The Skeptics Annotated Bible (749 page)

41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

(13.41)
“The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.”

42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

(13.42)
“And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

(13.46) “Pearl of great price” This phrase was adopted by the Mormon (LDS) church as the title of one of its standard works.
The Pearl of Great Price
is a part of Mormon scripture.

47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

(13.48)
“Gathered the good into vessels”
318 Is anyone good?

49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

(13.49-50)
“At the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
33 Has the ever been a just person?

51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

(13.55-57) Jesus is rejected by those who know him the best—the people of his home town of Nazareth. His brothers and sisters are mentioned, so apparently, contrary to Catholic belief, Mary was not always a virgin.

55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

(13.55)
“Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?”

56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

(13.56)
“His sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?”

57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

(13.57)
“And they were offended in him.”

58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

14
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

(14.1-2) “Herod … said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead.” Herod thought Jesus was a resurrected John the Baptist. Apparently, it was a common opinion at the time (See Mt 16.13-14, Mk 6.14-15, 8.27-28, Lk 9.7-8, 18-19). If so many of Jesus' contemporaries could be so easily fooled regarding John the Baptist, what does this do to the credibility of the resurrection of Jesus?
362 Did Herod think Jesus was John the Baptist?

3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.

4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

6 But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

(14.6) “When Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.”
100 Is dancing a sin?

7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.

9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

(14.14) “Jesus … saw a great multitude … and he healed their sick.”