Sacred Scripture # 51
51. 1. The Word is not understandable without a body of teaching. This is because in its literal meaning the Word is entirely made up of correspondences, to allow spiritual and heavenly matters to be gathered within it in such a way that each word can be their container and support. That is why in many passages the literal meaning is not made up of bare truths but of clothed truths, which we may call semblances of truth. Many of them are adapted to the comprehension of ordinary people who do not raise their thoughts above what they can see with their eyes. There are other passages where there seem to be contradictions, though there are no contradictions in the Word when it is seen in its own light. Then too, there are places in the prophets where we find collections of personal names and place-names that make no sense to us - see the examples in §15 above.
Since that is what the literal meaning of the Word is like, it stands to reason that it cannot be understood without a body of teaching.
[2] Some examples may serve to illustrate this. It says that Jehovah repents (Exodus 32:12, 14; Jonah 3:9; 4:2). It also says that Jehovah does not repent (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29). Without a body of teaching, these statements do not agree.
It says that Jehovah visits the iniquities of the parents on the children to the third and fourth generation (Numbers 14:18), and it says that parents will not be put to death for their children and children will not be put to death for their parents, but each will die in his or her own sin (Deuteronomy 24:16). Seen in the light of a body of teaching, these statements do not disagree but agree.
[3] Jesus said,
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Everyone who asks receives, those who seek find, and to those who knock it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8; 21:21-22)
In the absence of a body of teaching, people would believe that everyone’s request is granted, but a body of teaching yields the belief that we are given whatever we ask if we ask it not on our own behalf but on the Lord’s. That is in fact what the Lord tells us:
If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you will ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. (John 15:7)
[4] The Lord says “Blessed are the poor, because theirs is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20). Without a body of teaching, we might think that heaven belongs to the poor and not to the rich. A body of teaching instructs us, though, that this means those who are poor in spirit, for the Lord said,
Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of the heavens. (Matthew 5:3)
[5] The Lord says,
Do not judge, or you will be judged; with the same judgment you pass [on others] you yourself will be judged. (Matthew 7:1-2; Luke 6:37)
In the absence of a body of teaching, this could be used to support the assertion that we should not say that an evil act is evil or judge that an evil person is evil. A body of teaching, though, tells us that it is permissible to pass judgment if we do so in an upright, righteous way. In fact, the Lord says,
Judge with righteous judgment. (John 7:24)
[6] Jesus says,
Do not be called teacher, because one is your Teacher: Christ. You should not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, and he is in the heavens. You should not be called masters, because one is your Master: Christ. (Matthew 23:8-10)
In the absence of a body of teaching, it would turn out that it was wrong to call anyone a teacher or a father or a master; but from a body of teaching we come to know that this is permissible in an earthly sense but not in a spiritual sense.
[7] Jesus said to the disciples,
When the Son of Humanity sits on the throne of his glory, you will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28)
These words could lead us to believe that the Lord’s disciples will be passing judgment, when quite the contrary, they cannot judge anyone. So a body of teaching unveils this mystery by explaining that only the Lord, who is omniscient and knows the hearts of all, will judge and can judge, and that his twelve disciples mean the church in the sense of all the true and good principles that it has received from the Lord through the Word. A body of teaching leads us to the conclusion that these principles will judge everyone, which follows from what the Lord says in John 3:17-18; 12:47-48.
[8] People who read the Word without the aid of a body of teaching do not know how to make sense out of what it says in the prophets about the Jewish nation and Jerusalem, namely, that the church will abide in that nation and that its seat will be in that city forever. Take the following statements, for example.
Jehovah will visit his flock, the house of Judah, and transform them into a glorious war horse; from Judah will come the cornerstone, from Judah the tent peg, from Judah the battle bow. (Zechariah 10:3-4)
Behold, I am coming to dwell in your midst. Jehovah will make Judah his inheritance and will again choose Jerusalem. (Zechariah 2:10-12)
On that day it will happen that the mountains will drip with new wine and the hills will flow with milk; and Judah will abide forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. (Joel 3:18, 20)
Behold, the days are coming in which I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of humankind, and in which I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. This will be the covenant: I will put my law in their midst and I will write it on their heart, and I will become their God and they will become my people. (Jeremiah 31:27, 31, 33)
On that day ten men from every language of the nations will take hold of the hem of a man of Judah and say, “We will go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.” (Zechariah 8:23)
There are other passages of the same nature, such as Isaiah 44:24, 26; 49:22-23; 65:18; 66:20, 22; Jeremiah 3:18; 23:5; 50:19-20; Nahum 1:15; Malachi 3:4. In these passages the subject is the Lord’s Coming and what will happen at that time.
[9] However, it says something very different in any number of other passages, of which I will cite only the following:
I will hide my face from them. I will see what their posterity is, for they are a perverse generation, children in whom there is no faithfulness. I have said, “I will cast them into the most remote corners, I will make them cease from human memory, ” for they are a nation devoid of counsel, and they have no understanding. Their vine is from the vine of Sodom and the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are grapes of gall; their clusters are bitter. Their wine is the venom of dragons and the cruel gall of poisonous snakes. All this is hidden with me, locked away in my treasuries. Vengeance and retribution belong to me. (Deuteronomy 32:20-35)
These words were spoken about that nation, and there are similar statements elsewhere, as in Isaiah 3:1-2, 8; 5:3-6; Deuteronomy 9:5-6; Matthew 12:39; 23:27-28; John 8:44; and all through Jeremiah and Ezekiel. All the same, these statements that seem to contradict each other turn out to be in agreement in the light of a body of teaching, which tells us that Israel and Judah in the Word do not mean Israel and Judah but the church in each of two senses - one in which it lies in ruins and the other in which it is to be restored by the Lord. There are other contrasts like this in the Word that enable us to see that the Word cannot be understood apart from a body of teaching.
John 12
1
Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2
There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4
Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
5
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6
This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7
Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8
For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
9
Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10
But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11
Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
12
On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
14
And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
15
Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.
16
These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
17
The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
18
For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
19
The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
20
And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
21
The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
22
Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
23
And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
25
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
27
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
28
Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29
The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30
Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
31
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33
This he said, signifying what death he should die.
34
The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
35
Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
37
But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
38
That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39
Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40
He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
41
These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
42
Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
43
For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
44
Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45
And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
47
And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
49
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50
And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
