YAH'SHUAH'S TEACHING CONCERNING PARENTS AND CHILDREN
Peacemakers Shall Be Called Children Of Yahweh
Matthew 5:9 reads,
5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers,Shouldn't we be peacemakers that we may indeed be the Father's children?
Those Who Have Yahweh For Their Father
Matthew 5:13-16 reads,
5:13
"You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. 5:14You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill can’t be hidden. 5:15Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. 5:16Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.Doesn't Yah'shuah show that those who do good works have Yahweh in heaven as their Father?
Be Perfect As The Father Is Perfect
Matthew 5:43-48 reads,
5:43
"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 5:45that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 5:46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 5:47If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 5:48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.Doesn't Yah'shuah show that those who strive to be the Father's children should be perfect as the Father is perfect? Doesn't Yah'shuah show that perfection entails loving enemies, blessing those who curse us, doing good to those who hate us and praying for those who spitefully use us and persecute us? Shouldn't we strive for perfection?
Matthew 6:1-4 reads,
6:1
"Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 6:2Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most assuredly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6:3But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does, 6:4so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.Shouldn't Yah'shuah's followers heed his word concerning charitable giving and performing merciful deeds?
Matthew 6:5-13 reads,
6:5
"When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most assuredly, I tell you, they have received their reward. 6:6But you, when you pray, enter into your inner chamber, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 6:7In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. 6:8Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him. 6:9Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 6:10May your kingdom come. May your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. 6:11Give us this day our daily bread. 6:12Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 6:13Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen.’Shouldn't Yah'shuah's followers do their good deeds quietly, without much fanfare? Will not this facilitate their receiving due reward from their Father in heaven?
Matthew 6:14-15 reads,
6:14
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 6:15But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.Shouldn't Yah'shuah's followers forgive men their trespasses that their heavenly Father forgive their own trespasses, seeing that they too have trespasses?
Matthew 6:16-18 reads,
6:16
"Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most assuredly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6:17But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; 6:18that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
Serve Yahweh Only And Not Mammon
Matthew 6:24-34 reads,
6:24
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon. 6:25Therefore, I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will put on. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 6:26See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?6:27
"Which of you, by being anxious, can add one cubit to the measure of his life? 6:28Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin, 6:29yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. 6:30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith?6:31
"Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ 6:32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 6:33But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be added to you. 6:34Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.Shouldn't the Father's children heed Yah'shuah's words to serve only Father Yahweh and not mammon? Doesn't Yah'shuah show that being anxious about our bodily needs is serving mammon? Doesn't Yah'shuah show that being anxious about our bodily needs, serving mammon rather than Yahweh, is faithlessness? Shouldn't we be confident and trusting in the Father that he will provide us with all our bodily needs? Shouldn't we first seek his kingdom and his righteousness?
Drawing from Yah'shuah's words, shouldn't children listen to the words of their parents when these are in harmony with Yahweh's word rather than listen to the words of others?
Ask The Father For Good Things
Matthew 7:7-12 reads,
7:7
"Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you. 7:8For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. 7:9Or what man is there of you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 7:10Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? 7:11If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! 7:12Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.Doesn't Yah'shuah make clear that when we ask our heavenly Father for good things he indeed gives them to us? Shouldn't it be clearly noted that Yah'shuah restricted his comments to good things? Doesn't this mean that if we ask the Father for things that are not good we should not expect him to give them to us?
How are we to know that the things we ask the Father are good or not?
Give Your Children Only Good Things
Isn't it also clear that parents should give their children only good things, refraining from giving them things that are not good? Should not parents refrain from giving their children things that are not good even when their children, in their lack of wisdom, request these of them?
Matthew 7:15-23 reads,
7:15
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. 7:16By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? 7:17Even so, every good tree brings forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. 7:18A good tree can’t bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 7:19Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire. 7:20Therefore, by their fruits you will know them. 7:21Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 7:22Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy by your name, by your name cast out demons, and by your name do many mighty works?’ 7:23Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’Doesn't Yah'shuah clearly show that those who enter the Father's kingdom are those who do his will? Doesn't this clearly show us that we should indeed abide by the Father's will in order to reap the good blessings that he avails to us?
Reward Your Children Appropriately
Shouldn't parents likewise give their children good and valued things when their children listen to them? And when their children refuse to listen to them shouldn't they refrain from so giving these good and valued things to them, following the Father's example?
Israelites Are The Sons Of The Kingdom Of Yahweh
Matthew 8:5-13 reads,
8:5
When he came into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking him, 8:6and saying, "Lord, my servant lies in the house paralyzed, grievously tormented."8:7
Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."8:8
The centurion answered, "Lord, I’m not worthy for you to come under my roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8:9For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it."8:10
When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, "Most assuredly I tell you, I haven’t found so great a faith, not even in Israel. 8:11I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven, 8:12but the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth." 8:13Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way. Let it be done for you as you as you have believed." His servant was healed in that hour.Did not Yah'shuah imply that those designated as the sons of the kingdom are Israelites, while those who come from east and west are non-Israelites? Didn't Yah'shuah show that the Father shows no partiality in judgement, giving honour to those who manifest faith irrespective of their nationality?
Do Not Show Partiality In Judgement
Shouldn't parents learn from the Father in not showing partiality in the manner they reach judgements in their own households? Should not parents appropriately reward those of their children who are compliant with their word, irrespective of their identity?
Following Yah'shuah Is More Important Than Some Family Activities
Matthew 8:21-22 reads,
8:21
Another of his disciples said to him, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father."8:22
But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead."Doesn't Yah'shuah show that following him takes precedence over family activities that do not require our involvement, activities such as burying the dead?
Matthew 9:1-6 reads,
9:1
He entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city. 9:2Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you."9:3
Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man blasphemes."9:4
Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 9:5For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk?’ 9:6But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." (then he said to the paralytic), "Get up, and take up your mat, and go up to your house."Did not Father Yahweh give his Son Yah'shuah authority on earth to forgive sins? Should not parents give their children appropriate authority to undertake their will within their households?
Persecution Against The Father's Children
Matthew 10:16-23 reads,
10:16
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 10:17But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you. 10:18Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 10:19But when they deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say. 10:20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.10:21
"Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. 10:22You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. 10:23But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most assuredly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man has come.
The Father Helps His Children When They Are In Difficulty
Doesn't Yah'shuah show in 10:19-20 that when the Father's children are in a difficult situation he comes to their aid? Shouldn't parents also come to the aid of their children when they are in a difficult situation?
Family Relationships Are Broken On Account Of Yah'shuah
Does not Yah'shuah reveal that for his name's sake family relationships are torn apart? Doesn't Yah'shuah reveal that parents will deliver up their children to the authorities that they - the children - may be put to death on account of serving Yah'shuah? Doesn't Yah'shuah reveal that children will likewise rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death?
Why will family relationships be torn apart to the degree that family members will deliver up one another to death? What is it about serving Yah'shuah that causes family relationships to be strained to the degree that some family members cause others to be put to death?
Be Ready To Lose Your Life In This World In Serving The Father
Matthew 10:24-33 reads,
10:24
"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord. 10:25It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! 10:26Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; and hidden that will not be known. 10:27What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops. 10:28Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.10:29
"Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father’s will, 10:30but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 10:31Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows. 10:32Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven. 10:33But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.Doesn't Yah'shuah show us that in serving our heavenly Father we should be ready to lose our lives in this world? Doesn't he also reassure us that our enemies in this world have only limited power compared to the Father? Aren't our enemies incapable of killing our souls, a power the Father has? Shouldn't we rather be more concerned about doing the will of the All-Powerful One? Shouldn't we disregard the will of our enemies when they are contrary to our Father's will?
Yah'shuah Came To Divide Families
Matthew 10:34-39 reads,
10:34
"Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword. 10:35For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 10:36A man’s foes will be those of his own household. 10:37He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. 10:38He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me, isn’t worthy of me. 10:39He who finds his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.Why didn't Yah'shuah come to bring peace on the earth? Why did he bring a sword? Why did he come to set children against their parents? Why did he come to set children-in-law against their parents-in-law?
Is it because his word brings his followers to the point of choosing either to remain with him or to be with their parents or parents-in-law?
Does this imply that not all in a family are to follow Yah'shuah's word? Does this imply that in some families parents follow Yah'shuah's word but their children do not? Does this imply that in some families children follow Yah'shuah's word but their parents do not?
Why is it that not all family members follow Yah'shuah's word? Why do some family members receive Yah'shuah's word while others reject it?
The Father Both Hides And Reveals Truths
Matthew 11:25-27 reads,
11:25
At that time, Jesus answered, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants. 11:26Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight. 11:27All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him.Does not Yah'shuah show that the Father hides some of his truths from those perceived to be wise and understanding but reveals them to infants? Don't infants receive Yahweh's word when he so reveals it to them?
Matthew 12:46-50 reads,
12:46
While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him. 12:47One said to him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you."12:48
But he answered him who told him, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" 12:49He stretched out his hand towards his disciples, and said, "Behold, my mother and my brothers! 12:50For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother."Doesn't Yah'shuah show that his family members are made up of those who are his disciples? Doesn't this imply that Yah'shuah's disciples belong to one family, the family Yah'shuah belongs to? Is not this family Yah'shuah belongs to Yahweh's family, seeing that Yahweh is Yah'shuah's father?
The Parable Of The Darnel Of The Field
Matthew 13:24-30 reads,
13:24
He set another parable before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field, 13:25but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel also among the wheat, and went away. 13:26But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then the darnel appeared also. 13:27The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did this darnel come from?’13:28
"He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’"The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’
13:29
"But he said, ‘No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel, you root up the wheat with them. 13:30Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, "First, gather up the darnel, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn."’"Matthew 13:36-43 reads,
13:36
Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the darnel of the field."13:37
He answered them, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 13:38the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the darnel are the sons of the evil one. 13:39The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 13:40As therefore the darnel is gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be in the end of this age. 13:41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity, 13:42and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 13:43Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Children Of The Kingdom And Children Of The Evil One
Doesn't Yah'shuah show that there are two types of children - those of the kingdom and those of the evil one? Doesn't Yah'shuah show that the children of the evil one cause stumbling and do iniquity? Doesn't Yah'shuah also show that the children of the kingdom are righteous, being children of the Father?
How do the children of the evil one cause stumbling? In what things do they cause stumbling?
Matthew 15:1-9 reads,
15:1
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, 15:2"Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread."15:3
He answered them, "Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition? 15:4For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 15:5But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, "Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God," 15:6he shall not honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition. 15:7You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,15:8
‘These people draw near to me with their mouth,15:9
But in vain do they worship me,
Yah'shuah Upheld Yahweh's Words By Moses
Didn't Yah'shuah uphold Yahweh's word as given by Moses?
Didn't Yah'shuah show that in serving Yahweh we must not disregard his words concerning how we relate to other human beings, especially our parents? Didn't Yah'shuah make clear that it is more important to honour our parents by fulfilling their needs than to give those resources to Yahweh as a gift? Don't Yah'shuah's words clearly imply that it is dishonour to our parents not to help them when it is in our power to do so? Doesn't this imply that Yahweh imposes an obligation upon us to help our parents with their needs?
Do we help our parents with their needs when it is in our power to do so? Or do we choose to expend our resources in other ways, neglecting the fulfilment of the obligation Yahweh has imposed upon us?
Meeting Parents' Needs Contrasted Against Unnecessary Family Activities
Did not Yah'shuah show in 8:21-22 that it is more important to follow him than to attend to the burial of one's father? Hasn't he here in 15:1-9 shown that it is more important to fulfil the needs of one's parents than to give Yahweh a gift of what the parental needs would have been fulfilled? Has Yah'shuah contradicted himself?
Isn't it clear that a dead person is indeed dead and not alive? Isn't it clear that a dead person no longer has needs in this world? Isn't it also clear that a living person has needs in this world? Isn't it therefore clear that it is more important to fulfil the needs of those who are alive than to concern ourselves with matters that are not needs, such as burial for the dead? Isn't it therefore clear that it is more important to fulfil the needs of our parents who are alive than to concern ourselves with their burial once they are dead?
Giving Yahweh's Offering More Important Than Unnecessary Family Matters
Isn't it important to give offerings or gifts to Yahweh, seeing that Yahweh is alive and there is a continual need for the performance of his work? Isn't it therefore more important to give offerings or gifts to Yahweh than to attend to unnecessary family matters using what one would have given as an offering or gift to Yahweh?
Isn't it therefore clear that there was no contradiction in Yah'shuah's words? Isn't it clear that what is most needful should be given first priority? Isn't it clear that the priority should be serving the needs of our needy parents, then giving gifts to Yahweh and then burying our dead parents?
It Is Inappropriate To Give Your Children's Food To Another
Matthew 15:21-28 reads,
15:21
Jesus went out from there, and withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon. 15:22Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely demonized!"15:23
But he answered her not a word.His disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away; for she cries after us."
15:24
But he answered, "I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel."15:25
But she came and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, help me."15:26
But he answered, "It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs." 15:27But she said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table."15:28
Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that hour.Doesn't Yah'shuah imply in his words to the Canaanite woman that food that is meant for one's children should be given to them and not to others? Don't Yah'shuah's words also imply that the children that he referred to are the lost sheep of the house of Israel? Doesn't this imply that Yah'shuah was sent to feed the lost sheep of the house of Israel with the food allotted to them?
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