The Skeptics Annotated Bible (744 page)

(10.35-37) Jesus warns us not to love our parents or children too much. We have to make sure that we always love him more than our family.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

(10.35-36)
“I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.”

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

(10.37)
“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

(10.41)
“He that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.”
35 Has there ever been a righteous person?

42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

11
And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

(11.3)
“Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?”
John the Baptist is still not sure about Jesus. (He's in prison and is soon to die.) He sends his disciples to ask, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” Well, if he isn't sure after seeing and hearing the events at Jesus' baptism, then how can anyone else be?

4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

(11.11)
“There hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
John the Baptist was the greatest man ever to live (even greater than Jesus), but “he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
217 Who was the greatest: Jesus, Solomon, or John the Baptist?

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

(11.12)
“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”
Until when? (John the Baptist was still alive when Jesus supposedly said these words.) Jesus continues to bewilder his poor disciples by saying, “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”

13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

(11.13-14)
“John … is Elias.”
356 Was John the Baptist Elijah?

15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

(11.21-24)
Woe unto thee
Jesus condemns entire cities to dreadful deaths and the eternal torment of hell because they didn't care for his preaching.