Get Rid of Pest Caterpillars In The Garden Once And For All!

Small Scale Homesteading Tactics

Yesterday, the day was gorgeous with 70 degree weather, sunshine, and nary a cloud in the sky early on; so around noon I took advantage of it and got outside to fill the last 3 planter boxes, to get my potted veggies planted and the 2 front flowerbeds prepped for their future displays. All this was finished by 2:30 p.m. Sorry about the angle of the pictures – they were taken from the porch deck, looking down on them:

Along the strip of our meager lot, Hubs helped me make a 'fence' border by lining up my  blossoming Patio Apple tree, Tomatoes (under a plastic drape that can be folded up to let heat escape on super hot days), Onions (80 count), Blueberry bushes (caged), and Strawberries. In the background is the 55-Gal. plastic garbage can to catch rain water. I hope the neighbors weed stay on his side ...

My Patio Apple Trees (1 Red/1 Yellow) are blooming, Cabbages - 12 count (green, white & red) are planted. Potted Geranium and Hens-Chicks sedum.

Celery (6 count), Broccoli (4 count) & Cauliflower (4 count) planted.

Delphinium & Shasta Daisies caged; Foxgloves staked.

Chrysanthemums, Delphinium & Shasta Daisies caged;
Foxgloves staked. What can I say? I like balanced uniformity …

I ran out of room for the spinach; and I have some leftover onions (maybe about 20), cabbages (9 - 3 of each color), broccoli (4) and cauliflower (3) that will have to wait to be planted too, but I managed to get the bulk of my potted veggies in the 5 planter boxes Hubs made up for me the tail end of last summer. If I lose the l.o. cabbages, broccoli and cauliflower to time and $$$, it’s no big loss - they were only sold in containers of 6 ct. and the cost wasn’t anything to have a heart-attack over.

Wednesday, I pulled my potted Geraniums from under the porch where they had been sheltered from the winter freezes; they will perk up and be strong and colorfully bushy in no time. And Hubs helped me move the strawberry jar into place afterwards. I was happy to see that I was able to sufficiently water everything with the water gathered in the 55-Gallon gray heavy-duty garbage can set in the lava rock for just that purpose (to gather rain water to water my veggie beds):

Geraniums pulled from under the porch where they
wintered and set in place on the porch.

Potted Geraniums on the porch steps - the porch needs
painting. Perhaps later this year ... or next year.

Strawberries planted (5 count; they will multiply by summer's end and the babies planted in the jar cups which will increase next year's yield) and placed near netted Blueberry bushes. The blueberry bushes already have blossoms on them.

Of course the water is depleted now and any water gathered from now on will have to be supplemented with city water – which I am not happy about – but perhaps by this time next year there will be a row of rain barrels across the back of the house full of rainwater runoff that will carry me through next year’s garden season. That is the plan anyway. I do have 1 rain barrel set up now that has not yet been tapped, but that will not last long once the veggies’ growth begins in earnest. And I am saving the cooking water and left-over coffee (made with bottled water) too in empty plastic jugs that would normally be drained down the kitchen sink drain – it won’t be much, but it will be useful when the hot days arrive.

I am also getting interested in aquaponics too for inside winter greens like lettuce and spinach. Aquaponics is not a new concept – it was done  in ancient Babylon on a much larger scale; and Israeli has been growing aquaponics gardens for decades. I have the jars, seeds, and Jiffy Seed Pallets, but I still need the cups to hold the seeded pallets; and am crocheting patterned jar jackets to help keep algae out of the jars. I would just wrap the jars in newspaper if we lived in the country, but since we live in a citified crowded neighborhood, having newspapered jars in the windows would be seriously frowned upon. The double-duty crocheted jackets will be pleasing to the eye from the outside as well as inside. I finished the purple/gold jacket up Wednesday evening, and finished the red/gold jacket up last night …

MOD crocheted Jar Jackets - I like color ;-)

The Past 2 Weeks …

We have all been battling the Winter Bug Blues that seemed to take perverse delight in attacking each of us – one after the other – while one of us was trying to recuperate and rebound; needless to say we were all feeling punk and getting cranky. We left the house only when absolutely necessary, and then for as short a time-out-of-house as possible. The fellas basically laid around moaning and playing online games, and I got real creative with the left-overs from the skimpy meals I prepared; I cannot eat when I’m feeling punk, but the fellas don’t seem to have a problem wolfing food down, so I did my bit by preparing substantial meals without barfing while doing so … and then made it s-t-r-e-t-c-h for as long as I could get away with it before shuffling into the kitchen to pray I could stand up long enough to get another meal underway. NOT FUN!

During this hellacious time of upset tummies and migraine headaches that would have done the Inquisition Era proud, we crawled into the car and went into town to do an all-day-long-groceries-shopping ordeal 2 weeks ago and came home to a leaking kitchen sink :-( The small fry beat feet to the back of the house and settled in to watch TV drama, totally ignoring the drama happening in the frontend kitchen: LOL. Hubs manned up and did the right thing … he tore the sink apart and drove all the way back into town to get the pieces:

Hubs removed the original plastic drain and under-sink drain cup

… and put the thing back together before he literally collapsed on the bed afterwards. He also bought showerheads that needed replacing too – but THAT would wait for another day ;-)

2 hours later the sink was fixed. This drain looks a lot nicer than that cheap looking plastic one. Hope it lasts longer too. This sink was  put in in June – not that long ago.

All done - top and bottom ... 

And I cleaned up, laid fresh paper under the sink, and put groceries away; falling into bed around midnight.

A few days later, Hubs switched out the bathroom showerheads too – ours had started to hemorrhage water around the base of the head … and the spare bathroom showerhead was so disgusting I refused to use it until it was replaced, taking baths only instead of showers; how the previous owner could stand it is beyond me – it really was d.i.s.g.u.s.t.i.n.g with black eewww in every spray hole! But now, it is new and spiffy clean ;-)

Feeling much better last week and starting to get an appetite back (which my fellas really appreciated), I got a little bold and whipped up a tasty potato salad because Hubs had mentioned earlier that it would be nice to have a change from the potato chips and french fries to go with their hot dogs I (with the furiously upset tummy) had been pointing them to when they mentioned they were hungry and didn’t feel like another ‘creative’ left-over meal. I hadn’t made this particular potato salad in years, and strangely enough, I was beginning to feel a craving for it, so I made it – and it didn’t take long before it was gone :-D

**Potato-Egg-Cheese Salad Recipe at end of this post**

Earlier this week I whipped up 2 new MOD towel sets. A bright green knitted extra-wide Kitchen Towel/Dishrag Set earlier; and finished up a blue set last night; I like the patterned hem borders and think they should sell at the upcoming Bazaars – I am only doing 2 Bazaars this year, so I’ll be culling my cache and cutting back on new items like these:

And today we all felt well enough to escape the oppressive sick house and make the annual Adna Floral Nursery run for potted garden veggies I don’t have any luck growing myself … and the local outlets only sell ‘Bonnie’s’ brand, which always dies on me and is a total waste of $$. So, feeling like we’ve chased the Grim Reaper out of our immediate neighborhood (hopefully for good this time), we hit the road, browsed at the Nursery’s roadside sale site, and came home with a pretty good selection of economical potted plants that should fare well and provide us with a bountiful harvest to take us through this year’s Winter months. I’m pretty excited to get them planted as soon as there is a long enough break in the weather to make that happen ;-)

Today we drove to Adna to get potted garden veggies. All they sell locally is 'Bonnie's' Brand and I never have luck with those; THESE will grow for me, so the drive is worth it.

I bought the 6 Celery today - the 5 Strawberries were bought 2 weeks ago; they need to be planted in the Strawberry Jar soon ... leaves are already getting yellow - I HOPE they grow; I didn't realize that they are a 'Bonnie' plant, darn it! Maybe if I shake the dirt off them while planting them they {may} actually thrive - we'll see :-(

Since it still gets a bit nippy here early mornings and late nights, I rigged a mini-type of greenhouse environment for the Tomatoes until the weather warms up and I can get them in the Veggie Boxes.

The 4 Tomatoes are a little crowded, but they should be okay for a few weeks until the weather warms up a bit more.

I also spotted a cute little $2 flower pot while scouting for my potted veggies, and that came home with us too ;-) The design changes with every turn of the pot …

I really hope and pray we get some sunshine – soon!

I want to kiss the winter blues off; and get outside to get my hands dirty :-D

Potato-Egg-Cheese Salad (Makes 2 Servings)

1 TBSP plus 2 teaspoons Balsamic Vinegar * 1½ teaspoons Lemon Juice * ¼ teaspoon Sea Salt * Dash Black Pepper * 8 ounces peeled cooked Potatoes, diced * 2 Eggs, hard-cooked and chopped * 2 ounces Swiss Cheese, cubed * 1 TBSP plus 1 teaspoon mayonnaise * 1 teaspoon Parsley, chopped

In bowl combine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Add potatoes; toss and refrigerate 1 hour. Add eggs, cheese, mayonnaise, and parsley to potato mixture; toss to combine. Chill again before serving.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW ~ Chapters 25

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW ~ Chapters 25

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 maidens who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Of those, 5 were foolish and 5 were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps along but forgot to take oil with them. But the wise ones brought not only their lamps but also extra oil in their containers. While the bridegroom delayed in coming they all grew drowsy and fell asleep.

At midnight there was a shout, ‘Wake up! The bridegroom is on his way! Go out to meet him!’ Then all those maidens got up and trimmed their lamps. ‘Give us some of your oil’, said the foolish ones to the wise ones, ‘for out lamps are going out’. Then the wise answered, ‘No; there may not be enough for us and for you, too. Rather, why don’t you go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves?’ But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came, and those who stood ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. After a while, the other maidens came, begging, ‘Sir! Please open! Let us in!’ But the answer was, ‘Truly, I don’t know you’. Watch, therefore, because you do not know the day or the hour when the Son of man will come.”

“For it is like a man who was leaving his homeland. He called to his servants and entrusted his property to them. He gave one of them $5,000, to another $2,000, and to a third, $1,000 – to each one according to his ability. This done, he left the country. When he had gone, the man who had received $5,000 used them in business and made a profit of $5,000 more. In like manner, the man who had received $2,000 made an extra $2,000. But the one who had received only $1,000 went and dug a hole in the ground, where he hid his master’s money. After along stay, the master of these servants came back and had a settlement with them. The one who had gotten $5,000 came up, bringing with him the additional $5,000. He said, ‘Sir, you let me have $5,000. Look! Here are $5,000 extra that I have made as profit.’ His master said to him, “Fine! You are a good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I shall entrust many things to your care. You may have a share in my joy.” The man who had gotten $2,000 also came before him and reported, ‘Sir, you let me have $2,000, but see! With them I have $2,000 more’. Said his master to him, “Wonderful! You, too, are a good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, and I shall set you over many things. I want you to have a share in my joy.’ Also the man who had gotten $1,000 came to him and gave an accounting. He said, ‘I knew that you are a tight-fisted man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not planted. So, I was afraid, and I went and buried your money in the ground, and here it is.’ His master said to him, “You wicked and lazy servant, you say you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered. Therefore, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, so that when I returned I could get my money back with interest. So, take away from him the $1,000, and give it to him who now has $10,000. For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have plenty; but from him who has virtually nothing, even what little he has will be taken from him. And now, put the useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

“When the Son of man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit down on His throne of glory. And all the nations will be gathered before Him, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep at His right hand, the goats at His left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you folk who received a blessing from My Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you fed Me; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in. Yes, I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you cared for Me; I was in prison and you came to see Me.” Then the good people will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and gave You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in? Or naked, and clothe You?’ And the King will say in reply, “Believe Me when I say that whatever good deed you done to the least of My brothers, you have done to Me.”

To those on His left He will then say, “Begone, you accursed folk, into the everlasting fire prepared for Lucifer and his angels! For I was hungry, but you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, but you gave Me nothing to drink. I was a stranger, but you did not take Me in; I was naked, but you did not clothe Me; I was sick, and in prison, but you did not visit Me.” Then also these will answer, asking, ‘When did we ever see You hungry or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ In answer, He will say, “Truly. I say to you, that since you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me”. And they will go into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.”

**Matthew 24: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-gospel-according-to-matthew.html

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW ~ Chapters 24

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW ~ Chapters 24

Yeshua left the Temple and was on His way when His disciples came to Him, calling to His attention the Temple buildings. “Do you see all this?” He said. “I tell you the truth; all this shall be torn down. Not one stone will be left here upon another.”

Then, as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came up to Him by themselves and said, ‘Tell us, when will all this take place? And what sign will there be of Your coming, and of the end of the world?’ Yeshua answered, “Be careful that someone does not mislead you in this. For many will come using My Name, saying, ‘I am the Christ’, and many will be misled by them. You will hear a lot about wars and rumors of wars, but do not be alarmed; these things must take place, although the end will not come yet. Nations will rise up against nations, kingdoms against kingdoms, and there will be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in various places. But all this is only the beginning of the sufferings. Then they will turn you over to be tortured; yes, they will put you to death. Every people will hate you because you bear My Name. Alas! Many will fall away, will betray and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise, and many people will be misled by them. Lawlessness will be on the increase everywhere, hence love in most people’s heart will grow cold. Nevertheless, he who holds out to the end shall be saved. This good news about the kingdom must be preached throughout the world as a witness to all the nations. Then, this done, the end will come. So, when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’, as the prophet Daniel calls it, set upset up in the holy place (may the one who reads this understand clearly!), then let those in Judea take refuge in the mountains. If someone is on the housetop, he must not come down to get any belongings out of the house. One who is working in the field must not come back to get his coat. Alas for expectant mothers in those days, and also for those who have nursing babies! Pray that your flight be not in winter or on the Sabbath. For at that time there will be great distress, greater than has ever been since the beginning of the world, or ever will be again. And, if the number of those days be not reduced, no living thing can be saved. But on account of the elect, the time will be cut short. If anyone should say to you, ‘See! Here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe him. False Christs will arise, and false prophets. They will work great signs and wonders, aiming to deceive, if possible, even the elect. I have warned you about this in time. So, if they tell you, ‘See! He is in the wilderness!’ do not go there to see, or if they say, ‘He is in some room,’ do not believe it. For when the Son of Man comes, it will be suddenly, like the lightening that starts in the east and flashes across to the West. And wherever a corpse lies, there the vultures will flock. Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the forces in the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the peoples of the earth will mourn as they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds above, with great power and majesty. He will send out His angels with loud-sounding trumpets, and they will gather His elect from the four winds – from one end of the sky to the other.”

“From the story of the fig tree, learn this: when its branches have become tender and have put forth leaves, you know that summer is near at hand. Likewise, when you behold all these signs, you will know that the time is near; He is at the door. Truly I speak, this age shall not come to an end before all these things shall have taken place.”

“Sky and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. But as for the day and the hour of the end, no one knows that – not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son. But My Father only.”

“When the Son of Man comes, things will be as in the days of Noah. In those days, before the flood, people ate and drank, married and were given away in marriage right up to the day when Noah went into the ark. They did not know the time, and they were taken by surprise when the flood came and swept them all away. It shall be like that at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be working in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be at the grist-mill; one will be taken, the other left. Watch, then, for you do not know in what hour your Lord will come. One thing is certain, that if the master of a houses knew beforehand as to the time when a thief was coming, he would be on the watch and would not let him break into his house. You, too, must stand ready, for the Son of Man will come at some unexpected moment.”

“Who, then, is a faithful and wise servant – one whom a master can set over his household, to prepare food at the proper time? Blessed is such a servant who is doing his work when his master drops in on him. I tell you that he may put him over all he has. But suppose that the servant is wicked and thinks like this, ‘I guess the master will not come soon.’ Suppose, too, that he begins to beat the other servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards? Then the master of the servant will come some day, at some moment when he is not expected. And he will punish him severely and give him a place among the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

**Matthew 22 & 23: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-gospel-according-to-matthew.html

NOTE: Many Jewish leaders and many popes and pastors say that this prophecy of Matthew 24 has already been fulfilled by Antiochus in 168 or 169 B.C.E. when he took over Jerusalem, killed the High Priest Jason, and declared the Temple of Jerusalem now the temple of Zeus – erecting an image of himself (supposedly what Zeus looks like) on the altar, and, according to some sources, sacrificed a pig in the Temple. But this accounting DOES NOT IN ANY WAY fulfill what Yeshua was prophesying. NOT BY ANY STRETCH of the imagination!

Jewish leaders refuse to acknowledge Christianity (there are many Jews who have accepted Yeshua as Lord and Savior – I am not referring to those Jews; just the orthodox leadership), thereby discounting the rest of Scriptural accounts that parallel the prophecy in Revelation that CLARIFY what Yeshua is talking about in this passage.

And popes portray themselves as gods, in which case, they have NO UNDERSTANDING AT ALL of Scripture – prophetic or otherwise.

Lastly, the leadership in American Churches have gone THE WAY OF THE WORLD … and like Antiochus, believe themselves to be gods also … making their own ‘gospel’ and preaching that, instead of the Scriptures in their purity, to the deaf/dumb/blind masses who are willing to be mislead as long as they get an earsplitting concert-like atmosphere for {worship}, workshop retreats that focus on loving self above sacrificial family life, debate abortion rights instead of honoring births as blessings, replace veggie tales with Bible Stories, and chaotic game nights with sound disciplined and Bible-based Youth Ministries. Tattooed, pierced, pot-smoking {pastors} with their tattooed, pierced, pot-smoking, made-up/body-revealing-dressed wives have replaced the pastor families of old who dressed for success and had wives modestly attired. And the kids of pastors? IF there are any children in the pastoral units of today, there are NO {PK kids; aka kids of pastors expected to obey and follow the Scripture guidelines for Biblical familial structure} anymore because no one wants {that stigma attached} to their family!

Instead there is a complete break with Biblical reality passing itself off as Christianity in the Vineyard gospel saturated churches of America today (there is NOT A SINGLE American church today that has not caught this religious plague and been infected to the death with it). Professing Christians (from leadership down to the unruly toddlers) are running amuck, creating confusion and frustration, preaching rebellion and discontent – taking up political issues as the gospel, and discarding the Gospel as irrelevant twaddle of a time long past. The leadership of American churches do not understand that American is NOW a “mission field” due to their blasphemous and godless {leadership}. Instead, they chastise and kick out of “their churches” anyone who lovingly tries to turn them from their path of destruction - and they then piously head off to other countries to spread their gospel of apostasy; not realizing that they have left America for their foreign destinations deluded, naked, and hungry: laughingstocks in the eyes of/and a stench in the nose of the God they claim to love and work for; blindly and arrogantly promoting themselves to be wise beyond correction, they have become foolishly ensnared by the world they think to save.

99% of American churches do NOT even touch on the topic of Biblical Prophecy as taught by the ancient Prophets, Yeshua Himself, or the Apostles. Instead, they run to … and give ear to … modern day ‘prophets’ who predict and promote selfish aims such as prestige and wealth: TOTAL HOGWASH! And the selfish ‘coverts’ greedily drink at the foul tasting and stinking pig troughs instead of heading towards the pure refreshing spring of Living Water that will nourish their spirits and SAVE them from destruction.

Yeshua must be shaking His head in sorrow at all this head-strong and unproductive foolishness!

Those who have ears – hear! Those who have eyes – see! Those who have understanding – take heed!

Be like the wise virgins who had oil and lamp ready while waiting for the Bridegroom to arrive; and be like the wise servant who was going about what was required of him while waiting for his master to arrive. In doing so, you will not be ashamed at His coming, and you will be rewarded, not punished.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW ~ Chapters 22 & 23

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW ~ Chapters 22 & 23

Once more Yeshua spoke to the people in parables. He said, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a certain king who made a wedding feast for his son. He sent his servants to notify those who had been invited to the banquet, but they would not come.

A second time he sent other messengers, saying to them, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “See! My dinner is prepared; my oxen and fatlings have been killed, and everything is ready. So, come to the wedding feast!”’ But they still disregarded the summons, and went about their work, one to his farm, another to his place of business. And the rest laid hold of his servants, insulted them and killed them.

When the king heard of what had happened, he went into a rage, and, having sent his troops, he destroyed those murderers and burned their city. This done, he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast has, indeed, been ready, but the invited guests were unworthy. You must now go out upon the highways and invite to the feast everyone whom you find there.’ The servants accordingly went out upon the highways and brought together all they met, both good and bad, so the banquet hall was full of guests. Then the king came to take a look at the guests. He saw a man there who was not dressed up for a wedding. ‘My friend’, he said to him, ‘how is it that you came in here without a wedding suit?’ But the man was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, take him out, throw him into the darkness outside where he may weep and gnash his teeth.’

For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The Pharisees then went and held a meeting, plotting on how to ensnare Him in His speech. They sent to Him some of their disciples, together with some of Herod’s men, asking, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are sincere, and that you teach the way of Elohei truthfully, also that you do not fear anyone, for you are no respecter of persons. Tell us, therefore, what you think.  Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?’ Yeshua saw through their wicked scheme and answered, “Why are you tempting Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for taxes.” So they handed Him a silver denarius (twenty-cent piece). He then said to them, “This image on the coin … whose is it? And the inscription?” ‘Caesar’s’, they told Him. Then He said to them, “Give to Caesar, then, what belongs to Caesar, and to Elohei what belongs to Elohei.” They got up and left Him, amazed at what they had heard.

On the same day, the Sadducees, too, came to Him. Since they did not believe in the resurrection, they set forth this question: ‘Rabbi, Moshe has then his brother must marry his dead brother’s wife and raise up children in his dead brother’s name. Now here is an actual case of seven brothers. The oldest married, but died before he had any children. The second brother then married the widow. Also, the second brother died, and in like manner, the third, and so on until the seventh. They all died. And last of all, the woman died. In the life to come, then, whose wife will she be, since they all had her as wife?’

“You are greatly mistaken,” said Yeshua, in answer, “for you do not know the Scriptures, or the power of Elohei. For after the resurrection neither do they marry nor are they given in marriage, but they are like Elohei’s angels in heaven. And as to the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what Elohei once said – also to you – in these words, “I am the God Of Abraham, and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?” That means Elohei is not the god of the dead, but of the living.” This the people heard, and they were dumbfounded at His teaching.

The Pharisees held another meeting when they got news that He had put the Sadducees to silence. Then one of them, a Law teacher, in order to test Him, asked, ‘Rabbi, which is the great commandment of Law?’ Yeshua said to him, “You shall love Adonai, your God, with your whole heart, with your whole soul, and with your whole mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it in importance. It reads, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these 2 commandments, all the Law and the Prophets are based.”

Yeshua now put a question to the Pharisees, for they were still gathered there. He asked, “What is your opinion as to the Messiah? Whose Son is He?” ‘David’s’, they answered. “How is it then,” He continued, “that David, by the help of the Ruach, called Him Adonai when he said, ‘Adonai said to Adonai, “Sit at My right hand while I make Your enemies a footstool around Your feet?” (Psalm 110:1) If David called Him Adonai, how can He also be David’s Son?”

No one could answer Him a word. Nor, from that day on, did anyone dare to try to trap Him with further questions.

~ Chapters 23: After this, Yeshua addressed the crowds and His disciples. “The scribes and the Pharisees, He said, “now take the place of Moshe. Therefore, do what they tell you to do, and continue to do it. But don’t do as they do, for they preach but do not practice. They make up unbearably heavy burdens and place them on men’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to help them. They do all their deeds to be seen of men. They wear big Scripture texts on their coats, and make large tassels for their garments. And how they like to have the first places at the banquets, and the chief seats at the synagogues! They like the greetings in the market-places, and especially to have men call them Rabbi (Doctor, Teacher).

You must not seek to be called by titles, such as Rabbi, for there is but one Teacher, and you are all brothers alike. And do not call any man here on earth Father, for there is but one Father, and He is in heaven. Nor must you be called Leaders, for you have but one Leader, namely, the Messiah. Let the greatest among you be the one who serves most. He who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites! For you lock up the kingdom of heaven against men. You do not dare go in yourselves, and you do not let those go in who are trying to do so. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites! For you eat up the houses of widows, while making a show of holiness by long prayers. And for this you will get a heavier sentence. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites! For you scour the land and sea to make one convert, and when he is won, you make him twice as fit for hell as you, yourselves, are! Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If one swears by the Temple it means nothing, but if he swears by the gold in the temple, then his oath stands’. You blind fools! Which is the greater, the gold … or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar it means nothing, but if he swears by the gift laid on the altar, then he must pay his vows. You blind fools! Which is the greater; the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and everything on it. And whoever swears by the Temple swears by it and by Him Who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of Elohei and by Him Who sits on it. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites! For you pay tithes of mint and dill and spices, but the more important things of the Law … justice, mercy, faith … these you leave undone. You blind guides! You strain out the gnat, but you swallow a camel! Woe to you scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites! For you scour the outside of the cup and the plate, but you leave the inside full of plunder and intemperance. You blind Pharisee! Scour the inside of the cup and plate first, and let the outside become equally clean! Woe to you scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs. Outside they look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead, and everything that is unclean. So you too, seem outwardly to be upright, yet inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees – you hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets and you decorate the graves of the righteous. But you say, ‘Oh, if only we had lived in the days of our forefathers! We surely would not have joined them in murdering the prophet.’ So, you do admit that you are the sons of those who slaughtered the prophets? Yes, indeed, you may well match the measure of their guilt! Serpents that you are, offspring of vipers, how can you escape the sentence to hell?”

“For this reason I am going to keep on sending you prophets and wise men and scholars, some of whom you will kill – even crucify – and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city. In this way you will heap upon your own heads the righteous blood shed on this earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, Berachiah’s son, whom you put to death between the Temple and the altar. I solemnly say to you, all these things will happen to this generation. Jerusalem, O Jerusalem! who still kills the prophets and stones those sent to her. How often would I have gathered your children around Me, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not! Now, see! I am leaving you to yourselves, your house empty. Indeed, you will never see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of Adonai!”

**Matthew 21: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-gospel-according-to-matthew-chapter_3.html