Bible Discourse 65 Jesus teaches in the temple at Jerusalem for the last time Jesus extols the advancement of repentant sinners over that of the spiritually arrogant

Discourse 65

Jesus teaches in the temple at Jerusalem for the last time

Jesus extols the advancement of repentant sinners over that of the spiritually arrogant

And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority doest thou these things? and said, “By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee the authority?”

And Jesus answered and said unto them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.  The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or of men?’

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we shall say, “’From heaven’; he will say unto us, ‘Why did ye not then believe him?’ But if we shall say, ‘Of men’; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.” And they answered Jesus, and said, “We cannot tell.”

And he said unto them, “Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.  But what  think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, “Son, go work today in my vineyard.’  He answered and said, ‘I will not’: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise.  And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir’: and went not.

“Whether of them twain did the will of his father?”

They say unto him, “The first.”

Jesus saith unto them, “Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.  For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

“Hear another parable: There was a householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.  And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.  Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

“But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, “They will reverence my son.’ But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.’  And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.  When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?”

They say unto him, “He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.”

Jesus saith unto them, “Did ye never read in the scriptures, “The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes’? Therefore say I unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”

And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.  But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

                                                                   Matthew 21:23—46

And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, “The Kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.  Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, “Tell them which are bidden, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage,’” But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

“But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.  Then saith he to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.  Go ye  therefore into the highways, andas many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.’  So those servants went out to the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, ‘Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.  Then said the king to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.  And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.  Tell us therefore, what thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?”

But Jesus perceived their wickedness , and said, “Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money.”  And they brought unto him a penny.  And he saith unto them, “Whose is this image and superscription ?”

They say unto him, “Caesar’s.”

Then saith he unto them, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”  When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left him, and went their way.

                                                                       Matthew 22:1—22”

And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, “How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, “The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit thou on My right hand, till I make thine enemies thy foot stool.’” David therefore himself calleth him “Lord’; and whence is he then his son?” And the common people heard him gladly.

And he said unto them in his doctrine, “Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the market places, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widow’s houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.”

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, “Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”

                                                          Mark 12:35—44

And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority doest thou these things? and said, “By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee the authority?”

And Jesus answered and said unto them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.  The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or of men?’

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we shall say, “’From heaven’; he will say unto us, ‘Why did ye not then believe him?’ But if we shall say, ‘Of men’; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.” And they answered Jesus, and said, “We cannot tell.”

And he said unto them, “Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.  But what  think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, “Son, go work today in my vineyard.’  He answered and said, ‘I will not’: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise.  And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir’: and went not.

“Whether of them twain did the will of his father?”

They say unto him, “The first.”

Jesus saith unto them, “Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.  For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.                                                                        Matthew 21:23—32

Jesus’ adversaries in the temple seeking for an opportunity to apprehend him. They were jealous of his growing popularity because of his miraculous healings, his defiant actions like castigating the religious hierarchy, casting out the money changers and merchants in and around temple, and non-conformist teachings.  Jesus extols the advancement of repentant sinners over that of spiritually arrogant.  Jesus’ adversaries wanted to arrest him on blasphemy charges. For that they wanted Jesus to declare his oneness with Father.

“the people wanted to stone him for such an assertion.”             John 10:30—31

“he was condemned to die for it.”                                       Matthew 26:64—66

 “A master had two devotees, and he said to one of them: “Son, go into the vineyard of meditation and labor there for divine realization. With devotion and resolve he became faithful devotee.”

The second devotee in spite of persuasion, he could not keep up his promise. Jesus pointed out that even the publicans and harlots are superior to the temple authorities in realization. In spite of the change John brought in the sinners, still the Pharisees and temple authorities did not enter into the vineyard of meditation. As such you can judge why the publicans and harlots who tuned in with God-saturated John cannot enter to the kingdom of God. Jesus’ words are an assurance to repentant transgressors of divine law.

   

“Hear another parable: There was a householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.  And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.  Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

“But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, “They will reverence my son.’ But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.’  And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.  When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?”

They say unto him, “He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.”

Jesus saith unto them, “Did ye never read in the scriptures, “The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes’? Therefore say I unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”

And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.  But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.              Matthew 21:33—46

In a simple parable of metaphysical truths, Jesus related how the Cosmic Householder of creation made this earth as fertile vineyard wherein his human children were to labour as “husbandmen” to cultivate and enjoy the fruits of wisdom. 

At the beginning of each recurring manifestation of creation (Day of Brahma), having set in motion the cosmic laws governing universal structure, the Father-creator turns over the operation of those laws to the Holy Ghost (Cosmic vibratory nature) and withdraws transcenedent realm of Cosmic Consciousness beyond the vibratory universes,

Bhagavan Srikrishna says in Bhagavadgita:

Sahasrayugaparyanta maharyad brahmano Viduh

Raatriyuga Sahasraantaam Tehoraatra Vidojanaah               Gita 8—17

The sadhak who understands that the day of Brahma is of 1000 eons (Yugas) span, and night of Brahma is of 1000 eons span, he only understands the nature of Day and night. 

Avyaktaadvyaktayah sarvaah Prabhavatyaharaagame

Raatryaagame praleeyante tatraivaavyakta samgnake                  Gita 8—18

When the day of Brahma starts then the whole Creation is manifested from Him, and dissolve back in Him at the start of His night.

Bhootagraamassa evaayam bhoootwaa Bhootwaa Praleeyate

Raatryaagamevasah Paarth Prabhavatyaha raagame            Gita 8—19

He Parth, son of Pritha, the same beings of the past are born again and again in accordance to their Karma ––at the dawn of Brahma they are reborn, and at the dusk they are dissolved. 

At the time of deluge or dissolution, Pralayam, the beings will be in subtle state. At the time of creation they are born again.

Jesus said: Finally, the Lord of the vineyard, to make the cruel people to be born again and again in accordance with their karma till their karma is completed. He prophesied that Christ Consciousness would be the principle stone to construct the temple of heavenly life. “This is lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.

“He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others.’ And when they heard it, they said, ‘God forbid’”               Luke 20:16

Jesus said: Who so ever breaks the universal truths of his teachings shall destroy his spiritual life and postpone his liberation.

And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, “The Kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.  Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, “Tell them which are bidden, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage,’”  But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

“But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.  Then saith he to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.  Go ye  therefore into the highways, andas many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.’  So those servants went out to the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, ‘Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.  Then said the king to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”                            Matthew 22:1—14

How the kingdom of Heaven can be obtained is illustrated in the following way by Jesus.  Jesus described how to reap Karma by those who accept or reject God’s messengers.

The Heavenly Father (a certain king) sent one of His liberated devotees (the king’s son) to be born on the earth. When the proper time came his wedding with divine wisdom could be celebrated. It is an example for mankind.  The ideal truth-wedded life of a saint or prophet inspires truth seekers with the desire for their own union with wisdom.

The everyman of their universal being undergoes the resistance and limitations of Maya to at last demonstrate victory over delusion in their manifest Divine Union.

God make all the vibratory messengers to follow the prophet who is ready to begin his work.  When the Heavenly Father felt the wrong vibrations of rejection emanating from those He had sought to bless, He could not stay the armies of cosmic and karmic laws that govern all human actions.

Truth-seekers get the result according to their respective intensity of spiritual urge. Very few meritorious, earnest, sustained interest, and intense truth seekers enter into the Kingdom of Cosmic Consciousness.

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.  And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.  Tell us therefore, what thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?”

But Jesus perceived their wickedness , and said, “Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money.”  And they brought unto him a penny.  And he saith unto them, “Whose is this image and superscription ?”

They say unto him, “Caesar’s.”

Then saith he unto them, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”  When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left him, and went their way.   Matthew 22:1—22

Jesus told the Pharisees: Give earthly things like monetary tribute to king Caesar, but give credit To God who is real owner of material and mental, earthly and heavenly. Jesus counsels all devotees to be obedient to abide by laws.

“And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute mony came to Peter, and said, ‘Doth not master pay tribute?’….

“Jesus saith unto (Peter)….’Lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea and cast on hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of mony: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.’”                                  Discourse 47

True religion harmonizes man’s dharma , righteous duty—material,   mental, social, moral and spiritual—for balanced harmony in body, mind, and soul. Jesus’ words, ‘Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and unto God, the things that are God’s.’  One shuld not shrk one’s material responsibilities. Bhagavan Krishna fulfilled His material and spiritual responsibilities both equally as a king and Avatar.  

And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, “How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, “The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit thou on My right hand, till I make thine enemies thy foot stool.’” David therefore himself calleth him “Lord’; and whence is he then his son?” And the common people heard him gladly.

Parallel reference:

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, “What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he?”

They say unto him, “The son of David.”

He saith unto them, “How then doth David in spirit call him ‘Lord’, saying, ‘The Lord said unto my Lord, “Sit thou on My right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool”’? If David then call him ‘Lord’, how is he his son?”

And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions                                      Matthew 22:41—46

The scribes and Pharisees did not understand the difference between Jesus (Son of man) and Christ (Son of God or only begotten son)—between the incarnate Messiah and the Infinite Christ Consciousness he embodied. Son of God or son of David is the Christ Consciousness in the Messiah. The Father’s vibratory message articulated in interpretation might be expressed thus: The Lord said unto my Lord, ‘Be thou the Abiding Existence of My true reflected Presence in creation, enthroned by My side in My consciousness of Immutable Righteousness and Truth. Exert Thy reigning influence over all workings in creation until, through My almighty power of love in You, I make Your satanic enemies of delusion—who constantly obstruct Your perfect works—Your footstool and Your slaves.’”

  

And he said unto them in his doctrine, “Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the market places, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widow’s houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.”

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, “Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”                               Mark 12:38—44

Jesus was observing the people, their amount of offerings with his intuition. He made the disciples the actions of the generous spirited widow. She has given a farthing with all devotion, that is the amount which she all had.  So in the eyes of God she gave far more than all the rich, indifferent, and undevoted people.

Flower, fruits, and monetary donations are given as offerings to God in temples. These help in maintaining the temple. Bhagavan Srikrishna says:

Patram pushpam phalam toyam yaame bhaktyaa prayachchati

Tadahambhaktyupahrita masnaami prayataatmanah                      Gita 99—26

The one who is submitting me a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or pure water, to Me with reverence, and pure heart, is being accepted by Me with love as he is making efforts to reach me with devotion.