SCRIPTURES

Yeshua

Wisdom

Enlightenment

Chapter 4

Yeshua heals Lazarus of blindness – Simon the Pharisee healed of leprosy – Yeshua teaches women – The healing of Onias – The healing of the beggar at the temple – Healing on the Sabbath – Purging the temple – “By what authority do you do these things?” – Sermon of Light – “Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees” – True temples – Yeshua goes to Galilee

1 Three days before the Feast of Dedication, Yeshua entered Bethany and there was sitting by the well of Tamara a blind man whose name was Lazarus the son of Joash.

2 And when he heard the press of the crowd round about him, he asked concerning the meaning of it, and one answered him, saying:

3 “It is Yeshua the prophet come up from Jordan, even he of whom John spoke.” And hearing this he cried in a loud voice, saying: “Yeshua, help me!”

4 Wherefore, drawing near, Yeshua spoke unto the man, saying: “What would you have me do?”

5 And Lazarus answered him, saying: “Restore again my sight, for I know that if you will but speak the word, God will forgive my transgression, and I shall see again.”

6 When Yeshua heard this, he spoke unto him, saying: “Do you believe that I am able to do this thing?” And he answered: “Yes, my Lord, I believe. For I know that you are the very Anointed One of God.”

7 And Yeshua, hearing this, was filled with compassion towards him, and he said: “Then, my son, receive even now according to your faith. For in this moment are your sins forgiven you.”

8 And Lazarus received again his sight instantly, and seeing before him the Only Begotten, he worshipped him. And throughout the regions round about did the word go forth concerning the healing of Lazarus.

9 And Lazarus rejoiced before the Lord, and all Bethany came to see this man who could restore again the sight of the blind and who could forgive sins by the speaking of the word only.

10 And Lazarus entreated the Lord to come unto his house, and entering in he found Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, and seeing their brother restored unto sight, they knelt before the Nazarene and did wash his feet with their tears.

11 Now there lived in Bethany, Simon Ben Simeon, a Pharisee afflicted with leprosy. And hearing of Lazarus he came unto Yeshua to be healed.

12 And the Lord, taking a cruse of water, ministered unto him. And Simon was made clean again, and Yeshua commanded that he should go and show himself unto the priests at the temple.

13 But when the priests in Jerusalem heard concerning Lazarus and saw the leprosy fallen away from Simon’s body, they were astonished and they went and told all these things to the chief priests and elders of the temple.

14 Now there was near the house of Lazarus a small garden place, and when it was evening, Yeshua gathered to himself his disciples that he might teach them concerning the things of God, that they might take to themselves the beginning of wisdom.

15 And while he spoke to them of the kingdom of Heaven, Mary did come unto him, and sitting beside the Master attended her soul unto all which he spoke.

16 But Nathaniel the son of Tolmai rebuked her, for it was thought unseemly among the Jews for a woman to learn the law; for at no time had any rabbi numbered among his disciples a woman, being forbidden by their own traditions.

17 And Yeshua, seeing that his disciples would put away Mary from among them, forbade them; for he would have them know that the Promised One did God send forth unto all, whether male or female, Jew or Gentile, slave or free.

18 Thus did the Master grant discipleship unto the daughters and mothers of men, which thing caused many to wonder concerning him; and as he continued teaching, there came Martha from the house, saying:

19 “Good Master, if it be pleasing unto you, send Mary to help me in the kitchen, for I alone am left to serve.”

20 And Yeshua answered her, saying: “Martha, Martha, you are over troubled for many things and are over burdened with a multitude of care.

21 Yet one thing is needful, to take to your soul the kingdom of God. Surely Mary has chosen well this goodly thing, and it shall never be taken from her.”

22 Now on the 25th of Kislev went Yeshua unto Jerusalem that he might attend the Feast of Dedication, or as the Jews called, the Feast of Lights, for on that day did Judas the Maccabee cleanse the temple of defilement.

23 And entering in at the sheep gate, beside the fortress Antonia, Yeshua came to the pools of Bethesda and there saw Onias sitting beside the waters desiring to be healed, for he had a crooked foot which was injured from his youth.

24 But Yeshua, drawing nigh, spoke unto the man and taking his foot in his hands, he ministered unto him, and the foot of Onias was made straight and whole in that very hour.

25 And the disciples, seeing this thing, were filled with wonder concerning the Master, for by the touching of the hand or the speaking of the word he had caused that the blind should receive again their sight, and the leper was made clean, and he that was lame did walk again.

26 And the fame of Yeshua spread throughout Jerusalem, and the chief priests were made anxious because of him, for all the Jews round about were filled with expectations because of him.

27 Now Yeshua, taking his disciples only, went unto the temple, that it might be fulfilled according to the words of the prophet:

28 ‘For the Lord, whom you seek, shall come suddenly to his temple, even the giver of that covenant which you delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord.’

29 And as he was entering in, there appealed unto him a beggar of alms who was sorely afflicted. And the Lord spoke to him this saying: “Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I unto you.”

30 And taking the man by the hand, he stood him upon his feet, and he was healed in that very moment.

31 But certain Pharisees standing near accused him, saying: “It is not lawful to heal on the Sabbath.” And Yeshua, hearing this, said:

32 “Which of you, by the speaking of the word, can restore again the sight of the blind, or make the lame to walk again?”

33 And one answered: “We are but men only and cannot heal.” And Yeshua said: “If you, then, are unable to heal, being men only, how then will you say it is unlawful to heal on the Sabbath?

34 But seeing that you are teachers of the law and the prophets, come and answer truly before the people: The power to heal, from whence does it come?”

35 And one of the Pharisees being young and over-anxious, answered: “From God alone.”

36 And Yeshua rebuked them, saying: “If this be so, then for what purpose do you say it is unlawful to heal on the Sabbath seeing that God alone is author of both Sabbath and healing?”

37 And the Pharisees answered him not a word. But Yeshua, turning to the people gathered there, spoke, saying:

38 “You men of Israel, how long will you burden yourselves with men made knowledgeable according to the rudiments of men, but who in themselves possess no knowledge of God?

39 For which of you, if your ox be fallen in the mire, will not labor to lift him out again? For it is unlawful that any beasts should suffer on the Sabbath. How much more then is this man than the ox, seeing that he is a son of Abraham like unto yourselves?

40 For I tell you truly, that the Sabbath did God make for the benefit of man, and not man for the Sabbath as these men would have you think.”

41 When the people heard this, they spoke among themselves, saying: “Surely this man is a prophet.”

42 Now when Yeshua entered the temple, he saw in the Court of the Gentiles, money changers and sellers of sacrifice who, by their usury, had made unclean the offerings of the people.

43 And taking his staff he overturned the tables of the money changers, and he broke in pieces the stalls and cages of the sellers of sacrifice.

44 And going throughout all the court, he upbraided all those who would make merchandise the souls of men and the forgiveness of sins. And all men ran before his fury, being scattered as chaff in the wind.

45 Thus did the Lord of Sabbath purge the temple of money changers and sellers of sacrifice. And the Pharisees seeing this were filled with wrath, and they asked him, saying:

46 “By what authority do you do these things? For what purpose would you disturb the sanctuary?”

47 And he answered them, saying: “I tell you truly, that in this place has come one who is greater than the temple which your fathers built.”

48 And when he had said this there fell from Heaven a ray of light, and his raiment was made white and radiant as the light, and many drew back from him being fearful by reason of their own transgressions.

49 And lifting his voice unto all the people, he spoke, saying: “I am the light of the world: whosoever, therefore, shall hear my voice to follow after me, even that one shall never walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

50 Be you, therefore, as the children of light and the children of the day, and walk no more in the night where many are made to stumble, being pierced continually with a multitude of sin. For truly is the light sweet and pleasing to the eye.

51 Yet this little while is the light with you. Walk, therefore, where the light remaineth, lest darkness spring suddenly upon you.

52 For whosoever will walk in the darkness shall stumble upon the way, having entangled themselves with a burden of care, never knowing where it is they go.

53 Hear, O Israel, and consider deeply: For the night is far spent and the day is at hand.

54 Be you, therefore, wise and cast aside the works of darkness, and clothe yourselves in the armor of light; for what fellowship has righteousness with wickedness, or what communion has light with darkness?

55 For I am come as a light unto the world. Therefore, while you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be as the children of light, being girded round about with all manner of graciousness, being filled continually with compassion and righteousness towards all men.

56 For every good gift comes from above, and is given by the Father of lights, being filled continually with blessing and wisdom, in whom there is no variableness, nor even a shadow of turning.

57 But woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, for you declare evil good and good evil, and put darkness for light and light for darkness, and bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

58 For you have taken a house made all polluted and corrupt, and have declared unto the people the house of the Lord. Yet, you have made it no more than a house of thieves.

59 Whosoever has ears let them hear, for I would not have you ignorant concerning the ways of that God whom you proclaim to worship in all reverence.

60 For the Father of all men dwells not in temples made with hands. For of this have the prophets spoken: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth my footstool:

61 What house shall you build unto me? saith the Lord, or, where is the place of my rest? Have I not made all these things?’

62 You, therefore, worship what you know not. But I tell you that in this day is the hour come when all men shall come neither to this temple, nor to you for worship or sacrifice, for they will worship the Father in spirit and in truth;

63 Being in themselves a temple unto the Lord, fashioned not with the hands of men but by the Spirit of God.

64 For the Father in Heaven is spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth, making of their souls an altar unto God.

65 This temple shall you not corrupt nor make unclean, being established forever in the hand of that God who makes secure the pathway of the righteous and who uplifts the fallen.”

66 Now when Yeshua had said these things, the scribes and Pharisees were exceedingly angry because of him, but they dared not to harm him nor to bring against him any accusation before the people, for many believed in his words.

67 And going from there, the Master went northward unto Galilee by way of Perea. And all Jerusalem wondered concerning him, whether or not he was the very Anointed One. For he taught not as the scribes and Pharisees.

68 Thus came the Lord unto the temple, and all men took thought concerning him, both in word and deed; for in him was life magnified unto glory, being in himself the light of men.

69 And the light which shined in darkness grew in the hearts of men unto a brighter day; for in him was the fulfillment of all goodly grace, and that which was written aforetime did he bring all to pass.

70 ‘Behold, a voice as a trumpet in the city, a voice from the temple, even the voice of the Lord who renders recompense unto the transgressor and redemption unto the fallen.’

YESHUA 4