Bible verses about "availability" | JMNT

¹ Thereupon Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Breath-effect (or: was at once brought {or: guided} back again, under the Spirit, into the lonely, desolate and uninhabited region) to be examined, tested, tried, put to the proof, and put through an ordeal under and by the one who thrusts [something] through [folks] (or: the devil; the prejudiced adversary; the slanderous opponent; the backbiting false accuser; or: by that which was cast through [Him]). ² And after fasting forty days and forty nights, He subsequently experienced hunger (or: felt famished). ³ Then, upon approaching and facing [Him], the examiner (the one continuously testing and bringing ordeals) said to Him, "Since You are God's Son (or: If you continue existing being a son of and from God), speak so that these stones can become (or: should come to be) loaves of bread." ⁴ Yet He, making a discerning reply, said, "It has been written, 'Mankind (or: The human) will not be habitually living on bread, alone, but rather on every utterance (gush-effect; result of a saying; effect of a flow; declaration; spoken word) which is constantly going forth (or: proceeding out) through God's [= Yahweh's] mouth.'" [Deut. 8:3] ⁵ At that time, the adversary (the one who thrusts [something] through folks; the devil) proceeds in taking Him along into the set-apart (holy) city, and then sets (or: placed; stationed; stands) Him upon the little wing of the Temple complex (or: court; grounds), ⁶ and it proceeds saying to Him, "Since You are God's Son (or: If you exist being a son of and from God), hurl (fling; cast) Yourself down, for it has been written, 'He will constantly give inner direction (or: an imparted goal) to His agents (or: messengers) about (concerning) You,' and, 'They will repeatedly lift You up (or: = catch You) on [their] hands (or: = so as to carry You in their arms) so that You would never strike Your foot against a stone (or: = so that you can at no time stumble or hurt Yourself).'" [Ps. 91:11-12] ⁷ Jesus affirmed to it, "Again, it has been written, 'You will not continue putting [the] Lord [= Yahweh], your God, to the test (or: You will not repeatedly attempt to set Yahweh out on trial or check out some proof about Him).'" [Deut. 6:16] ⁸ Again the opponent (adversary; one thrusting-through into [Him]) is progressively taking Him along – into an extremely high mountain range (or: a very high mountain), and successively points out for Him all the world's kingdoms (or: progressively shows to Him all the reigns of the controlling ordered-system of secular society), as well as their glory (their splendor and manifestations which call forth praise; their reputations). ⁹ Then it said to Him, "I will give all these things to You, if – falling prostrate – You would pay homage to me (worship me; do obeisance to me)." ¹⁰ At this [saying], Jesus then says to it, "Bring [it] under control, adversary (or: Subject [yourself], satan; Sink down below, adversary; Carry [this] off below, hateful accuser; or: Go away, satan)! You see, it has been written, 'You will constantly pay homage to (do obeisance to; worship; fall down and kiss the feet of) [the] Lord [= Yahweh] your God, and to Him alone you will repeatedly render hired service (or: sacred service).'" [Deut. 6:13] ¹¹ At that point, the opponent (the adversary; the one who had been thrusting [Him] through) progressively flowed away from Him (or: proceeded to divorce Him; presently abandoned Him) – and, note and consider this! – agents (messengers) approached (came forward) and began giving attending service to (or: continued rendering ministering service and provision for) Him. ¹² Now [later], upon hearing that John was handed over (delivered up; = arrested and put in prison), He withdrew from the area and returned into the Galilee [province]. ¹³ So after leaving Nazareth and coming into Capernaum-by-the-sea, He settled down (took up residence) [there] – within the midst of the territories of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴ to the end that the [prophecy; oracle] spoken (declared) through Isaiah the prophet would (could; should) be fulfilled [which] continues saying, ¹⁵ "O land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali: a pathway associated with [the] Lake (or: Sea), on the other side of the Jordan [River], Galilee-of-the-multitudes (ethnic groups; nations; non-Israelites; pagans; Goyim) – ¹⁶ The people continuously sitting within the midst of darkness (the gloomy dimness of the shadow that lacked the light of the Day) saw a great Light. And on (or: to; for; in) those constantly sitting within [the] province (or: region) and shadow of death, Light arises on (or: rose to and among; dawned for or in) them." [Isa. 8:23-9:1] ¹⁷ From that time on, Jesus began to be repeatedly making loud public proclamations (performing as a herald), and to be continually saying, "You folks be progressively changing your thinking (change your frame of mind, mode of thought, perceptions and understanding and turn your focus to [Yahweh]), because the sovereign reign and activity of exercising the sovereignty of the heavens (or: kingdom from the sky and the atmosphere) has drawn near and now continues being at hand and is close enough to touch (= has arrived and is now accessible)." ¹⁸ Now while proceeding in walking along Lake Galilee (or: the Sea of Galilee), He saw two brothers, Simon – the one commonly called Peter – and Andrew, his brother, repeatedly casting a purse net into the lake (or: sea). You see, they were by habit fishers (or: fishermen) [for earning a livelihood]. ¹⁹ So He proceeds to say to them, "Come here, back behind (or: after) Me! I will also make you men fishers of humans (of people; of mankind)!" ²⁰ Now at once abandoning their nets, they followed Him. ²¹ Then going on from there He saw two other brothers, Jacob (or: James), the [son] of Zebedee, and John, his brother – within the boat with Zebedee, their father, continuing in thoroughly adjusting, mending and preparing their nets – and He called them. ²² Now at once abandoning the boat and their father, they followed Him. ²³ Later, Jesus continued leading [them] around (or: about) within [the] whole of Galilee, continuously teaching (or: progressively giving instruction) within their synagogues and repeatedly making loud public proclamations about the good news (the message of goodness, ease and wellness) which pertains to the Kingdom (or: which has its source in the Reign; which characterizes and belongs to the influence of Sovereignty; which is the Reign; or: the kingdom's glad tidings) – as well as continuing in curing (or: giving attentive care and prescribing therapy or ongoing treatment for) every chronic disease and every occasional illness (sickness; delicate condition) among the people. ²⁴ So His reputation and the report concerning Him went off into the whole [region] of Syria. And people brought to Him all those having it badly (those in poor conditions; = having an illness), [those] with various diseases, and those being continuously gripped by pain (or: confined in testing situations), as well as those being habitually affected by demons [note: a Hellenistic concept and term that denoted animistic influences], and those being repeatedly affected by the moon (either = lunatics, or, epileptics) and paralytics – and He cured or gave attentive care or prescribed therapy or instigated ongoing treatment for them! ²⁵ Consequently many and huge crowds followed Him – from the Galilee [province] and Decapolis (the Ten Cities; a league of cities east of the Jordan) and Jerusalem and Judea, as well as [from] the other side of the Jordan [River] (or: Transjordan).

³⁰ So undertaking [a response], Jesus said, "A certain person (human being) was walking down from Jerusalem into Jericho and he fell encircled round about by bandits (robbers; highwaymen), who, after stripping him and putting blows upon (= beating) [him], went away, leaving [him] half dead. ³¹ "Now by coincidence, a certain priest was walking down on that road, and upon seeing him, passed by on the other side. ³² "And likewise also, a Levite, coming [other MSS: happening] down upon the place and seeing him, passed by on the other side. ³³ "But a Samaritan – someone progressively traveling on the road – came upon him and at seeing [him and the situation] was moved in his inner organs with compassion. ³⁴ "Then, after coming to [him], he bound down (bandaged) the results of his trauma and injuries (wounds), pouring on olive oil and wine. Now after mounting him upon his own animal (either: pack animal, or, mount) he led him into a caravansary (or: inn) and took care of him (or: had him cared for). ³⁵ "And then on the next day, thrusting out (or: extracting and putting forth) two denarii (silver coins), he gave them to the caravansary host (or: innkeeper – the one who welcomes everyone) and said, 'Take care of him. And that which you may likely spend in addition, I myself will proceed in paying [it] back to you on the [occasion for] me to be progressively coming back upon [this place].' ³⁶ "Which one of these three now seems (appears) to you to have come to be a neighbor (associate; close-one) of the person falling into the midst of the bandits (highwaymen)?" ³⁷ Now he said, "The person doing the mercy (performing the [act of] compassion) with him." So Jesus said to him, "Be now going on your way, and you yourself be habitually doing (performing) likewise (similarly; in the same way)."

³⁶ So then He rejoined to them, "But in contrast now, the one normally having a purse – let him take [it] up; likewise also a food pouch (or: pack; beggar's sack). And the person not now having a sword – let him at once sell his cloak (or: outer garment) and buy [one]. [comment: the situation has now changed and different conditions were imminent]

¹ Consequently, brothers, I am repeatedly calling you folks alongside to exhort, implore and encourage you, through God's compassions to stand your bodies alongside (or: to set or place your bodies beside) [the] Well-pleasing, Set-apart (Holy; Different-from-the-usual), Living Sacrifice by God (or: in God; for God; to God; with God), [this being] your sacred service which pertains to thought, reason and communication (or: your reasoned and rational service; the logical and Word-based service from you folks).

² Herald (Proclaim; Preach) the Word (The Logos; the idea; the thought; the reason; the message); stand upon [it; or: It; Him] in season or out of season (if the situation fits favorably, if the conditions are not favorable; whether convenient or not); test and put to the proof; show further honor (give higher value; assess greater worth; or, negatively: respectfully charge; strongly admonish; enjoin); within every emotion which is long in arriving (in all long-suffering patience), and by teaching (or: in union with instruction and training) give aid, relief, comfort and encouragement as you call [others] to your side (perform as a paraclete).

¹⁵ Now "you folks set [the] Lord [= Yahweh] – the Anointed One – apart (or: Yet, let the Lord Christ be set-apart)" [Isa. 8:13], within your hearts! (or: So, treat the Anointed Owner as holy, in the core of your beings), always ready (ever prepared) toward a defense to everyone – for the one repeatedly asking you for a word (i.e., a rational explanation and a logical response) about the expectation within you folks – but still with gentleness (tenderness; meekness; kindness) and deep respect (or: serious caution; reverence; [the] fear [of the Lord]),

⁸ Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday and today and on into the ages, (or: Jesus [is and continues being] Christ [= the Messiah] – the Man Himself {or: the Very One}: yesterday as well as today, and even into the midst of the ages,)

¹ Now seeing the crowds, He climbed up into the mountain. Then, upon His sitting down, His disciples approached (came toward) Him. ² So opening His mouth, He began teaching them, progressively saying, ³ "The destitute folks [are] happy in spirit and attitude, because the reign of the heavens is continually belonging to, and made up of, them (or: Blessed [are] those dependent for support on the Spirit, for the kingdom from the sky and the atmosphere is continuing to pertain to them; The people who need to beg for sustenance [are made] happy by the Breath-effect because the effect of the sovereignty of the heavens is being a source in and for them; The financially poor folks [exist being] happy with an attitude that the sovereign influence and activity from the atmospheres continuously exists with reference to them)! ⁴ "Those constantly grieving and mourning [are] happy and blessed because [other MSS: now that] they, themselves, will habitually be called alongside to receive relief, aid, encouragement and comfort! ⁵ "‘The kind, considerate, gentle, mild-tempered, humane and nonviolent folks (people who do not use force) ’ [are] happy and blessed because they, themselves, ‘will proceed to be inheriting the Land (or: be receiving and enjoying an allotment of the earth)!’ [Ps. 37:11] ⁶ "The people being habitually hungry and constantly thirsty for the fairness, equity, right relationship and justice which characterize a rightwised state of being within the Way pointed out (or: = for covenant inclusion) [are] happy and blessed, because they themselves will continue feeding and drinking [of these things] until they are filled and satisfied! ⁷ "The folks who are merciers (who give and show mercy) [are] happy and blessed, because they, themselves, will repeatedly be given and shown mercy! ⁸ "Those who are clean in the heart [are] happy and blessed, because they, themselves, will progressively see God! (or: = The folks that have had the core of their beings made clean [are] happy people, in that they will continue to see God [in everything]!) ⁹ "The ones who make peace and create shalom [are] happy and blessed because they, themselves, will continue being called God's sons (or: termed 'sons of and from God')! ¹⁰ "Those being ones having been pressed forward, chased or persecuted for the sake of fairness, equity, [covenant] relationships or justice which comes from the Way pointed out [are] happy and blessed because the reign of the heavens continually belongs to them (or: for the kingdom of the heavens is continuing to pertain to them; because the reign and sovereign activities from the atmosphere and sky is being a source in and for them)! ¹¹ "You folks are and continue to be happy (and: blessed) people! Now whenever people may denounce, reproach, heap insults on and persecute or chase you folks, and while continuously lying, may even say every bad thing (spreading malicious gossip; [other MSS: every misery-gushed utterance]) down against you – for the sake of Me, ¹² be continuously rejoicing and repeatedly express extreme exultation, because your wage (compensation; reward) [is] much (large; great), within the heavens (or: atmospheres [that surround you])! You see, they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way. ¹³ "You people, yourselves, exist being (are) the salt of the Land (or: earth). Now if the salt should ever be made dull or tasteless, in what way will it continue being salted (or: made salty)? It still continues giving strength into nothing (= it still can not provide seasoning) – if not being thrown outside, to be repeatedly (or: continuously) trampled down by people (or: tread down under mankind). ¹⁴ "You folks, yourselves, exist being (are) the light of the ordered System (the world of culture, religion, politics, government and secular society; = the human sociological realm). A city located up on a mountain (or: situated on top of a mountain range) continues unable to be hidden or concealed. ¹⁵ "Likewise, people are not normally lighting a lamp and then placing it under the measuring bowl (or: a one-peck grain-measuring basket), but rather upon the lampstand – and it continues shining and giving light for all those within the house. ¹⁶ "In this way, let the Light, which you folks possess (or: which has a source in you folks; or: which you people are), shine in front of mankind (before humans), so that people can see your fine works (or: the beautiful works that you are; the ideal acts which come from you folks) and they can give glory to (or: and [these deeds; or: these works of beauty] will bring a good reputation for) your Father – the One in union with the atmospheres [that surround you folks] (or: within the midst of the heavens)! ¹⁷ "You folks should not infer from customary presumption or from established supposition that I came to loosen-down or demolish the Law (or: Torah) or the Prophets. I did not come to loosen-down or demolish, but to the contrary, to fulfill (or: fill up; make full; bring fullness), ¹⁸ "for assuredly (or: amen; it is so), I am here saying to you people, until the heaven and the earth (or: the sky and the land) could ever go by and pass away, one iota (the smallest Greek letter) or one horn-like projection (diacritical mark, such as an accent or breathing mark, or part of a Heb. letter; a serif; = the smallest detail) can by any means pass away from the Law [= Torah] – UNTIL all things can birth themselves (or: should occur; may happen)! ¹⁹ "Whoever, then, should loosen [even] one of the least of these the implanted goals (impartations of the finished product within; inward directives) – and should teach humans (people) to that effect – he will repeatedly be called "least" (or: a least one; or: = insignificant) within the reign of the heavens (or: the kingdom which pertains to the atmosphere and [reaches] the sky). Yet, whoever may practice (or: should perform and do) as well as teach – this person will continue being called "great" within the reign of the heavens (the kingdom which pertains to the atmosphere and [reaches] the sky). ²⁰ "You see, I am here saying to you people that if your fairness and equity ([covenantal] justice, rightwisedness, and right relationships which conform to the Way pointed out) should not habitually exceed and abound more than [that] of the scribes (experts in the Law; scholars; theologians) and Pharisees, in no way can you folks enter into the reign of the heavens (or: the kingdom which is, and pertains to, the heavens; the sovereign rule of the atmospheres)! ²¹ "You folks heard that it was said to (or: by) the original peoples (or: the beginning humans; the archaic ones; the ancient folks; those of the early period), 'You folks will not continue murdering.' [Ex. 20:13] Yet whoever may commit murder will continue being held within the decision (= held under the control of the crisis or the judging). ²² "However, I Myself am now saying to you people that everyone, who – from internal swelling or agitated emotions of his natural disposition, or from the fruition of his mental bent – is habitually being randomly impulsive to, or without cause repeatedly intensely angry with, his brother (= fellow member of the society) will continue being held within the decision (= under control of the judging of the local court). Now whoever may at some point say to his brother, 'Raca (an Aramaic word of verbal abuse: contemptible imbecile; worthless good-for-nothing; senseless empty-head; brainless idiot; blockhead)!' will continue being held within (= accountable to) the Sanhedrin (the ruling Jewish council). Yet whoever may at some point say, 'Inept moron (Stupid scoundrel; Despicable fool; Perverse idiot)!' will continue being held within (= accountable to) [placement] into the [part of] the Valley of Hinnom which pertains to the fire (i.e., the incinerator for refuse in the dump outside of Jerusalem). [note: Dallas Willard, in his book The Divine Conspiracy, HarperSanFrancisoc, 1998, p. 151-2, points out that raca was a word of contempt, and contempt, he says, is "a studied degradation of another," or, it is meant to "mark [someone] out" as being "contemptible." He further shows that using expressions of contempt "breaks the social bond" and excludes, pushes a person away, and leaves him isolated. Willard cites Prov. 14:16; 18:2 and 26:11 as Biblical definitions of a "fool;" he states that this word "is a combination of stupid perversity and rebellion against God"] ²³ "So if you folks should happen to be in the process of offering your gift (or: bearing forward your gift [to be placed]) upon the altar, and there you should be reminded that your brother continues holding something against you (or: continues to have something [written] down pertaining to you, or possesses [evidence] that could bring you down), ²⁴ "at once abandon your gift – there, in front of the altar – and proceed on your way to bring things under control: first be reconciled with your brother (or: have the situation thoroughly changed by your brother), and then coming, continue offering (bearing forward) your gift. [note: beginning with vs. 22, above, Jesus uses the word brother in its wider semantic range, in His teaching, to indicate the sense of solidarity, membership of a group, or fellow human being; other NT writers do the same – it often means "fellow believer," or "member of God's family, but here would likely mean "fellow countryman"] ²⁵ "Be in the habit of quickly having continued thoughts of wellness toward your opponent in a lawsuit (or: of being quickly well-disposed and kind-minded with your plaintiff; or: Be progressively having your mind at ease in relation to the person setting himself to resist or oppose you in matters of daily living, quickly) settling matters while you continue being with him on the road [to court] (or: while being with him within the Way – the Path [of this Life]), lest at some time the plaintiff (person having a complaint against you in some legal matter) may hand you over to the judge, and then the judge to the court officer, and next you may be thrown into prison (jail; a guardhouse). ²⁶ "Truly I am now saying to you (or: = Pay attention to Me), you may not come out from the midst of there until you can give back (repay) the last small copper coin (a quadrans; = the final dime or penny of the amount judged against you). ²⁷ "You folks hear (or: heard) that it was declared, 'You will not continue committing adultery!' [Ex. 20:13] ²⁸ "Yet I, Myself, am now saying to you people that every man who is continuing in, or, repeatedly looking at and observing (constantly watching or leering at; = fantasizing over) a [married] woman, with a view toward the [situation, or, condition] to crave her (to experience strong passion for her, or, to desire to rush in a heat of emotion upon her), has already committed adultery with her, within his heart! ²⁹ "So if your right eye is habitually a bait-stick which entraps you, immediately tear it out and throw it away from you! You see, it constantly brings things together for benefit and advantage in (for; to) you folks that one of your members should loose itself away (may destroy itself; could come to be lost), so that your whole body should not be thrown into the Valley of Hinnom (Greek: Gehenna – the city dump [= to dishonor you by giving no burial; to treat you as a criminal]). ³⁰ "Also, if your right hand is habitually a bait-stick which entraps you, at once cut it off and throw it away from you! You see, it constantly brings things together for benefit and advantage in (for; to) you folks that one of your members should loose itself away (may destroy itself; could come to be lost), so that your whole body should not go off into the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna – the city dump outside Jerusalem). [comment: vs. 29-30 are hyperbole; they also show the absurdity of trying to fulfill the law through works, when in fact it is a matter of the heart] ³¹ "Now it was declared, 'Whoever should dismiss (loose-away; = divorce) his wife, let him give a certificate of divorce (or: a divorce; a standing-off and away) to her.' [Deut. 24:1; note: separation equaled a legal divorce; the document would pertain to property, child custody, and/or return of the dowry; it would also protect her from a charge of committing adultery if she was with another unmarried man] ³² "Yet I, Myself, am now saying to you folks that every man proceeding in dismissing (loosing-away) his wife – outside of a case of infidelity (fornication; prostitution; sexual misconduct) – proceeds in making her a subject of adultery. [comment: this would annul their then current practice for a man to be able to divorce his wife just for whatever reason he might choose; this statement by Jesus was a great advance toward cultural equality of the sexes] ³³ "Again, you folks hear (or: heard) that is was declared to (or: by) the original peoples (or: the beginning humans; the archaic ones; the ancient folks; those of the early period), 'You will not repeatedly break an oath (swear without performing; swear falsely; commit perjury),' and further, 'You will habitually give back (repay) to the Lord [= Yahweh] your oaths.' [Lev. 19:12] ³⁴ "Yet I, Myself, am now saying to you folks to absolutely (altogether) not grab hold of a sacred object or make reference to a sacred sphere, so as to affirm an oath or swear confirmation – neither within the heaven (the atmosphere), because it is God's throne (seat of rule); ³⁵ "nor within the earth, because it is a footstool for His feet [Isa. 66:1]; nor [referencing] into Jerusalem, because it is ‘a city belonging to and having reference to the great King.’ [Ps. 48:2] ³⁶ "Neither within your head should you [mentally] touch something sacred so as to affirm an oath, because you continue having no power (or: ability) to make one hair shining white (to have the character of bright light) or black. ³⁷ "So let your word habitually be 'Yes,' [and mean] yes; [or] 'No,' [and let] 'no' [end the matter]. Now the thing [which is] in excess of these is (or: exists being) forth from out of the midst of the bad condition [of mankind] (the situation of hard labor, pain and misery; or: the evil, malevolent and wicked [thought]). ³⁸ "You hear (or: heard) that it was declared, 'An eye in substitution for (instead of; in place of) an eye,' and, 'A tooth in substitution for (instead of; in place of) a tooth.' [Ex. 21:24] ³⁹ "Yet I, Myself, am now telling you folks not to at any point actively set yourself against, or take a counteractive or aggressive stand in opposition to, the bad situation (or: = participate in armed resistance against the miserable condition; = mirror the painful, insulting or laborious situation; or: = ‘render evil for evil’ in opposition to the evil or wicked person; = rebel or be part of an insurrection; = stand off an enemy). On the contrary, [to] whomever is repeatedly cuffing or habitually slapping into your right cheek (or: jaw), turn to him the other one, also! [note: In his book, Engaging the Powers, Walter Wink has pointed out that this act of slapping someone on the right cheek referred to a person in a superior position of that society “backhanding” someone in an inferior position. It was meant to either insult the person, or to put the person in “their place,” or to “admonish” him. Wink suggests that turning the other cheek “'85 robs the oppressor of the power to humiliate.” (p. 176)] ⁴⁰ "And further, to the person continuing in desiring (wanting; purposing) for you to be judged (or: sued; or: presently intending to litigate with you) and even to take your inner garment (tunic; = shirt), at once send off to him your outer garment (cloak; coat) as well! [note: Under the Law the cloak was to be returned at each sundown (Ex. 22:25-27). Sending a creditor a cloak as collateral would say to folks that the creditor was taking everything from him and leaving him naked and destitute. It would show that this person was being inhumane. Wink says “indebtedness was endemic” in this land and time.] ⁴¹ "Also, [for] whoever will [other MSS: may] press you into service (conscript, requisition or commandeer you) [for] one mile, continue submissively leading the way with him [for] two [miles]. [note: This impressed service refers to the Roman rule (anagareia) that allowed the occupation troops to compel someone to carry their soldier’s pack or baggage for one mile – a rule often abused. Wink suggests that vss. 39-41 are non-violent, creative initiatives against social injustice. I suggest that they also demonstrate a heart of love and an acknowledging of brotherhood even with oppressors.] ⁴² "Give at once to the person presently, or repeatedly, asking of you, and you should not be turned away from the one continuously wanting (or: purposing) to borrow money from you. ⁴³ "You folks hear (or: heard) that it was declared, 'You will habitually love the one near to you (your neighbor or associate) ' [Lev. 19:18] – and yet you will constantly regard your enemy with ill will (hate the one hostile to you). ⁴⁴ "Yet I, Myself, am now saying to you folks: Be constantly loving your enemies (urging toward reunion with, and accepting as persons standing on the same ground, those folks hostile to you; [comment: this could have applied to the Romans, as well as to personal enemies]), and be habitually praying over (on behalf of) the people continuously persecuting you – ⁴⁵ "so that (by what means) you folks can be birthed (may come to be) sons of your Father – the One within [the] atmosphere and in union with [the] heavens – because He is repeatedly making His sun to rise back up again upon bad (evil; wicked; worthless) folks as well as [upon] good (virtuous) folks, and He is habitually sending rain upon fair and equitable people (those in right relationship; those within the Way pointed out; just ones; rightwised ones) as well as [upon] unfair and inequitable people (those not in right relationship; those not in the Way pointed out; unjust folks). ⁴⁶ "You see, if you should happen to love and participate with the ones constantly loving you folks, what wage or reward do you continue holding (or: having)? Are not also the tax collectors constantly doing the very same thing? [note: tax collectors worked for the state (for either one of the provinces, or for the Empire) and were thus despised and considered outcasts of the local society, being perceived as both collaborating with the Romans and as getting money dishonestly through their business as a "tax-farmer," (someone who purchased from the state the right to collect official taxes, tolls, customs and dues: they made their money by adding on a percentage to the tax which they collected for the state), or by working for a "tax-farmer"] ⁴⁷ "And further, if you folks should only greet and welcomely embrace your brothers, what are you continuing to do [that is] excessive or extraordinary? Are not also the folks of the ethnic multitudes (the nations; the pagans; the non-Israelites) constantly doing the very same thing? ⁴⁸ "Therefore, you folks will continuously exist being ones that have reached the purposed and destined goal: finished and completed ones; mature and perfected ones – in the same way as your heavenly Father (or: your Father which has the qualities of, and is characterized by, the atmosphere) constantly exists being One that is the goal and destiny: finished, complete, mature, perfect!

¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, "Hither, you [two] come on behind Me (= follow after Me and join Me), and I will proceed making you to become fishers of human beings (of people)!" ¹⁸ So at once, abandoning the fishing nets, they followed Him (walked the same path with Him).

²⁷ Now making a discerning reply, the man said, "'You will be constantly loving [the] Lord [= Yahweh] your God from out of your whole (= entire) heart, and in union with your whole soul (or: within your entire self and soul-life), and in union with and in the midst of your whole (= entire) strength,’ and in union with and within your whole (= entire) mind (intellect; comprehension; understanding) ' – and 'your neighbor (the one close to you; your associate) as being yourself.'" [Deut. 6:4; Lev. 19:18]

²⁶ "Now the Helper (the One called alongside to aid, comfort, encourage and bring relief; the Paraclete), the set-apart Spirit (or: the Sacred Breath; the holy Breath-effect; the holy attitude), which the Father will proceed sending within, and in union with, My Name, that One will be progressively teaching you all things (everything) and will continue reminding you of (calling to your mind and causing you to think about) everything (all things) which I, Myself, said to you.

¹⁵ "If you are habitually loving Me (or, as a subjunctive: would continue loving Me), you WILL continue observing [other MSS the subjunctive: you can or should observe (or: note and keep watch over; guard and preserve; keep in view; hold in custody); other MSS, the imperative: Keep in view and take note of]) My implanted goals (impartations of the finished product within; inward directives; interior purposes and destiny),

¹² Consequently, then, each one of us will continue giving a word (presenting a message; rendering an account) about himself to God (or: for God; by God; in God).