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Matthew 5:13-16 Animal crackers
1. Verses with Greek
Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. [kjv]
υμεις εστε το αλας της γης εαν δε το αλας μωρανθη εν τινι αλισθησεται εις ουδεν ισχυει ετι ει μη βληθεν εξω καταπατεισθαι υπο των ανθρωπων [gnt]
5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. [kjv]
υμεις εστε το φως του κοσμου ου δυναται πολις κρυβηναι επανω ορους κειμενη [gnt]
5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. [kjv]
ουδε καιουσιν λυχνον και τιθεασιν αυτον υπο τον μοδιον αλλ επι την λυχνιαν και λαμπει πασιν τοις εν τη οικια [gnt]
5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. [kjv]
ουτως λαμψατω το φως υμων εμπροσθεν των ανθρωπων οπως ιδωσιν υμων τα καλα εργα και δοξασωσιν τον πατερα υμων τον εν τοις ουρανοις [gnt]
2. Matthew 5:13
KJV: Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Greek: υμεις εστε το αλας της γης εαν δε το αλας μωρανθη εν τινι αλισθησεται εις ουδεν ισχυει ετι ει μη βληθηναι βληθεν εξω και καταπατεισθαι υπο των ανθρωπων
Latin: vos estis sal terrae quod si sal evanuerit in quo sallietur ad nihilum valet ultra nisi ut mittatur foras et conculcetur ab hominibus
Wycliffe: Ye ben salt of the erthe; that if the salt vanysche awey, whereynne schal it be saltid? To no thing it is worth ouere, no but that it be cast out, and be defoulid of men.
Tyndale: ye are ye salt of the erthe: but and yf ye salt have lost hir saltnes what can be salted ther with? It is thence forthe good for nothynge but to be cast oute and to be troade vnder fote of men.
Luther: Ihr seid das Salz der Erde. Wo nun das Salz dumm wird, womit soll man salzen? Es ist zu nichts hinfort nütze, denn daß man es hinausschütte und lasse es die Leute zertreten.
Slavonic: Вы есте соль земли: аще же соль обуяет, чим осолится? Ни во чтоже будет ктому, точию да изсыпана будет вон и попираема человеки.
Russian: Вы-соль земли. Если же соль потеряет силу, то чем сделаешь ее соленою? Она уже ни к чему негодна, как разве выбросить ее вон на попрание людям.
3. Matthew 5:14
KJV: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Greek: υμεις εστε το φως του κοσμου ου δυναται πολις κρυβηναι επανω ορους κειμενη
4. Matthew 5:15
KJV: Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Greek: ουδε καιουσιν λυχνον και τιθεασιν αυτον υπο τον μοδιον αλλ επι την λυχνιαν και λαμπει πασιν τοις εν τη οικια
5. Animal crackers
After being popular in England, the first "
Animal Crackers" in the United States were produced in 1871 in
York. PA, by the Stauffer's Biscuit Company.
Later produced by the "
National Biscuit Company" which became "
Nabisco Brands".
The term "
Barnum's Animals" was introduced in
1902 with mental connection to the Barnum and Bailey Circus. In the same year, the
string was added to allow the smaller box and made it an easy and popular Christmas tree
ornament.
6. Matthew 5:14 Review
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. [kjv]
υμεις εστε το φως του κοσμου ου δυναται πολις κρυβηναι επανω ορους κειμενη [gnt]
Whatever
"definition" or
"mountain" on which the
"city" or
"many" tries to be
"hidden", they cannot
"hide" - for better or worse. Here is a paraphrase of the last part of the verse using the play on words.
Paraphrase:
It is not possible for the many to hide themselves (negative sense) on top of (worldly) mountain/empire/definition and remain/abide there (past their worldly existence).
How hard is it to get someone down off a "mountain"?
How hard is it to get someone down off a "definition"? (same Greek word)
Aristotle covers how that the starting point in refuting invalid logic is to precisely
define the meanings of the words used.
It appears that the "
you are the light of the world" can be in a good sense or in a not so good sense. What type of
"light" does the "
world" desire?
7. Matthew 10:16 Animal crackers
In Matthew 10:16, Jesus uses
four creatures in one verse:
sheep,
wolves,
serpents and
doves or (
pigeons) as
"birds". The English adjectives do not fit the Greek words.
Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. [kjv]
ιδου εγω αποστελλω υμας ως προβατα εν μεσω λυκων γινεσθε ουν φρονιμοι ως οι οφεις και ακεραιοι ως αι περιστεραι [gnt]
"
Wolves" operate in groups and look for any weakness in their prey. Wolves and dogs can interbreed. A "
wolf-dog" is in contrast to a "
sheep-dog".
The
"serpents" are
not "wise" in the English sense. They are
opportunistic and
prudent. So, no "
wise crackers" here!
The
"doves" or
"pigeons" (same bird) or
"birds" are
not "
harmless" in the English sense. They are without frills (insect antennas), with smooth feathers, preened of pests. not fact-checked, etc. Is this how
"birds" of "
prey" or
"pray" want to appear?
8. Salt of the earth verses
sheep
 |
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. [kjv]
|
birds
 |
5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. [kjv]
|
fish
 |
5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. [kjv]
|
pigs
 |
5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. [kjv]
|
These ideas will be in the summary of the houses built on rock and sand at the end of the Sermon on the Mount.
Words in these verses may be
code words, have
double meanings, be
play on words, etc. The Greek words may have been changed (mistranslated), omitted, etc. [top-down view]
9. Context
Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. [kjv]
5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. [kjv]
5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. [kjv]
5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. [kjv]
pigs
 |
fish
 |
birds
 |
sheep
 |
13: salt/earth
13: trampled/men
|
14: light/world
14: city/hill/hid
|
15: candle/basket
15: candle/stick
|
16: light/men
16: works/Father
|
10. Animal crackers
11. Animal groups
The "
sea" of "
people" are the "
fish". In the Sermon on the Mount, the disciples as "
sheep", "
pigs" (bad salt, bad hands) and
"birds" (bad bird houses, bad eyes) are there listening to Jesus.
12. Attractive refrigerator magnet sermons
Many of these verses appear in "
refrigerator magnet sermons".
A "
refrigerator magnet sermon" is a sermon that is quite "
attractive" but contains
little meaningful content. Such sermons can be preached in
any church. A euphemism for a "
refrigerator magnet sermon" is
ARMS (Attractive Refrigerator Magnet Sermons).
When someone asks you what you thought of the church or sermon, you can say:
☐ "
Your church has real open ARMS."
☐ "
I felt welcomed with open ARMS"
☐ "
That preaching was an great example of open ARMS."
Note: A "
refrigerator magnet sermon" not of the polarity of the congregation is "
repulsive"
unlike actual magnets where opposite poles attract.
13. Matthew 5:13-16 Animal crackers
The verses in Matthew 5:13-16 are somewhat enigmatic. Some pastors interpret individual verses according to their own "
opinion" or "
glory". Others preach "
refrigerator magnet" sermons.
pigs
 |
fish
 |
birds
 |
sheep
 |
13: salt/earth
13: trampled/men
|
14: light/world
14: city/hill/hid
|
15: candle/basket
15: candle/stick
|
16: light/men
16: works/Father
|
Here, a
model is presented to unify these four verses together both as a group and in the context of chapter 5. The "
cracking" of this "
puzzle" will result in a model that can be remembered by "
animal crackers". This model appears to fit what Jesus says as written down by Matthew. Luke records what people remembered but the model still fits.
14. Psalms 1: Here come the pigs
Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of evil men. [bs3]
μακιαριος ανηρ ος ουκ επορευθη εν βουλη ασεβων και εν οδω αμαρτωλων ουκ εστη και επι καθεδραν λοιμων ουκ εκαθισεν [lxx]
Psalms 1 presents an interesting bottom-up forward-chaining progression of the toleration and acceptance of sin. It is a
slippery slope.
From the "
not" and "
nor", there are three ways to
avoid.
1. walking in the counsel of the ungodly (associate like "fish")
2. standing with (in the way of) sinners (condone like "pigs")
3. sitting in the seat of scornful (participate like "birds")
Barnabas makes these connections but Jesus uses each of
"fish",
"pigs",
"birds" and "
sheep" (and others) in corresponding roles.
The word for "
walked" is the same word that is translated as "
go" in the mandate of the
Great Commission.
15. Animal comparison
| domain |
type |
way |
way |
separation |
physical |
mental |
| sea |
fish |
swim |
walk |
good and rotten |
high |
low |
| land |
pigs |
block |
stand |
sheep and goats |
medium |
medium |
| air |
birds |
perch |
sit |
none |
low |
high |
Sea animals such as
fish are
separated in the 7th Kingdom Parable at the end of the age.
Land animals such as
pigs, sheep, goats are
separated at the end of the age.
Air animals such as birds are not mentioned as to division except for the "one cookie rule". That is,
not (only) one bird (but all) will fall without the father (for selling themselves and others out for their own gain). Matthew 10:29.
Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. [kjv]
ουχι δυο στρουθια ασσαριου πωλειται και εν εξ αυτων ου πεσειται επι την γην ανευ του πατρος υμων [gnt]
16. Oppression
In a literal way, each
domain has ways of
oppressing and/or being
oppressed. Discuss: How does the oppression change in each domain?
Using the Toy Story saying "
death by monkeys" from the
Barrel of Monkeys.
17. John 13:8-10 Establishing limits
John 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. [kjv]
13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. [kjv]
13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. [kjv]
Peter wants his head washed too. Jesus tells him no. Pastors make up reasons for this. The bigger picture appears to be that one should "
love your neighbor as yourself". The "
as yourself" is needed as a negative feedback loop. One is
not to do things that violate obeying God's rules. Some modern thought makes "
loving your neighbor" the only rule and does not like to talk about any other rules that God might have established.
18. John 13:9 Establishing limits
John 13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. [kjv]
An interesting model is that of "
fish" as "
feet", "
pigs" as "
hands" and "
birds" as the "
eye" of a "
head". (Jesus). Jesus starts the ball rolling with "
sheep".
From the "
sheep" (false)
leaders as "
birds" attract "
fish" with (false)
light. From the "
fish" are recruited
leaders as "
pigs" to
influence and/
enforce. One is "
washed" in the "
blood" as "
fish" into "
sheep". Neither the (false) "
hands" as "
pigs" nor the (true) "
head" as
Jesus nor the (false) "
head" as "
birds" need be nor can be
washed.
19. John 13:8
KJV: Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Greek: λεγει αυτω πετρος ου μη νιψης μου τους ποδας μου εις τον αιωνα απεκριθη αυτω ο ιησους αυτω εαν μη νιψω σε ουκ εχεις μερος μετ εμου
20. John 13:9
KJV: Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
Greek: λεγει αυτω σιμων πετρος κυριε μη τους ποδας μου μονον αλλα και τας χειρας και την κεφαλην
21. John 13:10
KJV: Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
Greek: λεγει αυτω ο ιησους ο λελουμενος ου χρειαν ουκ εχει η χρειαν ει μη τους ποδας νιψασθαι αλλ εστιν καθαρος ολος και υμεις καθαροι εστε αλλ ουχι παντες
22. Genesis 3:14-15
Genesis 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: [kjv]
και ειπεν κυριος ο θεος τω οφει οτι εποιησας τουτο επικαταρατος συ απο παντων των κτηνων και απο παντων των θηριων της γης επι τω στηθει σου και τη κοιλια πορευση και γην φαγη πασας τας ημερας της ζωης σου [lxx]
3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. [kjv]
και εχθραν θησω ανα μεσον σου και ανα μεσον της γυναικος και ανα μεσον του σπερματος σου και ανα μεσον του σπερματος αυτης αυτος σου τηρησει κεφαλην και συ τηρησεις αυτου πτερναν [lxx]
And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed, he shall watch against your head, and you shall watch against his heel. [bs3]
it is not clear if these verses in Genesis having to do with the curse relate to the animal model and, if so, how.
23. Genesis 3:14
KJV: And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
Hebrew: ויאמר יהוה אלהים אל הנחש כי עשית זאת ארור אתה מכל הבהמה ומכל חית השדה על גחנך תלך ועפר תאכל כל ימי חייך׃
Greek: και ειπεν κυριος ο θεος τω οφει οτι εποιησας τουτο επικαταρατος συ απο παντων των κτηνων και απο παντων των θηριων της γης επι τω στηθει σου και τη κοιλια πορευση και γην φαγη πασας τας ημερας της ζωης σου
24. Genesis 3:15
KJV: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Hebrew: ואיבה אשית בינך ובין האשה ובין זרעך ובין זרעה הוא ישופך ראש ואתה תשופנו עקב׃
Greek: και εχθραν θησω ανα μεσον σου και ανα μεσον της γυναικος και ανα μεσον του σπερματος σου και ανα μεσον του σπερματος αυτης αυτος σου τηρησει κεφαλην και συ τηρησεις αυτου πτερναν
Brenton: And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed, he shall watch against your head, and you shall watch against his heel.
25. Translations
NIV (New International Version):
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
NLT (New Living Translation):
And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
Berean Standard Bible:
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
26. End of page
