[The sections of this entry correspond to the chapters in the King James Bible as follows: 10 = 12; 11 = 13; 12 = 14; 13 = 15.]
10
In the meantime, there gathered together an innumerable multitude of people. And Jesus spoke to them, saying:
“Beware the influence of the creditors who have infiltrated every institution: from church and state to education and beyond. They like to operate in small groups, in secret. But I assure you, there is nothing covert that shall not eventually be unveiled. Everything that is presently hid shall someday be known. Whatsoever they have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which they have spoken within closets shall be proclaimed upon the rooftops.
“Also I say unto you, my friends: Be not afraid of those who kill the body. The smallest sprout shows there is really no death.
“And whoever speaks a word against me, or against any other man, shall surely be forgiven; but whoever denies and lies against his own Holy Spirit will never pardon himself for that blasphemy.
“So, when they haul you before the churches and bureaucrats and representatives of the magnates and other powers, take no thought of what you will answer: for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in the moment what you shall say.”
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Then someone from the company of people who had been following Jesus on his travels said to him: “Lord, please mediate between my brother and me, regarding our inheritance.”
And Jesus answered: “What have I to do with legal mediation?” Then he turned to the crowd and said: “Beware of covetousness and greed. One’s life consists not in the abundance of one’s possessions.” Then he spoke a parable, saying:
“A certain rich man owned land that brought forth plentifully. Soon, he ran out of space in his warehouse to store his abundance. So, he said to himself: ‘I will tear down my warehouse and build another that is bigger.’ But then Lord Yahweh came to him and said: ‘Fool, this night I will take back your life-breath.’ My point is that it is stupid to hoard up treasure for yourself without being rich toward God.”
And Jesus continued, saying: “Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat; neither for your body, what you shall wear. Life if more than meat, and the body more than raiment. Look at the crows: they do not work for a paycheck, neither do they labor for any boss: they neither sow nor reap – they own no storehouses or barns; yet God feeds them. How much better are you than birds!
“And which of you by worrying can add a single inch to his height?
“Consider how the lilies grow: they do not toil or sew; and yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed as one of these.
“So if God clothes the grass in this way, which is today in the field and tomorrow in the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O faithless multitudes!
“And do not fret about your necessities, where they shall come from and so forth; neither be of doubtful mind; for the Volcano knows what you require to thrive. Rather, seek the kingdom of God; and all these things will come with it.
“Fear not. Sell everything you own, and give away all excess. In this way, you will acquire heavenly treasure that will never rot, which thieves cannot steal, nor intruders corrupt. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
“Be always ready; keep your lamps burning. Emulate the faithful watchmen, not those guards who fall asleep on the job. For nobody knows when the Volcano will break forth.”
11
Then Jesus said: “What is the kingdom of God like? It is like the tiniest mustard seed, which was planted in a garden; and it grew into a towering tree, so all the birds of heaven lodged in its branches.”
12
Jesus also said: “When you throw a dinner party, don’t call your friends and family, nor your rich neighbors; but invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and the needy.”
13
And Jesus said: “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will be true to the one, and false to the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.”
Then Jesus said unto some religious leaders: “You justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts. What is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”
Also Jesus spoke the following parable.
“There was a certain rich man named Dives, who fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which laid at Dives’ gate; and Lazarus desired to be fed with the crumbs from the rich man’s table.
“And one day the beggar Lazarus died, and was carried by the angels into paradise. Then Dives the rich man died also, and was buried; and in the underworld he lifted up his eyes, being in torments; and seeing Lazarus afar off in paradise, Dives cried and said: ‘God have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to bring me some water to cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’
“But God said: ‘O Dives, remember that you in your lifetime received good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and you are tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that no one can pass from here to there, or from there to here.’
“Then Dives the rich man said: ‘I pray therefore, O God, that you would send Lazarus to my family’s house, for I have five siblings who all are wealthy like me, and if Lazarus would testify to them, then they might not end up like I did in this place of torment.’
“God said to him: ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’
“And Dives said: ‘No, God! but if Lazarus visited them from the dead, they would repent.’
“And God answered the rich man, saying: ‘If they hear not Moses and the prophets, then neither will they be persuaded by one who rose from the dead.’”
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