The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the MODERN ENGLISH VERSION ( MEV ).  Luke 14:7-11 read as follows:

"7 When He marked how they chose the seats of honor, He told a parable to those who were invited, saying to them, 8 'When you are invited by any man to a wedding banquet, do not sit down in a seat of honor, lest a more honorable man than you be invited by him; 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, '"Give this man the seat,"' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest seat.  10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest seat, so that when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, '"Friend, go up higher."'  Then you will have respect in the presence of those who sit at dinner with you.  11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.'"

As can be determined from the context, Jesus ( see Luke 13:12 ), in the above-given passage from the Holy Bible, teaches a lesson on humility.

     Proverbs 15:33 reads as follows:  "The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.  With this passage from the Holy Bible in mind, we see the significance of Jesus' parable.  Jesus used an observation regarding a typical life event, a wedding banquet, to reveal our natural tendencies as human beings.

     Specifically, when we find ourselves at public gatherings, for example, our natural tendency is to exalt ourselves in the presence of others.  In short, we want the honor without the humility.  The lesson of Proverbs 15:33, regarding honor, is the requirement that we first have humility.

     If, regarding our attitude in this life, we will first strive to "sit down in the lowest seat" ( as we read in verse 10, above - taken literally or figuratively ), then we will truly have honor.  Otherwise, we will suffer the shame of having to "take the lowest seat" ( as we read in verse 9, above - again, taken literally or figuratively ).  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>

<Russell E. Willis>

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the MODERN ENGLISH VERSION ( MEV ).  The following quotation is taken from this version of the Holy Bible:

"The original motive for creating this translation was to provide an update by military chaplains for the troops so they could understand the King James Version better.  This project grew larger than anticipated in the search for academically qualified scholars when the chaplains 'enlisted' the help of those who were not chaplains to get the job done, and when an unexpected publishing opportunity was offered.  The target audience grew from the military to the entire English-speaking world.  The translators began their work on June 2, 2005; they completed the New Testament on October 25, 2011, and the Old Testament on May 28, 2014."  [  See HOLY BIBLE: THINLINE EDITION, MODERN ENGLISH VERSION, PASSIO, MEV THINLINE REFERENCE BIBLE, Published by Passio, Charisma Media/Charisma House Book Group, 600 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary, Florida  32746, Copyright 2014 by Charisma House, p. xi.  ]

Matthew 10:34-39 read as follows:

"34 'Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth.  I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  35 For I have come to turn '"a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;  36 a man's foes will be those of his own household."'  37 'He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  38 And He [sic] who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.'"

Verse 39 ( above ) has a cross-reference to John 12:25, which reads as follows:

"25 He who loves his life will lose it.  And he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."

     Matthew, chapter 10, begins with Jesus ( see Matthew 9:35 ) calling "His twelve disciples to Him" ( see verse 1 ).  The names of the twelve apostles are listed in verses two through four.  It was to these twelve men that Jesus spoke the words in Matthew 10:34-39.

     As Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ) today, we must understand that Jesus takes top priority in our lives, even over members of our own physical family.  Jesus said that if we love our father or mother, for example, more than Him, we are not worthy of Him.  Parents must also love Jesus more than their own child ( or children ).

     Finally, when considering Matthew 10:39 and John 12:25 together, Jesus ( see John 12:23 ) teaches that he who loses his life for His sake will find eternal life.  In the context of the two initial passages from the Holy Bible ( given above ), the demands of Christian living are not easy to meet.  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>

<Russell E. Willis>

NOTE:  The word "chaplain" is defined as follows:  ". . . n.  1 A clergyman with special functions, such as conducting religious services in a legislative assembly, in a regiment, or on board a ship. . . ."  [  See NEW ILLUSTRATED WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY Including THESAURUS of SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS, PMC Publishing Company, Inc., 118 EAST 28th STREET, NEW YORK, NY  10016, dictionary portion: pages 1-1150, Copyright 1992, by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, p. 171.  ]

The words "chaplain" and "clergyman," for example, are not found in the Holy Bible ( see 1 Peter 4:11, for example ).