The Testimony of Yeshua

Matthew 12: About that time Yeshua was walking 'thru the grain fields' on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began picking heads of grain to eat. 2 When the Pharisees saw them, they told Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing something that the Torah forbids to be done on the Sabbath.”

3 But He replied, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? 4 He went into Aloha’s [God’s] tabernacle and ate bread from Yehovah’s table that was forbidden by the Torah for him and for those who were with him to eat? It was solely for the priests. 5 Or haven’t you read in the Torah that the priests in the Temple Lawfully tread on [1] the Sabbath and are innocent? 6 But I tell you, that Someone greater than the Temple is here. 7 If you had known what this means, “I want mercy, not ze’bakim [sacrifice]”, you wouldn’t have condemned the innocent. 8 The Human Son is Master of the Sabbath!”

Matthew 13: Later that day, Yeshua left the house and sat by the seaside. 2 A large crowd gathered around Him, so He went out in a boat and sat down, while the crowd stood on the seaside. 3 He spoke with them at length in analogies [Strong’s #]. He said, “Look, a sower went out to sow. 4 As he was sowing, some of the seed fell along the path, and birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on very rocky ground where there was not much soil. It sprouted immediately because the soil wasn’t deep. 6 But when the sun came up they were scorched. Because they couldn’t take root, they dried up. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns shot up and choked them out. 8 Other seed fell on good ground and produced a crop, some a hundred times, some sixty times, and some thirty times what was sown. 9 Anyone who has ears should listen.

Disciples Entrusted With the Mysteries

10 His disciples came and asked Him, “Why do you speak to them in analogies?” 11 He replied, “Because you have been entrusted with the mysteries of the Kingdom of the Heavens, but they havent. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they’ll have plenty, but whoever doesn’t have, even what they have use of will be taken from them! 13 This is why I talk to them in analogies, because they look but they don’t see, and they listen but they don’t understand. 14 They fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy that says, “They’ll listen, but they won’t understand, and they’ll see, but they won’t comprehend. 15 These people have calloused minds and they are hard of hearing. They’ve shut their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their intellects, and return so that I could free them from their sins.” 16 But your eyes are blessed because they see, and your ears because they listen. 17 I assure you that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it, and to hear what you hear, but didn’t hear it.

Analogy of the Sower Explained

18 So listen to the analogy of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the Word [message] of the Kingdom, yet doesn’t understand it, the wicked one comes and steals the seed that was sown in their minds. This is what was sown along the path. 20 The seed sown on the stony ground represents those who hear the Word and immediately accept it with joy. 21 Yet they aren’t well rooted and don’t last long, and when there is trouble or persecution because of the Word, they soon become indignant. 22 The seed sown among the thorns represents the ones who hear the Word, but the cares of this world and the deceptiveness of wealth chokes out the Word, and they don’t produce a crop. 23 But what was sown on good soil represents a person who hears My Word and understands it and produces a harvest of a hundred times, or sixty times, or thirty times what was sown.”

Wheat and Tares

24 He presented another analogy to them, “The Kingdom of the Heavens can be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 While everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed tares in the wheat field, and then left. 26 As the grain began to mature the tares became noticeable. 27 The householder’s servants came and asked him, ‘Master, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these tares come from.’ 28 He told them, ‘An enemy did this.’ The servants asked him, ‘Should we go and pull them out?’

29 He replied, ‘No, because if you pull out the tares, you’ll also uproot the wheat. 30 They must both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I’ll tell the harvesters to gather the tares out first, and tie them in bundles to be burned, and then bring the wheat into my granary.’”

The Mustard Seed

31 He related another analogy to them, “The Kingdom of the Heavens is like a mustard seed that someone went out and planted in their field. 32 This is the smallest of all seeds, but when it is grown, it is larger than all of the herbs, and becomes a tree, and birds come and nest in its branches.”

Analogy of the Leaven

33 He used another analogy, “The Kingdom of the Heavens is like leaven that a woman hid in three satas [about 4 gallons] of flour, until the whole mass was leavened and rose.”

34 Yeshua explained all of these things to the crowd in analogies. He didn’t say anything to them without an analogy. 35 This fulfilled what was 'foretold' by the prophet, who said, “I’ll open My mouth in analogies, I’ll explain things hidden from before the foundation of the world.”

36 Then Yeshua sent the crowds away, and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the analogy of the tares and the field.” 37 He told them, “The One who sowed good seed is the Human Son. 38 The field is the world. The good seeds are the people of the Kingdom, but the tares are the people who belong to the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is Satan. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are the spirit messengers. 40 Just as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Human Son will send His spirit messengers, and they’ll gather out of His Kingdom everyone who set snares, and all the Torah breakers [Gr. anomia], 42 and throw them into a blazing furnace where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Anyone who has ears to hear should listen.

44 Again, the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a treasure that is hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again and in his excitement he went and sold everything that he had and bought the field.”

A Pearl of Great Value

45 Again, the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a merchant who was looking for valuable pearls. 46 When he found a pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.

Analogy of the Dragnet

47 Also, the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a fishing net that was thrown in the sea, and it caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, they hauled it ashore and they sat down and culled them. They put the good ones into containers and threw the bad [unkosher] ones away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The spirit messengers will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into a blazing furnace. There will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

51 Yeshua asked them, “Have you understood all of this?” They answered, “Yes Master”. 52 He told them, “That is why every Torah teacher who has been trained about the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a man who is the owner of an estate who brings new things and old ones from his treasure room.”

Yeshua Rejected in Nazareth

53 After Yeshua concluded His analogies, He left. 54 He went to His home town and began teaching the people in their synagogues in such a way that they were amazed and began asking, “Where did He get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? 55 Isn’t He the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and His brothers James and Joses and Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all of His sisters here with us? Where did He get all of these things?” 57 And they were offended by Him. But Yeshua told them, “A prophet isn’t disparaged anywhere other than in his hometown and in his own household.”

58 He only did a few miracles there because of their unbelief.

Matthew 14: At that time Herod the Tetrarch heard reports about Yeshua. 2 So he told his servants, “This is John the Immerser. He has risen from the grave. That’s why he can do these miracles.”

3 Herod had arrested John and put him in chains and imprisoned him because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 because John had told him, “It is against the Torah [1] for her to be your wife.” 5 He had wanted to kill him, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.

6 But at Herod’s birthday party [2], Herodias’ daughter danced before the guests, and she pleased Herod so much 7 that he swore with an oath to give her whatever she asked for. 8 Then, as instructed by her mother, she said, “Give me John the Immerser’s head on a platter.” 9 It made the king sick, but because of the oath and the guests, he ordered that it should be given to her. 10 He sent men and cut off John’s head in prison. 11 The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she personally took it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and removed the corpse and buried it. Then they went and told Yeshua.

Feeding the 5,000

13 When Yeshua heard about it, He went alone on a ship to a deserted place. When the crowd heard about this, they followed Him by land from the towns. 14 When Yeshua disembarked, He saw a large crowd, and feeling compassion on them He healed their sick.

15 That evening His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place and it’s getting late. Send the people away so that they can go into the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 But He replied, “It isn’t necessary for them to go. You give them something to eat.” 17 But they replied, “All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish.” 18 Yeshua told them, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 He told the people to sit on the ground. He took the five loaves of bread and two fish and He looked toward Heaven and blessed them, and after breaking the food in pieces He gave it to His disciples, and the disciples set it before the people. 20 Everyone ate as much as they wanted. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces and filled twelve baskets. 21 Five thousand men had eaten, in addition to all the women and children.

Yeshua walks on Water

22 Immediately afterward, He had His disciples embark on a ship, and crossed to the other side ahead of Him while He dismissed the crowd. 23 After He dismissed the crowd, He climbed a mountain to pray. After dark He was still there alone. 24 The ship was far from land in the middle of the sea, being battered by the waves, because they were going against the wind.

25 In the fourth watch of the night [about dawn] Yeshua came up to them, walking on the water. 26 His disciples saw Him as He was walking on the water and they were frightened, and they said, “It’s a phantom” [Gr. phantasma], and they screamed in terror. 27 But immediately Yeshua said, “Have courage; I AM! Don’t be afraid!” 28 Cephas replied, “Master, if it’s You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 Yeshua replied, “Come.” So Cephas climbed down from the ship and walked on the water toward Yeshua. 30 But when he saw the furious wind, he was afraid and began to sink, so he shouted, “Master, rescue me”. 31 Immediately our Master reached out His hand and caught him and said to him, “You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?”

32 As they stepped into the ship, the raging wind subsided. 33 Everyone on the ship came and worshiped Him, and said, “You are truly Yehovah’s Son!” 34 They crossed over and landed in Gennesaret. 35 The men there realized who He was, and they sent messengers [Gr. apostello] to all the villages around them, and they brought everyone who was seriously sick to Him. 36 They begged Him to simply let them touch a tzitzit [tassel] of His upper clothing. And everyone who touched one was healed.

Matthew 15: Some Pharisees and Torah teachers who were from Jerusalem came to Yeshua and asked, 2 “Why do your disciples abandon the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before they eat?”

3 Yeshua replied, “Why do you abandon Yehovah’s Commandments because of your traditions?” 4 Yehovah has said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘anyone who curses their father or mother should be put to death.’ 5 But you say that whoever says to their father or mother, “Whatever I have that could have helped you has been given as an offering to Yehovah,” 6 You say that they don’t have to honor their father or mother [1]. You disregard Yehovah’s Commandments for the sake of your traditions. 7 You pretenders! Isaiah was absolutely right when he prophesied about you, in saying, 8 “These people 'honor' Me with 'lip service', but their sentiments are very far from Me.” 9 Their 'worship' of Me is futile because they teach human commandments as if they were doctrine.

10 He called out to the crowd and said, “Listen and understand. 11 It’s not what enters a person’s mouth that defiles them, [2] it’s what comes out of their mouth that defiles them.

12 Then His disciples came and asked Him, “Do You realize that the Pharisees were offended when they heard what You said?” 13 He replied, “Every plant that My Heavenly Father hasn’t planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. If a blind person leads another blind person, they’ll both fall into a ditch.” 15 Simon Cephas said to Him, “Master, explain this analogy to us.” 16 He replied, “Don’t you understand this yet either? 17 Don’t you know that everything that goes into the mouth [with unwashed hands] goes into the stomach and from there is eliminated? 18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the mind, and that’s what defiles a person. 19 Evil thoughts come from the mind about adultery, murder, sexual perversion, theft, false testimony, and slander. 20 These are the things that defile people. But if someone eats without washing their hands, they aren’t defiled.”

Yeshua Sent to Israel’s Lost Sheep

21 Yeshua left the area and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that region came forward and began to call out, “Have mercy on me, Master, Son of David, my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But He didn’t say a word to her. And His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away because she keeps shouting at us as she follows us.” 24 But He answered, “I was only sent to the sheep that have strayed from the nation of Israel.” 25 Then she came and knelt before Him, and said, “Help me Master”. 26 Yeshua replied, “It’s not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the 'puppies'.” 27 She said, “Yes Master, but even the puppies eat the scraps that fall from their master’s tables, and survive.” 28 Then Yeshua told her, “Woman, your faith is strong! What you want will be done for you.” At that moment her daughter was cured.

Healing Whole Crowds

29 Yeshua moved on from there to the seaside of Galilee where He climbed a mountain and sat down. 30 Large crowds came to Him, bringing with them those who were amputees, crippled, blind, mute, disabled and many others, and laid them down at Yeshua’s feet, and He healed them. 31 The crowd was amazed when they saw mute people talking, amputees restored, the disabled walking, and the blind seeing, and they praised the Aloha of Israel.

Feeding 4,000

32 Then Yeshua called His disciples, and told them, “I feel sorry for these people because they’ve been with Me three days now and they have nothing to eat. I won’t send them away hungry because they might faint along the way.” 33 His disciples asked Him, “Where can we get enough bread in the wilderness to feed all of these people?”

34 Yeshua asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have?” They answered, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35 Then He told the people to recline on the ground. 36 He picked up the seven loaves and the fish, and gave thanks, then broke it up and gave it to His disciples, and the disciples gave it to the crowds. 37 They all ate as much as they wanted. Then they picked up seven full baskets of leftover pieces. 38 Four thousand men ate that day, without counting the women and children. 39 After He dismissed the people, He boarded a ship and went to the region of Magdala.

Matthew 16: The Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Him, demanding that He show them a miraculous sign from Heaven.

2 But He replied, “When it is evening, you say, ‘The weather will be fine because the sky is glowing red.’ 3 And in the morning you say, ‘It will storm today because the sky is red and overcast.’ You pretenders, you can discern signs in the sky, yet you have no discernment of opportune times. 4 A wicked and unfaithful people look for a miraculous sign, but the only sign they’ll be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Then He left them behind and went away.

Leaven of the Sects

5 Later, His disciples crossed to the opposite shore, but they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 He told them, “Become acquainted with and be aware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!”

7 They began to discuss this among themselves, concluding, “He said that because we didn’t bring any bread.” 8 But Yeshua, aware of this, said, “You have so little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves that you have no bread? 9 Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you picked up, 10 or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you picked up? 11 Why don’t you understand that I wasn’t talking about bread? Be aware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!” 12 Then they understood that He wasn’t warning them to be aware of the leaven in the bread, but to be aware of the doctrinal teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

13 When Yeshua came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Human Son is?” 14 They answered, “Some say that You are John the Immerser, others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 Then He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Cephas answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living Aloha.” 17 Yeshua replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonas, because no 'mortal being' has revealed this to you, but My Father in the Heavens has. 18 Also, I tell you that you are Cephas, and it is on this rock that I’ll rebuild My assembly, and the gates of sheol won’t triumph over it. 19 I’ll give you the keys of the Kingdom of the Heavens, and whatever you prohibit on earth will have already been forbidden in Heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will have already been permitted in Heaven” [1]. 20 Then He commanded the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah.

Yeshua Predicts His Death and Resurrection

21 From that time on, Yeshua began to show His disciples that He would have to go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly because of the elders, the high priests, and the Torah teachers. Then He would be killed, but on the third day He would be raised to Life [2]. 22 Cephas took Him aside and began to lecture Him. He said, “Absolutely not Master! This will never happen to You.” 23 But He turned and told Cephas, “Get behind Me Satan! You are an impediment to Me because you aren’t thinking Yehovah’s thoughts, but human thoughts!”

24 Then Yeshua told His disciples, “If anyone wants to follow Me, they must forget their own interests and pick up their own cross and follow Me. 25 Whoever wants to rescue their life will lose it. But whoever loses their life because of Me will find it. 26 What benefit would a person have if they gain the whole world, but forfeit their eternal Life? Or what can a person give in exchange for their Life? 27 The Human Son will return in the splendor of His Father with all His 'special' messengers, and then He’ll COMPENSATE EVERYONE BASED ON WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. 28 I am certain that some of you who are standing here won’t die until you have seen the Human Son coming with [or “in”] His Kingdom!”

 

The Testimony of Yeshua was tweaked February 21, 2012