Luke 14, Jesus visiting lawyers

 Luke 14 Jesus visiting lawyers

[Note: I apply Genesis-1-NIV perspective to Bible interpretation. I think Genesis 1:26-28 NIV, in the-civic-Jesus-messages (CJM), given each 1) mysterious-God, offering appreciation to human being (verb) and 2) Jesus’s “my peace”, suggests that:  Human male unites-to female human-being (noun) and their spouse-hood can& may pursue comprehensive-safety& security to the living species and to the earth (SECURITY). Every person can& may accept personal duty to SECURITY. Some persons neglect, partially or wholly, God-appreciation, Jesus-peace& SECURITY-duty.

I call Genesis-1-NIV’s message, “responsible-human-independence” or RHI. Some human-beings throughout history practice, facilitate& encourage RHI, for example, Jesus. From the past, RHI-individuals guide us and non-RHI-persons warn of error. I think the-civic-Jesus practiced, facilitated& encouraged RHI. “Civic” means reliable in human connections and transactions.

But I don’t know the-ineluctable-truth. “Ineluctable” means: not to be avoided, changed, escaped, neglected, or resisted: I can& may choose either RHI or dependency, such as religious arrogance.

Persons appreciating contemporary human being (verb), during each generation, develop the CJM I advocate. In other words, I attribute to CJM the civic-appreciation that human being (verb) applied “before Abraham was born” and since then. Given the question, “Was Jesus a man?”, my response -- “I don’t know, yet value CJM”, seems sufficient& complete to my person. I advocate the-civic-Jesus.

Perhaps CJM always was the-good human being (verb). That potential was present at the Big Bang, 13.7 billion years ago. There’s joy in accepting that I don’t know, seeking ineluctable-evidence, and reserving humility to RHI.

It seems the-laws-of-physics& progeny (PHYSICS) constrains the consequences of each person’s choices. That is, the laws of forces, mathematics, chemistries, biology, psychology, imagination, and their subsets. I choose to accept mysterious-God appreciation and pursue Jesus’ “my-peace”, in-order-to commit-to and trust-in PHYSICS. For example, I work for food& shelter rather than accept what a bureaucrat might provide. I work to aid SECURITY rather than pray for an entity to usurp RHI.

I accept that Genesis 1:26-28 NIV urges me to constrain chaos in my way of living.]

14 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. ² There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. ³ Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” ⁴ But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way.

⁵ Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” ⁶ And they had nothing to say. [This is invitation to squabble over Moses’ law.]

⁷ When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: ⁸ “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. ⁹ If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. ¹⁰ But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. ¹¹ For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” [This seems political cunning unbecoming to civic-morality. I’m immediately suspicious of the writer, Luke.]

¹² Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. ¹³ But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, ¹⁴ and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” [Civically, you’ll enjoy some gratitude and some jealousy but no friends. Life on earth can be exclusive according to such rules if that’s your choice.]

The Parable of the Great Banquet

¹⁵ When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁶ Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. ¹⁷ At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

¹⁸ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

¹⁹ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

²⁰ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

²¹ “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

²² “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

²³ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. ²⁴ I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’” [Vengeance is unbecoming. I do not trust Luke.]

The Cost of Being a Disciple

²⁵ Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. [This is not the Jesus whose influence I seek. According to Genesis 1:26-28 NIV, I can make choices like this, and I do. I find fault with Luke for not choosing a better word than “hate”. Consider, for example, “positively influence” instead of “hate”.]

²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ [Financial planning is common sense. Acting to avoid ridicule is a foolish practice.]

³¹ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ³² If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. ³³ In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. [The Jesus who influences Phil Beaver offers “my peace” and does not promote war.]

³⁴ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? ³⁵ It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. [To let appreciation to Jesus fall prey to Luke’s errors is an unfortunate choice. People who choose human being (verb) prefer Jesus’ advice and example.]

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” [And accept Genesis 1:26-28 NIV responsibility, in the-God’s likeness.]

 

Romans 12 Paul’s burning coals on heads: not of Jesus

[Note: I apply Genesis-1-NIV perspective to Bible interpretation. I think Genesis 1:26-28 NIV, in the-secular-Jesus-messages (SJM), given each 1) mysterious-God, offering appreciation to human being (verb) and 2) SJM’s “my peace”, suggests that:  Human male unites-to female human-being (noun) and their spouse-hood can& may pursue comprehensive-safety& security to the living species and to the earth (SECURITY). Every person can& may accept personal duty to SECURITY. Some persons neglect, partially or wholly, God-appreciation, SJM-my-peace& SECURITY.

I call Genesis-1-NIV’s message, “responsible-human-independence” or RHI. Some human-beings throughout history may practice, facilitate, and encourage RHI, for example, Jesus. From the past, RHI-individuals guide us and non-RHI-persons warn of error. I think the authentic-Jesus practiced, facilitated& encouraged RHI.

But I don’t know the-ineluctable-truth. “Ineluctable” means: not to be avoided, changed, escaped, neglected, or resisted: I can& may choose either RHI or dependency, such as religious arrogance.

Persons appreciating contemporary human being (verb), during each generation, develop the SJM I advocate. In other words, I attribute to SJM the civic-appreciation that human being (verb) applied “before Abraham was born” and since then. “Civic” means reliable-in human connections& transactions more than compliant-to civil/legal rules. Given the question, “Was Jesus a man?”, my response -- “I don’t know, yet value SJM”, seems sufficient& complete to my person. I advocate the-secular-Jesus.

Perhaps SJM always was the-good human being (verb). That potential was present at the Big Bang, 13.7 billion years ago. There’s joy in accepting that I don’t know, seeking ineluctable-evidence, and reserving humility to RHI.

It seems the-laws-of-physics& progeny (PHYSICS) constrains the consequences of each person’s choices. That is, the laws of forces, mathematics, chemistries, biology, psychology, imagination, and their subsets. I choose to accept mysterious-God appreciation and pursue Jesus’ “my-peace”, in-order-to commit-to and trust-in PHYSICS. For example, I work for food& shelter rather than accept what a bureaucrat might provide. I work to aid SECURITY rather than pray for an entity to usurp RHI.

I accept that Genesis 1:26-28 NIV urges me to constrain chaos in my way of living.]

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. [St. Paul might remove my doubt that this passage addresses Genesis-1’s comprehensive-safety& security. If not, the obvious question is:  How does a person discover God’s will while defying Genesis 1?]

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought [Human-being ought to accept that they are in the image of God (Genesis 1) and behave accordingly.], but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith [appreciation] God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ [Unfortunately, Paul did not cite Jesus even one time.] we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

⁹ Love [appreciation] must be sincere. Hate [reform] what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love [appreciation]. Honor one another above yourselves. [Does “above” create competitiveness? How will the honored-other treat you above themselves? What’s wrong with equals?] ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal [except when you behavior is un-civic or arrogant], but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people [inhabitants] who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. [Inform someone when you think they are planning or committing harm and observe their response.] ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. [Snob those in high position and those who are not “the Lord’s people”?] Do not be conceited.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone [including the evil one?]. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. [Inform someone when you think they prevent peace.] ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath [Be cautious against earning wrath.] , for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord [Paul does not represent Jesus.]. ²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” [Prov. 25:21,22 and the Lord will reward you.] [Mom taught, “Kill your enemy with kindness to convict them of their guilt.” I don’t think this attitude represents the-secular-Jesus. Jesus said to inform an offender, observe their response, and forgive seventy times seven.]

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. [The Zoroastrian political policy “Goodness is apparent through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds” does not work. Humankind requires statutory-justice. The Sumerian eye for an eye is not justice. Jesus improved Moses’ law. The 1787 U.S. Constitution is further improvement, and it conforms to Genesis 1:26-28, NIV.]

 

Isaiah 9 discourages Semitism

 Isaiah 9 discourages Semitism

[Note: I apply Genesis-1 perspective to Bible interpretation. I think Genesis 1:26-28, in the-metaphysical-Jesus-messages (MJM), given each 1) mysterious-God, offering appreciation to human being (verb) and 2) MJM’s “my peace”, suggests that:  Male unites-to female human-being (noun) and their spouse-hood can& may pursue comprehensive-safety& security to the living species and to the earth (SECURITY). Every person can& may accept personal duty to SECURITY. Some persons neglect, partially or wholly, God-appreciation, MJM-my-peace& SECURITY.

I call Genesis-1’s message, “responsible-human-independence” or RHI. A few human-beings throughout history seemed to practice, facilitate, and encourage RHI; for example, Albert Einstein. From the past, RHI-individuals guide us and other persons warn of error. I think the authentic-Jesus practiced, facilitated& encouraged RHI.

But I don’t know the-ineluctable-truth. “Ineluctable” means: not to be avoided, changed, escaped, neglected, or resisted: I can& may choose either RHI or dependency, such as religious arrogance.

Persons appreciating contemporary human being (verb), during each generation, develop the MJM I advocate. In other words, I attribute to MJM the civic-appreciation that human being (verb) applied “before Abraham was born” and since then. “Civic” means reliable-in human connections& transactions more than compliant-to civil/legal rules. Given the question, “Was Jesus a man?”, my response -- “I don’t know, yet value MJM”, seems sufficient& complete to my person. I advocate the secular Jesus.

Perhaps MJM always was the-good human being (verb). That potential was present at the Big Bang, 13.7 billion years ago. There’s joy in accepting that I don’t know, seeking ineluctable-evidence, and reserving humility to RHI.

It seems the-laws-of-physics& progeny (PHYSICS) constrains the consequences of each person’s choices. That is, the laws of forces, mathematics, chemistries, biology, and psychology and their subsets. I choose to accept mysterious-God appreciation and pursue Jesus’ “my-peace”, in-order-to commit-to and trust-in PHYSICS. For example, I work for food& shelter rather than accept what a bureaucrat might provide. I work to aid SECURITY rather than pray for an entity to usurp RHI.]

9 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali [these two lands and Issachar represent the northern tribal lands east of Galilee, to become Jesus’ principal living and teaching territory], but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—[Northern Jews could travel to the middle kingdoms along the Jordan River and to the south kingdoms from the Dead Sea.]

² The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned. [If this is recognition& acceptance that only humankind can& may pursue comprehensive-safety& security to live on earth, it’s very good. Verse 3 suggests that the harvest is God’s approval.]
³ You have enlarged the nation [Does this refer to the 12 tribes or to Judah only?]
    and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
    when dividing the plunder. [Is this attitude to be shared with descendants? I would not want to inherit this aggression& arrogance.]
⁴ For as in the day of Midian’s defeat [Judges 7:  Therein, God needed fewer Gideon soldiers to demonstrate favor over the Midianites.],
    you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
    the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor. [Are the plunderers claiming victimhood?]
⁵ Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
    will be fuel for the fire. [Relief through fire--destruction?]
⁶ For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [Can we, civic-citizens of 2023, segue from these words to the son of man (quoting Jesus in Luke 9:58 and about 80 other times)?]
⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end. [The New Testament suggests end times.]
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom, [Do civic-citizens want to lessen Jesus to the continuation of David’s kingdom?]
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever. [The New Testament suggests end times.]
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this. [Will that zeal uphold the-laws-of-physics?]

The Lord’s Anger Against Israel

⁸ The Lord has sent a message against Jacob;
    it will fall on Israel.
⁹ All the people will know it—
    Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria—
who say with pride
    and arrogance of heart,
¹⁰ “The bricks have fallen down,
    but we will rebuild with dressed stone;
the fig trees have been felled,
    but we will replace them with cedars.”
¹¹ But the Lord has strengthened Rezin’s foes [Judah?] against them
    and has spurred their enemies on.
¹² Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west
    have devoured Israel with open mouth.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
    his hand is still upraised.

¹³ But the people have not returned to him who struck them,
    nor have they sought the Lord Almighty.
¹⁴ So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail,
    both palm branch and reed in a single day;
¹⁵ the elders and dignitaries are the head,
    the prophets who teach lies are the tail.
¹⁶ Those who guide this people mislead them,
    and those who are guided are led astray.
¹⁷ Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,
    nor will he pity the fatherless and widows, [The Code of Hammurabi (Babylonian improvement of Sumerian codes) defends orphans and widows.]
for everyone is ungodly and wicked,
    every mouth speaks folly. [Men can& may independently pursue security to life.]

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
    his hand is still upraised.

¹⁸ Surely wickedness burns like a fire;
    it consumes briers and thorns,
it sets the forest thickets ablaze,
    so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke.
¹⁹ By the wrath of the Lord Almighty
    the land will be scorched
and the people will be fuel for the fire;
    they will not spare one another. [I neither propose nor accommodate fear toward whatever constrains the choices human beings make. I advocate statutory-justice, intending to reform errant fellow-citizens.]
²⁰ On the right they will devour,
    but still be hungry;
on the left they will eat,
    but not be satisfied.
Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring:
²¹     Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh;
    together they will turn against Judah. [The tribes wage internal war, much like Baptist churches compete rather than collaborate.]

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
    his hand is still upraised.

[With Isaiah 9’s God-war-attitudes representing Jewish culture, I see no basis for Semitism and encourage nations and persons to focus on humankind rather than on groups.]