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By George W. Sinquefield
Mary was the sister of Lazarus (John 11:2). She came to Jesus with a box of precious ointment. she broke it and anointed Jesus before His crucifixion. The disciples gathered about the Master and reproved the woman for that which she had done. After all, it was a waste. Jesus said to them, "Let her alone - she hath done what she could." When you and I render that kind of service in a humble and repentant spirit, it is never wasted.
Matt. 10:41 through Matt. 10:42 (KJV)
She was a sinner. Most Bible scholars believe she was a prostitute. She needed what Jesus alone could give her - forgiveness and salvation, and she received both of these blessings.
Luke 7:48 (KJV)
Luke 7:50 (KJV)
Because of what she had done, she was exalted by Jesus.
Luke 14:11 (KJV)
Mary came to Jesus at the right time. In a short time He will be crucified. She gave Him the very best that she had.
Mark 14:5 through Mark 14:6 (ASV)
She gave her best - precious perfume worth over three hundred denarii. The New American Standard Version of the New Testament states "The denarius was equivalent to one day's wage." I am told that her perfume was worth over nine hundred dollars "And they were scolding her."
I. The Disciples Attitude Toward Her
It is our heart's desire to see lost sinners come to Jesus. We've visited and presented Jesus to them time and again. We've prayed for them and in every way we could we have encouraged them to make that decision. Oh, how our hearts rejoice when they do. Not only do we rejoice but there is rejoicing in Heaven.
Luke 15:7 (KJV)
I have heard it said that the angels rejoice when a lost person is saved. No, it is not the angels who rejoice for they never experienced being saved. Those who rejoice are friends and loved ones who were saved and who have gone on to be with the Lord.
Notice the attitude of the disciples. Did they rejoice? Did they praise God that one who was lost is now found? Are they grateful that one who was a child of the devil is now a child of God? That one who was on her way to hell is now on her way to heaven? This surely should have been their attitude but it wasn't. Instead they criticized her.
Serving as pastor for some forty five years, I've known those who seemed to feel that God had called them to be critical of others, to pick out the faults of others, to try to get the little splinter out of other's eye when a 2x4 was sticking out of theirs. One shares this with us:
One of the best stories told at the Shanghai Missionary Conference was of a man who said he was afraid he was going to be of no use in the world because he had only one talent. "Oh, that need not discourage you," said his pastor, "What is your talent?" "The talent of criticism." "Well, I advise you," said his pastor, "to do with it what the man of one talent in the parable did with his. Criticism may be useful when mixed with other talents, but those whose only activity is to criticize the workers might as well be buried, talent and all."
One asked if the sick person was on the critical list. The answer he got was - Yes, he is on the critical list. He is critical of the doctors, he is critical of the nurses, he is critical of the food, he is critical of the service he gets. Yes, he is on the critical list. Far too many people are on this critical list.
We are all going to be criticized if we are doing anything at all. And I might add that this certainly is true if we're serving the Lord in any way.
Elbert Hubbard gives us a gem of truth when he says, "The man who is anybody, and who does anything is surely going to be criticized, rectified and misunderstood. This is a part of the penalty for greatness and every great man understands it. (Criticism is no proof of greatness). The final proof of greatness lies in being able to endure criticism without resentment."
You can expect criticism no matter what you are doing.
Cooking food
There seems to be no end to this list - if you're alive and active in anything, you can expect someone to be critical of what you're doing or trying to do.
Her husband was an old sour puss and she couldn't please him no matter how hard she tried. He found fault with everything she did. One morning she asked him how many eggs he wanted for breakfast and how he wanted them cooked. He said he wanted two and he wanted one over light and the other one scrambled. They sat down at the table and she noticed he wasn't eating. She asked if anything was wrong and he replied, You scrambled the wrong egg."
II. There Are Two Kinds Of Criticism - Constructive And Destructive.
A. Constructive criticism is that which builds up. It is that which helps and encourages another.The goal of constructive criticism is to leave the person better than he was before.
Eph. 4:29 (KJV)
Rom. 14:19 (KJV)
1 Thess. 5:11 (KJV)
In a speech class in the seminary we were required to preach a short sermon of about two or three minutes. The class would then criticize your sermon. It was for our good for it would reveal our weak points and let us know where we needed improvement the most. During a revival meeting the visiting preacher had a pulpit mannerism that was very distracting and hindered him from getting his message over to the congregation. People were talking about it among themselves but no one made any effort to tell the preacher about it. Finally an elderly gentleman went to him and explained what the people was saying. He said the preacher was so appreciative. He kept thanking him. He was not aware of what he was doing. It is the preacher's duty to so preach the Word that his hearers will be helped and built up.
2 Tim. 4:2 (KJV)
Heb. 3:12 through Heb. 3:13 (KJV)
A pastor friend of mine had a man who taught boys in Sunday School but his life didn't measure up during the week. After much prayer and consideration the pastor decided to face yom and ask him to resign. When they met he asked him, "Do you love me?" He answered, "Yes, I do." Then the pastor asked, "Do you believe I love you? "Yes, I do," he replied. Then the pastor asked, "Do you believe that whatever I asked you to do would be for the good of the Lord's work?" "Yes, I believe that," he said. "Then," said the pastor, "I want you to resign as a teacher." He then explained his reason for asking him to do such. The teacher was silent for a few moments and then he said, "Pastor, I didn't realize that my influence was bad and I tell you, I will not resign but by God's help my life will be different from this day. Thank you for talking to me about this. I love the Lord and I love those boys. I wouldn't do anything that would lead them astray." The pastor said that from that day this man was a different man. It never hurts for us to offer criticism in the spirit of love. In fact, it is our Christian duty to do so.
However, we know that criticism can sometimes be a blessing. The Bible teaches us about criticism. God points out that when we are corrected or rebuffed, we can benefit. For example, in Proverbs 12:1, "Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid."
In II Timothy 3:16 we read: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
So criticism and correction can play a vital part in our lives as pastors, parents and business people. Destructive criticism is that which tears down, discourages and does much harm.
Banyan trees usually sprout from seeds that animals and birds have dropped into cracks in the branches of other trees, and their roots grow down from the host branches into the ground. From these huge banyon trees can grow covering as much as a city block.
Gossip and criticism are like these little seeds. They are innocently or inconspiciously dropped, but who knows into what widespread evil and harm they may grow!
But there are many homes where all you hear is the bad things about the people of God, and the bad things about preachers. And then the years come and go and teen-agers come along. Parents with weeping eyes and broken hearts and say, "Preacher, for God's sake, help me to win my young man or young woman to the Lord." When you for years, meticulously, and without scruple, destroy this confidence in people who are imperfect but who are Christian people. God have mercy, tonight, on the home that condemns Christian people no matter if they are weak. Listen if you want your children to go to hell, go ahead and find something wrong with the people of God! I'm sure it doesn't take any wisdom, character, integrity, or spirituality to do it! Go ahead and do it! Then when the hour comes when your children turn their backs on you and will not come to church and will not listen to preaching you will have nobody to blame but your own self.
It would be very good if fault finding parents would read and heed God's Word on this matter.
Matt. 18:1 through Matt. 18:6 (KJV)
Harsh criticisms and a judgmental attitude cause deep hurt and create bitter feelings - not only toward us but also toward God and the church. Why do we criticized others? Maybe it's because of our old sinful nature which we still have even after we are saved. Paul states that this sinful nature caused him to do things that at times he did not want to do.
Rom. 7:14 through Rom. 7:20 (KJV)
Then too, we criticize because of envy. Envy is a feeling of resentment aroused because another person has something we do not but we desire to have it. We would like to have the other person's qualities, possessions, position, intelligence, good looks, popularity, and good job. We often envy the other person's spiritual maturity and insight. Rachel envied Leah because she bore children.
Gen. 30:1 (KJV)
Joseph's brothers resented him because his father showed favoritism to him.
Gen. 37:11 (KJV)
The Jews envied Paul because the people were flocking to him to hear him.
Acts 13:42 through Acts 13:52 (KJV)
Bill Hybels in his book, Christians Under Construction, shares this experience with us.
I once had the opportunity to talk with Ken Taylor, the man who developed The Living Bible. During our conversation, I thanked him for his contribution to the cause of Jesus Christ.
"I know hundreds of people whose lives have been changed because of your work in putting the Bible into everyday language," I told him. (Of course there are millions more people, I'm sure, that I don't know about.)
He acknowledged my thanks and then said sadly, "You know, I've received unbelievable criticisms about The Living Bible. I knew that, I had read some of the attacks -- people bitterly upset because they felt Ken Taylor hadn't used just the right words in certain places. It didn't seem to matter to these critics that The Living Bible was communicating God's Word to a whole new audience of English speaking people.
"I've been so bitterly attacked that sometimes I wonder if it's worth it at all," Mr. Taylor told me. The Living Bible has sold over 20 million copies so far. It has reached into the world in a dramatic way, but still there are people chipping away at the self confidence of Ken Taylor. God grant him the courage to continue doing what he believes is right anyway.
According to the Detroit Free Press, a patient at Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital on Detroit's northwest side was shot and killed as he lay in his bed recovering from a previous gunshot wound. A hospital staff person said that the victim had been listed in fair condition prior to the shooting and was looking forward to going home. Hospital patients and employees were stunned. A spokesperson said that nothing like this had happened in 50 years of the hospital's existence.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could say the same for our churches? Wouldn't it be encouraging if we were able to say that in 50 years of meeting together for fellowship and spiritual healing, we had not had a single instance of a wounded member being cut down by the unkindness of a fellow Christian?
III. Who Has The Right To Criticize Others?
Those of us who have reached spiritual maturity, who have no faults, who make no mistakes, who never falter or fail. Now if anyone has the right to criticize others it is he who meets these conditions and I don't know anyone who does.
Many Christians see themselves as self appointed correctors of the wrongs of their brothers and sisters in Christ. They see clearly the shortcomings and faults of others -- and they are quick to point them out. But these people are often blind to the same deficiencies in their own spiritual life (see Romans 2:1).
I read recently about a group of residents in a Connecticut town who were terribly upset about the reckless driving on their suburban streets. So 53 of them signed a petition calling for tighter traffic control in their neighborhoods. The sheriff responded by setting up a watch a few nights later. He caught five violators in all -- and each of them had signed the petition! They themselves were guilty of the very transgressions of which they were so critical.
Jesus dealt with this in His sermon on the mount.
Matt. 7:3 through Matt. 7:5 (KJV)
Imagine a person wanting to get a little speck out of your eye while at the same time he has a 2x4 sticking out of his. Do you know what that "beam in his own eye" represents? It is the unloving, judgmental attitude of one who judges himself to be much better than others and feels he has the right and obligation to point out their little faults.
Joseph Addison once said, "It is ridiculous for any man to criticize the works of another if he has not distinguished himself by his own performances."
The North Carolina Biblical Recorder has published the account of a Methodist pastor in Ohio who issued "Gripe Cards" for church members who like to complain about the church. The card extended the privilege to gripe to any member who would subscribe to the following statements:
1. I attend all the services of my church.
E. L. McDonald, editor of Arkansas Baptist, observes: "Most Baptists would probably say, 'It just ain't worth it.'"
It has been well said, "Before criticizing another's faults, take time to count ten - of your own. A man walked in the psychiatrist's office -- had half a cantelope on his head and a piece of bacon wrapped around each ear. The psychiatrist thought this man is certainly crazy -- he is in dire need of treatment. The fellow said, "I've come to see you about my brother."
Sam Jones, the Methodist of days gone by was preaching in Baltimore -- really giving it to the Methodists. One said to him, "Sam, why don't you jump on the Catholics sometimes?" He answered, "When I get through with the Methodists it is time to go to bed."
Taking care of ourselves is a full time job. We just don't have the time to straighten out the lives of others.
John 8:1 through John 8:11 (KJV)
IV. How Should We Deal With Criticism?
The only sure way to kill a rumor is to cut off its circulation. Chas. H. Spurgeon said, "A lie travels around the world while truth is putting on her boots." Whether criticism is a lie or the truth - don't pass it on. Poet James Whitcomb Riley was once criticized severely by another writer. Asked how he responded, Riley replied, "I hit him with a chunk of silence." Israel's prime minister Golda Meir turned down an aide's request that she talk to reporters, explaining, "You can't improve on saying nothing." Silence, when nothing need be said, is the eloquence of discretion.--Bovee
Do you enjoy hearing and passing on criticism. God have mercy on you if you do. You need to read and heed Philippians 4:8-9.
A man was sick, and a friend visited him. The sick man spoke critically of a mutual friend. After the friend had left and he had reflected on what he had said, he became poignantly sorry and longed for an opportunity to make amends. In a few days the friend visited him again. The sick man said, "I'm happy to see you. I want to apologize to you for speaking as I did about Mr. Blank when you were here the other day." "Oh, that is all right, it is all true," the visitor replied. "Yes, it may be, but I am afraid I enjoyed criticizing him."
Among the ancient legends of Hercules is one depicting how strife develops. During his travels Hercules encountered a strange animal. Not knowing the nature of the animal, he struck it with a club and went on his way. Very shortly thereafter, the animal came upon him again, three times larger than when he first saw it. Now Hercules began to fight and strike the animal furiously, but with each blow the animal became larger. Pallas, a wise seer, appeared about this time and asked that Hercules stop his attack upon the animal, saying, "The name of this monster is Strife. Continue to beat upon it and it will grow larger. Leave it alone and it will become as small as it was when first you saw it." Be careful what you stir. The Spurgeons, however, took the criticism graciously, and only after the death of Mrs. Spurgeon was the truth revealed. The records showed that their entire profits had been used to support two needy, elderly widows whose husbands had spent their lives in serving the Lord. Yet because the Spurgeons did not want to call attention to their giving, they had refused to defend themselves.
Moody said to R. A. Torrey, "Torrey, we will let the other men do the talking and criticizing and we will still do the work that God has given us to do, and let Him take care of the difficulties and answer the criticisms."
"If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how -- the very best I can, and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference." -- A. Lincoln Jesus taught us to do this and He set the example. He prayed for those who crucified Him.
Matt. 5:44 (KJV)
Luke 23:34 (KJV)
One Christian brother heard another talking about him in a derogatory manner. So he went to the tale bearer and said, "Please be kind enough to tell me my faults so that I may try to correct them." The tale bearer agree. The Christian who had been injured said, "First let us kneel and pray that my eyes may be open to see my faults as you reveal them to me. Will you lead in the prayer?"
When the prayer was over, the man who had sought the interview said, "Now proceed, my brother, with what you have noted in my life which has disturbed you." But the other answered, "After praying over it, it looks so little that it is not worth talking about. I realize now that by going around and talking about you, I have been serving the devil myself, and have need that you pray for me and forgive me the wrong I have done you." The disagreement disappeared. Rom. 12:14 (KJV)
Notice very carefull the instruction given us by the Holy Spirit through Paul found in Paul's letter to the Romans.
Rom. 12:17 through Rom. 12:21 (KJV)
When we bless those who persecute us and when we return good for evil we are acting like our Heavenly Father.
Matt. 5:43 through Matt. 5:48 (KJV)
Verse 45 says, "that you may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven." A better rendering of this is, "that it may be evident that you are a son of your Father who is in Heaven." By returning good for evil we are letting the world know that God, our Heavenly Father and we are acting like Him.
Verse 48 tells us, "Therefore you are to be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect." Now, just what does the word "perfect" mean? It does not mean that we are to be morally perfect - that we are to be sinless as some of our Christian friends believe.
1 John 1:8 (KJV)
The word "perfect" literally means, "that which is at the end." It means the setting of a goal, strieving for it and finally reaching it. What was the goal set before Jesus? The Bible is very clear in that it was the cross on which He died to atone for man's sin. Jesus was sinless but He was not perfect until He died on that cross.
1 Pet. 2:21 through 1 Pet. 2:22 (KJV)
He knew no sin. He committed no sin but He was made sin on our behalf. That is, He died in our place to pay our sin debt. It was in so doing that He became perfect.
Heb. 2:9 through Heb. 2:10 (KJV)
The greatest need of those who criticize and persecute you might be salvation. They need to be born again -- born from above, born of the Holy Spirit. And our goal should be, and will be if we follow our Lord, is to win them to Jesus. Winning the lost must be our goal and in this ministry we become perfect.
V. Respect The Opinions And Convictions Of Others
I was pastor of a church in Illinois. A fine dedicated man, a member of that church, would get up early each morning to have time to study the Bible. He tried to get at least thirty minutes for this before driving quite a long way to work. He and I differed on some passages of the Scripture, but I respected him and his views. I believe that if a Christian will continue to study seriously God's Word, the Holy Spirit will teach him and reveal the deeper truths that the average Christian doesn't know anything about.
John 14:25 through John 14:26 (KJV)
John 16:12 through John 16:14 (KJV)
Paul urges the Roman Christians to accept one who is weak in faith but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. In chapter 14 of his letter he uses thirteen verses to deal with this. It is rather long but it is well worth our time to consider it.
Rom. 14:1 through Rom. 14:13 (KJV)
Notice his admonition in verse 13, "Therefore let us not judge one another anymore but rather determine this -- not to put an obstacle or stumbling block in a brother's way." Harsh criticism and unloving judgment often does a great harm. It can discourage a weaker Christian, who is giving his best in serving the Lord to throw up his hands and quit. That is certainly putting a stumbling block before him. Paul, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, deals with the seriousness of causing others to stumble when he wrote his Corinthians letter. They were concerned about eating meat that had been offered as a sacrifice to idols. They wanted to know if they should or should not eat it. Paul discusses this in I Corinthians, chapter 8 and closes by giving his conviction about the matter. In verse 13 he says, "Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, that I might not cause my brother to stumble."
God help us all to feel that way and if we are guilty of doing so, to stop passing judgment and criticizing our brothers and sisters in Christ. May He help us, and He will if we really want Him to, to live such a life that in both word and deed we will encourage the lost to come to Jesus for salvation. That is what He told us to do.
John 5:16 (KJV)
I say again that if we are busy keeping our lives straight, we'll have little or no time to be judging and criticizing others. I've often heard we should sweep around our own front door before we try to sweep around our neighbor's door.
The poem "Busy" is a good way for me to close this message.
41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
5 For this ointment might have been sold for above three hundred shillings, and given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 6 But Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Doctoring people
Repairing automobiles
Teaching school
Building a house
Farming
Raising children
Doing good to your neighbor
Teaching a Sunday School class
Visiting for Jesus
Preaching the gospel
Serving as a deacon
Singing praises to the Lord
Leading singing in worship service
Playing an instrument
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. 51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
2. I pray daily for my church and pastor.
3. I volunteer for, gladly accept and enthusiastically carry out all jobs and offices I have in my church's program.
4. I give at least a tithe of my income to my church.
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Prov. 26:20 (KJV)
20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
Years ago The Chaplain magazine told how the noted preacher Charles Spurgeon and his wife were called miserly because they sold all the eggs their chickens laid and wouldn't give any away. Because they always made a profit on their butter, milk, and eggs, rumors circulated that they were greedy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
14Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
