Everlasting Kingdom: Unraveling the Bible’s Secrets

The Testimony of Yeshua

Luke 1-6 (The Gabriel Version)

Luke Quotes Eye Witnesses

Index

Luke 1: Since many have attempted to explain the events that we’re completely familiar with, 2 precisely like they were handed over to us by the original eye-witnesses, 3 it seemed appropriate for me, since I have considered them all carefully, to write everything down, step-by-step for you, most eminent Theophilus, 4 so that you can be absolutely certain of the truthfulness of the statements that have been explained to you.

John’s Birth Announced

5 In the time of Herod the king of Judea there was a priest named Zacharias, of the priestly order of the house of Abijah, and his wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 They were both righteous in the sight of Yehovah, continuing on life’s journey in all of His Commandments and Aloha’s righteous requirements perfectly. 7 But they never had any children because Elisabeth was sterile, and they were both advancing in years.

8 But while he was serving as priest during his scheduled order of ministry in Yehovah’s presence, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, the lot fell to him to burn the incense. So he entered the inner portion of the temple of Yehovah. 10 The entire congregation of people were praying outside during the time when the incense was being burned.

11 Then one of Yehovah’s messengers appeared to Zechariah, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was overcome with anxiety and terror. 13 Yehovah’s Messenger told him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elisabeth will give you a son, and you’ll name him John. 14 You’ll have joy and happiness, and many others will celebrate at his birth. 15 He will be great in Yehovah’s presence. He’ll never drink wine or other fermented drinks. He’ll be filled with the 'special' spirit, even before his birth. 16 He’ll bring back many of the descendants of Israel to Yehovah their Aloha. 17 He’ll precede Him [Messiah], in the spirit and power of Elijah [1] the prophet, and he’ll turn the sentiments of the fathers to the children, and turn the disobedient to a knowledge of righteousness, and prepare a perfect [2] people for Yehovah.”

18 Zechariah asked Yehovah’s spirit messenger, “How can I be sure of this, since I’m old and my wife is advancing in years.”

19 The Messenger told him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of Yehovah, and I was sent to talk with you, and to tell you the good news. 20 But since you didn’t believe my message, you’ll be speechless. You won’t speak until the day when these things happen, and everything will take place when the time is right.”

21 Meanwhile, the people were standing around waiting for Zechariah, wondering why he was staying in the most 'special' part of the Temple so long. 22 When he did come out, he couldn’t talk to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the Temple. He made many hand gestures to them but remained unable to talk.

23 When the days of his service were finished, he went home. 24 Soon after this time, his wife Elisabeth became pregnant and remained in seclusion for five months. She said, 25 “Yehovah did these things for me during the time when He looked on my desolation, and took away my public reproach.”

Gabriel Speaks With Mary

26 In the sixth month, Yehovah sent the Messenger Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 Yehovah’s Messenger came to her and said, “Peace, favored one! Yehovah is with you. You are a very blessed woman.”

29 When she saw him, she was troubled by what he said, and she wondered what this visit meant. 30 The Messenger told her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with Yehovah. 31 You’ll conceive and give birth to a Son, and you will name Him Yeshua (Jesus)! 32 He’ll be great and will be called ‘the Son of the Highest’, and Yehovah Aloha will give Him the throne of His ancestor David. 33 He’ll rule over the descendants of Jacob forever in His Everlasting Kingdom”. [3] 34 Mary asked the Messenger, “How is this possible, since I’m a virgin?”

35 The Messenger replied, “The 'special' spirit will come, and the power of the Highest [Eloia] will overshadow you. So the 'special' One to be born will be called the Son of Yehovah. 36 Your relative Elizabeth is also pregnant with a son in her old age. A woman who was said to be childless is in her sixth month, 37 because nothing is impossible for Yehovah!” 38 Mary said, “I am Yehovah’s servant girl. May it be just as you said!” Then the spirit messenger left her.

Mary Greets Elisabeth

39 Mary quickly got ready to go to the mountain [4], to a town in Judea. 40 She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elisabeth. 41 When Elisabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby within her jumped for joy, and she was filled with the 'special' spirit. 42 She called to Mary in a loud voice, “You are a very blessed women, and the ‘infant’ in your womb is blessed! 43 But why has the mother of the Master come to visit me? 44 The moment I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb leaped for joy! 45 You are blessed because you believed. And the things Yehovah told you will be fulfilled.”

46 Mary said, “My consciousness [psyche, Gr: psuche] praises Yehovah, 47 and my spirit rejoices in Yehovah my Life Giver. 48 He has noticed the humility of His servant girl. From now on every generation will call me blessed, 49 because the Mighty One has done great things for me. His name is kadosh! 50 He shows mercy to those who fear Him from generation to generation. 51 He has been victorious with ‘supreme strength’. He has scattered those who are inwardly arrogant. 52 He has overturned monarchs from their thrones, and uplifted the humble. 53 He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty handed. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, remembering his mercy, 55 as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” 56 Mary stayed with Elisabeth about three months and then returned home.

John is Born

57 When the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that Yehovah had shown His great compassion to her, and they shared her joy. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. They called him by the name of his father, Zechariah. 60 But His mother said, “No, he will be called John.”

61 They told her, “None of your relatives go by that name.”

62 They signed to his father to see what he wanted to name him. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John”, to everyone’s surprise. 64 Suddenly his mouth was opened and his speech was unimpeded, and he began to speak and to praise Yehovah. 65 The neighbors were all amazed, and thruout the mountain country of Judea all these things were discussed. 66 Everyone who heard about it contemplated what had happened and asked, “What kind of boy will this be?” The hand of Yehovah was certainly with Him.

Zacharias’ Birth Announced

67 His father Zechariah was filled with the 'special' spirit and prophesied: 68 “Blessed is Yehovah the Aloha of Israel. He has visited His people and paid their ransom. 69 He has raised up for us a horn of deliverance from the descendants of His servant David, 70 as He foretold by the voices of Hare 'special', prophets in times past— 71 that He would rescue us from our enemies and from the grasp of everyone who hates us. 72 He was merciful with our ancestors and remembers Hare 'special', covenant, 73 and the oath that He swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us 74 deliverance from the grasp of our enemies, so we can serve Him without fear, 75 in justice and righteousness all our days. 76 You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Highest, because you’ll go ahead of the Master to prepare His way, 77 so that He can give His people the knowledge of eternal Life and pardon their sins—as if they had never been committed, 78 thru Yehovah’s compassionate mercy, so that a ray from Heaven above [5] will visit us to 79 enlighten those who sit in darkness, in the shadow of death, to guide our feet toward the road of peace.”

80 The boy grew and became strong in spirit. He was in the wilderness till the day of his public appearance to Israel.

[1] “He was taken up to heaven without dying, whence the Jews expected he would return just before the advent of the Messiah, whom he would prepare the minds of the Israelites to receive” —OBGL. They were somewhat right, and Yeshua confirmed it by saying, “And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who was prophesied to come.” (Matthew 11:14). And he will come once again—“I’ll send Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome Day of Yehovah” (Malachi 4:5). The literal explanation is far from mainstream! (By contrast, many groups claim to be doing Elijah’s work right now—preparing the way. But how many people did it take to do “Elijah’s work” in the first go around?) [2] The Greek says, “prepare a prepared people.” [3] It’s not just a millennial Kingdom: Psalms 145:3, Daniel 7:27, 2 Peter 1:11. [4] Could this be the mountain (singular) mentioned in Matthew 24:16? [5] This is the happily ever after part mentioned in Daniel 12:3 as well.

Messiah is Born

Luke 2: At this time Augustus Caesar issued a decree demanding everyone in his empire to register for taxation. 2 This was the first registration made while Quirinus was governor of Syria. 3 Everyone went to their hometowns to register.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was from the family and tribe of David, 5 with Mary his promised bride, then pregnant. 6 But while they were there, the time came for her to have her Child. 7 She delivered her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in the sukkah, because they had no place where they were lodging.

8 There were shepherds in the region who stayed there in the fields, watching over their flocks at night. 9 Then Yehovah’s Messenger stood by them and the majesty of the Master shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 The Messenger told them, “Don’t be afraid, because I’m announcing good news to you that will reach the entire world! 11 The Life Giver who is the Master, the Messiah, was born for you today in David’s city. 12 This is a sign for you: You’ll find the baby wrapped in infant clothes and lying in a sukkah.”

13 Suddenly many soldiers of Heaven were seen with the Messenger praising Yehovah and saying, 14 “Praise Yehovah in the highest Heaven, and peace on earth to the people He favors!”

15 After the messengers returned to Heaven, the shepherds discussed what they saw among themselves and said, “Let’s go down to Bethlehem and see what Yehovah told us about.”

16 So they went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a sukkah. 17 When they saw them, they told them what they had been told about the Child. 18 Everyone who heard about it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 Mary never forgot any of these things, and kept them in her thoughts. 20 The shepherds returned, honoring and praising Yehovah for everything that they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.

21 After eight days had passed, the Boy was circumcised and named Yeshua, the name given by the spirit messenger before He was conceived.

Baby Yeshua Visits the Temple

22 When the days of their purification were completed, according to the Torah of Moses, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to Yehovah, 23 (as specified in Yehovah’s Torah: “Every son opening the womb will be dedicated to Yehovah”), 24 and offer a zebak [sacrifice] as specified in Yehovah’s Torah: “A pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.”

25 There was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. This man was righteous and just. He was waiting for the Messianic consolation [1] of Israel, and the 'special' spirit was with him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the 'special' spirit that he wouldn’t die before he had seen Yehovah’s Messiah. 27 He was led by the spirit to the Temple, and when His parents brought their Son Yeshua in to do for Him what is required by the Torah, 28 he took Him in his arms and praised Yehovah, and said, 29 “Yehovah, now dismiss your servant in peace, as You said, 30 because I’ve seen Your mercy with my own eyes, 31 that You prepared in the presence of all nations, 32 an illuminating light for all ethnicities, and the splendor of Your people Israel.”

33 Joseph and His mother were amazed at the things that were said about Him. 34 Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “This Child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign of opposition, 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed. And a spear will pierce your consciousness [psyche, Gr: psuche].

Anna Sees the Messiah

36 Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher was very old, having only lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 37 having been a widow for eighty-four years. She never left the Temple, but worshiped day and night with fasting and prayer. 38 Just then she stood up and gave thanks to Yehovah, and spoke of Him [Yeshua] to everyone who was anticipating the deliverance of Jerusalem.

39 After they fulfilled everything that the Torah of Yehovah specifies, they returned to Galilee, to their hometown of Nazareth. 40 The Child grew up and became strong in spirit. He was filled with wisdom and Yehovah’s favor was on Him.

Yeshua Amazes the Scholars

41 His relatives went up to Jerusalem every year for the Feast of the Passover. 42 When He was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast as prescribed by the Torah. 43 After staying the full number of days they returned, but the Child Yeshua remained in Jerusalem, and Joseph and His mother were unaware of it, 44 assuming that He was with His friends. After traveling for a day, they started looking for Him among their relatives and asked everyone they knew. 45 When they didn’t find Him, they went back to Jerusalem, searching for Him. 46 After three days they found Him in the Temple, sitting with the Jewish teachers, listening to them and questioning them. 47 Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His wisdom and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were astonished. His mother asked Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Your father and I have been frantically looking for You!”

49 He asked them, “Why were you looking for Me? Didn’t you realize the necessity of My being in My Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t comprehend His response.

51 He went down with them to Nazareth and was submissive to them. His mother continued to keep all of these things in mind. 52 Yeshua increased in stature, wisdom and favor with Yehovah and His People.

[1] The Greek word paraklesis means, “consolation, comfort, solace, that which affords comfort or refreshment”, “so the Rabbis call the Messiah the consoler, the comforter).”

John the Immerser Prepares the Way

Luke 3: In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was Tetrarch in Galilee, while Philip his brother Tetrarch in Ituraea, and in the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias was Tetrarch of Abilene. 2 During the administration of the high priests Annas and Caiaphas, the Word of Aloha came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into the region around the Jordan, heralding the immersion of a changed mind for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As the prophet Isaiah wrote in his book, “A voice cries out in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Master. Straighten the paths in the plain [1] for the Master. 5 Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be leveled. Even small hills will be leveled, and the rough places made smooth. 6 All humanity will see Yehovah’s Rescue from destruction.”

7 He was telling the crowds that came to him to be immersed, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the future punishment? 8 Produce a harvest consistent with a changed mind. Don’t say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’, because I tell you that Yehovah can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones. 9 Even now the ax is set against the root of the trees. So every tree that doesn’t bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 The crowds were asking him, “What should we do?” 11 He told them, “Whoever has two coats should give one to someone who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”

12 Tax extractors also came to be immersed. They asked him, “Master, what should we do?” 13 He told them, “Extract no more than you are required to exact.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “What should we do?” And he told them, “Don’t hurt anyone or make threatening accusations, and be content with your pay.”

15 The people were considering John, and wondering whether or not he was the Messiah. 16 John told them, “I immerse you with water, but after me Someone more powerful than I am will come, the strings of whose sandals I’m not worthy to untie. He’ll immerse you with the 'special' spirit OR [2] with fire! 17 He holds His winnowing shovel in His hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His granary, but the chaff He’ll burn with unquenchable fire.” 18 He taught the people many other things as He instructed them. 19 But once John spoke out against Herod the Tetrarch for marrying Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and because of all the evil things he had done, 20 he added one more evil: He locked John up in prison.

John Immerses Yeshua

21 When all the people were being immersed, Yeshua was immersed too, and while He was praying, the sky opened, 22 and the 'special' spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove, and a voice from the sky said, “You are My dear Son, I’m delighted with You.”

Yeshua’s Genealogy

23 Yeshua was thirty years old [3]. He was considered to be the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein , the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel , the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joses, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of Yehovah.

[1] The Greek doesn’t mention the plain. [2] The three words usually translated “and with fire” are all one word in Aramaic. The reason I chose “OR with fire” rather than “and with fire”, is because of the context. The very next verse refers to “burn with unquenchable fire”. So it appears to mean that the fire is something you would want to avoid! [3] Neither the Greek or the Aramaic mention “ministry” here.

The Devil Tempts Yeshua

Luke 4: Yeshua was filled with the 'special' spirit. He returned from the Jordan river and the spirit led Him into the wilderness 2 to be tempted by the devil for forty days. During those days He ate nothing, and after He finished them, He was extremely hungry.

3 The Devil told him, “If You are Yehovah’s Son, command this stone to become bread.” 4 Yeshua replied, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘No one can live on bread alone, but by everything Aloha has spoken.’”

5 Then Satan then took Him to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in an instant. 6 And the Accuser told Him, “I’ll give You this entire dominion and its splendor, because it has been entrusted to me. I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if You worship me, it’s all Yours.” 8 But Yeshua replied, “It’s also written, ‘You must worship Yehovah your Aloha, and only serve Him.’”

9 He brought Him to Jerusalem, and had Him stand on a pinnacle of the Temple and told Him, “If You’re Yehovah’s Son, throw Yourself down from here, 10 because it’s written, ‘He’ll give orders to His spirit messengers to protect You. 11 They’ll lift you in their arms so that you don’t hit your foot against a stone.’”

12 Yeshua replied, “It says, ‘You should never put Yehovah your Aloha to the test.’”

13 So after the Devil had tried all of his temptations on Him, he left Him for a while.

14 Yeshua returned to Galilee empowered by the spirit, and the news about Him spread thruout the surrounding region. 15 He taught in their synagogues and was commended by everyone.

16 He went to Nazareth where He had been raised, and He went into the synagogue as usual on the Sabbath and stood up to read. 17 He was handed the scroll of Isaiah the prophet. Yeshua unrolled the scroll and found the place where it says:

18 “The spirit of Yehovah is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim Good News to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the oppressed and to herald release from bondage to the captives, to give the blind vision, to assure the penitent by liberating them from their sins, 19 and to announce the Acceptable Year [1] of Yehovah.”

20 He rolled up the scroll and gave it to the attendant and sat down. Everyone in the synagogue was gazing at Him. 21 Then He told them, “Today the Scripture you just heard read has been fulfilled.”

22 Everyone spoke well of Him and was amazed at the magnanimous words they heard coming from Him, and they asked, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” 23 Yeshua told them, “Doubtless you’ll quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself’, and then ‘Do everything in Your hometown that we heard You did in Capernaum.’” 24 He told them, “I can tell you for certain that a prophet isn’t accepted in his home town. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in the house of Israel in Elijah the prophet’s time, when the skies were closed for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine thruout the land. 26 Yet Elijah wasn’t sent to any of them except for a widow in Sarepta, in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many leprous people in the house of Israel in Elijah the prophet’s time, yet none of them were cleansed except for Naaman the Aramean.” 28 Everyone in the synagogue was filled with rage when they heard this. 29 They got up and rushed Him out of town, then brought Him to the top of the hill that the city was built on, intending to throw Him over a cliff. 30 But He walked right thru ‘the mob’ and went His way.

31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught them on the Sabbaths. 32 They were amazed at what He taught because His teaching was so authoritative.

Yeshua Casts Out a Demon

33 In the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out loudly, 34 “Let us alone. What do You want with us, Yeshua the Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the 'special' One of Yehovah.” 35 Yeshua scolded him and said, “Muzzle it and come out of him.” The demon threw him down in front of them and came out of him without harming him at all.

36 Everyone was amazed and they were asking each other, “What is this teaching? With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.” 37 News about Him spread thruout the surrounding region.

Simon’s Mother-in Law Healed, and Many Others

38 When Yeshua left the synagogue He went to Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering with a severe fever and they plead with Him on her behalf. 39 He stood over her and scolded the fever, and it left her. She got up right away and waited on them. 40 At sunset everyone who had sick friends suffering from various diseases brought them to Him, and He laid His hands on all of them and healed them. 41 Demons came out of many people shouting, “You are the Messiah, Yehovah’s Son.” But He scolded them and ordered them not to tell anyone that they knew He was the Messiah.

42 Then at dawn He went out to a secluded place. The crowds searched for Him and went out to Him and restrained Him so that He couldn’t leave them. 43 But Yeshua told them, I must proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of Yehovah to other towns as well. That’s why I was sent. 44 He continued to herald in the synagogues of Galilee.

[1] This reference to “the Acceptable Year of Yehovah” as well as 2 Corinthians 6:2 is usually and correctly associated with the Jubilee year, tho unfortunately commentators seldom attach any significance to Jubilees. The quote is directly tied to the Day of Atonements fast in Isaiah 58:6, when the Jubilee was announced in advance, but NOT begun--(keyword: FAQ)! The Jubilee year is also the Day of vengeance or “Day of Yehovah” from Isaiah 61:1-3 that ends year 6000.

Four Fishermen Called

Luke 5: As a crowd gathered around Him to hear the Word of Aloha, He ended up standing on the bank of the sea of Gennesaret. 2 He saw two boats docked near the sea, left there by fishermen who were washing their nets. 3 One of them belonged to Simon Cephas. Yeshua got in and sat down. He asked them to shove off a little from the shore into the sea, and He sat down and taught the crowd from the boat.

4 When He finished speaking, He told Simon, “Launch out into deep water and toss your net in for a haul.” 5 Simon told Him, “Master, we have worked all night and haven’t caught anything, but because You asked, I’ll toss the net.”

6 After doing that, they caught such a vast number of fish that their nets began to tear. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. When they came they filled both boats until they nearly sank.

8 When Simon Cephas saw this, he fell before Yeshua’s feet and told Him, “Master, I ask that You leave me because I’m a sinful man.” 9 He and everyone with him was astonished at the haul of fish they caught, 10 this included James and John who were Zebedee’s sons, who were partners of Simon. But Yeshua said, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you’ll be catching people for eternal Life.” 11 Then, after pulling the boats to land, they abandoned everything and followed Him.

A Leper Cleansed

12 While Yeshua was in one of the towns, a man came out who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Yeshua, he fell face down to the ground and told Him, “Master, if You want to, You can make me clean.”

13 Yeshua reached out His hand and touched him and said, “I want to. Be clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him. 14 He told him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go and show yourself to the priests and offer a ze’bak [sacrifice] for your purification as Moses instructed, for a testimony to them.”

15 News about Him spread even more, and many people gathered to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases. 16 But He often withdrew into the wilderness for prayer.

Yeshua Heals a Paralytic

17 One day when Yeshua was teaching, there were Pharisees and Torah teachers sitting nearby who had come from every village in Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of Yehovah was present to heal people. 18 Some men brought a paralyzed man on a cot. They wanted to bring him in, and set him down in front of Him. 19 When they couldn’t find a way to get him inside because of the crowd, they climbed on the roof and let him down from the ceiling on his cot, into the crowd in front of Yeshua.

20 When Yeshua saw their faith, He told the paralyzed man, “Your sins have been forgiven [disregarded].”

21 The Torah teachers and Pharisees began thinking to themselves, “Who is this who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins [1] other than Yehovah?”

22 Yeshua was aware of their thoughts, so He asked them, “What are you thinking among yourselves?” 23 Which is the easier to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’ 24 But so that you’ll know that the Human Son has jurisdiction to forgive sins on the earth, He told the paralyzed man, ‘Get up! Take your cot and go home.’ 25 Without hesitation he stood up in front of them, took his cot and went home, praising Yehovah. 26 Everyone was awestruck. They praised Yehovah and they were filled with fear and said, “We have seen amazing things today.”

Levi the Tax Collector

27 Afterward, Yeshua went out and saw a tax extractor named Levi sitting in the tax office, and He told him, “Follow Me”. 28 He got up, leaving everything, and followed Him.

29 Levi held a great reception for Him at his home. There were many tax extractors and others who were ‘eating’ with them. 30 The Torah teachers and Pharisees were complaining and asked His disciples, “Why do You eat and drink with tax extractors and very wicked sinners?” 31 Yeshua replied, “Healthy people don’t need a physician, but the seriously ill do. 32 I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners to change their ways.”

Yeshua Questioned About Fasting

33 They asked Him, “Why do John’s disciples often fast and pray, as well as the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?” 34 He told them, “You can’t ask the ‘groomsmen’ [literally: sons] of the bridal ‘party[3567] to fast while the bridegroom is with them. 35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken up from them, those are the days when they’ll fast.” 36 He gave another analogy to them. He said, “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment to mend an old garment. Otherwise the new one is ‘ruined’ and the patch from the new won’t ‘match’ the old. 37 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the new wine would burst the skins, the wine would be spilled, and the skins destroyed. 38 But people pour new wine into fresh wineskins and both are preserved. 39 No one drinks old wine and then immediately asks for new wine, because he says, ‘The old is delicious.’”

[1] The Torah teachers and Pharisees were correct in understanding that only Yehovah can forgive sins, we can only acquit them. Yet Yeshua, being Yehovah, could forgive sins, but they denied that He was a Supreme Being.

Yeshua, Master of the Sabbath

Luke 6: On the second Sabbath after the first [1], Yeshua was walking thru the grain fields, and His disciples were picking heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands and eating them. 2 But some of the Pharisees asked them, “Why are you doing what the Torah forbids on the Sabbath” [2]?

3 Yeshua replied, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him? 4 He entered Yehovah’s House and took the bread from Yehovah’s table and gave it to those who were with him to eat, tho it wasn’t Lawful for anyone other than the priests to eat it.” 5 Then He told them, “The Human Son is Master of the Sabbath.”

6 On another Sabbath, He went into a synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. 7 The Torah teachers and Pharisees watched Him to see if He would heal on the Sabbath, as an excuse to bring an accusation against Him. 8 Knowing what they were thinking, He said to the man with a withered hand, “Get up and stand in view of the assembly.” When he came and stood there, 9 Yeshua asked them, ‘What is Lawful to do on the Sabbath? To do good or do evil, to save a life or destroy one?’” 10 After looking at them all, and told him, “Stretch out your hand”. So he stretched out his hand and it was restored like the other. 11 They were filled with malicious envy and began scheming about what they could do to Yeshua.

Twelve Chosen Men

12 During that time Yeshua went to a mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night praying to Yehovah. 13 At dawn He called His disciples and chose twelve of them, and He called them envoys. 14 They were Simon who He named Cephas, Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Yeshua Heals a Crowd

17 Yeshua went down with them and stood on a level place, along with a large number of His disciples, and a crowd of people gathered from all over Judea, from Jerusalem and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear His teaching and to be healed of their diseases. 18 Those who were distressed by unclean spirits were also healed. 19 Everyone wanted to touch Him because power went out from Him and healed them all.

The Many Blessings

20 He looked out at His disciples and said, “The poor are blessed because the Kingdom of Yehovah is yours. 21 If you hunger now, you’ll be blessed because you’ll be satisfied. If you cry now, you’ll be blessed because you’ll laugh. 22 When people hate you and excommunicate you and slander you and spurn your name as evil, you’ll be blessed for the Human Son’s sake.

23 Be glad at such a time and jump for joy because your compensation in Heaven is great. Their ancestors did the same thing to the prophets.

Pity the Rich and the False Prophets

24 But I pity you who are rich, because you already have your consolation. 25 I pity you who are full, because you’ll hunger. I pity those you who are laughing, because you’ll cry and mourn. 26 I pity you when everyone praises you, because that’s what their ancestors did with the false prophets.

Love Your Enemies

27 But to everyone who is listening I say, love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who drag you in bondage [or ‘with a chain’]. 29 When someone strikes you on your cheek, offer the other, and when someone takes your coat, don’t stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you for something, and when someone takes your property, don’t demand it back. 31 Whatever you want people to do for you, you should do for them.

32 If you love those who love you, what good is there in that? Even the wicked love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good for you, what good is there in that? Even the wicked do that. 34 If you lend to someone who you expect repayment from, what good is there in that? The wicked lend to the wicked as well, for adequate compensation. 35 But love your enemies and do good for them. Lend to them, and don’t destroy anyone’s hopes [3], then your compensation will be huge and you’ll be the sons of the Highest, because He is kind to the wicked and to the unthankful. 36 So be compassionate just like your Father is compassionate.

Don’t Condemn Others

37 Don’t express judgments and you won’t be judged, don’t pronounce condemnations and you won’t be condemned. Pardon those who sin and you’ll be pardoned. 38 Give, and it will be given to you, a choice measure, pressed down and overflowing will be poured into your lap. Because the same measuring standard you use will be used to measure you.

39 He told them another analogy, “Can the blind lead the blind? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? 40 No Disciple is better than his teacher, but everyone who is well prepared will be like his teacher.

41 Why do you look at the chaff in your brother’s eye without considering the beam that’s in your own eye? 42 And how can you ask your friend, “Let me help you get rid of the chaff that’s in your eye’, without noticing that there is a beam is in your own eye? Pretenders, first remove the beam from your own eye, and then you’ll be able to see well enough to get rid of the chaff from your brother’s eye.

Good Tree, Bad Tree

43 A good tree doesn’t yield bad fruit, and a bad tree doesn’t yield good fruit. 44 Every tree is known by its fruit. People don’t pick figs from thorn bushes or pick grapes from brambles. 45 A good person brings about good things from the good stored up in their innermost being, and wicked people bring about bad things from the bad stored up in their innermost being. The mouth reveals the innermost being.

Solid Rock Foundation

46 Why do you call Me, “Master, Master”, without doing what I say to do? 47 I’ll show you what everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and puts them into practice is like. 48 They’re like a person who built a house by digging down deep and laying the foundation on solid rock. When a flood came, the flood pounded against the house, but was unable to move it because its foundation was set on rock. 49 But the person who hears My words and doesn’t respond is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation. When the floodwater struck it, it crumbled immediately and the house was totally destroyed.”

[1] This would be the second Sabbath of the seven Sabbath countdown to Pentecost. The Textus Receptus, (as in the KJV), mentions the “second Sabbath”, tho the minority texts don’t. Perhaps this is because it meant nothing to the translators. Sabbaths is frequently plural, but translated singularly, probably for the same reason. While the Aramaic doesn’t mention “second” and “after the first”, it seems likely that in this one instance the Greek translator added a detail similar to what is stated in Chapter 24. [2] This wouldn’t violate any Scriptures, but it would ruffle the feathers of the religious “scholars” who kept inventing rules. This is akin to His healing as many people as possible on the Sabbath, to shame the “scholars” who wouldn’t even ease someone’s suffering on the Sabbath. [3] The Greek says, “expecting nothing in return”, instead of “don’t destroy anyone’s hopes”.

LUKE 7 continues here.

Compare the Testimony of Yeshua Version of this book with the 1851 Murdock or the 1849 Etheridge Versions of “The Testimony of Yeshua” (New Testament).

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The Testimony of Yeshua was tweaked January 6, 2012