LUKE 14:5 SHEEP, DONKEY OR SON?

 BIBLE TRANSLATIONS

GRAND CANYON  BRIGHT ANGEL TRAIL

Sometimes we find variant readings in Bible manuscripts.   Even though there's no major doctrine changed by these different readings; we would like to know what Jesus said.  

Like finding similar pieces of a puzzle, there is only one piece that really fits and completes the picture.  Sometimes Bible translators must look at the context of the passage, and choose the one that best fits the conversation.

There are three different variants of Luke 14:5:

    1. Ox or an donkey (ass).

    2. Ox or a son.

    3. Ox or a sheep.

"And He answered them, saying, “Which of you shall have an ox or an ass fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the Sabbath day?"                21st Century King James Version

 Then He said to them, “Which one of you, having a son or an ox that falls into a well, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?”  Amplified Version (AMP)

To make things more complicated other translations read:

Jesus said to them, `If your horse or cow falls into a hole, which one of you will not pull him out right away on the Sabbath day?'  Worldwide English (WE)

Then he said to them, “If an ass or a cow belonging to one of you fell into a well, wouldn’t you rescue him without the slightest hesitation even though it were the Sabbath?”  Phillips New Testament (JBPT)

Most translators eliminate #3 "sheep" because it is in Codex Bezae, and not in the majority of manuscripts.

To solve the MYSTERY, we may have to look at the entire passage.  Examine both readings.  Which one would Jesus say to the chief Pharisees and have the greatest impact.

"And it came to pass, on his going into the house of a certain one of the chiefs of the Pharisees, on a sabbath, to eat bread, that they were watching him,and lo, there was a certain dropsical man before him; and Jesus answering spake to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, `Is it lawful on the sabbath-day to heal?' and they were silent, and having taken hold of [him], he healed him, and let [him] go; and answering them he said, `Of which of you shall an ass or ox fall into a pit, and he will not immediately draw it up on the sabbath-day?'and they were not able to answer him again unto these things."  

Luke 14:1-6  Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

One Sabbath, when He went to eat at the house of one of the leading Pharisees, they were watching Him closely.  There in front of Him was a man whose body was swollen with fluid.  In response, Jesus asked the law experts and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”  But they kept silent. He took the man, healed him, and sent him away.  And to them, He said, “Which of you whose son or ox falls into a well, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” To this they could find no answer."   

Luke 14:1-6  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

No one arguing about the ox.  It would be a disaster if an ox fell into a well and if it would perish it would contaminate the drinking water.

Donkeys and mules are smart animals, they don't fall off the Grand Canyon everyday?  Why would they fall down a well?

If your son fell into a well, would you wait another day to rescue him?

Conclusion, if your translation reads, "ass and an ox," write a footnote in the margins for "son and an ox."   And keep the translation that you enjoy reading and studying.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THESE OLD ENGLISH WORDS?

 BIBLE TRANSLATIONS

It's important that you can communicate and explain God's Word to a lost world.

English language is constantly changing, there are new words in our dictionaries, and some words that are not commonly used any more.

Below are some old English words from the King James Version of the Bible.  

Imagine that you are talking to a person who had never read the Bible.  Can you define some of the following words? 

    APPERTAINETH ~ Leviticus 6:5

    BEWRAYETH ~ Matthew 26:73

    COUCHETH ~ Deuteronomy 33:13

    DEFERRETH ~ Proverbs 19:11

    ENFLAMING ~ Isaiah 57:5

    FORSWEAR ~ Matthew 5:33

    GAPED ~ Job 16:10

    HINDERMOST ~ Genesis 33:2

    INTREATIES ~ Proverbs 18:23

    JEOPARDED ~ Judges 5:18

    KNOP ~ Exodus 25:33

    LUNATICK ~ Matthew 4:24

    MALIGNITY ~ Romans 1:29

    NESSINGS ~ Job 41:18

    OBEISANCE ~ Genesis 37:7

    PRANSINGS ~ Judges 5:22

    QUIVERED ~ Habakkuk 3:16

    RINGSTRAKED ~ Genesis 31:12

    SURMISINGS ~ Titus 6:4

    TWAIN ~ Ephesians 2:15

    UNTOWARD ~ Acts 2:40

    VERILY ~ John 3:3

    WAXING ~ Philippians 1:14

    YOUWARD ~ 2 Corinthians 1:12

    ZEALOUSLY ~ Galatians 4:18

A Bible Dictionary can help you understand words too.  Vine's Dictionary and Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary are great resources for your library.

Even the King James Bible translation has been updated over the centuries changing words to modern English.  The New King James Version is a more recent update of the KJV.

Keep your favorite Bible translation that you enjoy reading and studying. 

Check out the Bible Gateway online and compare other translations too.

IS THE LOVE OF MONEY THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL?

BIBLE TRANSLATIONS 

LOVE OF MONEY

"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."  1 Timothy 6: 10  KJV  King James Version

Let's examine the Greek Text

"For a root of all evils is the love of money; which some stretching after were seduced from the faith, and themselves pierced with sorrows many"  Interlinear Greek-English NT, George Ricker Berry, Baker Books.

Does all evil originate from this root of loving money?   Which one is correct: "a root" or "the root"

There is no article before "root" in the Greek to support "the root."  So if we choose "a root," that leaves us with the possibilities of many roots that can grow into evils (plural).

Pride, sexual immorality, rebellion, blasphemy, and unbelief also are roots of evil.

Some Modern Translations have corrected this issue.

 "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evils, and some by aspiring to it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 
LSB  Legacy Standard Bible

EPHESIANS 5:9 FRUIT of the SPIRIT or LIGHT?

 TEXTUAL VARIANTS OF THE BIBLE

There are thousands of New Testament manuscripts, and sometimes we find VARIANTS in a word, sentence, or thought.  Bible translators examine each variant individually; just like a detective.

Here are the two differences  

(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),  

New King James Version

(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),  

New American Standard 95

It is hard to choose one over another, just by reading a sentence.  Let's look at the entire passage, to see which one fits the context of what Paul was writing.

Ephesians 5:6-14  Context

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.

For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth proving what is pleasing to the Lord.  And do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; instead, expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.  But all things are exposed when they are revealed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."  Modern English Version

-    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light  (for the fruit of that light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.  And do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even expose them. For it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.  But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”  Legacy Standard Bible

Early Manuscripts 

"Fruit of the Spirit"   Chester Beatty P46, from Egypt

"Fruit of the Light"  Codex Sinaiticus,  Codex Alexandrius, Codex Vaticanus,  Codex Bezae.

Conclusion

When you are studying the BIBLE it is good to compare translations.  When you find VARIANTS, stop and examine the passage like a detective.  It would be good to write footnotes in your Bible of the differences in your Bible, for future reference.

Did you notice that some Bible translators put the sentences in (brackets)?  We'll discuss this in a later blog.

ABE LINCOLN THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

President Abraham Lincoln’s

Proclamation of ThanksgivingIssued on October 3, 1863

The year that is drawing towards its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to invite and provoke the aggressions of foreign States, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

The needful diversions of wealth and strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship. The axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battlefield; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people; I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer to our beneficent Father, who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to him that, for such singular deliverances and blessings; they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.

Abraham Lincoln

By the President: William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

 

BIBLE and the DEMONIC

"Then some people brought to Jesus a man who was blind and could not talk, because he had a demon. Jesus healed the man so that he could talk and see. 

All the people were amazed and said, “Perhaps this man is the Son of David!”

When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Jesus uses the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, to force demons out of people.”

Jesus knew what the Pharisees were thinking, so he said to them, “Every kingdom that is divided against itself will be destroyed. And any city or family that is divided against itself will not continue. And if Satan forces out himself, then Satan is divided against himself, and his kingdom will not continue. You say that I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons. If that is true, then what power do your people use to force out demons? So they will be your judges. But if I use the power of God’s Spirit to force out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

“If anyone wants to enter a strong person’s house and steal his things, he must first tie up the strong person. Then he can steal the things from the house."       Matthew 12:22-29 NCV  (New Century Version)

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WE DIE?

 BIBLE QUESTIONS?

And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment,

Hebrews 9:27 NASB

EARTH IS A SPHERE

 "Have you not been paying attention?

    Have you not been listening?
Haven’t you heard these stories all your life?
    Don’t you understand the foundation of all things?
God sits high above the round ball of earth.
    The people look like mere ants.
He stretches out the skies like a canvas—
    yes, like a tent canvas to live under.
He ignores what all the princes say and do.
    The rulers of the earth count for nothing.
Princes and rulers don’t amount to much.
    Like seeds barely rooted, just sprouted,
They shrivel when God blows on them.
    Like flecks of chaff, they’re gone with the wind."

Isaiah 40:21-22  MSG (The Message Bible)

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RAINBOW SIGN

                    EVERY TIME YOU SEE A RAINBOW

"Then God said to Noah and his sons,  “I now make my promise to you and to your people who will live after you.  I make my promise to all the birds, and to all the cattle, and to all the animals that came out of the boat with you. I make my promise to every living thing on earth.  This is my promise to you: All life on the earth was destroyed by the flood. But that will never happen again. A flood will never again destroy all life on the earth.”

And God said, “I will give you something to prove that I made this promise to you. It will continue forever to show that I have made an agreement with you and every living thing on earth.  I am putting a rainbow in the clouds as proof of the agreement between me and the earth.  When I bring clouds over the earth, you will see the rainbow in the clouds.  When I see this rainbow, I will remember the agreement between me and you and every living thing on the earth. This agreement says that a flood will never again destroy all life on the earth.  When I look and see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the agreement that continues forever. I will remember the agreement between me and every living thing on the earth.”

So God said to Noah, “This rainbow is proof of the agreement that I made with all living things on earth.”  Genesis 9:8-17  ERV  (Easy to Read Version)

21st CENTURY S'MORES

 HOW TO COOK S'MORES

OLD WAY ROASTING MARSHMALLOWS,

ROTATING OVER HOT COALS, 

THEN BUILDING YOUR S'MORE.

YUMMY

NEW WAY TO COOK S'MORES

ONE GRAHAM CRACKER BROKEN IN TWO,

1/2 OF A CHOCOLATE BAR,

TWO MARSHMALLOWS ON A STICK,

THICK OR TWO LAYERS OF FOIL

SET THE MARSHMALLOW STICK ON THE BOTTOM HALF,
COVER THE TOP GRAHAM CRACKER,

AND WRAP THE FOIL AROUND THE S'MORE.

ROTATE OVER THE HOT COALS
TO KEEP IT FROM BURNING.

COOK ABOUT THE SAME TIME YOU WOULD 
ROAST A MARSHMALLOW.

PULL OUT THE MARSHMALLOW STICK

EAT THIS GOOEY MESS HOLDING THE FOIL.

ENJOY A WARM GRAHAM CRACKER,

MELTED CHOCOLATE,

AND STICKY MARSHMALLOW.

COVETING YOUR NEIGHBOR'S VINEYARD

 FAMOUS WHINERS OF THE BIBLE

"And then, to top it off, came this: Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel that bordered the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. One day Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard so I can use it as a kitchen garden; it’s right next to my house—so convenient. In exchange I’ll give you a far better vineyard, or if you’d prefer I’ll pay you money for it.”

SORRY, I'M NOT SELLING MY FAMILY PROPERTY

"But Naboth told Ahab, “Not on your life! So help me God, I’d never sell the family farm to you!” 

AHAD THE WHINER

Ahab went home in a black mood, sulking over Naboth the Jezreelite’s words, “I’ll never turn over my family inheritance to you.” He went to bed, stuffed his face in his pillow, and refused to eat.

"Jezebel his wife came to him. She said, “What’s going on? Why are you so out of sorts and refusing to eat?”

He told her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite. I said, ‘Give me your vineyard—I’ll pay you for it or, if you’d rather, I’ll give you another vineyard in exchange.’ And he said, ‘I’ll never give you my vineyard.’”

Jezebel said, “Is this any way for a king of Israel to act? Aren’t you the boss? On your feet! Eat! Cheer up! I’ll take care of this; I’ll get the vineyard of this Naboth the Jezreelite for you.”

FORGERY AND FALSE WITNESSES

She wrote letters over Ahab’s signature, stamped them with his official seal, and sent them to the elders in Naboth’s city and to the civic leaders. She wrote “Call for a fast day and put Naboth at the head table. Then seat a couple of stool pigeons across from him who, in front of everybody will say, ‘You! You blasphemed God and the king!’ Then they’ll throw him out and stone him to death.”

 And they did it. The men of the city—the elders and civic leaders—followed Jezebel’s instructions that she wrote in the letters sent to them. They called for a fast day and seated Naboth at the head table. Then they brought in two stool pigeons and seated them opposite Naboth. In front of everybody the two degenerates accused him, “He blasphemed God and the king!” The company threw him out in the street, stoned him mercilessly, and he died."

JEZEBEL TOLD AHAB THE VINEYARD IS YOURS

"When Jezebel got word that Naboth had been stoned to death, she told Ahab, “Go for it, Ahab—take the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for your own, the vineyard he refused to sell you. Naboth is no more; Naboth is dead.”

The minute Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he set out for the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite and claimed it for his own."

GOD SPEAKS TO ELIJAH

"Then God stepped in and spoke to Elijah the Tishbite, “On your feet; go down and confront Ahab of Samaria, king of Israel. You’ll find him in the vineyard of Naboth; he’s gone there to claim it as his own. Say this to him: ‘God’s word: What’s going on here? First murder, then theft?’ Then tell him, ‘God’s verdict: The very spot where the dogs lapped up Naboth’s blood, they’ll lap up your blood—that’s right, your blood.’”

1Kings 21:1-19 MSG  (The Message Bible)

FAST FOOD DELIVERY

 STRANGEST THINGS OF THE BIBLE

ELIJAH SPEAKS TO KING AHAB!

"Then Elijah, the prophet from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord God of Israel lives—the God whom I worship and serve—there won’t be any dew or rain for several years until I say the word!”

THE LORD TELLS ELIJAH TO HIDE.

"Then the Lord said to Elijah,  “Go to the east and hide by Cherith Brook at a place east of where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to feed you.”

THE LORD ORDERED BREAKFAST AND DINNER FOR ELIJAH.  MEAT SANDWICHES.

So he did as the Lord had told him to and camped beside the brook. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.  But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.   

(1 KINGS 17:1-7  TLB  The Living Bible)

BETTER TO OBEY GOD THAN MAN

 STRANGEST THINGS OF THE BIBLE

A MAN OF GOD ARRIVES IN BETHEL 

"At the Lord’s command, a man of God from Judah went to Bethel, arriving there just as Jeroboam was approaching the altar to burn incense. Then at the Lord’s command, he shouted, “O altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: A child named Josiah will be born into the dynasty of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests from the pagan shrines who come here to burn incense, and human bones will be burned on you.” 

SIGN FROM THE LORD

That same day the man of God gave a sign to prove his message. He said, “The Lord has promised to give this sign: This altar will split apart, and its ashes will be poured out on the ground.”

KING ORDERED TO SEIZE THAT MAN

"When King Jeroboam heard the man of God speaking against the altar at Bethel, he pointed at him and shouted, “Seize that man!” But instantly the king’s hand became paralyzed in that position, and he couldn’t pull it back.  At the same time a wide crack appeared in the altar, and the ashes poured out, just as the man of God had predicted in his message from the Lord."

KING BEGGED TO RESTORE HIS HAND 

"The king cried out to the man of God, “Please ask the Lord your God to restore my hand again!” So the man of God prayed to the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored and he could move it again. Then the king said to the man of God, “Come to the palace with me and have something to eat, and I will give you a gift.” But the man of God said to the king, “Even if you gave me half of everything you own, I would not go with you. I would not eat or drink anything in this place."

THE LORD GAVE THE MAN OF GOD A COMMAND  

"For the Lord gave me this command: ‘You must not eat or drink anything while you are there, and do not return to Judah by the same way you came.’”  So he left Bethel and went home another way."

OLD PROPHET IN BETHEL 

As it happened, there was an old prophet living in Bethel, and his sons came home and told him what the man of God had done in Bethel that day. They also told their father what the man had said to the king. The old prophet asked them, “Which way did he go?” So they showed their father which road the man of God had taken.  “Quick, saddle the donkey,” the old man said. So they saddled the donkey for him, and he mounted it. Then he rode after the man of God and found him sitting under a great tree. The old prophet asked him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” “Yes, I am,” he replied. Then he said to the man of God, “Come home with me and eat some food.”  “No, I cannot,” he replied. “I am not allowed to eat or drink anything here in this place.  For the Lord gave me this command: ‘You must not eat or drink anything while you are there, and do not return to Judah by the same way you came.’”  

1 KINGS 13:1-16  NLT  New Living Translation

WHO DO YOU LISTEN TOO?

"The Lord warned me not to eat or drink or to go home the same way I came.” The old prophet said, “I'm a prophet too. One of the Lord's angels told me to take you to my house and give you something to eat and drink.”

DON'T LISTEN TO LIARS 

"The prophet from Judah did not know that the old prophet was lying, so he went home with him and ate and drank. During the meal the Lord gave the old prophet a message for the prophet from Judah: Listen to the Lord's message. You have disobeyed the Lord your God.  He told you not to eat or drink anything here, but you came home and ate with me. And so, when you die, your body won't be buried in your family tomb."

OOPS!

After the meal the old prophet got a donkey ready,  and the prophet from Judah left. Along the way, a lion attacked and killed him, and the donkey and the lion stood there beside his dead body. Some people walked by and saw the body with the lion standing there. They ran into Bethel, telling everyone what they had seen. When the old prophet heard the news, he said, “That must be the prophet from Judah. The Lord warned him, but he disobeyed. So the Lord sent a lion to kill him.”

RECOVERY

"The old prophet told his sons to saddle his donkey, and when it was ready,  he left. He found the body lying on the road, with the donkey and lion standing there. The lion had not eaten the body or attacked the donkey.  The old prophet picked up the body, put it on his own donkey, and took it back to Bethel, so he could bury it and mourn for the prophet from Judah.  He buried the body in his own family tomb and cried for the prophet. He said to his sons, “When I die, bury my body next to this prophet. I'm sure that everything he said about the altar in Bethel and the shrines in Samaria will happen.”

CONCLUSION, IT IS BETTER TO OBEY GOD THAN MAN

"But Jeroboam kept on doing evil things. He appointed men to be priests at the local shrines, even if they were not Levites. In fact, anyone who wanted to be a priest could be one.  This sinful thing led to the downfall of his kingdom."  

1 KINGS 13:17-33  CEV  Contemporary English Version