Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE; being entitled: THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE WITH THE APOCRYPHA. Luke 20:1-8 read as follows:
"ONE DAY, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling them the good news, the priests and lawyers, and the elders with them, came upon him 2 and accosted him. 'Tell us', they said, 'by what authority you are acting like this; who gave you this authority?' 3 He answered them, 'I have a question to ask you too: tell me, 4 was the baptism of John from God or from men?' 5 This set them arguing among themselves: 'If we say, "'from God'", he will say, "'Why did you not believe him?'" 6 And if we say, "'from men'", the people will all stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.' 7 So they replied that they could not tell. 8 And Jesus said to them, 'Then neither will I tell you by what authority I act.'"
Additionally, 1 John 4:1 reads as follows: "BUT DO NOT TRUST any and every spirit, my friends; test the spirits, to see whether they are from God, for among those who have gone out into the world there are many prophets falsely inspired."
If you, the reader, will notice, Jesus ( see verse eight, above ) tested the priests, lawyers, and elders ( see the first verse one, above ) by asking them a question ( see verses three and four, above ). Their response was one of dishonesty ( see verses five through seven, above ). He refused to answer their question ( again, as we read in verse eight, above ).
Additionally, 1 John 4:1 reads as follows: "BUT DO NOT TRUST any and every spirit, my friends; test the spirits, to see whether they are from God, for among those who have gone out into the world there are many prophets falsely inspired."
If you, the reader, will notice, Jesus ( see verse eight, above ) tested the priests, lawyers, and elders ( see the first verse one, above ) by asking them a question ( see verses three and four, above ). Their response was one of dishonesty ( see verses five through seven, above ). He refused to answer their question ( again, as we read in verse eight, above ).
One important lesson to be learned, here, is that, as Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ), we are not to discuss the word of God with dishonest people: it would be a sin to do so ( see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 8:26; 10:30; 17:1, 3, 17, Romans 1:20 ( see Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references, for example, to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godhead" ), Colossians 2:8, 9, and 1 John 3:4; 5:7 ( KJV, for example ), for example )), and a waste of time ( see Ephesians 5:15, 16 ( KJV, for example ), for example ). We must test the spirits just as Jesus did. If they respond with dishonesty, then we must reject them as He did with the priests, lawyers, and elders.
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: Credit is given where it is due ( see 2 Corinthians 10:16, for example ), with regard to some statements contained in this weblog posting.
