Be Perfect
“If
ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the
same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not
even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in
heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:46–48).
•
Practice Secret Disciplines
“.
. . When thou doest thine alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand
doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret
himself shall reward thee openly. . . . When thou prayest, enter into thy
closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in
secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. . . .
When thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not
unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which
seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:1–18).
•
Lay Up Treasures
“Lay
not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures
in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not
break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be
also” (Matthew 6:19–21).
•
Seek God’s Kingdom
“Seek
ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall
be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
•
Judge Not
“Judge
not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be
judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And
why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not
the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Matthew 7:1–3).
•
Do Not Cast Pearls
“Give
not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you”
(Matthew 7:6).
•
Ask, Seek, Knock
“Ask,
and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh
findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8).
•
Do Unto Others
“Therefore
all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to
them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
•
Choose the Narrow Way
“Enter
ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that
leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait
is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be
that find it” (Matthew 7:13–14).
•
Beware of False Prophets
“Beware
of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are
ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of
thorns, or figs of thistles?” (Matthew 7:15–16).
•
Pray for Laborers
“The
harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the
Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest”
(Matthew 9:37–38).
•
Be Wise as Serpents
“Behold,
I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as
serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).
•
Fear Not
“Fear
not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather
fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew
10:28).
•
Hear God’s Voice
“He
that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15).
•
Take My Yoke
“Come
unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take
my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye
shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”
(Matthew 11:28–30).
•
Honor Your Parents
“For
God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, he that curseth father
or mother, let him die the death” (Matthew 15:4).
•
Beware of Leaven
“Take
heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees”
(Matthew 16:6).
•
Deny Yourself
“If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,
and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever
will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man
advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”
(Luke 9:23–25).
•
Despise Not Little Ones
“Take
heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in
heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven”
(Matthew 18:10).
•
Go to Offenders
“Moreover
if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between
thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if
he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth
of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he neglect to
hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let
him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican” (Matthew 18:15–17).
•
Beware of Covetousness
“And
he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life
consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke
12:15).
•
Forgive Offenders
“Then
came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and
I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee,
Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21–22).
•
Honor Marriage
“And
he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at
the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man
leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be
one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God
hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:4–6).
•
Be a Servant
“.
. . Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever
will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came
not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for
many” (Matthew 20:26–28).
•
Be a House of Prayer
“It
is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer . . . ” (Matthew
21:13).
•
Ask in Faith
“Verily
I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this
which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be
thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea: it shall be done. And all things,
whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matthew
21:21–22).
•
Bring In the Poor
“Then
said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call
not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors;
lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou
makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt
be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at
the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:12–14).
•
Render to Caesar
“Show
me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto
them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then
saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s;
and unto God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:19–21).
•
Love the Lord
“Jesus
said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment”
(Matthew 22:37–38).
•
Love Your Neighbor
“And
the second [commandment] is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”
(Matthew 22:39–40).
•
Await My Return
“Watch
therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that
if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he
would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man
cometh” (Matthew 24:42–44).
•
Take, Eat, and Drink
“As
they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it
to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup,
and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is
my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of
sins” (Matthew 26:26–28).
•
Be Born Again
“Jesus
answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of
the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the
flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that
I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:5–7).
•
Keep My Commandments
“If
ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
•
Watch and Pray
“Watch
and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but
the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
•
Feed My Sheep
“So
when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jona, lovest
thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love
thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time,
Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest
that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep” (John 21:15–16).
•
Baptize My Disciples
“Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19).
•
Receive God’s Power
“And,
behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of
Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).
Make Disciples
“Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations . . . teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the
end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19–20).
14 – Others followed along
and went but they also knew that they lived in this world and fulfilled their
promised they had made to others in integrity
Proverbs 3 -
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but
keep my commands in your heart,
2
for they will prolong your life many years
and
bring you peace and prosperity.
3
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind
them around your neck,
write
them on the tablet of your heart.
4
Then you will win favor and a
good name
in
the sight of God and man.
· Along the
way we gather people that are honoring
· We come to
the place of separation and mourn
· ..and we
move on and do what is commanded…
·
Isa 2:2-3
·
Zech 8:23
·
Ezek 39:25
All
of this is so big and important because it is a pointer to what all of Israel
and the world will do – we are in
1)
Preparation to meet God
2)
Permission and requesting others to go meet with him and be in the
world while we do what He wants and help others
3)
Part of the overall procession to go to Him
·
Are we in preparation to meet Him?
·
Are we living in such a way that others will listen to us?
·
Are we engaging others in the procession to fulfill the promise He has
for those that believe?
We see the
pattern to the promised land here as well –
Death/Mourning,
Permission Need and obtained from Pharaoh, and Large Procession by Israel
•
Repent
“From that time
Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand” (Matthew 4:17).
•
Follow Me
“And
he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew
4:19).
•
Rejoice
“Blessed are ye,
when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is
your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before
you” (Matthew 5:11–12).
•
Let Your Light Shine
“Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
•
Honor God’s Law
“Think
not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to
destroy, but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).
•
Be Reconciled
“Therefore
if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath
aught against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way;
first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift”
(Matthew 5:23–25).
•
Do Not Lust
“But
I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath
committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend
thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that
one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast
into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from
thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and
not that thy whole body should be cast into hell” (Matthew 5:28–30).
•
Keep Your Word
“Let
your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these
cometh of evil” (Matthew 5:37).
•
Go the Second Mile
“Ye
have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on
thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at
the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever
shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh
thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away” (Matthew
5:38–42).
•
Love Your Enemies
“But
I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh
his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and
on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not
even the publicans the same?” (Matthew 5:44–46).
•
Be Perfect
“If
ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the
same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not
even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in
heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:46–48).
•
Practice Secret Disciplines
“.
. . When thou doest thine alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand
doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret
himself shall reward thee openly. . . . When thou prayest, enter into thy
closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in
secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. . . .
When thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not
unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which
seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:1–18).
•
Lay Up Treasures
“Lay
not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures
in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not
break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be
also” (Matthew 6:19–21).
•
Seek God’s Kingdom
“Seek
ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall
be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
•
Judge Not
“Judge
not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be
judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And
why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not
the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Matthew 7:1–3).
•
Do Not Cast Pearls
“Give
not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you”
(Matthew 7:6).
•
Ask, Seek, Knock
“Ask,
and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh
findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8).
•
Do Unto Others
“Therefore
all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to
them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
•
Choose the Narrow Way
“Enter
ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that
leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait
is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be
that find it” (Matthew 7:13–14).
•
Beware of False Prophets
“Beware
of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are
ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of
thorns, or figs of thistles?” (Matthew 7:15–16).
•
Pray for Laborers
“The
harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the
Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest”
(Matthew 9:37–38).
•
Be Wise as Serpents
“Behold,
I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as
serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).
•
Fear Not
“Fear
not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather
fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew
10:28).
•
Hear God’s Voice
“He
that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15).
•
Take My Yoke
“Come
unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take
my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye
shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”
(Matthew 11:28–30).
•
Honor Your Parents
“For
God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, he that curseth father
or mother, let him die the death” (Matthew 15:4).
•
Beware of Leaven
“Take
heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees”
(Matthew 16:6).
•
Deny Yourself
“If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,
and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever
will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man
advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”
(Luke 9:23–25).
•
Despise Not Little Ones
“Take
heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in
heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven”
(Matthew 18:10).
•
Go to Offenders
“Moreover
if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between
thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if
he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth
of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he neglect to
hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let
him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican” (Matthew 18:15–17).
•
Beware of Covetousness
“And
he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life
consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke
12:15).
•
Forgive Offenders
“Then
came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and
I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee,
Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21–22).
•
Honor Marriage
“And
he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at
the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man
leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be
one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God
hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:4–6).
•
Be a Servant
“.
. . Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever
will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came
not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for
many” (Matthew 20:26–28).
•
Be a House of Prayer
“It
is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer . . . ” (Matthew
21:13).
•
Ask in Faith
“Verily
I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this
which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be
thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea: it shall be done. And all things,
whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matthew
21:21–22).
•
Bring In the Poor
“Then
said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call
not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors;
lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou
makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt
be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at
the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:12–14).
•
Render to Caesar
“Show
me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto
them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then
saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s;
and unto God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:19–21).
•
Love the Lord
“Jesus
said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment”
(Matthew 22:37–38).
•
Love Your Neighbor
“And
the second [commandment] is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”
(Matthew 22:39–40).
•
Await My Return
“Watch
therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that
if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he
would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man
cometh” (Matthew 24:42–44).
•
Take, Eat, and Drink
“As
they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it
to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup,
and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is
my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of
sins” (Matthew 26:26–28).
•
Be Born Again
“Jesus
answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of
the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the
flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that
I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:5–7).
•
Keep My Commandments
“If
ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
•
Watch and Pray
“Watch
and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but
the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
•
Feed My Sheep
“So
when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jona, lovest
thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love
thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time,
Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest
that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep” (John 21:15–16).
•
Baptize My Disciples
“Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19).
•
Receive God’s Power
“And,
behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of
Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).
•
Make Disciples
“Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations . . . teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the
end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19–20).
