The Eye Of A Needle

Aerides Sunset, Greece-trekearth

Corfu, Greece-Google Images

Kremaston Lake, Greece-trekearth

Matthew 19:16-26

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Rich Young Ruler

16 And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he *said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man *said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be [a]complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. 23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew scholar Ellison explains that the popular interpretation that there was a door within a city gate is baseless. Ellison. (1986: 1141). A rabbinic equivalent of that period was an elephant going through the eye of a needle. Ellison. (1986: 1141).  Salvation is only achieved by trusting in God, and by trusting in wealth, talent and human abilities it actually cancels out the trust in God. Ellison. (1986 (1141).  Basically by turning to God what would be impossible, as in salvation, would therefore be possible, even for the rich.  Ellison. Ellison (1986: 1141).

R. T. France calls this a ludicrous parallel in comparison to the Kingdom of Heaven because the camel, being the largest common animal in that culture ( I am supposing he does not think the elephant is as common for rabbis that used this from Africa and India) trying to squeeze through the smallest imaginable hole would be ridiculous. France (2001: 287). So, therefore the point is the impossibility of it all. France (2001: 287).

It would be impossible without the atoning work and grace of God.

Mark 10:17-27

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Rich Young Ruler

17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But at these words [a]he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property. 23 And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, “[b]Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” 

In Mark, as Short explains, Jesus notes that it is impossible for the rich man to have salvation, as it would be impossible for the camel, the largest animal in Palestine at the time to pass through the eye of a needle. Short (1986: 1170).  Jesus reminds the disciples that all things were possible for God in the context that salvation could come to the rich through God. Short (1986: 1170).

Luke 18:18-27

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Rich Young Ruler

18 A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 23 But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to [a]go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

From Luke, Laurence E. Porter writes that the needle's eye is not a 'postern gate', it is hyperbolic language used by Jesus Christ.  Porter (1986: 1218).

When I adolescent I had some experience in Amway with my family and much of the experience was good but one of the things I heard on a tape was the teaching from a preacher that the eye of the needle parable had more to do with a person being humbled before God, as in the existence of the door within the city gates than the impossibility of rich person being saved. But that is simply not the case. That is why the disciples asked astonished who could be saved because it took an act of God, not an act of humility by humanity for salvation to occur.

Interestingly very much in agreement with compatibilism...

Byzantine Majority Text

Through   (the) eye        of a needle

dia truphmatoV rafidoV  

ELLISON, H.L. (1986) ‘Matthew’, in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

FRANCE, R.T. (2001) Matthew, Grand Rapids, IVP, Eerdmans.

MARSHALL, ALFRED (1975)(1996) The Interlinear KJV-NIV Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

PORTER, LAURENCE.E. (1986) ‘Luke’, in F.F. Bruce (gen.ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/ Zondervan.

SHORT, STEPHEN S. (1986) ‘Mark’, in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

Greek New Testament

Google Images

From Funny

Google Images

Google Images

Higher resolution version

The Non-Conformist Of The Year 2012

Windows-The Mystery of life?

The Winners

Bobby Buff-10x winner
Chucky-3x winner
Documentary Man-2x winner
Jeff Jenkins-2x winner
Zombie-2x winner
Cousin Buff-1x winner
Manson-1x winner
PMH-1x winner
thekingpin68-1x winner
Super Secret Fan Club-1x winner

Yes, the 2012 winner is a first-time winner, and also our first technically non-human winner, but an entity, and conglomeration of human beings into one official and very loose knit group and international pageview maniacs.

First a rundown on the past Champions or Chumpions, depending on your mood, and perhaps how much sleep you have had this week.

Bobby Buff

Let us face it, if he was on Facebook, which he probably never will be as it would be too much of an imposition on his privacy, his 'Non-Conformist Of The Year' 'Statas' has taken a real beating. Speaking of beating, it is largely because of his ICU, I mean ICD, he has had to retire from bodybuilding. Of course the entire bodybuilding world mourned, the Maple Ridge flag was lowered to half-mast/staff. Bobby also received a letter of condolence from then Cali-fornia Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Lou Ferrigno sent a vial of sweat and a can of Crisco in memoriam.

Bobby's father actually considered changing his hairstyle for his son's retirement, but he figured since he had had the same one since 1955 at childhood, there was no point changing now.

Uncle Chucky

He continues to look after the family. Chucky is part of a Mennonite cult that takes 'Till death due us part' to actually be a lost part of the Biblical Scripture, probably from some silver plates in the hills of Mission or Abbotsford somewhere that disappeared and cannot be verified and will never be able to be verified. Anyway, by this unorthodox teaching once the Father dies according to strict teaching and internal verification, you need to stay with your Mother until she dies, before you even consider moving on...

Anyway, he does do good family missionary work, sometimes even in Mission.

Documentary Man

Back to England he goes along with Mrs. Documentary for work and life. Oh, I am sure nothing noteworthy can possibly happen...

By the way, my roles at their 2004 England wedding were best man, usher, master of ceremonies, doorman and a referee.

Jeff Jenkins

Blogger's loss is Facebook's gain. I still think as talented and skilled as Jeff obviously is at graphics and blogging that 'Jenkins' sounds like a limo driver...

'Jenkins!'

Zombie

Hello Zombie, thank you for staying up to read this blog post. I am deducing that one of the reasons that Mr. Zombie likes to see so many new films in the theatre with his kind girlfriend is because it is dark and if need be if can just...zzz.

Cousin Buff

'Cous Buff' and his wife a Princess from the Philippines visited the homeland and brought back some interesting historical photos. This is conclusive proof that I was wrong in the past and that he is not 9?% like Bobby Buff because Bobby will probably never set foot in Asia. Not because he would not find it interesting but because it would be too difficult to haul all that Crisco over to the Philippines and who knows if there would be a suitable replacement locally available.

Muscles first. A real life second.

Manson

I do not see him much, but when I do it is almost always after church in Vancouver walking the street by himself like Bill Bixby walking alone on the side of the road after having turned into the Incredible Hulk the night before.

The clothes would be in similar condition.

PMH

I wish he would comment on here and his statements were classic even though some words were bleeped out for our sensitive sometimes 'fundi' audience.

He should consider having his own blog, and then hopefully selfishly I would at least get a blog link out of it...

thekingpin68-Dr. RNM

No interviews with 400+ CVs sent out. Mom and I over the years have both spent too many dollars on internet ventures that have not worked out. No more. So, I will work with Seacret Direct and big brother and family. I have largely overcome the results of sleep apnea through metabolism pills.

So, obviously, I was not up for the reward...

Not much strange goes on. Nothing as Sgt. Schultz stated.

The winner:

Super Secret Fan Club

On I deduce five different occasions over the last three years, four times on this blog, once on my Dr. Russell Norman Murray blog, a post has received over 1, 000 pageviews. By noting repeating ISP numbers and my years of experience with cumulative PhD research, I view this the work of my Super Secret Fan Club. I gather my articles were in ways forwarded/and posted.

Then there are daily pageviews...

I am of course one that appreciates.

A fair amount of the pageviews are from the State of Texas, and I reason that persons involved are perhaps attempting to spare me from forces 'with a shotgunnn' type of scenario.

Of course nothing makes up for personal contacts in life, if that is the intent, but I will take the pageviews.

Well, I do not have any choice, they show up or they do not...

Duffey Lake, BC-trekearth

Oh no!

A Look At Wealth

Fraser River-trekearth

From the Oxford Dictionary of the Bible, Browning reasons that in the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) wealth was measured in terms of such physical possessions as cattle, gold and silver and that those blessed by God with such were expected to share with the poor and he lists Deuteronomy 15:10 as the example verse. Browning (1997: 392).

Deuteronomy 15:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

10 You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all [a]your undertakings.

Browning's deduction here seemingly being that for the wealthy, giving to God would be giving to the poor and not just, for example, the religious institution representing the Biblical God of the day.

Browning states this continued to be expected of the wealthy in the New Testament as in 2 Corinthians 8 and notably there is the warning of the possible injustices that the rich can inflict upon the poor in James 5. Browning (1997: 392). 

James 5:1-6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

5 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! 4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of [a]Sabaoth. 5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have [b]fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and [c]put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.

Browning does make an important point based on Matthew 6, that too much emphasis on wealth takes a person away from what is important philosophically and theologically in life. Browning (1997: 392). The idea would be an over focus on temporal matters at the expense of spiritual matters and the Biblical God.

D.K. Adie writes that the term 'wealth' arises from the Anglo-Saxon 'weal' meaning a general state of well-being. Adie (1999: 1159). Wealth is an aspect of God's creation and is according to Adie not inherently evil and need not be refused as it can be a blessing from God. Adie (1999: 1163). The problem is that in a fallen world wealth is often used to commit many evils. Adie (1999: 1163). These are evils done by persons against each other, stronger against weaker, the wealthy against the poor, and also internal evils with the notable verse being used that the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil (I quote the more literal New American Standard Version here) in 1 Timothy 6: 10. Adie (1999: 1163). Persons in Christ are therefore not to be too temporal-minded in regard to material possessions but more concerned with everlasting treasures of the next realm. Adie (1999: 1163).

I am in no noted disagreement with either author. The Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and New Testament emphasizes that God can bless a person, including a follower/believer in the Biblical God with wealth, but everlasting spiritual considerations of the next realm, still to follow, are more important that storing present treasures on earth.

That being stated, having been a student for much of my adult life, there are large negatives with not having a full-time income, but part-time income, while working very hard and smart, for the most part on four academic degrees. Financial problems and debt really can be spiritual burdens and theologically it is certainly reasonable to pray and act in way to be free from financial burden, which in my mind, like excessive wealth, can at times also be a problem of evil. Excessive wealth, debt, financial struggles can be problems of evil, a key from a Biblical perspective is to submit these to God.

ADIE, D.K. (1996) ‘Wealth, Christian View of’, in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

BROWNING, W.R.F. (1997) Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

I have been pretty frugal in life financially but have made a few mistakes here and there, but some of these financial moves from others are questionable...

Gold Shirt-Business Insider

Indian 'Mr. T'-Business Insider

Sucka-Google Images

Alieux posted on Facebook and from the links we saw it appeared Indian Mr. T was single, but from this link on January 8 he appears married.

From Business Insider:

'Indian businessman Datta Phuge sure is bullish on gold. So bullish that he's put a third of what he's worth, $230,888, into his most recent "investment."'

'The shirt is made of 14,000 gold flowerings that have been interwoven with 100,000 spangles sewn into a base of white velvet and features six Swarvoski buttons...'

'"I know I am not the best looking man in the world," he is...," "but surely no woman could fail to be dazzled by this shirt?"'

'Sorry ladies, but he's married.

His wife, Seema Phuge, works for the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), and her employers not too thrilled about his new shirt.'

Solid Gold-8.2 Million Dollar Rolls Royce

'Hailed as the world’s most expensive Rolls Royce Phantom, this magnificent car features some 120 kg of 18K gold that has been strategically placed all across the car.'

Imagine the thoughts after an accident...

ExtraVaganzi.Com

Google Images

Quote:

'Saudi prince Waleed bin Talal get a gold made Mercedes worth $4800000 It seems unlikely that there is a car with more bling on it than this Mercedes SL, Spotted at an auto show overseas. From a distance, it almost appears that the car is coated in glitter, but it is actually covered in diamonds. I won't speculate on the value, but you can bet that this isn't a car just anyone will turn up in.'

Diamond Car

Philosophical & Theological Reflections On Satirical Images: VI

From email

As I noted on Facebook on a status update:

'Another reason I am glad I do not drink much. From party 1 in Vancouver to party 2 in Surrey I was stopped at two routine police stops (35 min drive). First one at freeway entrance, second one at freeway exit. When I arrived at party 2 and told my story one guest thinking of driving home started emptying his wine glass. The police seemed more aggressive this year. Happy 2013... '

I have always been a moderate drinker, never been drunk, and never used illegal drugs. Therefore New Year's Eve night I was confident I was stopped that I did not break moral, ethical or legal boundaries that could be particularly costly.

Of course as a sinner there are other struggles.  Humble in Christ.

Nelson's Three-In-One Bible Reference (1982), Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers.

The texts lists some Biblical evils of drunkenness, as in being intoxicated on page 198.

Debases: Genesis 9: 21-22
Provokes Anger: Proverbs 20: 1
Poverty: Proverbs 23: 21
Perverts Justice: Isaiah 5:22-23
Confuses the Mind: Isaiah 28: 7
Licentiousness: Romans 13: 13
Disorderliness: Matthew 24: 48-51
Hinders Watchfulness: 1 Thessalonians 5: 6-7

Wine is also noted to be used on page 784 by (I will list two positive examples):

Jesus Christ: John 2: 1-11
Timothy: 1 Timothy 5: 23

The John case was at a wedding/party.

Timothy was for health reasons and was instructed within the text to take a moderate amount.

Philosophically and theologically my view is that Biblically habitual overt drunkenness is sinful with listed negative consequences.

Occasional overt drunkenness would also be sinful and with potential costly negative listed consequences.

Based on lower blood alcohol levels determining levels of possible intoxication, it then becomes more difficult to determine if someone is 'sinfully' or wrongly drunk or intoxicated, and a person needs to take personal responsibility, especially when driving a motor vehicle and involved in anything similar.

However, the final judging of persons is of course left up to God (Revelation 20, 2 Corinthians 5).

I am simply dealing with listed Biblical actions and behaviours.

I do not subscribe to or recommend abstaining unless one understands that drunkenness is a personal problem.

What complicates the issue as far as police road side stops is the use of illegal drugs such as marijuana while driving. This too should be exercised/exorcised from Western society.

Let us face reality, there are just too many dumb potheads on the road...

Where is Mother's Against Potheads?

Texting is of course an issue of safety, and some persons cannot safely handle using a cell phone while driving. It is illegal to use the cell phone while driving here in British Columbia.

Sleeping disorders are also an issue. My sleep apnea is less of an issue than previously and will stay this way because of increased metabolism, but for an example if I am out late on a Saturday night, as I was last night viewing 'The Hobbit' with friends in Langley and then had a meal and had to drive back to Maple Ridge, I felt too tired to get up for 8 am the next morning for a 2-3 hour round trip Vancouver church journey, especially with Winter conditions. I simply do not take chances on the road. It is just part of being a responsible citizen and Christian.

Very demotivational

Best demotivational

The Punch.com 

Very Demotivational

Very Demotivational

Best Demotivational

Very Demotivational

Very Demotivational

Australia-The Punch.Com

Florida-Rates To Go.Com