Prior to the first century, vying for power and preeminence among religious groups was as common a problem as it is today. We have all heard the phrase “all good things must end”, and on earth they do. Movements which start with good intent are hijacked for self gain. Sentimentally, we wish certain institutions would last forever, but the reality is that they do not. What started in Judah after the captivity as a group of godly men who separated themselves for the good of the Law of Moses, became splintered, and became a strange cultic menagerie with the intent of self preservation. Three groups emerged during the Maccabean era, two of which are pointed out in the gospels and the book of Acts. One group however was not spoken of at all. While people wonder why that is, they assume it is because there is no relevance to this group, however it is because Jesus himself was born into this group. Jesus’ entire ministry should be viewed through the eyes of the Essenes. Yet we look into the Bible with the eyes of the Pharisees. The Pharisees and Sadducees are not the sects that the Messiah came out of. The Messiah came to earth via the Essenes. An older understanding of their name is אסיא ăṣı̄yā’, meaning “healers”. Isn’t this what Jesus did? Why did the Pharisees become so incensed that they wanted to kill Jesus? It has to do with their history and their compromises.
During the days of the captivity in Babylon, people known as the Assideans/Hasideans had formed as a group of godly men led by the Zadok/Zedek priests. Their purpose was to help others in living the Law of Moses. They created an exclusivity among themselves. Yet their dedication to godliness caused a split in religious affiliations among the people. Holiness is never a bad thing unless the holy ones sell out to the heathen rulers. One such individual was Alcimus, who desired to be the high priest. He obtained that position through alliances with the Greek rulers. Because he had an Aaronic lineage people did not want to oppose him. He spoke deceivingly peaceful words to the people and then killed thirty men of Jerusalem. He killed sixty Essenes as well. This is the time that three main religious sects separated from the Assideans/Hasideans in Jerusalem; these were the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes.
As the international wars against Greece took place, civil wars raged in Israel. After Alexander the Great’s death the Greek kingdom split into four parts with the Seleucids in Syria and the Ptolemies in Egypt. The sons of Mattathias, engaged in the civil wars in Israel. Their names are Joannan (Gaddis), Simon (Matthes), Judas (Maccabaeus), Eleazar (Auran), and Jonathan (Apphes). Maccabees means “hammer” (makkabah), these men were hammers in the civil wars in and around the region and Jerusalem. They had been known as Asmoneans/Hasmoneans and they aligned themselves under Rome while still under Greek rule. Two of them were made high priests by the Greeks and Romans turning the high priesthood into a political organization.
1Ma 10:15 Now when king Alexander had heard what promises Demetrius had sent unto Jonathan: when also it was told him of the battles and noble acts which he and his brethren had done, and of the pains that they had endured,
Alexander was the son of Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes. Demetrius was a son of Seleucus.
1Ma 10:16 He said, Shall we find such another man? now therefore we will make him our friend and confederate.
1Ma 10:17 Upon this he wrote a letter, and sent it unto him, according to these words, saying,
1Ma 10:18 King Alexander to his brother Jonathan sendeth greeting:
1Ma 10:19 We have heard of thee, that thou art a man of great power, and meet to be our friend.
1Ma 10:20 Wherefore now this day we ordain thee to be the high priest of thy nation, and to be called the king's friend; (and therewithal he sent him a purple robe and a crown of gold:) and require thee to take our part, and keep friendship with us.
1Ma 10:21 So in the seventh month of the hundred and sixtieth year, at the feast of the tabernacles, Jonathan put on the holy robe, and gathered together forces, and provided much armour.
It seems odd to write a letter ordaining a high priest to the temple of Nehemiah. Most likely in the past there was a lot of pomp and circumstance associated with the office. This tells us something important. By this time, the office was not a holy one based on the decisions of Yahweh, but a political one. Alcimus being an evil high priest and a man of war and blood, tells us of the degradation that had taken place long before the Greeks were being unseated as the rulers of Israel. An evil line of high priests who were self seeking had taken place, and now, Jonathan Apphus, who was not of Aaronic lineage, was ordained by letter as high priest. Jonathan rejected the Assidean/Hasidean leaders and teachers.
1Ma 11:57 At that time young Antiochus wrote unto Jonathan, saying, I confirm thee in the high priesthood, and appoint thee ruler over the four governments, and to be one of the king's friends.
1Ma 11:58 Upon this he sent him golden vessels to be served in, and gave him leave to drink in gold, and to be clothed in purple, and to wear a golden buckle.
Young Antiochus was the son of Alexander who was the son of Antiochus Apphanes. Jonathan now knows how to work the system. He decides to make a friendship alliance with Rome. Jonathan wrote letters to the Roman king Areas and to the Roman high priests. Then Jonathan was killed in battle. We see that the second appointed high priest, Jonathan’s brother Simon, was a man of war and blood like Alcimus, but without Aaronic lineage. Notice that the vessels of gold, the purple cloth and the golden buckle become part of the Pharisee sect and by Jesus’ time it was a defining problem.
Antiquities of the Jews 13:5:8. (163) Jonathan having thus gotten a glorious victory, and slain two thousand of the enemy, returned to Jerusalem. So when he saw that all his affairs prospered according to his mind, by the providence of God, he sent ambassadors to the Romans, being desirous of renewing that friendship which their nation had with them formerly. (164) He enjoined the same ambassadors, that, as they came back they should go to the Spartans, and put them in mind of their friendship and kindred. So when the ambassadors came to Rome they went in to their senate, and said what they were commanded by Jonathan their high priest to say, how he had sent them to confirm their friendship
Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (p. 345). Peabody: Hendrickson.
Antiquities of the Jews 13:5:9 (171) At this time there were three sects among the Jews, who had different opinions concerning human actions; the one was called the sect of the Pharisees, another the sect of the Sadducees, and the other the sect of the Essenes. (172) Now for the Pharisees, they say that some actions, but not all, are the work of fate, and some of them are in our own power, and that they are liable to fate, but are not caused by fate. But the sect of the Essenes affirm, that fate governs all things, and that nothing befalls men but what is according to its determination. (173) And for the Sadducees, they take away fate, and say there is no such thing, and that the events of human affairs are not at its disposal; but they suppose that all our actions are in our own power, so that we are ourselves the cause of what is good, and receive what is evil from our own folly. However, I have given a more exact account of these opinions in the second book of the Jewish War.
Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (p. 346). Peabody: Hendrickson.
About this time, the Assideans/Hasideans started to fracture due to the priesthood being defiled. The Essenes left the region while the holy men who were left rebranded themselves with the name of “Pharisee”.
1Ma 14:16 Now when it was heard at Rome, and as far as Sparta, that Jonathan was dead, they were very sorry.
1Ma 14:17 But as soon as they heard that his brother Simon was made high priest in his stead, and ruled the country, and the cities therein:
1Ma 14:18 They wrote unto him in tables of brass, to renew the friendship and league which they had made with Judas and Jonathan his brethren:
1Ma 14:19 Which writings were read before the congregation at Jerusalem.
Since when did the priesthood pass leadership down family lines? Because Jonathan was a secular high priest, the faction known as the Essenes left the region for Damascus. The Essenes did not like Alcimus as he killed their people, but if the priesthood was corrupt then it could be fixed by the holy men of Israel in appointing a different high priest. Now the Greek and Roman rulers were appointing whoever they liked as high priest and governor. This was not fixable. The Pharisees stayed in Jerusalem, as well as the Sadducees, but the Essenes left.
1Ma 14:35 The people therefore sang the acts of Simon, and unto what glory he thought to bring his nation, made him their governor and chief priest, because he had done all these things, and for the justice and faith which he kept to his nation, and for that he sought by all means to exalt his people.
Rome renewed their friendship with Simon, as they had previously with Jonathan, and now Greek king Demetrius will also confirm Simon as high priest.
1Ma 14:38 King Demetrius also confirmed him in the high priesthood according to those things,
1Ma 14:39 And made him one of his friends, and honoured him with great honour.
1Ma 14:40 For he had heard say, that the Romans had called the Jews their friends and confederates and brethren; and that they had entertained the ambassadors of Simon honourably;
1Ma 14:41 Also that the Jews and priests were well pleased that Simon should be their governor and high priest for ever, until there should arise a faithful prophet;
Simon like Jonathan wore purple robes and a buckle of gold. Until there should rise a faithful prophet? This phrase is extremely interesting. The Prophets were of the Essene order. The Essenes considered someone among them of the Zadok priesthood, the Teacher of Righteousness. It seems the Pharisees and Sadducees did not care about this teacher, as they did not want to change political parties to follow the Essenes. Interestingly, in first century times neither the Pharisees or Sadducees had prophets among them.
1Ma 14:47 Then Simon accepted hereof, and was well pleased to be high priest, and captain and governor of the Jews and priests, and to defend them all.
Holiness was no longer a requirement of the high priesthood. The holy godly men, fractured into different groups two of which jockeyed for positions.
1Ma 16:16 So when Simon and his sons had drunk largely, Ptolemee and his men rose up, and took their weapons, and came upon Simon into the banqueting place, and slew him, and his two sons, and certain of his servants.
Why does the high priest drink to excess? Ptolemee was Simon’s son-in-law, and he came up from Egypt and killed Simon. Onias III became high priest next. Onias III’s brother Jason (formerly known as Jesus) took over after his death. Onias IV was stopped from becoming a high priest so he made a Jewish temple in Egypt, Leontopolis. When Jason, brother of Onias III, became high priest, he hellenized Jerusalem. The priesthood fell apart while the Saducees positioned themselves into power.
2Ma 4:7 But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, called Epiphanes, took the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias laboured underhand to be high priest,
2Ma 4:8 Promising unto the king by intercession three hundred and threescore talents of silver, and of another revenue eighty talents:
2Ma 4:9 Beside this, he promised to assign an hundred and fifty more, if he might have licence to set him up a place for exercise, and for the training up of youth in the fashions of the heathen, and to write them of Jerusalem by the name of Antiochians.
2Ma 4:10 Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten into his hand the rule he forthwith brought his own nation to Greekish fashion.
2Ma 4:11 And the royal privileges granted of special favour to the Jews by the means of John the father of Eupolemus, who went ambassador to Rome for amity and aid, he took away; and putting down the governments which were according to the law, he brought up new customs against the law:
2Ma 4:12 For he built gladly a place of exercise under the tower itself, and brought the chief young men under his subjection, and made them wear a hat.
2Ma 4:13 Now such was the height of Greek fashions, and increase of heathenish manners, through the exceeding profaneness of Jason, that ungodly wretch, and no high priest;
2Ma 4:14 That the priests had no courage to serve any more at the altar, but despising the temple, and neglecting the sacrifices, hastened to be partakers of the unlawful allowance in the place of exercise, after the game of Discus called them forth;
2Ma 4:15 Not setting by the honours of their fathers, but liking the glory of the Grecians best of all.
The Sadducees were a political priesthood. The Sadducees did not believe in the oral laws but in the written law alone. They believed the written law was the nations divine authority. The Sadducees also believed in men having freedom of will. During this time they were supporters of the Hasmoneans. While the Pharisees eventually objected to the Hasmonean priesthood and also pushed out the Zadok priesthood, the Sadducees aligned with the political ruling class no matter who was in charge. They stayed flexible into the first century and had members in the Sanhedrin. Now imagine this, the Sadducees and the Pharisees were the people in the ruling courts of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus. The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection and seem to disappear after the fall of Jerusalem.
Prior to Herod the Great, the Idumaean, the Pharisees had been accused of plotting against Alexander Jannaeus and eight hundred Pharisees were put to death on crosses in 88 BCE. Once Herod took control, the Pharisees and Sadducees increased in numbers. When the Essenes had left the region it caused a void in the religious balance of Jerusalem. The sect of the Pharisees could continue unopposed as they enacted unscriptural laws and temple taxes on the people because there was no other group to protest. The Sadducees simply ignored the Pharisees as they had long done and mingled into the governments.
The Essenes were comprised of the Nazarite’s, the Prophets, the Zadok/Zedek priests, and the Therapeutaes. They held to the order of Melchizedek (Shem), and the teachings of Shem and Eber’s school in Jerusalem. They had one faction that practiced celibacy, they were scribes and they lived in the desert of Qumran. Another faction of Essenes were families who lived in every town, especially the north part of Israel. There was also a community of people living in Engedi. They traveled from village to village among their own people. The part of the Essene sect call the Therapeutaes were living north of Alexandria Egypt. They predominately made special clay jugs for wine. There was a way to close the jug that could not be tampered with. This was important because in transport, people typically stole some of the wine then watered it down, degrading the quality. These are the same jugs that were found in caves at Qumran containing scrolls. When Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, went to Egypt, where did they go? All the families sent their children to schooling in the desert starting at sixteen until they were twenty. After that time, they could continue in schooling if they wanted to for another ten years, until they were thirty. John the Baptist was an Essene, and six months after John the Baptist came to Jerusalem preaching repentance, Jesus the Essene came to Jerusalem preaching the Kingdom of God. Paul went through Essene schooling after his conversion on the road to Damascus, he was in the desert for fourteen years.
This was the tumultuous time period that the Messiah was born into. The people were expecting the Messiah, but the Pharisees and Sadducees wanted a Messiah who would overtake the political system, Rome. Jesus did not come to overtake Rome he came to overtake Satanas hold on humans.
When John was baptizing people in the Jordan, the Pharisees and Sadducees came to be baptized. They knew John was an Essene. How did they know? He wore the same type of clothing that Elijah wore. The only holy people that had prophets among them were the Essenes. This tells us that they respected the Essene ministry.
Matthew 3:7 G1492 And beholding G1161 G4183 many G3588 of the G* Pharisees G2532 and G* Sadducees G2064 coming G1909 upon G3588 G908 his immersion, G1473 G2036 he said G1473 to them, G1081 Offspring G2191 of vipers, G5100 who G5263 showed plainly G1473 to you G5343 to flee G575 from G3588 the G3195 about to come G3709 anger?
John greets these people as offspring of vipers. What does this tell us? It tells us that the animosity between the Essenes, and the Pharisees and Sadducees, was alive within the Essene community. The holy Essenes saw the Pharisees and Sadducees as delineating from vipers. Why? Because of the way that their fathers behaved during the time of Jonathan Apphus becoming high priest.
Matthew 3:8 G4160 Do G3767 then G2590 fruits G514 worthy G3588 G3341 of repentance!
9 G2532 For G3361 you should not G1380 seem G3004 to say G1722 in G1438 yourselves, G3962 [2father G2192 1We have] G3588 G* Abraham. G3004 For I say G1063 G1473 to you, G3754 that G1410 God is able G3588 G2316 G1537 [4from out of G3588 G3037 5these stones G3778 G1453 1to raise up G5043 2children G3588 G* 3to Abraham].
The Pharisees and Sadducees claimed that Abraham was their father, therefore they should be followed. John says that the stones could be made children of Abraham so their heritage means nothing.
Matthew 3:10 G2235 And already G1161 G2532 even G3588 the G513 axe G4314 to G3588 the G4491 root G3588 of the G1186 trees G2749 is situated. G3956 For every G3767 G1186 tree G3361 not G4160 producing G2590 [2fruit G2570 1good], G1581 is cut down G2532 and G1519 [2into G4442 3fire G906 1thrown].
The ax is at the root of the tree. The fruit that they were producing was not good fruit.
Matthew 3:11 G1473 Forasmuch as I G3303 G907 immerse G1473 you G1722 in G5204 water G1519 for G3341 repentance, G3588 the one G1161 G3694 [2after G1473 3me G2064 1coming G2478 5stronger than G1473 6me G1510.2.3 4is]; G3739 of whom G3756 I am not G1510.2.1 G2425 fit G3588 [2the G5266 3sandals G941 1to bear]. G1473 He G1473 shall immerse you G907 G1722 in G4151 [2spirit G39 1holy] G2532 and G4442 fire --
12 G3739 of which G3588 the G4425 winnowing fan G1722 is in G3588 G5495 his hand, G1473 G2532 and G1245 he shall thoroughly cleanse G3588 G257 his threshing-floor, G1473 G2532 and G4863 shall gather together G3588 G4621 his grain G1473 G1519 into G3588 the G596 storehouse; G3588 but the G1161 G892 straw G2618 he shall incinerate G4442 [2fire G762 1by inextinguishable].
The Messiah is coming with the Holy Spirit. This point alone has to be be understood in light of the Day of Pentecost. Who received the Holy Spirit? Not the Pharisees or Sadducees, or the other priests and religious leaders. The winnowing fan is like a shovel or pitchfork in which they threw the grain into the air and the straw separated and blew away or stayed on top while the grain settled on the bottom. The grain was swept into the storehouse and the straw was burnt. John spoke with power and authority. Yet the Pharisees and Sadducees didn’t condemn him. They got baptized instead.
John’s words were very strong words. John tells them they are going down and are going to be burnt up. Our naive view of the time is that John showed up out of no where, then his cousin Jesus showed up out of no where. We seem to think that both were meek, gentle, do gooders. This is incorrect. Both were highly educated and called by the Elohim for this time. They were strong in their knowledge and strong in their words. They were rescuing people from the false religions of the day. That alone means that they had to be spiritually battle ready. Both men grew up under the Essene guidance. The gospels are written from the Essene perspective, not that Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, were Essenes, but that they were writing about an Essene rabbi, Jesus. Jesus presumably “broke” the Pharisaical rules. That is because he was not a Pharisee. Jesus repeatedly pointed out their evil distortions of the law. Most importantly Jesus healed people, something that no Pharisees or Sadducees were doing. They both had adopted the idea that sin was causing people their ailments. None of the Pharisees or Sadducees walked in the power of the Holy Spirit, but Jesus did.
When Jesus sent out the seventy disciples he told them not to bring clothes or money. This was a common way for the Essenes to travel to one another’s homes in various cities and towns.
Luke 10:4 G3361 Do not G941 bear G905 a bag, G3361 nor G4082 provision, G3366 nor G5266 sandals! G2532 and G3367 no one G2596 in G3588 the G3598 way G782 should you greet.
5 G1519 [2into G3739 3which G1161 1And] G302 ever G3614 house G1525 you should enter, G4412 first G3004 say! G1515 Peace G3588 to G3624 this house. G3778
6 G2532 And G1437 if G1510.3 there might be G1563 there G5207 a son G1515 of peace, G1879 [2shall rest G1909 3upon G1473 4him G3588 G1515 1your peace]; G1473 G1490 but if not, G1909 unto G1473 you G344 it shall return.
7 G1722 [2in G1473 3 the same G1161 1And] G3588 G3614 house G3306 abide! G2068 eating G2532 and G4095 drinking G3588 the things G3844 of G1473 theirs; G514 [5worthy G1063 1for G3588 2the G2040 3worker G3588 G3408 6of his wage G1473 G1510.2.3 4is]! G3361 Do not G3327 cross over G1537 from G3614 house G1519 to G3614 house!
8 G2532 And G1519 into G1161 what G3739 G302 ever G4172 city G1525 you should enter, G2532 and G1209 they should receive G1473 you, G2068 eat G3588 the things G3908 being placed near G1473 to you!
9 G2532 And G2323 attend to G3588 the G1722 [2in it G1473 G772 1weak]! G2532 and G3004 say G1473 to them! G1448 [4approaches G1909 5unto G1473 6you G3588 1The G932 2kingdom G3588 G2316 3of God].
Hospitality was an important part of the old testament laws. Jesus sent these seventy to other Essenes who would feed and house them. Any town they went into that people did not receive them in this way, they were to wipe the dust off their feet, which is a curse to that community. Now look what happened.
Luke 10:17 G5290 [4returned G1161 1And G3588 2the G1440 3seventy] G3326 with G5479 joy, G3004 saying, G2962 O Lord, G2532 even G3588 the G1140 demons G5293 are submitted G1473 to us G1722 in G3588 G3686 your name. G1473
When the seventy returned they were joyful over the power to heal and cast out demons. The Pharisees were not healing people or casting out demons. The Sadducees were not healing or casting out demons. We are seeing a far greater picture here than we once realized.
The Essenes were communal, meaning they lived communally. We see this in the book of Acts that as soon as people became believers on Jesus as Messiah, they sold their possessions and had everything in common.
Acts 2:44 G3956 But all G1161 G3588 the ones G4100 believing G1510.7.6 were G1909 together, G3588 G1473 G2532 and G2192 had G537 all G2839 in common.
45 G2532 And G3588 the G2933 possessions G2532 and G3588 the things G5223 of substance G4097 they sold, G2532 and G1266 they divided G1473 them G3956 to all G2530 in so far as G302 anyone G5100 G5532 [2need G2192 1had].
They did this because this is how the Essenes lived. It was also the way that the disciples lived with Jesus. They took care of one another in the community. The Essenes also took very good care of the elderly.
Acts 4:32 G3588 And the G1161 G4128 multitude G3588 of the ones G4100 believing G1510.7.3 was G3588 G2588 [2heart G2532 3and G3588 G5590 4soul G1520 1of one]; G2532 and G3761 not even G1520 one G5100 [2anything G3588 G5224 3existing G1473 4to him G3004 1said] G2398 to be his own; G1510.1 G235 but G1510.7.3 [2 were G1473 4to them G537 1all things G2839 3in common].
33 G2532 And G3173 with great G1411 power G591 [3rendered G3588 G3142 4testimony G3588 1the G652 2apostles] G3588 of the G386 resurrection G3588 of the G2962 Lord G* Jesus; G5484 [3favor G5037 1and G3173 2great] G1510.7.3 was G1909 upon G3956 all G1473 of them.
34 G3761 For neither G1063 G1729 [2lacking G5100 1anyone] G5224 existed G1722 among G1473 them; G3745 for as many as G1063 G2935 were owners G5564 of places G2228 or G3614 houses G5224 existing to them, G4453 by selling G5342 they brought G3588 the G5092 value G3588 of the things G4097 being sold,
35 G2532 and G5087 they put it G3844 by G3588 the G4228 feet G3588 of the G652 apostles; G1239 and it was distributed G1161 G1538 to each G2530 in so far as G302 any should G5100 G5532 [2need G2192 1have].
The garments of the Essenes were white tunics woven into one single piece of cloth. They were valuable because they were one piece of cloth which is the reason that the Roman soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ garment at his crucifixion. Everyone wearing a white tunic was known as an Essene.
Matthew 27:35 G4717 And having crucified G1161 G1473 him, G1266 they divided G3588 G2440 his garments, G1473 G906 casting G2819 a lot; G2443 that G4137 should be fulfilled G3588 the thing G4483 having been spoken G5259 by G3588 the G4396 prophet, G1266 They divided G3588 G2440 my garments G1473 G1438 among themselves, G2532 and G1909 over G3588 G2441 my clothes G1473 G906 they cast G2819 a lot.
The Pharisees were lovers of purple. Remember the story of the rich man and Lazarus? Jesus’ story was about the Pharisees. What color was the robe that they put on Jesus when he stood before Pilate? Where did this purple robe come from? What color is the garment that the women riding the red beast wearing?
Let’s get the picture of the time period. The Essenes had spread out over the region in communal living. Jesus finishes school six months after John and starts healing people and doing miracles, which no other religious group was doing. Jesus pointed out all the things that the Pharisees were doing unjustly to the people; such as their loud prayers, their pride so as to not be like the poor sinner, and their hypocrisy. Jesus points to their clothes and phylacteries being all for show. Jesus told them that they search for proselytes and make them “sons of hell” just like them. Jesus rebukes them for stealing the homes of widows. Jesus told them that they were the sons of serpents and vipers. He also told them they were of their father the devil. Imagine, the ruling religious party being exposed in this manner. It was not that they were innocent of these things, but they were truly guilty. So a guy in white comes out of the desert and heals people, casts out demons, and tells them that the Kingdom of God is near. What do the ruling religious leaders have to offer the people? More laws, more rules, and more oppression.
Jesus read this on the sabbath in the synagogue at Nazareth. This is the King James Version. If someone handed him a scroll of Isaiah we would imagine Jesus read what was written.
Luk 4:17 (KJV) And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Jesus read exactly what was written. He even healed at least ten blind people. This is a notable sign of the Messiah. Here are a few examples.
Mat 9:27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
Mat 9:28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
Mat 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
Mat 9:30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
Mat 11:4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
Mat 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Mat 12:22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
Mat 15:30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:
Mat 15:31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
Mat 20:32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
Mat 20:33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
Mat 20:34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
Mat 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Mat 21:14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
Jesus read from the scrolls which were in the synagogue that had been scribed in the temple of Nehemiah under the direction of the High Priest. The seventy two copies were sent to the synagogues, and the originals were sent to Alexandria Egypt to be stored at the library there. This is where the Septuagint version of the Bible originates from, around 250 BCE. This is what Jesus read, the Septuagint.
Isa 61:1 (Brenton) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me; he has sent me to preach glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken in heart, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind;
Isa 61:2 to declare the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of recompence; to comfort all that mourn;
So why does the King James erase the part about recovery of sight to the blind?
Isa 61:1 (KJV) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, ??????????? and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Isa 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
All Septuagint versions include “recovery of sight to the blind” This is a notable miracle that only the Messiah would do. Because the ruling religious leaders wanted to deny Jesus as Messiah and make someone else Messiah. Yet that person would have to open blind eyes. Since no one else was recovering sight to blind people, it was easier to erase that requirement of the Messiah. Then, as we know, if they eliminate 242 years from the timeline of the Bible, then they can buy some time to try and find another Messiah. No one has opened the eyes of at least ten blind people, let alone heal the lame, the lepers, the deaf, and cast out demons, except Jesus.
Jesus came out of a religious system known as “healers”. Jesus associated with many of the people in his own order and schooled with all the top teachers of his day. Their knowledge of scripture was so important to our future that Saul/Paul, the young Pharisee, zealous to kill Essenes, ended up studying with them for fourteen years. Yes I wrote that correctly, it was important to our future. Paul could have simply added Jesus to his Pharisaical teachings and taught that to the churches that he founded. Paul could have kept the law of Moses, added the Pharisees oral laws, and then added Jesus as the Messiah, claiming Jesus would not change any aspect of the Mosaic law and Pharisaical laws. However, the importance of stopping the Pharisaical ways was the only way to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Essenes believed that Jesus was the Messiah, so they moved forward in their understanding of the times. They understood the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and walked into the power that Jesus made available. Paul forsook the Pharisaical ways, but the Pharisees didn’t like losing their position of power. They tried to erase Jesus as Messiah many times, over and over. The age of the Pharisees should be over. Yet today people add the Mosaic laws, the oral laws, and Jesus together to make a new religion. Rather as Paul explained:
2 Corinthians 5:17 (LITV) So that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new!
Christ makes all people and all things new.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/10/recovery-of-sight-to-blind-isaiah-61.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-god-who-walks-with-man-melchizedek.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/02/john-essene-true-prophets-nazarenes.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/02/jesus-essene-therapeutaes-joseph-zedek.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/02/therapeutaes-jesus-buddha-wild-worship.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/02/philosophies-of-death-essenes-pharisees.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/03/imprecations-birkat-ha-minim-prophecies.html
