LECTION 57 - The little children and the parables
Concerning little Children.
1. AT the same time came the disciples unto Iesus, saying,
who is the greatest in the Kingdom (of Heaven)?
And Iesus called a little child unto him and set him in the midst of them and said,
Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted and become innocent and teachable [as] little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom (of Heaven).
2. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself [as] this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom (of Heaven). And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
3. Woe unto the world because of offenses! For it must needs be that offences come, but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh. Wherefore if thy lust, or thy pleasure do offend others, cut them off and cast them from thee, it is better for thee to enter into life without, rather than having that which will be cast into everlasting fire.
4. Take heed that ye neglect not one of these little ones, for I say unto you, That in Heaven their angels do always behold the Face (of God). For the Son (of man) is come to save that which was lost.
5. How think ye? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine and go into the mountains and seek that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more over that sheep than over the ninety and nine which went not astray.
6. Even so it is not the will of your Parent (Who is in Heaven) that one of these little one should perish.
Parable of the Fishes.
7. AND there were certain men of doubtful mind, came unto Iesus, and said unto him:
Thou tellest us that our life and being is from God, but we have never seen God, nor do we know of any God. Canst thou shew us Whom thou callest the Father-Mother, one God? We know not if there be a God.
8. Iesus answered them, saying,
Hear ye this parable of the fishes. The fishes (of a certain river) communed with one another, saying, They tell us that our life and being is from water, but we have never seen water, we know not what water is. Then some among them, wiser than the rest, said: We have heard there dwelleth in the sea a wise and learned Fish, who knoweth all things. Let us journey to him, and ask him to shew us what water is.
9. So several of them set out to find this great and wise Fish and they came at last to the sea wherein the wise Fish dwelt, and they asked of him.
10. And when he heard them he said unto them, O ye foolish fish that consider not! Wise are ye, the few, who seek. In the water ye live, and move, and have your being; from the water ye came, to the water ye return. Ye live in the water, yet ye know it not. In like manner, ye live in God, and yet ye ask of me, “Shew us God.” God is in all things, and all things are in God.
The Forgiveness of Those Who Trespass.
11. AGAIN Iesus said unto them,
If thy brother or sister shall trespass against thee, go and declare the fault between thee and thy brother or sister alone; if they shall hear thee, thou hast gained them. But if they will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
12. And if they shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church but if they neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church, but if they neglect to hear the church, let them be unto thee [as] those that are outside the church. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall justly bind on earth, shall be bound in Heaven, and whatsoever ye shall justly loose in earth, shall be loosed in Heaven.
13. Again I say unto you, That if seven, or even if three (of you) shall agree on earth as touching anything that they ask, it shall be done for them of my Father-Mother (Who is in Heaven). For where even three are gathered together in my name there I am in the midst of them, and if there be but one, I am in the heart of that one.
14. THEN came Peter to him and said,
Lord, how oft shalt my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Till seven times?
Iesus saith unto him,
I say not unto thee, Until seven times, but until seventy times seven. For in the Prophets likewise unrighteousness was found, even after they were anointed by the Holy Spirit.
15. And he spake this parable, saying,
There was a certain king who would take account of his servants, and when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
16. The servant therefore, fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me and I will pay thee all. Then the lord (of that servant) was moved with compassion and loosed him, and forgave him his debt.
17. But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow-servants (which owed him a hundred pence) and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
18. And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet and besought him, saying, Have patience with me and I will pay thee all. And he would not, but went and cast him into prison till he should pay the debt.
19. So when his fellow-servants saw what he had done they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
20. Then his lord, after he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt because thou desiredst me; shouldst not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
21. So likewise shall the heavenly Parent judge you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one, his brother or sister, their trespasses. Nevertheless, let every man see that he pay that which he oweth, for God loveth the just.
LECTlON 57. 4. -The doctrine of guardian angels receives full support from these words. But the Churches of the so-called Reformation have flung away this consoling and helpful belief, with other doctrines of the Christian Church in all ages, the truth of which science and occultism are now showing.