Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Awakenings and religious reforms » -hezekiah 2ch 30 » -ezra
This was in the time when Annas and Caiaphas were chief priests. The word of God was delivered to John the son of Zechariah. He was in the wilderness. John traveled in the region near the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This was according to the words of Isaiah the prophet: The voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make ready the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight. read more.
Every valley shall be filled. Every mountain and hill shall be brought low. The crooked shall become straight and the rough ways smooth. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Isaiah 40:3-6) He told the crowds that came to be baptized by him: You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Produce fruit that is worthy of repentance. Do not say we have Abraham for our father. I tell you, that God is able to make these stones into children for Abraham. The axe is now at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown in to the fire. The people asked him: What must we do? He answered: He who has two coats let him give to him who has none. He who has food let him do likewise. Tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him: Teacher, what must we do? He told them: Collect no more than that which is prescribed. Soldiers also asked him: What must we do? And he said: Do not take money from any one by force. Never falsely accuse any one wrongfully and be content with your wages.
Every valley shall be filled. Every mountain and hill shall be brought low. The crooked shall become straight and the rough ways smooth. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Isaiah 40:3-6) He told the crowds that came to be baptized by him: You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Produce fruit that is worthy of repentance. Do not say we have Abraham for our father. I tell you, that God is able to make these stones into children for Abraham. The axe is now at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown in to the fire. The people asked him: What must we do? He answered: He who has two coats let him give to him who has none. He who has food let him do likewise. Tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him: Teacher, what must we do? He told them: Collect no more than that which is prescribed. Soldiers also asked him: What must we do? And he said: Do not take money from any one by force. Never falsely accuse any one wrongfully and be content with your wages.
religious Awakenings » -hezekiah 2ch 30 » -ezra
This was in the time when Annas and Caiaphas were chief priests. The word of God was delivered to John the son of Zechariah. He was in the wilderness. John traveled in the region near the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This was according to the words of Isaiah the prophet: The voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make ready the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight. read more.
Every valley shall be filled. Every mountain and hill shall be brought low. The crooked shall become straight and the rough ways smooth. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Isaiah 40:3-6) He told the crowds that came to be baptized by him: You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Produce fruit that is worthy of repentance. Do not say we have Abraham for our father. I tell you, that God is able to make these stones into children for Abraham. The axe is now at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown in to the fire. The people asked him: What must we do? He answered: He who has two coats let him give to him who has none. He who has food let him do likewise. Tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him: Teacher, what must we do? He told them: Collect no more than that which is prescribed. Soldiers also asked him: What must we do? And he said: Do not take money from any one by force. Never falsely accuse any one wrongfully and be content with your wages.
Every valley shall be filled. Every mountain and hill shall be brought low. The crooked shall become straight and the rough ways smooth. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Isaiah 40:3-6) He told the crowds that came to be baptized by him: You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Produce fruit that is worthy of repentance. Do not say we have Abraham for our father. I tell you, that God is able to make these stones into children for Abraham. The axe is now at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown in to the fire. The people asked him: What must we do? He answered: He who has two coats let him give to him who has none. He who has food let him do likewise. Tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him: Teacher, what must we do? He told them: Collect no more than that which is prescribed. Soldiers also asked him: What must we do? And he said: Do not take money from any one by force. Never falsely accuse any one wrongfully and be content with your wages.
Business life » Dishonesty » Extortion
They deprive the poor of justice. They take away the rights of the needy among my people. They prey on widows and rob orphans.
Some of your people murder for pay. Some charge interest on the loans they make to other Israelites and get rich by taking advantage of them. They have forgotten me. The Lord Jehovah has spoken.
You impose unfair rent on the poor and defraud a tribute of grain from them. You haave built houses of hewn stone yet you will not live in them. You planted pleasant vineyards, but you will not drink the wine from them.
Then that servant met another servant who was in debt to him for one hundred denarii. He took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay your debt now.'
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, yet the inside is full of extortion and excess.
Yet you cannot completely avoid the fornicators of this world, nor the greedy persons, nor cheaters and robbers, nor those who worship idols. To do so you would have to leave this world.
Deeds » What to do
These are the things that you should do. Every man should speak the truth with his neighbor. Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates (towns). Let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor. Do not love a false oath (perjury): for all these are things that I hate, said Jehovah.
Produce fruit that is worthy of repentance. Do not say we have Abraham for our father. I tell you, that God is able to make these stones into children for Abraham. The axe is now at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown in to the fire. The people asked him: What must we do? read more.
He answered: He who has two coats let him give to him who has none. He who has food let him do likewise. Tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him: Teacher, what must we do? He told them: Collect no more than that which is prescribed. Soldiers also asked him: What must we do? And he said: Do not take money from any one by force. Never falsely accuse any one wrongfully and be content with your wages.
He answered: He who has two coats let him give to him who has none. He who has food let him do likewise. Tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him: Teacher, what must we do? He told them: Collect no more than that which is prescribed. Soldiers also asked him: What must we do? And he said: Do not take money from any one by force. Never falsely accuse any one wrongfully and be content with your wages.
Now when they heard this, they were stabbed to the heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles: Men and brothers, what shall we do? Then Peter said: Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
the Publicans » Suspected of extortion
Tax » Collectors of
In charge of the palace servants: Ahishar In charge of the forced labor: Adoniram son of Abda.
Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was in charge of the records.
He saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, seated at the place where taxes were collected. He said to him: Come with me. And he got up and went with him.
After that he met a tax collector named Levi sitting at his place of business. He told him: Follow me.
In your thoughts you will ponder the former terror: Where is that chief officer? Where is the one who took the revenue? Where is the officer in charge of the towers?
Then one will stand up in his place who will send an oppressor (tax collecter) to pass through the glory of the kingdom. However, he will be destroyed within a few days, neither in anger, nor in battle.
Vices » Dishonesty » Extortion
They deprive the poor of justice. They take away the rights of the needy among my people. They prey on widows and rob orphans.
Some of your people murder for pay. Some charge interest on the loans they make to other Israelites and get rich by taking advantage of them. They have forgotten me. The Lord Jehovah has spoken.
You impose unfair rent on the poor and defraud a tribute of grain from them. You haave built houses of hewn stone yet you will not live in them. You planted pleasant vineyards, but you will not drink the wine from them.
Then that servant met another servant who was in debt to him for one hundred denarii. He took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay your debt now.'
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, yet the inside is full of extortion and excess.
Yet you cannot completely avoid the fornicators of this world, nor the greedy persons, nor cheaters and robbers, nor those who worship idols. To do so you would have to leave this world.