Bible Discourse 40 Jesus’ Counsel to Ministers of God’s Word Part l

Discourse 40

Jesus’ Counsel to Ministers of God’s Word  Part l

And when he had called unto his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; the first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of  Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  And as ye go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

“Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

“And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.  And when ye come into an house, salute it.  And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust  of your feet.  Verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for the city.”

                                                                         Matthew 10:1—15

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.  Therefore said he unto them, “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,  that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

“Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.  Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

“And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, ‘Peace be this house.’  And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to again.

“And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire.  Go not from house to house.  And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are there in, and say unto them, ‘The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.’

“But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, ‘Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: not withstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.’  But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.”

                                                                 Luke 10:1--12

And when he had called unto his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.                                                     Matthew 10:1

Prarthana, Japa and Dhyana…, Integral part of Spiritual Sadhana.., regardless of any faith on the planet, since the evolution of human consciousness..!

Prarthana is the intention, Japa is the affirmation and Dhyana is a consolidation, to raise human consciousness from ignorance of "INDHIRIYAS", which make us prisoners.

Spirituality.. is the "Royal Way" to experience true peace, freedom and JOY, and it is our birth RIGHT..! which can only be achieved by our own dedicated effort..!

And when he had called unto his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.                                                                                  Matthew 10:1

Jesus had transferred his spiritual power to his twelve disciples as a great master does. and then

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; the first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of  Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.                                        Matthew 10:2—4

Jesus gave his spiritual power to Judas equally along with other twelve. The advanced disciple St. John was liberated during the life time of Jesus.  According to great saints of India, Judas who made treachery against his Guru Jesus,  and also blasphemed against Holy Ghost and God the Father  i.e., Cosmic Consciousness, was liberated in 20^th century.  

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  And as ye go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.                                   Matthew 10:5—8

Jesus endowed his twelve apostle disciples with divine power. Jesus commanded them to go and heal the receptive devotees to heal. Before sending out his apostles, Jesus said: “Do not follow after the Gentiles, heathens or pagans, spiritually indifferent people.  Do not enter into rigid minded Samaritans. Reach the true innocent people of Israel. Cleanse the lepers and those who are unclean with sinful habits. Bring back to life, the physically dead, in accordance with their karma, whom Heavenly Father tell you. Cast out Satan and his satellites from obsessed souls.”

Jesus and his disciples preached what they knew from God-contact. They did not have formal education.

“We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen.”      John 3:11

They are different from who comes from theological training, both in the Orient and Occident, to preach to others with the purpose of converting and holding followers with dogma.  A truly holy person teaches one’s whole being with a “peace which passeth all understanding”. Philippians  4:7

A true minister teaches actual contact of God to his congregation.  Churches should emphasize inner development more than oratory and social activities. Realization of God is the true and only purpose of Churches and temples. They should not become places of mechanical chanting and ritualism.

It would be more peaceful and harmonious, if various religions ceased condemnation of paths different from their own.

Sankhya (Gnaana), Yoga (Divine union with God), and Vedanta (the end of the sabda) are three comprehensive philosophies of Sanatana Dharma.  

Sankhya: Destroy threefold suffering, causal (soul), astral (mind), and physical (body), stock, barrel, and gun, which is root cause of suffering.

Yoga: it is the science of the step by step union with God.  Bhagvat Gita says Yoga is the sure and supreme way.

Vedanta: Doctrine of the Ultimate. The Goal of God realization is Unity in diversity, and Diversity in Unity.

External forms of congregational worship are of limited value for God-communion. The purpose of Church is to give God-contact. Services should not consist with various rituals of body and mind, like chanting and choirs, standing and kneeling down, intoned prayers , scriptural recital, and other external practices. God is found in silence.

“It is written, ‘My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”                                                               Matthew 21:13

The holy places should not be changed to a den where thieves of restless thoughts and dogmatic bigotry disguised in holy robes hold supreme away. Churches should become temples where both leaders and members in unison can commune with God and with Christ Consciousness. Then the Christianity is different from churchianity. Establish Christ first, then he will reign church.  I want to pray with soul, then the thousands follow me. Ask yourself, “Am I a true Christian?.”

Krishna and Christ belong to all, irrespective of religion.

Truth cannot be received just by listening to dogmatic, moral, and scriptural sermons.  One ton of theory is not even equal to one ounce of practice. Practice true religion.  

“Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

“And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.  And when ye come into an house, salute it.  And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it not worthy, let your peace return to you.                                            Matthew 10:9—13

Parallel reference:

And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: but be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.  And he said unto them, “In what place so ever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.”                       Mark 6:8—10

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.  Therefore said he unto them, “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”

“Go your ways: behold, I send you forth a lamb among wolves.  Carry neither purse , nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

“And whatsoever house ye enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’  And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.

“And in the house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire.  Go not from house to house.  And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:  And heal the sick that are there in, and say unto them, ‘The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you’”                                                                     Luke 10:1—9

Jesus was saddened that people were interested to join the services in the synagogue, but very few spiritual laborers were deserved to be granted  rich harvest of spiritual abundance in God’s Kingdom. Jesus sent out his disciples not as salaried preachers but as selfless renunciants. 

He advocated his disciples before departing them: “Be true divine laborers and after God-contact go across the world and share your experiences. Do not stick to one place for long. Do not depend on material things. Do not take money for your service. Do not extra clothing. Do not salute and indulge in useless talks. Whatsoever to city or town you enter, find out who are spiritual and worthy to receive your message.

There is a spiritual saying in India:  Ritabhuk, Mitabhuk, Hitabhuk.  i.e., Earn and eat, Eat limited, and eat in a harmonious vibration of a household. Stay in such house accepting their hospitality as ministerial wage until you have finished your counsel in that area.

Wherever they receive you, eat and drink whatever is given you. Heal the sick, and tell them God’s kingdom of heavenly bliss lies hidden very near you, just behind their waking consciousness.  Teach them meditation by which they can enter into Cosmic Consciousness. 

Jesus tells his disciples the way his disciples should live in the world. 

A follower may renounce outer world. He does not marry, discards personal possessions and human relations. He seeks secluded places like ashram. He may pursue his sadhana for attaining God-realization. The order of Swamis belongs to the path of renunciation, akin to monastic orders in the west.

The path of Yoga can be followed by devotees in all walks of life.  A house holder, a celibate, a monastic, or anyone can follow Yoga, union of God. It can be followed in the house, or secluded place. No gender difference for yoga. The advanced yogi being intoxicated with God, having renounced all desires, and attachments. He will be in this world but off the world.  The Yogi says, ‘Have God-contact first through meditation, and then through attachment to God.  Then the attachment will drop away.’  The physical austerities of renunciation alone without Yoga of God-union is unnecessarily arduous. So even the devout renunciant ought to be a yogi as well.

The path of outer renunciation can be followed by few, but yoga can be followed by all.

Jesus was a yogi. He was constantly engaged in divine union. He was a man of renunciation also.

Dress code, is pertinent to the region, has to be modified. You make your heart a hermitage. Your dress is the love of the Lord.

Jesus instructed his disciples to avoid commercialism in religion.  Jesus instructed his disciples that you deserve to receive your bodily maintenance from those you help. You may use business methods in religion, but please do not use religion for business. It is blasphemy.

The aim of false prophets is to gratify their ego with adoration of large following and reap financial gains. Jesus made it unequivocally clear to his disciples, times change, as well as external modes of expression, but the ideals are invariable.

Concentration was to be on those who were “worthy,” receptive, regardless of their station—high or low, and rich or poor. The commercial religious teacher uses his students to further his own ends where as the true spiritual teacher brings his students nearer to God.                

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust  of your feet.  Verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for the city.”         

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.  Verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for the city.”                                                                     Matthew 10:14--15

Parallel reference:

“But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, ‘Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: not withstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.’  But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.”                      Luke 10:10—12

Jesus said: And whosoever will not appreciate your exemplary lives, nor receive your message of divine liberation, nor listen to your words of wisdom, depart you, without anger or arrogance, from that house or city and shake off the dust of their disbelief and disdain; let not their evil vibrations cling to you.  Verily I say unto you that the law of karma will record and punish that city or that refused your soul-liberating message.