The Skeptics Annotated Bible (822 page)

(12.52-53) Jesus prophesies that families will be divided because of him and his teachings. Sadly, this is one prophecy that has been fulfilled.

52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

(12.52)
“For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.”

53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

(12.53)
“The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

56
Ye hypocrites
, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but
how is it that ye do not discern this time?

(12.56)
“Ye hypocrites … how is it that ye do not discern this time?”
Jesus calls the people hypocrites because they cannot “discern this time.”

57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.

59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

13
There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

3 I tell you, Nay: but,
except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

(13.3, 5) “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

5 I tell you, Nay: but,
except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

(13.11-16) Jesus heals a woman with “a spirit of infirmity” by casting out a devil. (All illness is caused by devils.)

11 And, behold,
there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

(13.11)
“There was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.”

12 And
when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

(13.12)
“When Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.”

13 And
he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight
, and glorified God.

(13.13)
“He laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight.”

14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

(13.16) “This woman … whom Satan hath bound … eighteen years.”

17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?

21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

(13.23-28) In Mathew 7.7-8 and Luke 11.9-10 Jesus says that “he who seeketh findeth.” But here he says that “many … will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Only a few will be saved; the vast majority will suffer eternally in hell where “there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
300 Will those who seek God find him?