O you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky; but can you not discern the signs of the times?
In the above question, from Matthew 16:3, the LORD is speaking to the religious leaders of the time, whose leaven (corruption of the written and oral, living, work and word of God) he warns His disciples to “beware.” The chapter is filled with allegories, the patterns living below the surface (of the written word) waiting to be revealed by the same living work and word of God.
These aspects, personified in and pronounced by the LORD in this chapter, directly contradict the beliefs (the stoicheion – foundational elements of belief) of the Pharisees and Sadducees to whom He speaks.
The names of these sects (denominations resembling today’s many thousands: zealots and their more conventional sleeping counterparts, Christians and Jews in practice or name only) mean (Pharisees) separatists and (Sadducees) righteous.
Here are the definitions of each from Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:
Pharisaios
1) A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to OT books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life. They sought for distinction and praise by outward observance of external rites and by outward forms of piety, and such as ceremonial washings, fasting, prayers, and alms giving; and, comparatively negligent of genuine piety, they prided themselves on their fancied good works. They held strenuously to a belief in the existence of good and evil angels, and to the expectation of a Messiah; and they cherished the hope that the dead, after a preliminary experience either of reward or of penalty in Hades, would be recalled to life by him, and be requited each according to his individual deeds. In opposition to the usurped dominion of the Herods and the rule of the Romans, they stoutly upheld the theocracy and their country’ s cause, and possessed great influence with the common people. According to Josephus they numbered more than 6000. They were bitter enemies of Jesus and his cause; and were in turn severely rebuked by him for their avarice, ambition, hollow reliance on outward works, and affection of piety in order to gain popularity.
Saddoukaios
Sadducees = “the righteous”
1) a religious party at the time of Christ among the Jews, who denied that the oral law was a revelation of God to the Israelites, and who deemed the written law alone to be obligatory on the nation, as the divine authority. They denied the following doctrines:
1a) resurrection of the body
1b) immortality of the soul
1c) existence of spirits and angels
1d) divine predestination, affirmed free will
I Am, Christ in me (us) is, God contradicting, in Spirit and Truth, the works of the Pharisees and the denials of the Sadducees.
Friends, you who do know the season, these messages are the Father speaking to us: leading us out of this dark time of ignorance into His marvelous (eye-opening) light. Read them as such, as “the signs of the time,” the call to repentance from dead works (exodos) and into His promised perfection (eisodos).
Matthew 16
1 The Pharisees [those who’ve divided God’s people into many, scattered and conquered, sects] also with the Sadducees [the self-righteous, who reject the righteousness of God] came, and tempting desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven [Isaiah 8:18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion].
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, you say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowering. O you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky; but can you not discern the signs of the times?
4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah [as the son of man, with the children the LORD in Him gives him, condemn this evil generation: calling it to repentance from dead works]. And he left them, and departed.
5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O you of little faith, why reason you among yourselves, because you have brought no bread?
9 Do you not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves [this word of God rightly divided] of the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
11 How is it that you do not understand that I spoke it not to you concerning bread, that you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that you are John the Baptist: some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say you that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona [son of Jonah – who has come out of the belly of hell, realizing it’s Jehovah’s Salvation, the Father revealed revealing the son]: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock [the confession of the Father revealed in the son, from who His word flows] I will build my church; and the gates [holding God’s people in the belly] of hell [as it held Jonah] shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
21 From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again [from the belly of hell] the third day.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from you, LORD: this shall not be unto you.
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get you behind me, Satan [resisting the cleansing that comes through the sacrifice necessary to bring the word against the resistance]: you are an offense unto me: for you savor not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
28 Truly I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Isaiah 8
8 And he [the communists now among us in seats of power] shall pass through Judah [the leaders of God’s people]; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck [shall corrupt the whole body]; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.
9 Associate yourselves, O you people, and you shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all you of far countries: gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces.
10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
11 For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way [of the destruction] of this people, saying,
12 Say you not, A confederacy [of the ignorant and corrupt], to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear you their fear, nor be afraid [of their lies and HOAXs].
13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
16 Bind up the testimony [this word of God], seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hides his face [presence] from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.
19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits [of the known dead, whose ways we know bring destruction and death], and unto wizards [manipulators] that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? [Should they be looking] for the living to the dead?
20 [Shouldn’t they be looking] To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light [understanding] in them.
21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead [hardened against God’s work] and hungry [without this word of God]: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king [I Am] and their God, and look upward.
22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness [tribulation in ignorance], dimness of anguish [unable to see and in misery]; and they shall be driven to darkness [to suffer from the forced mass delusion of their oppressors: the COVID HOAX and those using it to impose communist type tyranny].
Jonah 2
1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly [the underlying agitation disturbing humanity, the all-consuming mouths of misleaders],
2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and you heard my voice.
3 For you had cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods [from the mouth of the wicked misleaders] compassed me about: all your billows and your waves passed over me [the tribulation, waves of evil, that comes when the wicked rise to power].
4 Then I said, I am cast out of your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.
5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me forever: yet have you brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.
7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto you, into your holy temple.
8 They that observe lying vanities [the worthless advice of misleaders who are intentionally destroying us] forsake their own mercy.
9 But I will sacrifice unto you with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that [the price to speak the word God has given us] that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
10 And the LORD spoke unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
Jonah 3
1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,
2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid you.
Jeremiah 51
29 And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon [the confusion that rules over the world], to make the land of Babylon [confusion] a desolation without an inhabitant.
30 The mighty men of Babylon have forborne to fight, they have remained in their holds: their might has failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwelling-places; her bars are broken.
31 One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end [as was Nineveh, when Jonah began to pass through, as will this nation be as my people begin to condemn it as Jonah condemned Nineveh],
32 And that the passages [their ways] are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.
33 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come.
34 Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon [the lies of the false prophets in church and state, the confusion ruling the world, causing the desolation of God’s people] has devoured me, he has crushed me, he has made me an empty vessel, he has swallowed me up [as the whale swallowed Jonah] like a dragon, he has filled his belly with my delicates, he has cast me out.
35 The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea [those who use their misleading words, as spells, to manipulate and control all who listen and follow them into destruction], shall Jerusalem say.
36 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will [by My Spirit, with truth] plead your cause, and take vengeance for you; and I will dry up her sea [by cutting off the misleading words flowing to her], and make her springs dry.
37 And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling-place for dragons [those who mouths, as the whale’s, devour men and nations], an astonishment [ignorant and confused], and a hissing [and will draw attention to her destructive ways], without an inhabitant.
38 They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions’ whelps.
39 In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep [and not understanding when I do this], and not wake, saith the LORD.
40 I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.
41 How is Sheshach taken [this name only appears here and in Jeremiah 25:26, where the “how” is spoken of – see below]! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!
42 The sea [the people awakened by Jonah calls to repentance] is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof.
43 Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither does any son of man pass thereby.
44 And I will punish Bel in Babylon [the idols of confusion, the lies in which the misleader trust], and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he has [as a whale] swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall [lie upon lie, which they believe protects them] of Babylon shall fall.
45 My people, go you out of the midst of her [awaken out of the land of ignornnace], and deliver you every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD.
46 And lest your heart faint, and you fear for the rumor [shmuw’ah – the report that LORD has risen with and in us] that shall be heard in the land; a rumor [shmuw’ah – the report that the LORD has revealed His arm, His working in His sound doctrine to those who’ve received Him] shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumor [shmuw’ah – that Satan is cast down, and knowing His time is short, has cast out of His mouth a flood to swallow God’s people], and violence in the land, ruler against ruler [the LORD’s king against all the kings of darkness].
47 Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images [the everchanging lies] of Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded [they will not reach the end they seek], and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.
48 Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north [from the place where the LORD has hidden them, awaked out of the land of ignorance], saith the LORD.
49 As Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth.
50 You that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.
51 We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame has covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD’s house.
52 Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will do judgment upon her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall groan.
53 Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the LORD.
54 A sound of a cry comes from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans:
55 Because the LORD has spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice [deceiving and destroying the earth]; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:
56 Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, every one of their bows is broken: for the LORD God of recompenses shall surely requite.
Jeremiah 26
26 And all the kings of the north [kings of darkness], far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach [shayith sek – kings of thorns and briers – see Isaiah 5:6 & Numbers 33:55] shall drink after them.
27 Therefore you shall say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink you, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.
28 And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at your hand to drink, then shall you say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; You shall certainly drink.
29 For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should you be utterly unpunished? You shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.
30 Therefore prophesy you against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.
31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD has a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.
32 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind [from where the LORD speaks] shall be raised up from the coasts [ends – end of the old and the new beginning] of the earth.
33 And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.
34 Howl, you shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, you principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and you shall fall like a pleasant vessel.
35 And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.
36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and a howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD has spoiled their pasture.
37 And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
38 He has forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.
The Greek word the LORD uses, in Matthew 16:6, 11, & 12, telling us to “beware” of the corruption in what the religious tell us about God (who He is, His ways, and where to find Him), is prosecho, “from 4314 [pros- forward to] and 2192 [echo – to possess or hold on to]; (figuratively) to hold the mind (3563 [nous – intellect] implied) towards, i.e. pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to.”
It (prosecho) is telling us to hold into the future what we know now. The word refers us to what Paul writes to the Thessalonians, in 2 Thessalonians 2:6 & 7, as he uses the word katecho, when speaking of the mystery of iniquity already at work and when it’s (now) revealed.
As we’ve seen, he is speaking of those he calls (in 2 Thessalonians 3:2) “unreasonable and wicked men” who weren’t allowing a free course to the word of God. As we also know (1 Thessalonians 2:3), this is the word of God, which when received, effectually works in those receiving it as the word of God, as it is. After saying this, Paul again describes those hindering its course, as Satan, the wicked one, whose works, the destruction of truth by lying signs and wonders, (2 Thessalonians 2:9), the LORD comes after.
Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 2:19, askes those who’ve received his words as the word of God, not man’s, “Are not even you in the presence of our LORD Jesus Christ at His coming [parousia – presence].”
Speaking of this coming, Paul later says (2 Thessalonians 1:7) it’s when He’s revealsed from heaven with His mighty angels. He then says, in verses 9 & 10, He comes in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who don’t know Him, and when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, who believe in that day.
The truth is what He comes with, against the deceptions of the wicked, lies now turned into mass delusion, the wickedness that was already at work, (letting and withholding – katecho) until it’s taken out of the WAY [mesos – their midst].
1 Thessalonians 2
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe.
14 For you, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for you also have suffered like things [troubles] of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
15 Who both killed the LORD Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles [speak this word of God to those who know Him not – see 2 Thessalonians 1:8 below] that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our LORD Jesus Christ at his coming?
20 For you are our glory and joy
2 Thessalonians 1
4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure:
5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer [of your own countrymen]:
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the LORD Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our LORD Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the LORD, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our [Paul’s, and now Timothy’s] testimony among you was believed [to be the word of God, as it is]) in that day.
11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
12 That the name of our LORD Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the LORD Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming [parousia – presence] of our LORD Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together [into ONE BODY] unto him,
2 That you be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away [an apostasy – a standing away from the truth – see atopos in 2 Thessalonians 3:2 below] first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition [in the pattern of Rueben, who when up into his father place, and will not remain];
4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits [preaching and teaching] in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5 Remember you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now you know what withholds [katecho – holds down] that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now lets [katecho – holds down] will let, until he be taken out of the way [mesos – out of your midst].
8 And then shall that Wicked [see 2 Thessalonians 3:2 below] be revealed, whom the LORD shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness [giving understanding] of his coming [parousia – presence]:
9 Even him [the LORD in me], whose coming [parousia – presence] is after the working [after the deception has misled all into apostasy] of Satan [those sitting in God’s place resisting Him at His coming] with all power and signs and lying wonders [misleading all],
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion [the HOAX that now rules the world], that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the LORD, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our LORD Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast [don’t fall away], and hold [into the future] the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16 Now our LORD Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which has loved us, and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.
2 Thessalonians 3
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the LORD may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you [received as the word of God, as it is]:
2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable [atopos – “out of place” – fallen away] and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
3 But the LORD is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.
4 And we have confidence in the LORD touching you, that you both do and will do the things which we command you.
Matthew 7
13 Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns [misleaders], or figs of thistles [misleaders]?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, LORD, LORD, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many [false prophets, false teachers, and apostates] will say to me in that day, LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Hebrews 1
8 But unto the Son he saith, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
10 And, You, LORD, in the beginning have laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of your hands:
11 They shall perish; but you remain; and they all shall wax old as does a garment;
12 And as a vesture shall you fold them up, and they shall be changed: but you are the same, and your years shall not fail.
13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool?
14 Are they [the angels] not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Hebrews 2
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the LORD, and was confirmed unto us by them [the angels] that heard him;
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
Hebrews 6
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away [if they go again into apostasy], to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that comes oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receives blessing from God:
8 But that which bears [misleaders] thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Hebrews 12
22 But you are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels [sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation],
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.
25 See that you refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 13
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.
6 So that we may boldly say, The LORD is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
9 Be not carried about [into apostasy] with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Psalms 104
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with honor and majesty.
2 Who covers yourself with light [understanding] as with a garment: who stretches out the heavens like a curtain:
3 Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters: who makes the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
4 Who makes his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever.
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
7 At your rebuke they fled; at the voice of your thunder they hasted away.
8 They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which you have founded for them.
9 You have set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
10 He sends the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
11 They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
12 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
13 He waters the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your works.
14 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
15 And wine that makes glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengthens man’s heart.
16 The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted;
17 Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knows his going down.
20 You make darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
22 The sun arises, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
23 Man goes forth unto his work and to his labor until the evening.
24 O LORD, how manifold are your works! in wisdom have you made them all: the earth is full of your riches.
25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom you have made to play therein.
27 These wait all upon you; that you mayest give them their meat in due season.
28 That you give them they gather: you open your hand, they are filled with good.
29 You hide your face [presence], they are troubled: you take away their breath, they die, and return to their dust [‘aphar].
30 You send forth your spirit, they are created: and you renew the face of [You renew Your presence on] the earth.
31 The glory of the LORD shall endure forever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
32 He looks on the earth, and it trembles: he touches the hills, and they smoke.
33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless you the LORD, O my soul. Praise you the LORD.
