The Watchtower, February 15, 1951
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WATCHTOWER
FEBRUARY 15,1951 Semimonthly
THE POOR LIFTED UP AND COMFORTED
BEGGAR AND RICH MAN EXPERIENCE A CHANGE
Announcing JEHOVAH'S KINGDOM
PROGRESS TOWARD TAMING THE TONGUE
AN OPEN ANSWER TO "THE VINDICATOR"
GOD'S SERVANTS ARE DIFFERENT
"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12 THE PURPOSE OF "THE WATCHTOWER"
Literal towers in Bible times were elevated vantage points from which watchmen could observe happenings, warn of danger, or announce good news. Our magazine figuratively occupies such a vantage point, for it is founded on the very pinnacle of wisdom, God's Word. That elevates it above racial, national and political propagandas and prejudices, frees it from selfish bias. It is not bound by any traditional creed, but its message advances as the light on God's purposes and works increases.-Habakkuk 2:1-3.
It sees things Scripturally. When it observes this generation afflicted with greed, delinquency, hypocrisy, atheism, war, famine, pestilence, perplexity and fear, and persecution of unpopular minorities, it does not parrot the old fable about history repeating itself.Informed by Bible prophecy, it sees in these things the sign of the world's time of the end. But with bright hope it also sees opening up for us just beyond these woes the portals of a new world.
Thus viewed, "The Watchtower" stands as a watchman atop a tower, alert to what is going on, awake to note signs of danger, faithful to point out the way of escape. It announces Jehovah's kingdom established by Christ's enthronement in heaven, feeds his kingdom joint-heirs with spiritual food, cheers men of good will with glorious prospects of eternal life in a paradise earth, comforts us with the resurrection promise for the dead.
It is not dogmatic, but has a confident ring in its voice, because it is based on God's Word. It does not privately interpret prophecy, but calls attention to physical facts, sets them alongside prophecy, and you see for yourself how well the two match, how accurately Jehovah interprets his own prophecy. In the interests of our salvation, it keeps sharp and faithful focus on Bible truth, and views religious news generally.
'Be watchful in these perilous times,' God admonishes. So keep on the watch by regularly reading "The Watchtower".
PUBLISHED BY THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
117 Adams Street
Brooklyn 1, N. Y., U. S. A.
N. H. KNORR, President
GRANT SUITER, Secretary
"They will all be taught by Jehovah."—John 6:45, NW; Isaiah 54:13
CONTENTS
World Hypocrisy, Christian Zeal 99
Progress Toward Taming the Tongue 101
An Open Answer to The Vindicator 105
God's Servants Are Different 109
Federal Court of Appeals Rebukes
Unfair Board 112
The Poor Lifted Up and Comforted 113
Beggar and Rich Man Experience a Change 120
Questions from Readers 127
Announcements 128
Abbreviations used in "The Watchtower" for the following Bible versions
AS - American Standard Version LXX- The Septuagint Version
AT - An American Translation Mo - James Moffatt's version
Da - J. N. Darby's version NW - New World Translation
Dy - Catholic Douay version Ro - J. B. Rotherham's version
ED - The Emphatic Dinglott RS - Revised Standard Version
Le - Isaac Leeser's version Yg - Robert Young's version
Unless otherwise indicated, the Bible used is the King James Version
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WORLD HYPOCRISY, CHRISTIAN ZEAL
DEEP in the hearts of most men lies the disconcerting knowledge that religious Christendom is saturated with hypocrisy. But too seldom does frank analysis penetrate to bring this truth to the surface, too seldom does searching examination bring this fact into such sharp relief as to pierce a calloused conscience.
Have you read enough of the Bible to know about Christ's sermon on the mount? his other teachings? his course of action toward the worldly religious and political leaders? and the simple lives of faith and the courageous deaths of integrity of the apostles and disciples that endeavored to copy Christ as their model? Then you must know that Christ was no militarist, no politician, no orthodox religionist, no financier, nor any red revolutionary seeking to overthrow Caesar's rule. He honored God's Word, championed it, taught it, and died faithful to it. Both he and his followers were in the world, but declared themselves no part of it. They were not hypocrites.
It is the same today. And occasionally religious leaders and others see these facts, and with commendable honesty declare them. Such was the case with Bishop Austin Pardue of the Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, when he spoke as follows on August 7,1950:
"We Christians of today are tragically unworthy. But just a word to the selfrighteous outsiders who point to our hypocrisy; we can always make room for
more hypocrites and we cordially invite them to come over and join us. Our hypocrisy is not deliberate, but convenient. The vicious malady of our orthodox American denominations comes from the corroding acids of disbelief which have watered down our convictions to the point where much of our religion has become a matter of mere custom and tradition.
"On the one hand, destructive higher criticism of the Bible has become so universal that many of us modern ministers hardly know what we believe. On the other hand, we have become such worshipers of intellectual cults and clichés that we dare not believe any longer in the supernatural powers of prayer and sacrament. Orthodox denominationalism frequently looks with superior scorn upon many of the recent developments of Bible fundamentalist groups which on the whole are growing faster than any other religious organizations in America. The masses of these people are probably like the simple type of people who first followed Jesus, and today are finding hope and terrific conviction among these new offshoots of the Christian faith.
"Only last week Jehovah's witnesses packed the Yankee Stadium with 70,000 people for an all-day revival in the broiling July sun. Too often we look at these evangelistic gatherings and dismiss them with the despised term, 'emotionalism.' We scorn them as though we nice, would-be intellectual middle-class people have grown too sophisticated to express our feelings.
It is impossible to have vital Christianity without some emotional fervor. The day of Pentecost was not a coldly intellectual gathering, but was charged with the fire of the Holy Ghost. It was filled with action, conviction and natural emotional honesty." New York Times, August 7, 1950.
One of the identifying evidences of true Christians is the persecution they undergo because of their zeal in preaching. This fact was noted by the Alabama Baptist, September 14, 1950, when it said editorially:
"All over the world we hear of this sect being persecuted. In our own country, in Wyanet, Ill., they recently had one of their meetings broken up by a group who set automobile tires on fire and rolled them through their open air congregation. Jehovah's witnesses sought damage in the courts but the jury failed to render them a favorable verdict. In Kennett, Mo., an attempt to break up one of the Jehovah's witnesses meetings was thwarted by the presence of police and state troopers and national guardsmen. About 150 people were in that crowd. In the Soviet zone of Germany 1,000 Witnesses have been put in jail.
"Though we do not endorse all that these believe, we certainly condemn those who are seeking to interfere with the right of public assembly and free speech. These elements against Jehovah's witnesses will strike just as quickly at Baptists. We look on the actions of people of this kind as being thoroughly un-American and contrary to our belief in freedom of worship. Certainly the only cause for their attack is because these have a zealous belief in their doctrines of the Bible. At least we could say this much for them, that they are the only group in our country who are so zealous in their beliefs and practices that they are resisting unto persecution. We cry shame upon those who are persecuting any Christian group as long as they
are staying within the laws of our land and within their rights under the Constitution."
This editorial accurately stated that the cause of the persecution against Jehovah's witnesses was their preaching of the Bible doctrines, but few persecutors will honestly admit that, but rather clothe their mob action in patriotic garb, saying the Witnesses are seditionists or communists. But on this point note the following from the Nassau Herald, October 7, 1950, entitled "Jehovah's Witnesses Seen in New Light":
"Jehovah's witnesses have been getting into the cream of national publicity in the United States of late, particularly during the current week when the CBC, the World Round-up of News and Lowell Thomas have been telling of the activities of the Witnesses in East Germany where the communists have been jailing them and charging them with American espionage, helter-skelter. There is something in this kind of news that does not jibe well with accusations previously hurled at the Witnesses to the effect that they are communists. For if they belong to the communist stripe, then they must be very poor communists just poor enough to be persecuted and sent to jail by those whom they are said to serve. We would naturally suppose that if Jehovah's witnesses are communists, they would fare better at the hands of the communists, for it is well bandied around the world that even the Devil is willing to reward his faithful followers. It therefore seems that we are now morally obliged to revamp some of our too hastily conceived notions concerning Jehovah's witnesses and communism."
The false charges of sedition and revolutionary teaching were hurled recklessly at Jesus and his early disciples, so it should come as no surprise that the same false charges are aimed at His footstep followers today.—Luke 23:2; Acts 17:5-8; 24:5.
PROGRESS TOWARD TAMING The Tongue
THE disciple James took to task the human tongue. By striking illustrations he showed how tremendous the job of controlling this little body member. If a man could control the tongue he would be able to bridle the whole body. Bits in the mouths of horses can turn their entire bodies. Small rudders on great ships driven by fierce winds can swing whole ships around. So the tongue is a little member of the body, but it makes great brags. As a mere spark can set a forest aflame, so
the little tongue can be a fire to inflame the whole body and defile it. Beasts, birds, serpents, creatures of the sea, all can be tamed by man. "But the tongue, not one of mankind can get
it tamed." Why, "if anyone does not stumble in word, this one is a perfect man."
A fountain does not bubble out both the sweet and the bitter. A fig tree does not produce olives. Nor a vine figs. Neither does salt water produce sweet water. And yet the human tongue sends out of the same mouth both blessing and cursing. This should not be. Granted that as long as Christians are in the imperfect flesh the tongue will remain beyond taming to perfection, and admitted that this should stir
us to mercy toward repentant offenders, yet it does not argue that wrong speech is to be lightly excused and indulged in loosely. We should be on guard to keep to a minimum the damage done by the unruly injurious tongue that is full of deadly
poison. We should be able to show progress in our endeavors to tame the tongue, to curb its inflaming outbursts. As James declared, "It is not proper, my brothers, for these things to go on occurring this way." Jas. 3:2-12,NW.
TONGUES WILD FOR GOSSIP
"Whoever observes all the Law but makes a false step in one point, he has become an offender against them all. For he who said, 'You must not commit adultery,' said also, 'You must not murder.' If, now, you do not commit adultery but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of law." (Jas. 2:10,11,NW) With this rule in mind, now note another point of the Law: "Thou shalt not go up and down
as a talebearer among thy people." (Lev. 19:16) For the wise this points up the seriousness of gossip, and forestalls the folly of excusing it as harmless conversation. The Mosaic Law prohibition of talebearing is carried over to Christians not under that law.
"They also learn to be unoccupied, gadding about to the houses, yes, not only unoccupied, but also gossipers and meddlers in other people's affairs, talking of things
they ought not." (1 Tim. 5:13, NW) The chief concern of Christians should be working their tongues in gospel-preaching, but some gadabouts prefer meddling: "Certain ones are walking disorderly among you, not working at all but meddling with what
101 does not concern them."
(2 Thess. 3:11, NW) The end of such course is shameful suffering as a busybody: "Let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a busybody in other people's matters. But if he suffers as a Christian, let him not feel shame."—1 Pet. 4:15, 16, NW; Prov. 20:3.
A talebearer is not a faithful friend. "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (Prov. 17:17) But when a brother needs a friend most, when he is perhaps undergoing adversity due to inborn weaknesses and shortcomings, the faithless talebearer that poses as a friend and brother chooses this trialsome time to bruit abroad the faults and failures of the one being sorely tried. "He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter."—Prov. 11:13, AS.
A person may foolishly and thoughtlessly act as a talebearer, but his being thoughtless does not lessen the damage done. Though not deliberately malicious, the gossiper may deeply wound with his words, words that are to him as dainty morsels that he cannot resist sharing: "The words of a talebearer are as wounds [dainty morsels, Da], and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly." (Prov. 18:8) Not only will the whisperer strain his own relationship with the brother, but he may make it hard for the wronged one to hold his other friends. "A whisperer alienateth his friend." "He that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends."—Prov. 16:28, m., 17:9, AS.
Added to all this, the talebearer is wasting time that should be used for profitable work. If he does not rein in his runaway tongue and curb its wagging it will hasten him on to spiritual poverty: "In all labour there is profit; but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury."—Prov. 14:23.
Those who revel in rumors that impugn another's conduct or integrity should restrain their excited tongues. Rumors frequently turn out to be lies. According to the slander and libel laws of the land, one who repeats an untrue derogatory statement is as liable for lawsuit as the originator of it. The rumor-spreader may be quoting from the public press, or from a letter, or what he heard firsthand, and he may give his source; but if it is a lie he can be sued and he cannot shift responsibility to his original source. After all, if only the starter of a rumor uttered it, it would die at its birth. It is the widespread publicity given by untheocratic grapevines that does the damage.
The tongue that gossips is often a tongue that lies. As it repeats its tales it exaggerates and twists to make the dainty morsels it peddles more spicy and sensational. The more breath-taking the news can be dished up, the greater its market value in the circle of gossipmongers. It sets to itching other feet that are eager to bear tales that may make mischief. Almost invariably discord is sown, and Jehovah's hatred earned. Seven things listed as hateful to Jehovah are: "Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a mind with crafty plans, feet eager to go mischief-making, a false witness who tells lies, and him who sows discord within his group."—Prov. 6:16-19, Mo.
"A mind with crafty plans." Such a mind is frequently behind the tongue that flatters. "A man who flatters his fellow is spreading a net to trip him up." Such double-minded men feel free to flatter with their tongues while working out their hidden purposes: "They talk with flattering lips and double minds. The Eternal [Jehovah] cut off every flattering lip, and tongues that talk so loftily—men who declare, 'We give rein to our tongues; our lips are our own: who calls us to account?'
" (Ps. 12:2-4; Prov. 29:5, Mo) To throw the unwary off guard, "their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage." (Jude 16) Like Paul, true Christians will not stoop to false fronts to gain greedy ends: "At no time have we turned up either with flattering speech, (just as you know) or with a false front for covetousness, God is witness!" They know "flattering lips are fatal".—Prov. 26:28, Mo; 1 Thess. 2:5, NW.
HYPOCRITICAL AND OBSCENE TONGUES
Hypocrisy is a close relative of flattery, and both are fatal to those who persistently practice them. "An hypocrite shall not come before him," meaning Jehovah God. Through hypocrisy he may now enrich himself, but "what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul"? (Job 13:16; 27:8) Christ Jesus condemned hypocritical tongues that spoke for effect, when he said to the scribes and Pharisees: "You hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about you, when he said: 'This people honors me with their lips, yet their hearts are far removed from me. It is in vain that they keep paying respect to me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.'" Taking God's name on the lips is not the requirement, but the doing of his will. Routine Bible reading is not the goal, but observing its precepts in one's conduct. The Pharisees were hypocritical even in their praying, more anxious to be seen of men for effect than they were concerned about being heard by God. (Matt. 6:5; 7:21; 15:7-9; 23:2,3, NW) Such a one could never measure up to loving his neighbor as himself, for "an hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour".—Lev. 19:18; Prov. 11:9.
An obscene tongue is akin to a hypocritical tongue, if it claims to be Christian.
Is it not inconsistent to use the tongue to preach the clean and pure gospel of the Kingdom, and then when "off duty" to employ it in cursing and swearing and obscene jokes? The same Bible that commends preaching condemns obscenity: "Let fornication and uncleanness of every kind or greediness not even be mentioned among you, just as it befits holy people, neither shameful conduct nor foolish talking nor obscene jesting, things which are not becoming, . . . for because of the aforesaid things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; and quit sharing with them in the unfruitful works which belong to the darkness, but, rather, even be reproving them, for the things that take place in secret by them it is shameful even to relate."—Eph. 5:3-7, 11, 12, NW.
This deluded old world may think it necessary to swear and curse to prove manliness, may think filthy stories are required to prove one is no sissy. Actually, worldlings are afraid not to laugh in the wake of dirty jokes whether funny or not; they must guffaw lest they be considered innocent babes that missed the dirty point. But will Christians be pressured into cowardice and stoop to obscene jests for fear they will not be considered "regular fellows" by this wicked world? They are not so silly. They abandoned such things once why return to the mire and vomit? Paul said: "In those very things you, too, once walked when you used to live in them. But now really put them all away from you, wrath, anger, injuriousness, abusive speech, and obscene talk out of your mouth." There must be some bridling of the tongue, lest one's worship become futile.—Col. 3:5-8; Jas. 1:26; 2 Pet. 2:20-22, NW.
The tongue is but a tool of the mind and heart. Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."
So we must go to the root of the trouble when seeking to tame an unruly tongue. We must work to erase from mind and heart the urges that drive the tongue to make foolish talk. If the mind and heart are filled with what is good, they will not empower the tongue to gossip, lie, flatter, play the hypocrite, and mouth obscenities. The properly filled mind and heart will have no room for such follies.-Matt. 12:34; 15:18, 19, NW.
Not only will the Christian mind shut the mouth against sending out meddling talk, but it will close the ears to incoming gossip, and discourage backbiters by meeting them with a displeased countenance. "The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue." Or, "The north wind bringeth forth rain; so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance." (Prov. 25:23, m.; AS) The discerning mind knows that criticizing and gossiping about others is an indirect way of exalting and bragging on self. To run down others brings a false and deceptive sense of superiority. Hence the Christian aids both himself and the tale bearer by refusing to listen. Without refueling the fire dies out.—Ps. 141:5; Prov. 14:7; 17:4, 20; 20:19; 26:20, 21; 28:23.
Recall Jesus' parable of the sheep and goats. (Matt. 25:31-46) What the goats did to Christ's brothers was counted as done to him. What we do to those brothers is counted as done to Christ. Would you gossip about your Lord? find fault with him? carry tales against him? Would you try to lie about him or to him? flatter him? play the hypocrite toward him? Or would you feel free to approach him with obscene jests? If you would not do these things with him, do not do them with your brothers. Do not commit the goats' error!
So seek to progress toward taming the
tongue by crowding out the evil with the good. "Brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well spoken of, whatever virtue there is and whatever praiseworthy thing there is, continue considering these things." (Phil. 4:8, NW) By studying God's Word make your mind over, that it may make your unruly tongue over: "Quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and complete will of God." (Rom. 12:2, NW) By continual study gain more of such knowledge that will clothe you with a personality imaged after Christ: "Strip off the old personality with its practices, and clothe yourselves with the new personality which through accurate knowledge is being renewed according to the image of the one who created it."—Col. 3:9, 10, NW.
Until such changes occur fully through study and the aid of God's spirit and allow for complete taming of the tongue, all of us will have to keep close watch over that little member, each looking to his own, keeping its fires banked and controlled. Keep words few and cool when circumstances are unsettling, as counseled: "Where words abound, sin is not wanting: he who controls his tongue is a wise man. He guards his life who guards his lips: he who talks freely—it is ruin to him! A man of sense is sparing of his words; the prudent will keep cool. He who is careful of his lips and tongue will manage to keep clear of trouble." (Prov. 10:19; 13:3; 17:27; 21:23, Mo) Keep the tongue tamed down and bridled when tempers rise, clamping your hand over your mouth if necessary. (Job 40:4; Ps. 39:1; Prov. 30:32) If too weak in yourself to succeed in yourself, take up the psalmist's prayer: "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips."—Ps. 141:3.
Taming the tongue is so vital because "death and life are in the power of the tongue". Misused in inflammatory outbursts and it is full of deadly poison, but "a soothing tongue is a tree of life". (Ps.
34:12-14; Prov. 15:4; 18:21, AT) With it one acknowledges God and confesses Christ and "makes public declaration for salvation". So with such glorious service and life prospects in view, let us progress toward taming the tongue as we press on to maturity.—Rom. 10:10; 14:11; Phil. 2:11; Heb. 6:1, NW.
An Open Answer to "The Vindicator"
Dec. 26, 1950
The Vindicator, 3111 Grover St., Fort Worth 6, Tex
Attention of E. C. Fuqua, Publisher. Gentlemen:
Someone was alert enough to send us a copy of the November, 1950, issue of your paper, calling our attention to your editorial on page 8 with the heading "ANOTHER 'NEW BIBLE' COMING UP". As we are the publishers for Jehovah's witnesses against which your editorial has considerable to say we feel called upon to answer and set some things straight in your mind. Not expecting you to publish our answer in your columns, we are turning over a copy for publication in the official magazine of Jehovah's witnesses, The Watchtower.
That we may confront you as well as Watchtower readers with what you published in derogation of these devoted Christians, we first copy here your initial paragraph:
"Jehovah's Witnesses," 70,000 strong, have just had a convention in New York, making a great noise. Their leader, Nathan H. Knorr, has promised them extremely interesting things for "the near future," among which is the abolition of Hell as set forth in the Scriptures. This will ease many minds—those who had read enough of the New Testament to understand that there is such a place in store for the wicked. Now they may rest in complacence, seeing (?) that such a place, if it ever existed, is to be finally removed.
It was three months from the holding of the international convention of Jehovah's witnesses in Yankee Stadium, New York, July 30 to August 6, to your November issue, and yet with all the time and opportunity you had to inform yourselves from all the publicity and convention releases setting forth the facts, you have the rashness to publish such a paragraph under such a heading. Certainly you destroy all confidence of informed people in the soundness of anything you publish by your statement, "Their leader, Nathan H. Knorr, has promised them extremely interesting things for 'the near future,' among which is the abolition of Hell as set forth in the Scriptures."
First of all, Mr. Knorr is merely president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. He disclaims being the "leader" of Jehovah's witnesses and points to Jesus Christ as our God-given Leader; and Jehovah's witnesses acknowledge and follow, not Mr. Knorr, but Jesus Christ as Leader. That is why during the Nazi regime in Germany from 1933 to 1945 Jehovah's witnesses in that land refused to heil Hitler! as their Fuehrer or Leader, and went to concentration camps and prisons, where 2,000 died cruel deaths, and of the 8,000 that came out alive, 2,000 were invalided for the rest of their lives.
Concerning the "abolition of hell as set forth in the Scriptures", Mr. Knorr never promised such a thing. He adheres strictly to what Revelation 20:14 says in the King James Version Bible (which we print and publish) : "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." It is God by Jesus Christ who long ago promised to cast hell into the lake of fire or "second death" and thereby abolish it.
Consider with us now your 2d paragraph, which reads:
But most significant of the things attempted by the "Witnesses" is their undertaking to make a new Bible. They have announced through Nathan H. Knorr that they are getting out a "new translation" of the Scriptures, seeing the present translations do not suit them. One of the especial things to be set forth in this "new translation," is the "interpretation" of "Hell" from the Greek "Hades." That alone announces the heterodoxy of their coming "translation." Hades never did mean "Hell," but always the place of disembodied human spirits, which for short we call the grave. "Hell" is from "Gehenna," and means the place of eternal punishment after death. To apply that to the grave is to defy inspiration. And no 70,000 fanatics can abolish that place of eternal punishment by the mere desire of their leaders.
This paragraph betrays you to be at least three months behind the times in news, for the "new translation" is not something yet to be gotten out but Mr. Knorr released the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures on Wednesday afternoon, August 2, and described a number of its features. And before the assembly closed on the following Sunday 85,850 copies of this New World Translation had been placed with the conventioners, and now our factory has passed printing 250,000 copies of it.
This translation does not give (to quote you) an "interpretation of 'Hell' from the Greek 'Hades' ". Get yourselves a copy and see that it does not translate the Greek word "Hades" at all, but transliterates it bodily into the English text. This is also what the American Standard Version Bible, which we also print and publish, does. You say, "That alone announces the heterodoxy of their coming 'translation'." If so, then you must admit that the American Standard Version is also heterodox in its translation. That being the case, why is it that you follow heterodoxy? For your editorial page-heading announces: "All quotations in this paper are from the American Standard Revised Version, unless otherwise indicated." Heterodoxically, the Revised Standard Version of 1946 reads like the New World Translation at Revelation 20:14, where it says: "Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire." Note Hades there!
You say "Hades never did mean 'hell'". Well, we have always taught that Hades never did mean the kind of "hell" that the religious clergy of Christendom teach. But next you say, "'Hell' is from 'Gehenna,' and means the place of eternal punishment after death."
Evidently you do not know what this old English word "Hell" means. The Encyclopedia Americana says under "Hell": "Much confusion and misunderstanding has been caused through the early translators of the Bible persistently rendering the Hebrew Sheol and the Greek Hades and Gehenna by the word hell."
The Encyclopedia Britannica gives us the derivation of the word "Hell", saying: "Old English hel, a Teutonic word from a root meaning 'to cover,' compare German Hoelle, Dutch hel."
Webster's New International Dictionary, 2d edition, unabridged, corroborates the above derivation, saying: "Hell [AS.; akin ...
to Anglo-Saxon helan to conceal, Latin celare, Greek kalyptein, Old Irish celim I conceal, Sanskrit sarman protection. See HALL; compare CELLAR, CLANDESTINE, COLOR, CONCEAL, HEL, HELE, HELMET, HULL, OCCULT, SUPERCILIOUS.]”
Now every honest person must admit, in the face of this evidence, that the basic meaning of "hell" is to cover or conceal. That is why this same Webster's dictionary shows that "hell" is used as a verb meaning, oh no, not to torment in fire, but to "cover"; as when the Old English dialect spoke of "helling potatoes", not meaning to roast them in fire, but meaning to put them in the ground as a cellar. Hence "Hell" corresponds with "Hades", for "Hades" means "invisible, obscure, dark".
For this reason it is wrong for men to translate the Greek word Gehenna as "Hell" and you are wrong in saying that Hell is from Gehenna. All authorities agree that Hell represents a covered or concealed place and hence Hell corresponds with the grave, which is the place where we cover or conceal our dead. On the other hand, Gehenna means "valley of Hinnom". And if you know anything about the Gehenna which lay outside the western and southern walls of Jerusalem in Jesus' day, you know it was not a concealed or covered place but was a very open, uncovered place, a chasm which Jerusalem used as an open dump. There they cast sometimes the corpses (not living bodies) of criminals to be cremated in the fires mixed with sulphur or to be consumed by the maggots; all this picturing that such criminals were unworthy of a resurrection from the dead.
Hence the New World Translation could not render Gehenna by the word Hell, a covered place, but transferred Gehenna bodily into its English text. The Appendix explains what Gehenna was in Jesus' day
and shows it Scripturally symbolizes the "second death". This is an eternal punishment, because it is the death from which there is no resurrection. Surely Gehenna cannot be a place for the fiery torment of living human souls eternally, for Jesus said: "If ever your hand makes you stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go off into Gehenna, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot makes you stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be pitched into Gehenna." (Mark 9:43- 46, NW) Being pitched into the fiery Gehenna is the opposite of 'entering into life'. Now what is the opposite of life? Absence of life, death, is it not? Gehenna is not the same as the grave (Hades) from which there is a resurrection. So you are absolutely in error in inferring that the New World Translation applies Gehenna to the grave, "to defy inspiration."
Here is what you said in your 3d paragraph:
When a teaching becomes so outlandishly anti-God, it needs a "new translation" of the Bible. That is, it needs another "Bible." The one God gave us is not adequate to set forth the new religion.
Which Bible do you mean by your expression "the one God gave us"? Certainly when your paper quotes from the American Standard Revised Version, you are not using "the one God gave us". Or are you naive enough to imagine that God really gave us that Version? The Bible God gave us is the one he inspired and which was written in Hebrew, Aramaic and common Greek, which are today practically dead languages. If to produce a "new translation" in modern speech and according to the latest findings on the Bible means to "make a new Bible", "another 'Bible'," then tell us this: Why is it that the American Committee of Revision, which produced the American Standard Version from which your paper mainly quotes, brought forth in 1946 the Revised Standard Version of the New Testament and will shortly bring forth also a revised Old Testament?
Will you level against their Committee the charge of 'making a new Bible'? Have they 'become so outlandishly anti-God' as to need a new translation that they might set forth a new religion?
For you to charge modern Bible translation in such a manner means for you to indict also all the English translators from the fourteenth-century translator John Wycliffe down till those today. Yes, you indict all Bible translation from the very beginning, and you set yourself in opposition to Jesus' prophetic command: "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations" (Matthew 24:14); for this could be accomplished only by translating the Bible which God originally gave us.
After five more paragraphs in which you decry the making of "another Bible" or a "new Bible" you conclude with this paragraph:
The "Jehovah's Witnesses" are a flesh-loving people. The doctrine offers them immunity from suffering in Hell, and that is precious in their eyes. But they do not discern that the offer is made them in terms the exact opposite to the language God employs. God tells them that there is such a place as Hell, and it is not Hades or the grave. Their leaders tell them that such a place does not exist. This is plainly anti-God and brands the "Witnesses" as having "the mark of the beast". God says the wicked "shall go away into eternal punishment" (Matt. 25:46); but the "Witnesses" say there is no such place. But in so saying, they are preparing themselves to go there! What, therefore, do they gain by their opposition to God?
Out of your own mouth you condemn yourself. You say, "the offer is made them in terms the exact opposite to the language God employs." How can this be? The New World Translation does not use the Old English word "hell", but uses the
very words God gave us in his original Bible, namely, Hades, Gehenna, and Tartarus (2 Peter 2:4, NW). Certainly this is not making another Bible, a Bible different from the one God gave us, but is using the exact language God employs. You are far-fetched, therefore, in branding this as "plainly anti-God" and as having "the mark of the beast". Jehovah's witnesses are not abolishing Gehenna, but are putting it back into the Scriptures where it belongs. Publicly and privately the witnesses teach that there are such places as Hades, Gehenna and Tartarus, and they show the Scriptural distinction between these three places. The Appendix of the New World Translation against which you declaim sets forth that Hades means the common grave of mankind whereas Gehenna is the place of "eternal punishment". For Gehenna symbolizes the destruction with which God Almighty will utterly destroy the wicked and which destruction will last forever, for they will never have a resurrection.
This harmonizes with Jesus' own words: "Rather be in fear of him that can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna." (Matthew 10:28, NW) Our fear of Him moves us to turn from the course of living that leads to Gehenna and it prevents us from fearing men, be they worldly leaders, dictators or mobs who set themselves in opposition to God. Our guiding text from the Scriptures is, "We ought to obey God rather than men."—Acts 5:29.
Jesus warned his opposers with the admonition: "By your words you will be vindicated, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:37,NW) By your words against Jehovah's witnesses your paper The Vindicator stands, not vindicated, but condemned before God and all men of good will.
Sincerely in the vindication of the truth, WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY GOD'S SERVANTS ARE
IT IS no secret. From the dawn of man's history, from the time of Adam's son Abel on down through the ages, those who have worshiped and served the true and living God, whose name alone is Jehovah, have been a separate, unusual and distinctive people, different from all others on the face of the earth. Recorded history proves it. Well-known facts today vouch for it. All informed persons admit it.
The man Abel stands at the head of the long list of God's faithful servants. "By faith Abel offered God a sacrifice of greater worth than Cain, through which faith he had witness borne to him that he was righteous." (Heb. 11:4, NW) Because he was righteous and pure in his worship Abel was martyred. Martyr means "witness", hence Abel was the first of Jehovah's witnesses. Enoch, the father of
Methuselah, was unlike others of his generation and he was not afraid to speak out and bear witness concerning Jehovah's judgments against the ungodly sinners that made up the popular crowd of his day.
—Gen. 5:22-24; Heb. 11:5,6; Jude 14,15.
Noah was another individual in that pre-Flood world who was conspicuously different from others in that he "walked with God". He not only had outstanding faith in Jehovah; he also backed up his faith with works. Obediently he worked as commanded on what seemed to the scoffers of his day to be nothing more than a fantastic and freakish undertaking by a crazy man. There he was, up on high ground, miles from the sea, building a colossal boat in which to take refuge from something no one until then had ever seen—rain! As Noah built he also preached repentance, urging his fellow creatures to seek God's
favor while there was yet opportunity. Strange thing, only seven others of that entire multitude believed him! But all the laughter and scorn, reproach and ridicule, and no doubt violent persecution from the tyrants and bullies (Nephilim and mighty men, Gen. 6:4, AS) failed to turn Noah aside from the divinely assigned work. We are very grateful, too, that Noah was different from the foolish, simple-minded and ignorant ones of his time, for had he been like them we would not be here today.-Gen. 6:5-22; Matt. 24:37:39; Heb. 11:7:20
24:37-39; Heb. 11:7; 2 Pet.
2:5.
Like Abel of old, Jehovah's modern-day witnesses, having similar faith, offer God an acceptable sacrifice, 'the fruit of the lips,' even though they are martyred by those pretending to be their brothers. (Heb.13:15) Like Enoch, these modern witnesses fearlessly warn this impudent generation of Jehovah's fierce anger against it. Jesus said that conditions today would be exactly as they were in Noah's time, but before the accomplished end of this present evil world a similar message of warning would first be proclaimed in all
the inhabited earth as a testimony and witness. It is therefore not surprising to find that Jehovah's witnesses, like Noah, are hard at work preaching and building even though they are laughed at, ridiculed and viciously persecuted by the high and mighty bully rulers of the earth.
Matt. 24:3,4,14,37-39;2 Pet. 3:3-13.
DIFFERENT TOO FROM PRESENT WORLD
Like the servants of the Most High God before the Flood so also were those thereafter—men and women altogether different from others in faith and integrity and devotion to righteousness. It must have seemed strange to the community-building Chaldeans that men like Abraham and Lot would abandon the security and prosperity afforded by their city Ur, and would go out into a wild and unknown country in obedience to God's command. (Gen. 12:1-5) But they were "awaiting the city [the theocratic government] having real foundations and the builder and creator of which is God". They saw these precious promises "afar off and hailed them and publicly declared that they were strangers and temporary residents in the land". (Heb. 11:8-14, NW) How different was Lot from the sex-maddened, pleasure-crazed Sodomites! That righteous man "was greatly distressed by the indulgence of the law-defying people in loose conduct".—2 Pet. 2:6-8, NW.
In parallel, Jehovah's servants today always strive to be clean, upright and decent people, and are disgusted with the abominable things they see about them in Christendom. They place their confidence and hope in Jehovah's promised kingdom, for they see that the time when its rule will be extended to the earth is much nearer than it was in Abraham's day. So, instead of going along with this pleasuremad, sexy old world, supporting its schemes and ideas, and working for and building up its tower of Babel, the confusing United Nations structure, these people of God keep themselves separate from the world as "strangers and pilgrims" living on a temporary basis like the Rechabites. Jonadab was one of such. (Heb. 11:13; Jer. 35:5-19) They therefore give this world's politics, commerce and organized religion no support.—Isa. 52:11; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; Jas. 4:4; Rev. 18:2-5.
SERVANTS OPPOSED BY STATE
Jeremiah was ordained as Jehovah's prophet and was sent to deliver an unpopular message to a rebellious people. What was he to do? Refuse to speak because some took offense? Go slow, compromise, or quit and join the rest as a "regular fellow"? To do so would have meant his own destruction together with all the others. Jeremiah was God's faithful servant. He had a vital message of warning from God and whosoever heeded it would escape destruction. It was for the people's own good, and it had to be declared even though kings, princes, priests and people in general objected, and that Jeremiah did.—Jer. 1:4-19, AS.
As a consequence, Jeremiah ran into the worst sort of religious intolerance and bigotry and persecution. The clergy and politicians were stung by God's fiery denunciations and so they roused the rabble into mobs that sought to kill God's prophet. He was arrested and haled into court, falsely accused of being a morale-weakener, against the war effort, a seditionist, and hence worthy of death. However, this prophet of the Lord was no seditionist or anarchist, and so even though cast into prison and thrown into the muck of a dungeon, yet he continued to sound the warning. (Jer. 23:1-40; 25:34-36; 26:1-24; 32:2-6, 26-44; 38:1-6) Again and again, in reading this account one is forcibly impressed with the great similarity between the work done by Jeremiah and the treatment he received and work accomplished by Jehovah's witnesses today under similar conditions.
Further reasons why Jehovah's witnesses keep on warning Christendom, though she refuses to heed, are found in the Lord's commandments to Ezekiel, Jeremiah's contemporary, who witnessed to the captives in Babylon. Ezekiel was up against a hardheaded, stiff-necked, stonyhearted bunch of rebels, but the Lord told him if he did not continue to warn them their blood would be upon him. Ezekiel obeyed. So do Jehovah's witnesses.—Ezek. 2:3-7; 3:4-11, 16-21; 33:1-20.
Then there was the case of Daniel. Because he was honest and loyal to his position of trust as prime minister over the vast Medo-Persian empire, Daniel's enemies sought to do away with him through framing mischief by law. When Daniel continued to worship Jehovah in violation of the wicked law, he was seized and falsely charged with sedition, and was tossed in a den as food for the lions. Happily for him, however, that he did worship the only true and living God, for He only is able to deliver His servants out of a lions' den. (Dan. 6:1-28) On another occasion, when Jehovah's faithful servants Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow down in salute to Nebuchadnezzar's gilded image in violation of Jehovah's supreme law, they were pitched into a roaring furnace, only to be delivered alive and unharmed by the Lord's angel. Incidentally, those who tossed God's servants into the fire were themselves consumed. (Dan. 3:1-30) Let the superpatriots today who click their heels together and goose-step around, and who try to force God's faithful servants to participate in their bannerwaving idolatry, take warning from this!
This same issue again came up during the reign of Ahasuerus when a wicked man by the name of Haman tried to destroy all
those that served and worshiped Jehovah. However, God turned the tables, and Haman's lifeless body dangled from the 75foot gallows he had built for God's servant Mordecai.—See the book of Esther.
THE MOST NOBLE EXAMPLE
Christ Jesus, the greatest Teacher and Preacher ever to walk this earth, tossed aside the orthodox methods of the scribes and Pharisees and tramped from house to house, village to village, over and over the territory, proclaiming that Jehovah's kingdom is the world's only hope. He cut across conventional lines and traditional customs, practices, theories and taboos of the times. "Never has another man spoken like this." (John 7:46,NW) An open market place, a mountain side or a seashore was just as suitable for him as the temple, provided there were people there to listen. Sometimes he gave instruction in the Scriptures at mealtime in a private home.
Telling the truth was Jesus' business even though it exposed the lies of tradition. He had no part in politics, for his kingdom is not of this world, yet he paid his taxes and urged others to likewise pay back to Caesar what belonged to the state, not forgetting, of course, to give Jehovah God what rightfully is due Him. And for following such a righteous course Jesus was hounded and persecuted and finally killed on a torture stake to satisfy the lustful passions of the clergy whom he denounced as a pack of hypocrites.—John 18:37; Matt. 17:24-27; 22:15-21; 15:1-9; 23:1-39; John 19:6, 15.
In all of this Christ left a brilliant example for Jehovah's Christian witnesses since then to follow, and praise be to God they have done so! And although persecuted for righteousness' sake they endure all things out of love of God and fellow men.
Federal Court of Appeals Rebukes Unfair Board
On October 18, 1950, the United States Court of Appeals at Cincinnati again reversed the convictions of two ministers of
Jehovah's witnesses. Twice convicted, Peter Niznik and Raymond Comodor, part-time missionary evangelists (company publishers) in Pennsylvania, were discharged with the judgments against them reversed. Basis of the reversal was the refusal of their Selective Service board to classify them as ministers of religion. The court held that the action of the board was invalid and void, contrary to the regulations, arbitrary and discriminatory.
Upon the second trial the board members had attempted to justify their refusal to grant exemption from training and service. They testified that they had looked through the files and, after having done so, ruled that these registrants should not be given a minister's classification. They did not dispute or question the overwhelming evidence submitted by the registrants as to their background, training and activity in the ministry. The truthfulness of the statements submitted by them orally and in writing was not questioned. But solely upon the grounds that they were Jehovah's witnesses, had not attended an orthodox religious seminary and had not been "regularly" ordained according to orthodox ceremony and ritual, the board ignored the regulations pertaining to ministerial classification in such cases and denied exemption. In setting aside the convictions the court said:
"Although the members of the draft board performed long, laborious, and patriotic duties, nevertheless, their ruling in this regard, that appellants were not entitled to classification as ministers of religion, was based not upon the evidence or information in appellants' files, or upon a belief in the truthfulness of the statements made by appellants, but upon the fact that they were members of Jehovah's witnesses. The regulation pertaining to ministerial classification in this case was plain.
“‘(a) In Class IV-D shall be placed any registrant who is a regular or duly ordained minister of religion . . . (b) A regular minister of religion is a man who customarily
preaches and teaches the principles of religion of a recognized church, religious sect, or religious organization of which he is a member, without having been formally ordained as a minister of religion; and who is recognized by such church, sect, or organization as a minister.' Section 622.44 of the Selective Service Regulations.
"Disregard of this provision, and refusal to classify as a minister of religion solely on the ground that appellants were members of a religious sect and that they had not attended a religious seminary and had not been regularly ordained, was arbitrary and contrary to the law and regulations. 'In classifying a registrant there shall be no discrimination for or against him because of his race, creed, or color, or because of his membership or activity in any labor, political, religious, or other organization. Each registrant shall receive equal and fair justice.' Section 623.1(c) of the Selective Service Regulations.
"The classification of the local board, accordingly, was invalid, and its action void. The judgments are, therefore, reversed, the convictions are set aside, and appellants are discharged."
The religious magazine The Christian Century recalled the thousands of other cases involving Jehovah's witnesses, which resulted in their being denied classification as ministers and sentenced to long terms in prison. Commending the court for stopping such arbitrary and capricious determinations in these cases, the editors wrote: "This paper has contended since the first of these Witness cases came up, that the designation of ministers is a church and not a state function. We trust Selective Service will accept this ruling by the federal court. The government agency should never have allowed itself to become entangled in an ecclesiastical issue of this sort, and now that the court has opened a way out . . . should hasten to take advantage of the opportunity."
Court and publication agree that whether a person should be recognized as a minister must not be determined according to orthodox standards of the popular religious organizations or prejudice. Both call upon boards to administer fairly the act and regulations.
Uplifted and Comforted
JEHOVAH God is the One to whom all the poor of the earth should look in
"Praise ye Jehovah. . . He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the needy from the dunghill; that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people."—Ps. 113:1,7,8,AS.
impoverishing them and oppressing them more. But God Almighty has always
this day of world distress. He does not despise their abject condition. His ears are not closed to their sighs and groans, but he takes note of their need and holds forth the true relief to them right now. Abraham Lincoln, a man who rose from poverty to the presidency of the United States of America, once said: "God must love the poor, because he made so many of them." But God is not the one who made man poor and who made the few rich and the many poor. It is not he who has created class distinctions between rich and poor. He has not willed for the many to be poverty-stricken so long that now, finally, the poor in their masses are rising up under communistic leaders to overthrow the rich capitalists and to equalize all people socially and economically under communist dictators. God's adversary, Satan the Devil, is the one who has done this. It is this wicked one who now proposes false political and economic systems of relief for the oppressed masses so as to turn them away from the only effective means of relief, that provided by Jehovah God. The applying of these human emergency measures to improve the conditions of the poor and to help the backward areas of the world will result only in increasing the burdens of the people,
come to the rescue of the poor of his people. Now he will completely vindicate their cause and usher them into riches surpassing even those which the first man and woman had at mankind's start in Eden. The means God uses is his kingdom in the hands of his Son Jesus Christ.
2 The people's poverty is not only with regard to material riches. It is principally with regard to the spiritual riches. The clergy of the orthodox Christian and Jewish religious systems are now obliged to admit they have left the people in spiritual poverty. They have been partial to the worldly rich and winked at and kept silent at their oppression of the poor, and all the while they have put on an appearance of great righteousness. Spiritual riches, however, would have lightened the lot of the people amid the injustice and hardships of this world. Such riches would have prevented their violent, radical uprising against the constituted world arrangement today. A person does not need selfish material riches in order to be really wealthy, happy and contented.
3 Jesus Christ on earth as a man was among the poorest of the poor measured by earthly goods. He was laid in no fine cradle at birth, but in an animal's manger because there was no room for visitors
To whom must earth's poor now look, and why to him?
In what principally have the people been kept poor, and how?
Who was poorest, yet happiest on earth, and why?
3 at the village inn.
As a preacher of God's kingdom he had no home of his own. "Foxes have dens and birds of heaven have roosts, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay down his head." (Matt. 8:20, NW) But because of his spiritual riches he had real and loyal friends, particularly his Father in heaven and the people of good will on earth. He had a joy no creature could remove. He was the happiest person on earth, so that he could well describe true states of happiness in his sermon on the mount, beginning with "Happy are those who are conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them". (Matt. 5:3, NW) By getting acquainted with him all poor people can now be made spiritually rich and can enjoy hope of early being made possessors of all other riches in the equitable new world under his kingdom.
Back there Jesus knew that Satan's world was to last without God's interference till the "appointed times of the nations" ended in 1914. So he endeavored to make those people who were conscious of their spiritual need rich spiritually with the message of God's kingdom and with the increasing understanding of His recorded Word. He showed that the time had come for God to turn the tables on those who were rich in worldly goods, political power and religious control and influence, and to lift up those who felt their spiritual need. He illustrated this in a parable which he gave, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. "Parable," we say, because if we interpreted this description of the affairs of the rich man and Lazarus literally, it would reduce Jesus' interesting word picture to an absurdity. Because of its clear meaning to us now we shall take up a consideration of this comforting parable. As we go along we shall note the
points which show it could not be a literalism such as the religious clergy say it is, to terrify people into their power for fear of being tormented in literal fire and brimstone forever after death.
THE RICH MAN
5 When Jesus gave this parable, members of the strict religious sect of the Pharisees were listening, and it was doubtless for a warning to them. "Now the Pharisees, who were money-lovers, were listening to all these things, and they began to sneer at him." So after some fitting remarks Jesus said: "To continue: A certain man was rich, and he used to clothe himself with purple and linen, enjoying himself from day to day with magnificence." (Luke 16:14,19,NW) "Di'ves" was not his name, but the Latin Vulgate Version of the Bible uses that word respecting him because it is the Latin word meaning "rich man". So the rich man they generally call "Di'ves", and we may do so. But now the question is, Who is this rich man?
6 Jesus did not dignify the rich man with a given name, but merely described him in order to describe the class of persons he represents. In keeping with his riches he clothed himself with purple and linen, and daily enjoyed himself with magnificence, including a bountifully spread table. Since Jesus uttered his words directly to the Jews, the rich man pictures first a class among them with privileges and advantages like those described. In the final application of the parable in our own day, he pictures a similar class now, the counterpart of that in Jesus' day. Jesus was talking partly for the benefit of the Pharisees, who were listening in, and they were money-lovers. So the facts and the Scriptures bear out that the rich man
What reversal of matters did he show it was time for, and how did he illustrate it?
5,6. (a) For a warning to whom did Jesus give the parable, and why? (b) Whom does the rich man picture in general?
stands for a class of religious leaders who are rich in spiritual privileges and opportunities and who conduct themselves as the rich man did.
Clothing is a symbol of position, rank, material means, and identity. Purple was a color of royalty. When the Roman soldiers mocked Jesus' royal claims and lineage, they "arrayed him with a purple outer garment" and said to him: "Good day, you king of the Jews!" (John 19:2-5, NW; Mark 15:16-20) The leaders claimed to be in line for God's kingdom, remembering God's words to them through Moses at Mount Sinai: "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." (Ex. 19:5, 6) Jesus even referred to them as the "children of the kingdom" and disclosed to us who they were, saying: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you shut up the kingdom of the heavens before mankind; for you yourselves do not go in, neither do you permit those on their way in to go in." Because of this course of action Jesus said: "The kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits"; and the chief priests and the Pharisees took note that he was speaking about them. (Matt. 8:12; 23:13; 21:43, 45, NW) So here already we have the rich man identified as representing the hypocritical Pharisees, scribes, and chief priests, which included the Sadducees; and these constituted the Jewish clergy or religious leaders.
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