The Skeptics Annotated Bible (818 page)

39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

11
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

3 Give us day by day our daily bread.

4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;

6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?

7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

9 And I say unto you,
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find
; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

10
For every one that asketh receiveth
; and
he that seeketh findeth
; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

(11.9-10)
“Ask, and it shall be given you … For every one that asketh receiveth.”

(11.9-10)
“Seek, and ye shall find … For … he that seeketh findeth.”
300 Can God be found?

11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

14 And
he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And
it came to pass,
when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake
; and the people wondered.

(11.14) “He was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And … when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake.” People who cannot speak are possessed by devils.

15 But
some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.

16
And others
, tempting him,
sought of him a sign from heaven.

(11.15-16)
“Some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. And others … sought of him a sign from heaven.”
A reasonable hypothesis (assuming devils exist) and a fair request (assuming a god exists).

17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.

19 And
if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out?
therefore shall they be your judges.

(11.19) “If I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out?” Jesus believed the Pharisees could cast out demons, too!

20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:

22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

23
He that is not with me is against me
: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

(11.23)
“He that is not with me is against me.”
357 Who is for or against Jesus?

(11.24-26) Jesus says it is impossible to get rid of unclean spirits. If you manage to evict one, he’ll soon return with seven others “more wicked than himself” and you’ll be worse off than you were before. So just learn to live with whatever unclean spirits that are currently possessing you.

24
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.

(11.24)
“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.”

25
And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished
.

(11.25)
“And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.”

26
Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.