In this time of escalating authoritarianism and its demands for respect and strict obedience, where can we look for guidance on when respect for “authority” is justified and when it is not? Could we look to Jesus’ example?
But let us begin with His forerunner, John:
33 But when he [John] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers! who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?John was already known as a radical, challenging the religious and civil authorities with his camels’ hair raiment, locusts and wild honey fare, (JST Matthew 3:30; Mark 1:5; KJV 3:4) and blunt, accusatory speech to the point that the civil authorities beheaded him (JST Matthew 14:3-10; Mark 6:18-30, etc.). It seems John was witnessing to the people of his day, and also informing subsequent generations, that corruption was generational, though many didn’t need to be informed because they were already enduring corruption, praying for deliverance, and expecting an avenging Saviour.
34 Why is it that ye receive not the preaching of him whom God hath sent? If ye receive not this in your hearts, ye receive not me; and if ye receive not me, ye receive not him of whom I am sent to bear record; and for your sins ye have no cloak.
35 Repent, therefore, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance;
36 And think not to say within yourselves, We have are the children of Abraham, and we only have power to bring seed unto our father Abraham; for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham [JST NT | Matthew 3:33-36. Source: JST-1867 Holy Scriptures, NT, p. 5].
So onto the question: Did Jesus follow in His forerunner’s heavy footsteps pertaining to the culture of corrupted authority? Here is Jesus’ opening salvo:
22 For I [Jesus] say unto you, except your righteousness shall exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven (JST New Testament | Matthew 5:22; JST1876-NT, p.7).We are so used to the image of a meek Jesus, we don’t seem to hear His blunt words directed at the authorities of His day. We seem also to forget that His convicting words and tone were delivered in the hearing of His disciples and attentive multitudes — multitudes who would have little trouble recognizing the hypocritical behaviors described by Jesus:
2 ... when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do, in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men (JST Matthew 6:2; JST1876-NT. p. 8).If we think that criticism of authority was a right exclusive to Jesus, what think ye of this?
5 ... when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men; (JST Matthew 6:5; JST1876-NT, p. 8).
7 ... when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the hypocrites do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Therefore be ye not like unto them; (JST Matthew 6:7-8; JST1876-NT, p. 8).
17 Moreover when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance; for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast (JST Matthew 6:17-18; JST1876-NT, p. 9).
6 And Jesus said unto his disciples, Beholdest thou the Scribes, and the Pharisees, and the Priests, and the Levites? They teach in their synagogues, but do not observe the law, nor the commandments; and all have gone out of the way, and are under sin.And what too of these accusing words?
7 Go thou and say unto them, Why teach ye men the law and the commandments, when ye yourselves are the children of corruption?
8 Say unto them, Ye hypocrites, first cast out the beam out of thine own yes; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
9 Go ye into the world, saying unto all, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come nigh unto you (JST Matthew 7:6-9; JST1876-NT, p. 10).
18 Then said the Pharisees unto him, Why will ye not receive us with our baptism, seeing we keep the whole law?And what final act of defiance to corrupt authority could there be than to stand silent in the face of their questions?
19 But Jesus said unto them, Ye keep not the law. If ye had kept the law, ye would have received me, for I am he who gave the law.
20 I receive not you with your baptism, because it profiteth you nothing.
21 For when that which is new is come, the old is ready to be put away (JST Matthew 9:3-14, 18-21; JST1876-NT, pp. 12-13).
29 And Jesus said [to the Pharisees], O ye generation of vipers! how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh (JST Matthew 12:29; JST1876-NT, p. 17).
33 Then certain of the Scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them,
34 An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; (JST Matthew 12:33-34; JST1876-NT, p. 17).
1 Then came to Jesus Scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your traditions?
4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother; and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death which Moses shall appoint.
5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to father or mother, By whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me, it is a gift from me from one, and honour not his father or mother, it is well.[Corban*]
6 Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your traditions.
7 O ye hypocrites! well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draw nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
8 But in vain they do they worship me, teaching the doctrines and commandments of men. ...
11 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
12 But he answered and said, ...
13 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch (JST Matthew 15:1-8, 11-13; JST1876-NT, p. 21).
1 The Pharisees also, with the Sadducees, came, and tempting Jesus, desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven.
2 And he answered and said unto them, When it is evening ye say, The weather is fair; and in the morning ye say, The weather is foul today; for the sky is red and lowering.
3 O ye hypocrites! ye can discern the face of the sky; but ye cannot tell the signs of the times.
4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.
5 And he left them, and departed. ...
7 Then Jesus said unto [his disciples], Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. ...
13 Then understood they, how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees (JST Matthew 16:1-5, 7, 13; JST1876-NT, p. 22).
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God (JST Matthew 19:23-24; JST1876-NT, p. 26).
10 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that bought and sold in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; and said unto them,
11 It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves (JST Matthew 21:10-11; JST1876-NT, p. 28).
21 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 who gave thee this authority?
22 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I, in like wise likewise, will tell you by what authority I do these things.
23 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?
24 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 people hold held John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell.
25 And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things (JST Matthew 21:21-25; JST1876-NT, pp. 28-29).
31 Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and harlots shall go into the kingdom of God before you. ...
34 And except ye repent, the preaching of John shall condemn you in the day of judgment; for unto you that believe not, I speak in parables; that your unrighteousness may be rewarded unto you (JST Matthew 21:31,34; 1867 JST-NT, p. 29).
45 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. ...
47 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them. ...
50 And now his disciples came to him, and Jesus said unto them, Marvel ye at the words of the parable which I spake unto them?
51 Verily, I say unto you, I am the stone, and those wicked ones reject me.
52 I am the head of the corner. These Jews shall fall upon me, and shall be broken.
53 And the kingdom of God shall be taken from them, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof; (meaning the Gentiles.)
54 Wherefore, on whomsoever this stone shall fall, it shall grind him to powder.
55 And when the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, he will destroy those miserable, wicked men, and will let again his vineyard unto other husbandmen, even in the last days, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
56 And then understood they the parable which he spake unto them, that the Gentiles should be destroyed also, when the Lord should descend out of heaven to reign in his vineyard, which is the earth and the inhabitants thereof (JST Matthew 21:45, 47-56; JST1876-NT, pp. 29-30).
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Ye hypocrites! why tempt ye me? Show me the tribute money. ...
28 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God (JST Matthew 22:18, 28; JST1876-NT, p. 30).
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, saying, The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
2 All, therefore, whatsoever they bid you observe, they will make you observe and do; for they are ministers of the law, and they make themselves your judges. But do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not.
3 For they bind heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, and they are grievous to be borne; but they will not move them with one of their fingers.
4 And all their works they do to be seen of men. They make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi, (which is master) (JST Matthew 23:1-4; JST1876-NT, p. 31).
10 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
11 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees! for ye are hypocrites! for Ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers; therefore ye shall receive the greater punishment.
12 Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than he was before, like unto yourselves.
13 Woe unto you, blind guides, who say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he committeth sin, and is a debtor.
14 You are fools and blind; for which is the greatest, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
15 And ye say, Whosoever shall sweareth by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
16 O fools, and blind! For which is the greatest, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? (JST Matthew 23:10-16; JST1876-NT, pp. 31-32).
20 Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cummin; and have omitted the weightier things of the law; judgment, mercy, and faith; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
21 You blind guides, who strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel; who make yourselves appear unto men that ye would not commit the least sin, and yet you, yourselves, transgress the whole law.
22 Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you make clean the outside of the cup, and of the platter; but within they are full of extortion and excess.
23 You blind Pharisees! Cleanse first the cup and platter within, that the outside of them may be clean also.
24 Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but are within full of the bones of the dead, and of all uncleanness.
25 Even so, you also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
26 Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
27 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
28 Wherefore, you are witnesses unto yourselves of your own wickedness; and you are the children of them who killed the prophets;
29 And will fill up the measure then of your fathers; for you yourselves, kill the prophets like unto your fathers.
30 You serpents, and generation of vipers! How can you escape the damnation of hell?
31 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and of them you shall kill and crucify; and of them you shall scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city;
32 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
33 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
34 You bear testimony against your fathers, when you, yourselves, are partakers of the same wickedness.
35 Behold your fathers did it through ignorance, but you do not; wherefore, their sins shall be upon your heads (JST Matthew 23:20-35; JST1876-NT, p. 32).
61 And the high priest arose and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? Knowest thou what these witness against thee?And what was Jesus’ advice near the conclusion of the Last Supper?
62 But Jesus held his peace (JST Matthew 26:61-62; JST1876-NT, p. 38).
13 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
14 Then saith Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
15 And he answered him not to his questions; yea, never a word, insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly (JST Matthew 27:13-15; JST1876-NT, pp. 39-40).
25 And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall observe to do the things which ye have seen me do, and bear record of me even unto the end (JST Matthew 26:25; JST1876-NT, p. 32).In the entire Gospels, almost every interaction Jesus had with corrupt authority was one of:
1 CRY aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins (Old Testament | Isaiah 58:1).Yes, most of the Gospel record concerns His interactions with religious authorities, and we haven’t even gotten into the accounts from Mark, Luke, or John, but if Jesus were consistent in character, would He not have been as forthright with the civil authorities as with religious?
As well, we have not considered the disturbing, disrupting new doctrine converting the “old time” commands from action to “mere” thought or “mere” speech; from killing to “mere” anger; from adultery to “mere” lust; all the way to loving and praying for one's enemies (JST Matthew 5:23-50; JST1876-NT, pp. 7-8) — a new, elevated doctrine that probably convicted every one of the first Century power elite. Nor have we considered in this post, Jesus’ frequent action-response to charges that “it is not lawful,” however, it was considered here:
https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2020/05/it-is-not-lawful.htmlSo, if we follow Jesus' example and advice, what might we expect from this generation of corrupt powers? We can expect what we are already witnessing: the increasing persecution and censorship of those who see and seek to expose the corruption and abuse of power. The wicked powers and their servitors, generation on generation, since the coming of Christ have always had, hanging in the imagery of their minds, something like this for Jesus and His followers:
 |
| †Image source below |
Were we not warned already?
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.As this post is long enough, I hope in the future to consider how we are to reconcile Jesus’ response to corrupt authority with other teachings about “honoring, obeying, and sustaining the law.”** In the meantime, when studying Mark, Luke, and John, pay attention to Jesus' interaction with the powers and authorities.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you (New Testament | Matthew 5:10–12).
------------------------------------------/
* Corban: see https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2023/03/deja-vu-corban-variant.html
**Pearl of Great Price | Articles of Faith 1:12
12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
Additional criticisms:
JST Matthew 7:24-33; JST1876-NT, pp. 10-11
24 And, again, beware of false prophets, that come to you in sheep’s clothing; but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
25 Ye shall know them by their fruits; for do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
26 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
27 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
28 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
29 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
30 Verily I say unto you, it is not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, that shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.
31 For the day soon cometh, that men shall come before me to judgment, to be judged according to their works.
32 And many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name; and in thy name have cast out devils; and in thy name done many wonderful works?
33 And then will I say, Ye never knew me; depart from me ye that work iniquity.
24 And, again, beware of false prophets, that come to you in sheep’s clothing; but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
25 Ye shall know them by their fruits; for do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
26 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
27 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
28 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
29 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
30 Verily I say unto you, it is not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, that shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.
31 For the day soon cometh, that men shall come before me to judgment, to be judged according to their works.
32 And many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name; and in thy name have cast out devils; and in thy name done many wonderful works?
33 And then will I say, Ye never knew me; depart from me ye that work iniquity.
JST Matthew 9:3-14; JST1876-NT, p. 16
3 And, behold, certain of the Scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, Wherefore is it that ye think evil in your hearts?
5 For is it not easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee, than to say, Arise and walk.
6 But I said this that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins.
7 Then Jesus said unto the sick of the palsy, Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thy house.
8 And he immediately arose, and departed to his house.
9 But when the multitude saw it, they marvelled and glorified God, who had given such power unto men.
10 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom place where they received tribute, as was customary in those days, and he saith said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
11 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him, and with his disciples.
12 And when the Pharisees saw them, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your master with publicans and sinners?
13 But when Jesus heard them, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
14 But go ye and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice; for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
JST Matthew 11:22-26; JST1876-NT, pp. 15-16
22 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
23 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long since in sackcloth and ashes.
24 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
25 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
26 But I say unto you, That It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Arthur Henry Young (January 14, 1866 – December 29, 1943) was an American cartoonist and writer. He is best known for his socialist cartoons, especially those drawn for the left-wing political magazine The Masses between 1911 and 1917 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Young Recycled by SMS 2022: no need to repurpose, just added to the caption: "And anyone who looks like Him or fits a similar description."
Page URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2108-young-arrestthisman.jpg
File URL: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/2108-young-arrestthisman.jpg
Attribution: Art Young, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Description: English: "Arrest This Man," by Art Young. Reward. For information leading to the apprehension of —. Jesus Christ. Wanted - for sedition, criminal anarchy - vagrancy, and conspiring to overthrow the established government. Dressed poorly, said to be a carpenter by trade, ill-nourished, has visionary idea, associates with common working people the unemployed and bums. Alien - beleived to be a jew. Alias : 'Prince of peace', 'Son of man - Light of the world', &c &c. Professional agitator read beard, marks on hands and feet the result of injuries inflicted by an angry mob led by respectable citizens and legal authorities.
Date: circa 1921
Source: First published in Good Morning magazine, vol. 3, no. 10 (Aug. 1921), pg. 9.
Permission: Digitized for Wikipedia by Tim Davenport ("Carrite"), no copyright claimed for the work. Released to the public domain without restriction Author: Art Young | 1866 – 1943
3 And, behold, certain of the Scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, Wherefore is it that ye think evil in your hearts?
5 For is it not easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee, than to say, Arise and walk.
6 But I said this that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins.
7 Then Jesus said unto the sick of the palsy, Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thy house.
8 And he immediately arose, and departed to his house.
9 But when the multitude saw it, they marvelled and glorified God, who had given such power unto men.
10 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom place where they received tribute, as was customary in those days, and he saith said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
11 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him, and with his disciples.
12 And when the Pharisees saw them, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your master with publicans and sinners?
13 But when Jesus heard them, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
14 But go ye and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice; for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
JST Matthew 11:22-26; JST1876-NT, pp. 15-16
22 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
23 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long since in sackcloth and ashes.
24 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
25 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
26 But I say unto you, That It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
JST Matthew 12:2-6; JST1867-NT, p. 16
2 But when the Pharisees saw them [pluck and eat the ears of corn], they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day.
3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungered, and they who were with him? How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him; but only for the priests?
4 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and ye say they are blameless?
5 But I say unto you, that in this place is one greater than the temple.
6 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath
▪ And note here the contrast between Jesus’ power structure and that of an abusive world and its obsession with the appearance of things:
†Image:2 But when the Pharisees saw them [pluck and eat the ears of corn], they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day.
3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungered, and they who were with him? How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him; but only for the priests?
4 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and ye say they are blameless?
5 But I say unto you, that in this place is one greater than the temple.
6 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath
▪ And note here the contrast between Jesus’ power structure and that of an abusive world and its obsession with the appearance of things:
JST Matthew 20:25-28; JST1867-NT, p. 27
25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them; but it shall not be so among you.
26 But whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
JST Matthew 21:1-4; JST1867-NT, p. 28
1 ..., then sent Jesus two disciples,
2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway you shall find a colt tied; loose it, and bring it unto me; and if any shall say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of it; and straightway he will send it.
3 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, saying,
4 Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, and he is meek, and he is sitting upon an ass, and a colt, the foal of an ass. ...
25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them; but it shall not be so among you.
26 But whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
JST Matthew 21:1-4; JST1867-NT, p. 28
1 ..., then sent Jesus two disciples,
2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway you shall find a colt tied; loose it, and bring it unto me; and if any shall say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of it; and straightway he will send it.
3 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, saying,
4 Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, and he is meek, and he is sitting upon an ass, and a colt, the foal of an ass. ...
Arthur Henry Young (January 14, 1866 – December 29, 1943) was an American cartoonist and writer. He is best known for his socialist cartoons, especially those drawn for the left-wing political magazine The Masses between 1911 and 1917 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Young Recycled by SMS 2022: no need to repurpose, just added to the caption: "And anyone who looks like Him or fits a similar description."
Page URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2108-young-arrestthisman.jpg
File URL: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/2108-young-arrestthisman.jpg
Attribution: Art Young, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Description: English: "Arrest This Man," by Art Young. Reward. For information leading to the apprehension of —. Jesus Christ. Wanted - for sedition, criminal anarchy - vagrancy, and conspiring to overthrow the established government. Dressed poorly, said to be a carpenter by trade, ill-nourished, has visionary idea, associates with common working people the unemployed and bums. Alien - beleived to be a jew. Alias : 'Prince of peace', 'Son of man - Light of the world', &c &c. Professional agitator read beard, marks on hands and feet the result of injuries inflicted by an angry mob led by respectable citizens and legal authorities.
Date: circa 1921
Source: First published in Good Morning magazine, vol. 3, no. 10 (Aug. 1921), pg. 9.
Permission: Digitized for Wikipedia by Tim Davenport ("Carrite"), no copyright claimed for the work. Released to the public domain without restriction Author: Art Young | 1866 – 1943
