2
καὶ προσεύξατο πρὸς κύριον καὶ εἶπεν ὦ κύριε οὐχ οὗτοι οἱ λόγοι μου ἔτι ὄντος μου ἐν τῇ γῇ μου διὰ τοῦτο προέφθασα τοῦ φυγεῖν εἰς θαρσις διότι ἔγνων ὅτι σὺ ἐλεήμων καὶ οἰκτίρμων μακρόθυμος καὶ πολυέλεος καὶ μετανοῶν ἐπὶ ταῖς κακίαις
Jonah 4:2
True Christian Religion #226
226. (i) THE WORD IS NOT TO BE UNDERSTOOD WITHOUT DOCTRINE.
This is because the Word in its literal sense is composed of nothing but correspondences, in order that it should simultaneously hold spiritual and celestial meanings; and every single word is a container and support for these. That is why in the literal sense the Divine truths are rarely uncovered, but are clothed. They are then called appearances of truth, and in many cases are made suitable to be understood by the simple, who do not lift their gaze above what is in front of their eyes. Some appear to be contradictions, when in fact there is no contradiction, if the Word is looked at by its own spiritual light. Moreover in some passages of the Prophets there are collections of place-names and personal names, from which no sort of sense can be extracted. Seeing that the Word is like this in its literal sense, it can easily be established that it could not be understood without doctrine.
The Word is not to be understood without doctrine. Doctrine is to be drawn from the literal sense of the Word. But Divine truth, on which doctrine is based, is not visible to any but those who are enlightened by the Lord.
[2] But let us take examples to illustrate this. It is said that Jehovah regrets (Exodus 32:12, 14; Jonah 3:9; 4:2); and also that Jehovah does not regret (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29). These statements cannot be reconciled without doctrine. It is said that Jehovah visits the wickedness of the fathers upon the sons, to the third or fourth generation (Numbers 14:18); and also that a father shall not die on account of his son, nor a son on account of his father, but each in his own sin (Deuteronomy 24:16). Doctrine can show that these statements do not conflict, but are in harmony.
[3] Jesus says:
Ask and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find. To him that knocks, the door shall be opened, Matthew 7:7-8; 21:21-22.
Without doctrine one might believe that each will receive what he asks for; but we know from doctrine that whatever a person asks from the Lord, that is granted. For this too is what the Lord teaches:
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you will, and it will be done for you, John 15:7.
[4] The Lord says:
Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of God, Luke 6:20.
Without doctrine one might think that heaven was for the poor and not the rich; but doctrine instructs us that the poor in spirit are meant, for the Lord says:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens, Matthew 5:3.
[5] The Lord says further:
Do not judge, so that you are not judged; with whatever judgment you judge, so will you be judged, Matthew 7:1-2; Luke 6:37.
Without doctrine anyone could be induced to assert that we must not judge wicked people to be wicked; but doctrine tells us we may judge, so long as we do so justly. For the Lord says:
Give just judgments, John 7:24.
[6] Jesus says:
Do not have yourselves called teacher, for you have one teacher, Christ. Do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one father in the heavens. And do not have yourselves called master, for you have one master, Christ, Matthew 23:8-10.
Without doctrine this would mean that we are not to call anyone teacher, father or master; but doctrine tells us that we may do so in the natural sense, but not in the spiritual.
[7] Jesus said to the disciples:
When the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you too will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel, Matthew 19:28.
One might infer from these words that the Lord's disciples too are to act as judges, though in fact they can judge no one. Doctrine therefore will reveal the mystery by the fact that the Lord alone, who is omniscient, and knows the hearts of all, can and will be judge. His twelve disciples mean the church in respect of all its truths and all its kinds of good, which are given to it by the Lord by means of the Word. Doctrine infers from this that it is the truths and kinds of good which will judge everyone, as the Lord said in John (John 3:17-18; 12:47-48). There are many more passages like this in the Word, which show plainly that the Word cannot be understood without doctrine.
Matthew 10
1
He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.
2
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these. The first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee; John, his brother;
3
Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4
Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
5
Jesus sent these twelve out, and commanded them, saying, "Don't go among the Gentiles, and don't enter into any city of the Samaritans.
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Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7
As you go, preach, saying, 'The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!'
8
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.
9
Don't take any gold, nor silver, nor brass in your money belts.
10
Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food.
11
Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy; and stay there until you go on.
12
As you enter into the household, greet it.
13
If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn't worthy, let your peace return to you.
14
Whoever doesn't receive you, nor hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust from your feet.
15
Most certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
16
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.
18
Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.
19
But when they deliver you up, don't be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say.
20
For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21
"Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22
You will be hated by all men for my name's sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.
23
But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man has come.
24
"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.
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It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!
26
Therefore don't be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; and hidden that will not be known.
27
What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.
28
Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
29
"Aren't two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father's will,
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but the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31
Therefore don't be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
32
Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven.
33
But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.
34
"Don't think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn't come to send peace, but a sword.
35
For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36
A man's foes will be those of his own household.
37
He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn't worthy of me.
38
He who doesn't take his cross and follow after me, isn't worthy of me.
39
He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
40
He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.
41
He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward.
42
Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you he will in no way lose his reward."
