THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW ~ Chapter 20

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW ~ Chapter 20

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a farmer who went out one morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. First, he made a contract with the workmen as to the pay – twenty cents for the day – and then he sent them into the vineyard to work. He went out again about nine o’clock in the morning and saw some men in the town square, loafing, with nothing to do. So he spoke to them: “’If you will go and work in my vineyard, I shall pay you whatever is right.” And they went. Then, about noon, he went out again, and also about three o’clock he did the same. Once more he went out – about 5 o’clock – and again he found some hanging around doing nothing. He asked them, ‘Why do you stand here all day?’ They answered him, ‘Because no one will give us work.’ And he said to them, ‘You, too, go into the vineyard and I shall pay you whatever is right.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his overseer, ‘Call in the workmen, starting with the last hired, and on to the first.’ When those came up who had been hired around 5 o’clock, each received 20 cents. And, finally, when those who had been hired earliest came, they thought they would get more, but each one received 20 cents and no more. But, on receiving it, they grumbled against their employer. ‘The late-comers’, they complained, ‘worked only 1 hour, yet you have made them equal to us who have borne the burdens of the heat of the day’. He spoke to one of them, ‘My friend, I have not wronged you. Didn’t you agree with me on twenty cents? Take your pay and go. I want to give the late-comer the same as you got. Isn’t it lawful for me to do with my money as I wish? Are you envious because I want to be generous?’ So, the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

When Yeshua set out for Jerusalem again, He took His disciples aside on the way and had a talk with them. “See here,” said He, “when we go up to Jerusalem this time, the Son of Man will be given into the hands of the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death. And they, in turn, will deliver Him to the heathen to be mocked and scourged and crucified. But on the 3^rd day, He will rise again.

The mother of the sons of Zebedee now came to Him with her sons. She knelt before Him, and wanted to beg some favor of Him. “What is it you want?” He asked her. She answered, “Promise me this, that in Your kingdom one of my sons may sit at Your right hand and the other at Your left.’ But Yeshua said, in reply, “No, you do not understand what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They answered him, ‘Yes, we are.’ He said, “Well, then, you shall drink My cup. But to be seated at My right hand and at My left hand is not for Me to give. Those seats will be given to those for whom they have been prepared by My Father.” When the other ten disciples heard this, they were angry at the two brothers. So Yeshua called the disciples to Him and said, “You know how the heathen rulers are high-handed with their people, and how their chiefs likewise rule as dictators. But it must not be that way among you. Rather, if one of you desires to be great among you, let him be your slave. With you it should be like the Son of man – He came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life for a ransom to set many free.”

A great crowd followed after Yeshua as He left Jericho. Now, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they learned that Yeshua was passing by, they cried out, ‘Adonai, Son of David, take pity on us!’ The crowd rebuked them and told them to keep quiet. But they cried out still louder, ‘Have pity on us, Adonai, Son of David!” Yeshua stopped and spoke to them. “What do you want me to do for you?” He asked. They answered, “Adonai, oh, if You would only open our eyes!’  And they could at once see, and they followed Him.

**Matthew 19: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-gospel-according-to-matthew-chapter.html

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW ~ Chapter 19

We have been under attack with allergies the past 3 weeks so I have not been blogging regularly. But today, the pressure behind my eyes and across my cheekbones has abated, so I will start blogging again by catching up on the Thursday Bible Studies that have fallen by the sneezing wayside. Today’s Scripture Study is on the topic of divorce. I understand that it is a touchy topic, nonetheless … Yeshua DID teach on it.

Also let me say that I am a second wife; I married my divorced husband when I was 17 – he was 24 … and I have never regretted it, nor do I apologize for it. I was Christian and I made sure my husband-to-be understood Yehua’s teaching on divorce as that was the only way I would become involved with him. Being assured (and having met his ex, who was at the time openly living with another man) that our union was in no way questionable and absolutely kosher according to the teaching of Yeshua, I agreed to marry him in August of 1974: 44 years, 2 children (his and ours) and 4 grandchildren ago (his and ours).

Wedding picture - 1974 @ the Judge's home. I did not want the big fancy wedding my mother was planning, and the Judge being a friend of our family married us on the spur of the moment late evening August 27th.

I do not apologize to anyone for that decision. Hubs is a patient, kind, generous, and gentle husband to me; a strong Godly man; a longsuffering, patient, and kind father; and a gentle, kind, and wonderful grandfather.

Too many church leaders and lay people do not read Scripture correctly or under the welcome guidance of the Rauch Ha’Kodesh, so they allow human nature to get the best of them and snarkily comment with pious self-righteousness on something they know nothing about. We have, throughout our marriage, had some well-meaning people take us to task on the issue – and some just plain mean-spirited people make remarks to us that have NO BASIS on Scripture at all!

It amazes us – and shows us their true hearts – that these same self-righteous and Biblically ignorant people can so thoroughly castigate the divorced and ban them from leadership positions … YET … openly embrace and promote openly homosexual practicing people to ministerial positions – and gather man costly possessions to themselves along with fat stock portfolios. In doing so they have become self-righteously political, not Christian, in their worldly leaning churches. Thereby wreaking thousands of lives in the greedy progressions.

And we are better off without them in our lives.

All that said, let us take get a cup of coffee, sit down together, and take a Berean-style approach to the Scripture today and come to a correct understanding of it.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW ~ Chapter 19

When Yeshua had finished His talk, He left Galilee and came to that part if Judea beyond the Jordan. Many people followed after Him, and He healed them there.

Some Pharisees came to Him to test Him and asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” In answering them, Yeshua asked, “Have you never read that He Who created them in the beginning created them male and female? And also that He said, ‘On that account shall a man leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the 2 shall be 1 flesh?’ They are therefore, no longer 2, but 1 flesh. What Elohei has joined together, then let no man separate.” Then they asked him, “But why did the Law of Moshe permit a man to get a divorce certificate and put his wife away?” “Moshe,” said Yeshua, “has allowed you to put your wives away because of the wickedness of your hearts. But it was not intended that way in the beginning. And I say to you that if you put away your wife for any reason except adultery, and marry another woman, you then commit adultery; and anyone who marries the divorced wife commits adultery.” His disciples then remarked, “If this is the rule as to man and wife, it seems best not to get married.” Yeshua answered, “Not all can accept such counsel, but only those who are so capable. Some men have always been unsuited for marriage, having been born that way. Some men have been made eunuchs by the act of men, and some have chosen not to marry for the love of the kingdom of heaven. Let him who can, accept this call.”

Pharisees questioning Yeshua

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might lay His hands on them and offer prayer, but the disciples spoke sharply to them. Then Yeshua spoke up, “Let the children alone. Don’t forbid them to come to Me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Then He laid His hands on them, and went on.

Jesus blessing the children

A man now came to Him and asked, “Rabbi, what good thing must I do to win everlasting life?” “You call Me good?” said Yeshua. “There is none good except one – Elohei. And, as to winning everlasting life – if that is your desire – you must keep the commandments.” The man said, “Which commandments?” “These” said Yeshua – “you shall not murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The man – he was still young – said to Him, “Why, a; these commandments I have kept from my youth. Just what do I still lack?” Yeshua answered him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your property and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. This done, come and follow Me.” When the young man heard these words, he went away sorrowing, for he had many possessions. At this, Yeshua told his disciples, “Yes, I tell you it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. I say it again, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” His disciples, in great astonishment, said, “Who, then, can be saved?” Looking at them, Yeshua answered, “With man it is impossible, but not with Elohei. All things are possible for Him.”

Then Simon (Peter), answering Him, asked, “See! We have left everything and followed You. What will there be for us?” Yeshua answered, “This I promise you – you who have followed Me – that in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of His glory, then you, too, will sit there on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel. Indeed, everyone who has forsaken his home, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or wife or children, or land – for My sake – will be rewarded a 100 times and will obtain everlasting life. But many who are now first will then be last; and many who are last will then be first.”

**Matthew 18: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-gospel-according-to-matthew-chapter_22.html

FUN IN THE SUN

The sun came out briefly very bright and very hot … and we loved every second of it :-D

We went for 2 dike hikes along the sloughs in town – one around the fancy Golf Course, which in my opinion, was very boring … and another along the dike we usually walk this time of year hoping to see baby ducks. There were no babies in sight, but we did see lots of ducks and even spotted the ever illusive turtle:

The turtle is on the green algae mass with its nose stuck up in the air like a snake head.

Then we drove across the border for 3 dozen fresh eggs and stopped for a tasty Thai meal and Thai Iced tea once we got back on home turf before stopping at Wal*Mart on our way home. I picked up some Easter Stuff (NO candy though), and then picked up 6 bags of soil, 5 strawberry plants, and 5 begonias … the back end of our Highlander was loaded so heavily that it looked snobbish driving down the highway with its nose in the air. To our way of thinking it was a true miracle that its front tires were still making contact with the blacktop. LOL!

Once back home, we unloaded the bags of soil and filled 2 veggie planter boxes – only a dozen more to go <:-O I am chomping at the bit to get the boxes filled and planted, so I hope the weather starts cooperating. There is very limited gardening time in Washington State between the monsoons and all this prolonged dreary wet weather is eating a third of it up >:-P

The sunny 70-degree weather felt good; I hope it comes to stay soon so every day can be a ‘fun in the sun’ day ;-)

PIZZA BUNDLES

With the weather being as fickle as it is being, and the rain making us all dozy, I thought homemade pizza would be welcome for Supper tonight (and the preparation would keep me awake; LOL), so I pulled out this old recipe and got busy ;-)

This recipe is an oldie, but goodie; I clipped it decades ago from the local paper. It is an original recipe submitted by Marya Evans from the Silver Lake area – the recipe is her own adaptation … which I changed a bit myself tonight to use what I had on hand. Her recipe calls for sausage or hamburger – I used pepperoni slices, cut into tiny squares. Her recipe all calls for mozzarella or provolone cheese – I used Swiss cheese. Her recipe calls for nutmeg & anise – I used allspice. The recipe is easily adaptable for your own favorite filling recipe … or for substitutions if necessary:-D

I was doing a couple loads of laundry to this afternoon, and the dryer was a good warm place to set the dough to rise. Hey – you gotta do what you gotta do, and use what you can use, to get things done, right?

READ THE RECIPE ALL THE WAY THROUGH BEFORE STARTING!

PIZZA BUNDLES ~ Makes 6

PIZZA DOUGH: 2-1/2 cups Flour * 1 package active dry Yeast (or 2-1/4 tsp. bulk dry yeast) * 1 tsp. Salt * ½ tsp. Sugar * 1 cup warm Water (110-115 degrees) * 2 TBSP Olive Oil or Salad Oil * ¼ cup grated Romano or Parmesan Cheese

In a large bowl, place water and stir in yeast and sugar; allow to activate for 8 minutes.

Gather supplies to begin while yeast activates.

Stir in remaining ingredients, using as much flour as needed to make a stiff dough. Turn onto a floured surface, and knead until elastic. Cover and allow dough to rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk – about 1 hour or so.

Olive oil gives best flavor to crust.

Blending pizza dough ingredients with bread hook.

Kneading dough until elastic and thoroughly blended.

Place kneaded dough into bowl to rise.

Dough placed on warm dryer to rise under a basket and bath towel to trap heat.

While dough is rising, prepare the FILLING: ½ pound Italian Sausage or Hamburger * 1 cup chopped Onion * 1 clove chopped Garlic * 1 cup sliced mushrooms or 1 can mushroom pieces, drained * 2medium tomatoes, chopped or 1 can tomatoes, drained * 1/3 cup tomato paste * ½ tsp. Sugar * 1 tsp. crushed Basil * ½ tsp. crushed Oregano * Dash Nutmeg * Drop of Anise * Salt and ground Black Pepper to taste * 1-1/2 cups shredded Mozzarella or Provolone Cheese * 1 beaten Egg

Frozen Pepperoni slices thawed above warm coffee pot. LOL

Crushing the basil ... homegrown and coarsely dried.

Pizza Bundle Filling being prepared. Cubed pepperoni slices and red wine.

WHEN DOUGH IS RISEN: Divide dough in half and cut each half into 3 pieces to make 6 pieces total.

Pizza dough risen and ready to be rolled and filled. (Sorry so dark - a cloud passed over the skylight ...)

Baking sheets lined with Parchment Paper. 2 baking sheets were used.

Dough separated into 6 equal sized pieces for uniformity.

On a floured surface, roll each piece into an 8-inch circle. Spoon about 2/3 cup of meat mixture onto half of each circle; spread ¼ cup cheese over filling. Moisten edge of dough with a mixture of egg and 1 tsp. water – fold in half and seal edges by pressing down along the edge with fork tines.

Dough rolled to 8-inch circles.

I rolled all 6 pieces at once ...

... and filled them with equal amounts of filling and cheese.

Prick the tops of each bundle with a fork and brush with remaining egg/water mixture. OR spray the bundle tops with butter flavored Cooking Spray.

Pizza Bundles rolled, filled, pricked, sprayed with butter flavored cooking spray, and ready for the oven.

Bake on greased baking sheets in a 375-degree oven for 20 – 30 minutes. NOTE: If using parchment paper, greasing the sheet is not necessary.

Baking bundles smell GOOD!

I baked these for 25 min’s., but probably should have only baked them for 20 minutes. They are crisp. But every oven bakes differently, and I am still getting used to my new one ;-)

RAIN BARREL

Hubs bought me this rain barrel and fittings a few weeks ago intending to set it up for me then, but … rain, hail, and a surprise snowstorm were upon us before we barely got it out of the car and under the carport.

So he wasn’t able to make a stand, or set it up before yesterday. I AM HAPPY :-D

Sturdy wooden barrel stand Hubs built me yesterday.

Overflow detector installed.

He set it in place yesterday afternoon and already this morning the 55-gallon barrel has had overflow redirected. WOW - who knew we'd have that much rain overnight? <:-O

Hubs is talking about getting me another barrel: I can go for that! I am planning a 2018 Spring Veggie Box Garden (http://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2017/07/day-by-day.html) to feed us all Winter and into Spring 2019, so another rain barrel will definately be a plus in more ways than one ;-) I do not want to use city water unless absolutely forced to.

((((Thank you Babe)))) ~OXOXOXOX

P.S: It's still raining hard, perhaps ... 3 more barrels? Just a thought.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW ~ Chapter 18

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW ~ Chapter 18

Just then the disciples came over and asked Yeshua, ‘Who is really the greatest I the kingdom of heaven?’ Yeshua then called a little child and, placing the child in the center of the group, He replied, “I tell you truly that if you do not have a change of heart and become like a child, you will not get into the kingdom of heaven at all. The greatest in the kingdom of heaven must make himself as humble as a child. Anyone who receives a little child in My Name, receives Me. But whoever leads astray one of these little ones who believe in Me might better have a millstone hung around his neck and be sunk in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of temptations offered to stumble – they must come, it seems – but woe especially to the man that causes them! Indeed, if your hand or your foot should cause you to sin, cut them off and throw them away, for it is better for you to go into life minus a hand or a foot than to be cast into everlasting fire with both hands and feet. Likewise, if your eye cause you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away, for it is better for you to go into life with only one eye than to be cast into hell fire with both eyes. Be careful; do not despise the little children! For I tell you that in heaven their angles look to the face of My heavenly Father continually.”

“For the Son of man has come to save what was lost. What do you think? Suppose a man had 100 sheep, and 1 of them gets lost. Doesn’t he leave the 99 up there in the mountains and go out in search of the 1 that was lost? And if he finds it, don’t you agree that he will have more joy over that 1 than over the 99 that did not go astray? I truly think so. Even so, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that 1 of these little children should perish.”

“If your brother should do you a wrong, you should take the matter up with him. Talk to him in private; if he will listen to you, you have won back your brother. If he will not listen to you, take 1 or 2 other persons with you, so that every word spoken may be confirmed by the testimony of 2 or 3 witnesses. And if he will not listen to them, bring the matter before The Church, and then if he will not listen to The Church, let him be treated as a heathen or a foreigner. It is absolutely true that what you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and what you forgive on earth will be forgiven in heaven. One thing more – if 2 of you agree on any request here on earth, My heavenly Father will answer your prayer. For where 2 or 3 come together in My Name, there am I in their midst.”

Simon Peter then came to him and said, ‘How often must I forgive my brother if he sins against me? As many as 7x?’ “I tell you,” said Yeshua, “not up to 7x but to 70 x 7. The kingdom of heaven, therefore, s like a certain king who decided to go over his accounts with his servants. He had hardly begun when there came in one of his subjects who owed him $1,000,000; but as he had nothing to pay with, the king gave orders that he was to be sold, with his wife and children and everything that he had, in payment of the debt. At this, the debtor fell prostrate before him, pleading, ‘Lord, be patient with me and I will pay you every cent.’ The king took pity on his subject and set him free: in fact, he canceled the whole debt. And then that same man went out and found a fellow subject who owed him about $20. He seized him by the throat and started to choke him, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe me!’ The man fell at his feet and cried out, pleadingly, ‘Give me time and I will pay for everything.’ But he refused. Rather, he had him thrown into jail to stay until he had paid his debt. Now, while others saw what had happened, they were angry, and they went to their master, the king, and reported what had taken place. The king then sent for him. ‘You wicked servant!’ he said, ‘I forgave your whole debt because you begged me. Was it not proper that you, too, should have taken pity on your fellow servant, even as I took pity on you? Then the king, I wrath, turned him over to be tortured until he should pay all that he owed. Just so will My heavenly Father di to you if you do not, every one of you, forgive his brother.”

**Matthew 17: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-gospel-according-to-matthew-chapter.html

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW ~ Chapter 17

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW ~ Chapter 17

Six days later, Yeshua took with Him Simon (Peter), James and his brother John, and brought them up to a high mountain to be alone. And He was changed – transfigured – before them. His face shone like the sun and His clothing became as white as the light. And all at once Moshe (Moses) and Elijah came and talked with Him. Simon then said to Yeshua, ‘It is good for us to be here. If You permit it, I shall put up three sukkahs (shelters) here; one for You, one for Moshe and one for Elijah.’ While he was yet speaking, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them and a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, greatly terrified. Yeshua then came to them, touched them, and said, “Get up; don’t be afraid!”

As they were coming down from the mountain, Yeshua said to them, “Be sure not to tell anyone about the vision – not until the Son of Man shall have risen from the dead.” The disciples asked Him, ‘Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ Yeshua replied, “Surely Elijah will come first, and he will re-establish things. The fact is that Elijah has already come, but he was not recognized, and they did to him whatever they pleased. In the same way the Son of man is about to suffer at their hands.”

The disciples now understood that He had been talking to them about John the Baptist.

When they reached the crowd, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. He said, ‘Adonai, take pity on my son, for he is a lunatic and suffers terribly! Sometimes he falls into the fire, and more often into the water, I brought him to Your disciples but they could not heal him.’

“O you unbelieving and misguided folk! Said Yeshua. “How long shall I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” And Yeshua rebuked the demon, and he came out of him, and from that moment the boy was healed. Afterwards, when they were alone, the disciples came to Yeshua and asked, ‘Why could we not drive him out?’ Yeshua answered, “Because you lacked Faith. I tell you truly, if you had faith – even though it be as small as a tiny mustard seed – you could say tot his mountain, ‘Move over from here to there! And it would move over. No, nothing will be impossible for you. This kind, however, is cast out only by the help of prayer and fasting.”

While they were still going about in Galilee, Yeshua said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men; and they will kill Him, but on the 3^rd day He shall rise again.” And they were much distressed.

When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax came to Simon and asked, ‘Doesn’t your Master pay taxes?’ He replied, “Yes.” When Simon came into the house, Yeshua spoke up first, saying, “Simon, what do you think? From whom do the kings of the world collect duties or taxes – from their sons or from others?” Simon answered, ‘From others.’ Yeshua then said, “Then the sons are exempt, aren’t they? But, so as not to offend them, go down to the sea, throw in a hook and take the first fish you catch, open its mouth and you will find a silver coin there. Take it and go pay the tax for Me and yourself.”

**Matthew 16: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2018/02/thursday-bible-study-matthew-16.html